Jerash, Jordan: travel guide
One of the best-preserved Greco-Roman provincial cities in the world, with a colonnaded street, hippodrome, temples and two theatres. An easy day trip north of Amman.
- Country
- Jordan
- Currency
- JOD
- Time zone
- Asia/Amman
- Nearest airport
- AMM
Top places to visit in Jerash
Temple of Artemis
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · entry JOD 12
The grandest temple in Jerash, dedicated to the city's patron goddess Artemis, with towering Corinthian columns famed for gently swaying in the wind.
Hadrian's Arch
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 0.3 h · entry JOD 12
The 11m triumphal gate built to honour Emperor Hadrian's visit in 129-130 CE, marking the monumental southern entrance to ancient Gerasa.
Jerash Archaeological Museum
Museum · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · entry JOD 12
A compact museum inside the site displaying coins, mosaics, statuary and everyday objects excavated from Gerasa.
Jerash Archaeological Site
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 3 h · entry JOD 12
One of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities in the world (ancient Gerasa), with colonnaded streets, temples, theatres and a rare oval forum spread over a vast site.
South Theatre
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h · entry JOD 12
A 1st-century Roman theatre seating over 3,000 with remarkable acoustics, still used for performances and often with bagpipers playing to demonstrate the sound.
Oval Plaza (Forum)
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · entry JOD 12
Jerash's spectacular oval forum ringed by 1st-century Ionic columns — an unusual and photogenic plaza linking the temple of Zeus to the colonnaded Cardo.
Jerash Nymphaeum
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 0.3 h
An ornate 2nd-century public fountain along the Cardo Maximus in Jerash, dedicated to the water nymphs.
Hippodrome
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 0.7 h · entry JOD 12
A restored Roman chariot-racing arena where the "Roman Army and Chariot Experience" re-enactments of legionaries and races are staged.
North Theatre (Jerash)
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h
A smaller Roman theatre in Jerash, originally built for civic meetings, later expanded for musical performances.
Cardo Maximus (Colonnaded Street)
Heritage · 4.8 rating · about 0.7 h · entry JOD 12
The city's grand paved main avenue, still lined with hundreds of columns and showing chariot-wheel ruts, running the length of ancient Gerasa.
Temple of Zeus (Jerash)
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 0.3 h
Ruins of a large temple dedicated to Zeus overlooking the Oval Plaza in Jerash.
Things to do
- Jerash Guided Roman City Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from JOD 40 per person
- Roman Army & Chariot Experience Cultural · 0.8 h · from JOD 17 per person
Where to stay in Jerash
- Jerash Town about JOD 40 per night
A handful of hotels near the ruins; most visitors day-trip from Amman but staying allows an early, crowd-free site visit.
Hotels
- Hadrian Gate Hotel 2-star · JOD 25 to JOD 45 per night
- Olive Branch Resort 3-star · JOD 45 to JOD 85 per night
Where to eat
- Lebanese House (Beit Lubnani) Lebanese, Jordanian, Levantine · about JOD 16 per person
- Jerash Rest House Jordanian, International · about JOD 14 per person
- Artemis Restaurant & Terrace Jordanian, Middle Eastern · about JOD 13 per person
- Green Valley Restaurant Jordanian · about JOD 8 per person
Getting around
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.