One of the main sights of Jordan is the ancient Roman city, Jerash, and therefore often visited as part of a Jordan itinerary / roadtrip. It is about a one hour drive from Amman (check out how to spend 24 hours in the city!), the capital of Jordan. As we wanted to visit the place in the early morning, when the sight opens up to visitors, we did stay in Jerash the night before. It can easily be done as a day trip from Amman as well, however, this might force you to leave very early!Β
The sights opens at 7:30AM and closes at 7:00PM and costs 10JD, however, also the entree fees to Jerash are included in the Jordan pass. There is a parking spot in front of the entrance of the sight, and when arriving early, you should still be able to find a parking spot there.Β
Jerash is one of the most important Roman sights in the Middle East and one of the best preserved Roman cities outside of Italy. I was impressed by the size of Jerash and how well some parts were still able to give an impression of what the city did look like. There are some explanation boards and signs in the city, however, if you are into history and want to learn more about the city, I would recommend you to take a guide. There are tour guides in front of the official entrance (a bit after the ticket control).Β
I won’t give you a lot of background behind the sights in this guide, however, this photographic guide of Jerash will give you a visual impression of why Jerash should be part of your trip to Jordan.Β
Once you visit the city, the first sights you run into are the Arch of Hadrian and the Hippodrome.Β
Next up is the South Gate to the city and the Oval Forum, which is completely surround by columns. The forum is huge, being 80 by 90 square meters.
My top tips for when visiting Lanzarote in more detail than just this hike. Read about my top 10 spots on the islands – a full guide of what you can’t miss when visiting this volcanic island.Β
As said, Jerash really is a city, which is already reflected in the 800 meters long colonnade, connecting the south and north gate. You’ll find the Temple of Artemis, with its beautiful columns on the way as well as the nymphaeum, a public fountain. Furthermore, you are rewarded with great panoramic views over Jerash to admire its full beauty, while walking towards the south gate. When arriving at the south gate, we turned around and headed back to the north gate and exit.
In total, it took us about 3 hours to fully explore Jerash and walk around. Especially when you are a big fan and want to learn all about history, I would dedicate a minimum of 4 hours to explore Jerash. The night prior to visiting Jerash, we stayed in at Full Panorama To Archeological Site Jerash, where we had a lovely dinner and played some pool.Β
