castle
Ajloun Castle
A 12th-century Ayyubid castle built by Saladin's general on a hilltop to control the Jordan Valley iron mines and counter Crusader expansion.
28 km · about 30 min drive
AsiaJordanIrbid
Irbid
Irbid, Jordan · Asia
About Irbid
Irbid is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Ḩakamā, 39km from Sea of Galilee.
Irbid is in Jordan, with about 570,000 people. The nearest town is Ḩakamā, about 5 km away.
Irbid (Arabic: إِربِد) is a city located on the northern ridge of the Gilead mountains in northern Jordan in the Irbid Governorate. The city lies approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of the Syrian border, and is the largest city of the Irbid Governorate and the third most populous city of Jordan.
Irbid was knownRead more
in classical antiquity with its ancient Greek name of Arabella, close to the cities of Pella, Beit Ras, and Um Qais. Irbid was built on successive Early Bronze Age settlements and was possibly the biblical Beth Arbel and the Arbila of the Decapolis, a Hellenistic league of the 1st–2nd century BC. The population of Irbid swelled in the late 19th century, and prior to 1948 it served as a significant centre of transit trade. The greater Irbid Municipality was established in 1881 in the late Ottoman period, making it the oldest municipality in Jordan.
It has the second-largest metropolitan population in Jordan after the capital Amman which lies about 70 kilometres (43 mi) to its south, with a population of around 2,003,800. It also has the third largest urban population in Jordan after Amman and Zarqa. The Irbid Governorate has the second largest population, and the highest population density in the kingdom. The city is a major ground transportation hub between Amman, Syria to the north, and Mafraq to the east. The Irbid region is also home to several colleges and universities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Irbid?
Within an hour or so of Irbid: Ajloun Castle (28 km), Jerash (31 km), Sea of Galilee (39 km), Mount Arbel (44 km).
Where is Irbid?
Irbid is in Irbid, Jordan, about 5 km from Ḩakamā.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 569,068
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Jordan
- Region
- Irbid
- Timezone
- Asia/Amman
- Coordinates
- 32.5556, 35.8500
Tags
Worth the detour from Irbid
4 notable places within an hour's drive.
ancient ruins
Jerash
One of the best-preserved and most complete Roman provincial cities in the world, featuring colonnaded streets, temples, theaters, and an unusual oval plaza.
31 km · about 35 min drive
natural wonder
Sea of Galilee
The largest freshwater lake in Israel, central to Christian scripture and surrounded by important biblical sites including Capernaum and the Mount of Beatitudes.
39 km · about 45 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Mount Arbel
A cliff dropping 380m to the Sea of Galilee, with fortified caves cut into its face by Jewish rebels and a lookout taking in the whole lake to the Golan. Israel's only base-jumping mountain.
44 km · about 50 min drive
Driving roads near Irbid
- 44 kmMount ArbelA cliff dropping 380m to the Sea of Galilee, with fortified caves cut into its face by Jewish rebels and a lookout taking in the whole lake to the Golan. Israel's only base-jumping mountain.
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