Jerash

Only 50 kilometres from Amman, Jerash is one of the best preserved, most dramatic and explorable Roman cities in the Middle East. It is a must-see for all visitors to the country.

Jerash is set in a fertile region and is spread over a wide area. You can see the highlights of the ancient city in a couple of hours, but you can easily spend a full day exploring the ruins.

The most famous features of the city are the colonnaded main street of the Cardo leading to the Oval Plaza. There are also dozens of theatres, temples and monuments dating from the Roman period, and also churches from later Christian times when Jerash remained an important city. Today, the site has been well restored, and it is easy to get a feel for the ancient history. Although the site is always busy, it is possible to step off the busy thoroughfares to soak up the atmosphere of this historical city.