Ancient Sites in Jordan

Jordan delivers highly accessible ancient sites across Nabataean, Roman, and early Islamic periods. This hub helps you compare all 45 published destination guides in one place.

Umayyad (4)Umayyad Caliphate (4)Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic (2)Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic (2)
Ruins of ancient Abila in northern Jordan set among green hills and archaeological remains

All destinations in Jordan

Ruins of ancient Abila in northern Jordan set among green hills and archaeological remains

Abila

Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic

 Archaeological remains of Ain Ghazal near Amman in Jordan

Ain Ghazal

Pre-Pottery Neolithic communities of the Levant

 Ajloun Castle standing atop lush hills in northern Jordan under a blue sky

Ajloun Castle

Ajloun Governorate

 Temple of Hercules columns and the Hand of Hercules at Amman Citadel, Jordan

Amman Citadel Jordan Guide 2026: Temple of Hercules & Ancient Rabbah

Ammonite-Roman-Umayyad

 Stone remains at Beidha archaeological site near Petra in Jordan

Beidha

Pre-Pottery Neolithic communities of the southern Levant

 Archaeological ruins and natural springs of Bethany Beyond the Jordan in Jordan along the Jordan River

Bethany Beyond the Jordan

Balqa Governorate

 Traditional stone houses in Dana Village, Jordan, overlooking the mountains of Dana Biosphere Reserve

Dana Village

Nabataean, Ottoman, and local Jordanian highland communities

 Archaeological mound at Deir Alla in Jordan's Jordan Valley under warm evening light

Deir Alla

Canaanite, Israelite-era, and regional Levantine cultures

 Dark basalt walls of Desert Castles (Qasr al-Azraq) in eastern Jordan under a wide desert sky

Desert Castles (Qasr al-Azraq)

Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad, Ottoman

 Stone walls and courtyard of Desert Castles (Qasr al-Hallabat) in Jordan under a clear desert sky

Desert Castles (Qasr al-Hallabat)

Roman and Umayyad

 Exterior of Desert Castles (Qasr Kharana) rising from the desert plain in Jordan

Desert Castles (Qasr Kharana)

Umayyad

 Ancient ruins and hilltop landscape at Dhiban in Jordan

Dhiban

Moabite, Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic

 Ancient black-basalt seating of Gadara Theater (Umm Qais) in northern Jordan overlooking the Jordan Valley

Gadara Theater (Umm Qais)

Greco-Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic

 Ruins of Humayma in the desert landscape of southern Jordan

Humayma

Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic

 Qasr al-Abd at Iraq al-Amir in Jordan, set amid the green valley west of Amman

Iraq al-Amir

Hellenistic, with later Roman and local occupation

 The oval Forum at Jerash, Jordan

Jerash: The Pompeii of the East and Jordan's Best-Preserved

Roman / Nabataean

 Kerak Castle rising above the town of Al-Karak in Jordan under a clear sky

Kerak Castle

Crusader, Ayyubid, Mamluk, Ottoman

 Ruins of Khirbet ed-Dharih temple complex in the mountains of Jordan

Khirbet ed-Dharih

Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine

 View of the sandstone facades and rock-cut architecture at Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) in Jordan

Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)

Ma'an Governorate

 Lot's Cave archaeological sanctuary on a hillside above the Dead Sea in Jordan

Lot's Cave

Biblical tradition, Nabataean-Roman regional context, Byzantine Christian

 Ruins of Machaerus (Mukawir) fortress on a hilltop above the Dead Sea in Jordan

Machaerus (Mukawir)

Hasmonean, Herodian, Nabataean, Roman

 A panoramic view of the ancient mosaics and historic architecture of Madaba, Jordan

Madaba

Madaba Governorate

 Montreal Castle (Shoubak) crowning a rocky hill in southern Jordan

Montreal Castle (Shoubak)

Crusader, Ayyubid, Mamluk

 Sweeping panorama from Mount Nebo overlooking the Jordan Valley in Jordan

Mount Nebo

Madaba Governorate

 Ruins and green valley landscape at Pella (Tabaqat Fahl) in Jordan

Pella (Tabaqat Fahl)

Canaanite, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic

 The Treasury at Petra, Jordan

Petra Jordan Travel Guide: Treasury, Monastery & Best Hikes

Nabataean

 Qasr al-Abd palace ruins in Jordan surrounded by the valley landscape

Qasr al-Abd

Hellenistic Jordan

 Ruins of Qasr Al-Mshatta in Jordan showing the palace walls and carved stone facade

Qasr Al-Mshatta

Umayyad Caliphate

 Ruins of Qasr al-Mushash in Jordan standing on the desert plain east of Amman

Qasr al-Mushash

Umayyad

 Ruins of Qasr Al-Muwaqqar in the desert landscape of Jordan

Qasr Al-Muwaqqar

Umayyad Caliphate

 Stone ruins of Qasr Al-Qastal near Amman in Jordan under a clear desert sky

Qasr Al-Qastal

Umayyad

 Interior frescoes and paintings in Qasr Amra desert castle, Jordan

Qasr Amra Jordan Travel Guide 2026: Desert Castle Frescoes

Umayyad

 Stone walls and towers of Qasr Bashir in Jordan rising from the desert landscape

Qasr Bashir

Roman

 Ruins of Qasr Hammam As Sarah in Jordan standing in the desert landscape near the Black Desert

Qasr Hammam As Sarah

Umayyad Caliphate

 Ruins of Qasr Tuba in the Jordanian desert, Jordan

Qasr Tuba

Umayyad Caliphate

 Ruins of Quweilbeh (Abila) in northern Jordan, with ancient stone remains and rolling hills

Quweilbeh (Abila)

Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic

 The Roman Theater in Amman, Jordan, with its impressive stone tiers and historical Roman architecture

Roman Theater (Amman)

Amman Governorate

 Ancient stone tower of Rujm al-Malfouf in Amman, Jordan

Rujm al-Malfouf

Iron Age Levantine

 Stone ruins of Shobak Castle on a hilltop in Jordan under a clear desert sky

Shobak Castle

Crusader, Ayyubid, and Mamluk

 Archaeological remains on the summit of Tell Hesban in Jordan overlooking the surrounding plateau

Tell Hesban

Ammonite, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic

 Ruins and stone remains at Umm Al-Walid in Jordan set against the open plateau landscape

Umm Al-Walid

Byzantine and Early Islamic

 Ancient ruins and mosaic remains at Umm ar-Rasas in Jordan under clear desert light

Umm ar-Rasas

Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic

 Black basalt ruins of Umm el-Jimal in northern Jordan under a wide desert sky

Umm el-Jimal

Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, Early Islamic

 Black basalt ruins of Umm Qais overlooking the Sea of Galilee and Jordan Valley

Umm Qais Jordan Travel Guide 2026: Gadara & Views to Galilee

Greco-Roman (Decapolis)

 Ancient Thamudic and Nabataean inscriptions etched into the red sandstone of Wadi Rum, Jordan

Wadi Rum Ancient Inscriptions

Aqaba Governorate

Planning snapshot

  • Best for: Desert archaeology, iconic carved architecture, and compact road-trip itineraries.
  • Suggested trip length: 5-7 days for Petra + north/south circuit, 8-10 days for deeper coverage.
  • Pacing: Front-load physically demanding site days and add recovery spa/desert evenings.

Explore by region inside Jordan

  • asia - 41 destinations
  • middle-east - 4 destinations