Heritage

Jerash (Gerasa)

#7of 9 places to visit in AmmanAmman, Amman Governorate, Jordan

Also known as Jerash Archaeological Site · Jarash

Quick answer

Opening hours: 08:00–16:00. Entry: JOD 10. Allow 4 hrs. Best time: Arrive at opening.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

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Photo: Petar Milošević / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Opening hours: 08:00–16:00; Hours are seasonal: typically 08:00-16:00 in winter, 08:00-17:30 in April-May, 08:00-18:30 in summer. The encoded window is the shortest (winter) one. Shortened hours during Ramadan (reported around 09:00-17:00) and on Fridays and public holidays in some seasons. Verify current hours at the gate.
Entry fee: JOD 10; Ticket from
Time needed: 4 hrs
Best time of day: Arrive at opening
Best months: Mar – May, Sep – Nov
Address: Jerash Archaeological Site, Jerash, Jordan (about 48 km north of Amman; street-level postal code not published)

About Jerash (Gerasa)

Jerash charges JOD 10 for non-Jordanian adults as of 2026, although some guides quote JOD 12, so verify at the ticket office. Jerash, ancient Gerasa, lies about 48 kilometres north of Amman and is one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities in the Middle East, with a complete street grid, forums, temples and theatres in honey-coloured limestone. Jerash rewards three to four hours, and the sequence from Hadrian's Arch to the Oval Plaza and the colonnaded Cardo Maximus is the most legible Roman city walk in Jordan.

Best time of day: Arrive at opening. 08:00, start at the south gate, and finish by early afternoon before the limestone radiates heat; late afternoon works in spring and autumn.

Jerash (Gerasa) timings

Jerash (Gerasa) opens at 08:00 and closes at 16:00. The weekend is no different: Saturday and Sunday follow the same times.

Opening hours: 08:00–16:00; Mon–Sun 08:00–16:00; Hours are seasonal: typically 08:00-16:00 in winter, 08:00-17:30 in April-May, 08:00-18:30 in summer. The encoded window is the shortest (winter) one. Shortened hours during Ramadan (reported around 09:00-17:00) and on Fridays and public holidays in some seasons. Verify current hours at the gate.
Closed on: Open every day

Mon–Sun	08:00–16:00

Good to know: Shortened hours during Ramadan (reported around 09:00-17:00) and on Fridays and public holidays in some seasons.

Opening hours compiled from international.visitjordan.com and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Jerash (Gerasa) ticket price

Entry fees for Jerash (Gerasa)
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket	JOD 10
Concession (student / senior)	JOD 10
Children	JOD 10

Jerash is listed at JOD 10 for non-Jordanian adults on the Jordan Tourism Board fee table, as of 2026, and the ticket covers the site and the archaeological museum. Some 2026 guides quote JOD 12, so verify at the ticket office. Jerash is included in the Jordan Pass. Separate paid shows or guides are not part of the ticket. No foreign-visitor concession was confirmed.

Prices compiled from international.visitjordan.com and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit Jerash (Gerasa)

Quiet
Moderate
Very busy

08:00 - 10:00
Opening QuietBest time to go
Jerash is at its emptiest; the Oval Plaza and Cardo Maximus are open and cool, and the light is soft for photographs.
Quiet
10:00 - 13:00
Coach Group Peak
Day-trip coaches from Amman and the Dead Sea arrive together and fill Hadrian's Arch, the plaza and the South Theatre.
Very busy
13:00 - 15:00
Midday Heat
Heat and lunch thin the crowds in summer, but shade is scarce and walking distances are long.
Moderate
15:00 - closing
Late Light
Afternoon groups leave and the stone glows; staff begin closing the far sectors about 30 minutes before the gate shuts.
Quiet

History of Jerash (Gerasa)

Jerash was a city of the Decapolis, a league of Greek-speaking cities in the Roman Near East, and rose to prosperity in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD on the caravan trade through northern Transjordan. Hadrian's Arch, at the south end of the site, was built to mark the emperor's visit in the winter of AD 129-130. The Oval Plaza and the colonnaded Cardo Maximus, roughly 800 metres long, form the core of the excavated city, and the Temple of Artemis, largely 2nd-century, stands on a terrace above the street. The South Theatre seats about 3,000 people. Byzantine churches followed, and an earthquake in AD 749 is widely cited as the blow that ended the city's prosperity. Excavation began in the 1920s and continues, with much of the ancient city still unexcavated under the modern town.

Rules & etiquette at Jerash (Gerasa)

Jerash is an open-air archaeological site with no formal dress code, but modest clothing is sensible, and there is little shade, so hats and water are essential. Climbing on unrestored columns and walls is prohibited, and the paving is uneven and slippery on marble. Guides and drivers approach visitors at the parking area with fixed-price offers; the ticket office also has licensed guides at published rates. Drones are tightly restricted in Jordan and need advance permission.

The site has toilets and simple cafes near the entrance, but food quality inside the site is basic. Do not buy antiquities or coins from vendors; export of antiquities is illegal. Photography is free, and quiet corners near the theatres are common for shoots.

Tips for visiting Jerash (Gerasa)

1
Jerash is best done on a full morning: start at the south gate, walk through Hadrian's Arch to the Oval Plaza, then follow the Cardo Maximus to the Temple of Artemis and the North Theatre. Enter early to avoid coach groups that arrive from 10:00, and carry at least a litre of water per person. Wear shoes with grip, because the polished Roman paving is treacherous in wet weather.
2
Jerash is a comfortable day trip from Amman by minibus from the North Station in Tabarbour (reported around JOD 1 each way, departing when full), by taxi (roughly JOD 15-20 one way, negotiated), or with a driver combined with Ajloun Castle. Some visitors also buy lunch at restaurants in the modern town of Jerash rather than inside the site. Keep the Jordan Pass QR ready, and check whether an evening or festival programme is running before you travel.

How to reach Jerash (Gerasa)

The red star is Jerash (Gerasa). Tap a pin for details.

Jerash Archaeological Site, Jerash, Jordan (about 48 km north of Amman; street-level postal code not published)Directions in Google Maps

From Amman (North Station, Tabarbour)
48 km · 60-75 min
About JOD 1 one-way (reported, as of 2026); minibuses depart when full
From Amman (Downtown or hotel)
48 km · 60-75 min
Roughly JOD 15-20 one way, negotiated; JOD 40 or more return with waiting time
From Amman
48 km · 60-75 min
Fuel and rental cost only; confirm parking arrangements at the site

Nearest airport

From Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)

about 35 km south of central Amman, 45-60 minutes by Airport Express bus or 40-50 minutes by taxi. Jerash is roughly 80-90 km from the airport by road.

Nearest station

From Amman has no passenger rail; nearest public transport is a minibus from Amman's North Station (Tabarbour) to Jerash, or a taxi.

Jerash (Gerasa) FAQs

How much does Jerash cost?

JOD 10 for non-Jordanian adults on the Jordan Tourism Board fee table, as of 2026, and free with the Jordan Pass. Some guides quote JOD 12, so verify at the ticket office.

How far is Jerash from Amman?

About 48 kilometres, roughly 60-75 minutes by road. A minibus from Amman's North Station costs around JOD 1, and a private taxi costs roughly JOD 15-20 one way.

How long do you need at Jerash?

Three to four hours for the main sights. Add time for the museum and the far sectors if you want to see the North Theatre and churches without rushing.

Is Jerash a day trip from Amman?

Yes. Jerash is a standard half-day or full-day trip from Amman, and it combines well with Ajloun Castle if you have a driver. Petra and Wadi Rum, by contrast, are 3-4 hours south.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places