Review: Jerash Ruins ★★★★★
The Jerash Ruins are some of the best preserved Roman ruins in the world. To say they are easily the best site in the north of Jordan or even north of Petra is an understatement. To say bluntly, if you’re visiting Jordan you should make every possible effort to make the trip to Jerash to see these ruins.
One of the best aspects of these these Roman ruins is that can easily visit them on a day trip from Amman. Jerash does make an excellent base of operations if if you’re planning to see other sites in the north.
As the hefty entrance fee suggests, second only to Petra, the ruins are massive and breathtaking. If you want to get a feel for what Roman cites were like, this is one of your best options.
The Jerash Ruins: More Than Just A Single Site
The south gate is the main entrance. Tickets can bought here and this is also where you can get your Jordan Pass scanned for entrance. The main road runs through the ruins and will take right to the impressive north gate. Here are a few highlights to keep an eye for.
Hadrian’s Arch
This is the main gates you’ll enter for the Jerash ruins and what an impression it makes. With its three towering archways, it gives a idea of how impressive the city must have been in its prime.
Cardo Maximus
This is the main road running north to south through the ruins. You simply can’t miss this column-lined stone road that was constructed in the 1st century.
Nymphaeum
Nymphaeum is hard to miss as it sits just off of Cardo Maximus. It’s a public fountain and good deal of the building is still standing. Obviously the fountain is no longer in working order, but you can still get a good idea of what it was like when it was built in the second century.
Oval Plaza
Located at the north end of Cardo Maximus, this huge plaza is a place to behold. Everything is original, as far as I know, but there has been some reconstruction giving a fairly accurate view of how it would have looked 2,000 years ago.
South Theater
There are actually two theaters located in the ruins. Both are worth your time, but the south theater is the more impressive of the two, being carved right into the hill.
Just Scratching the Surface
These are by no means the sections of the Jerash ruins that are worth exploring. They are merely some of my highlights. There are sections, like the Cathedral Complex and Sanctuary of Artemis, that are worth exploring.
There are also chariot races, which are more recreation events than real races, that happen at the Hippodrome.
You can blast through everything in about two hours if you’re in a rush, but you set aside half day to really see everything and get your money’s worth. If you want to see the chariot races, you’ll need to tack on another hour.
It best to see the ruins in the mornings or late afternoons, mainly to keep you out of that intense mid-day sun and heat. As a bonus, the natural lighting at those times is far superior.
There’s a lot to see in the ruins, so hiring an official guide might be worthwhile. Finding one is pretty easy. You’ll probably be approached in the parking lot.
Need more information about Jordan?
Check out our full write up on Amman HERE.
See our full write up on Wadi Rum HERE.
Read our full write up on Petra HERE.
Contact & General Information
Price: 10JD (Covered with the Jordan Pass)
Hours: Daily 8am – 6:30pm
Website: None
Location: Google
