Baptism Site of Jesus Christ in Jordan: Visiting the Beautiful Holy Land

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image text: visiting the baptism site of jesus christ. image: wooden stairs leading into muddy river water. the river is lined with tall water reeds along the bank. a wooden shade structure is on the other side of the bank.

During my week-long road trip though Jordan, I knew that I wanted to visit some of the Holy Land sites in the area. So best believe when I learned the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ was on that list, I was down with get down.

Though, not everyone automatically knows the ins and outs of visiting historical places in Jordan – that’s what I’m for! This post will give you the ins and outs of how to get there and what to expect so that you can have the best possible experience!

I know, I know, I’m sooo helpful. But really, hold your thanks until the end because honestly…it was like 9 months ago and I might have forgotten some of the details.

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I’m just playin hahah.

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*nervous sweats*

Let’s get this post on the road.

Table of Contents

How to Get There

Image of 5 different places of worship on the horizon that surround the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ in Jordan

The Baptism Site of Jesus Christ is about an hour’s drive from Amman, Jordan. If you have a rental car, then it’s really just plug and play on your navigation system of choice. The roads are curved, but it isn’t too strenuous of a drive.

For a slightly shorter drive, you can visit from the Dead Sea.

If you don’t have a car, then basically all the taxi drivers know how to get to the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ, and there are multiple tours that include the stop on their itinerary. As you get closer to the site, you will have to turn off into a dirt road. Don’t worry, you’re still on the right path! Eventually, you will reach the large parking lot with the entrance ticket booth. Woo!

Image: Ticket booth at the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ. The bottom half of the building is made of from large brick pattern, while the top half is flat plaster. On the wall next to the ticket window is a sign explaining the authenticity of this location as the real site.

Operating Hours

Winter Time (Nov 1 – March 31) 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (last entry 4:00 p.m.)
Summer Time (April 1 – Oct 31) 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (last entry 6:00 p.m.)

BUT what the operation hours DON’T tell you is that that you can’t just explore the site alone, PLUS there are assigned tour times. YESSS, I found this out the hard way. First of all, for the life of me, I cannot wake up early. Especially on vacation. So as I was headed out of Amman at the scorching noon sun, I figured it would be fine to stroll in whenever. I had a rental car, and I arrived around 1:15pm.

The tours run on the hour. So I had to wait about 40 minutes until the next tour was set to go. During that time, I befriended a stray cat and also used the only restroom onsite. They were very clean and did have toilet paper, in case you were wondering. Pro-tip, definitely go before the tour. Again. IT IS THE ONLY ONE.

girl with long curly hair sitting on a wooden bench in a hay thatched structure. There is a fluffy cat on her lap.

Entrance Fees:
Jordanians: 3 JDs
Nationals of the Arab League Countries: 5 JDs
Other Nationalities: 12 JDs
Free entry for children under 12 years

I had the Jordan Pass, but unfortunately the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ is not one of the included attractions. However, you can get a discount (8JDs instead of 12) if you add on the site when you buy your Jordan Pass.

For more pricing and hour information, please visit the official Baptism Site of Jesus Christ website.

Baptism Site of Jesus Christ Tour

At the hour, a designated tour guide will approach the booth and let everyone in the little waiting area that the tour is now starting. If you are visiting the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ as a stop on a tour, then they will either be your guide, or they will tell you to follow the site’s guide and meet you back at the entrance at the end.

image: a half-circle stone water feature (no running water though) with an image of jesus painted in an arch in the center of the back wall of the feature

If you are not part of a group, then you will follow the site’s guide to a large van. It is not air-conditioned, and it WILL get hot. I’m just letting you know now. So either avoid going at peak heat like I did, or wear breathable clothing.

For reference, I wore a leather jacket and black skinny jeans.

Before you ask, yes, I was sticky and sweaty my entire trip.

The drive from the entrance area to the site isn’t too long, about 15-20 minutes or so. The tour guide will begin with a little oversite of the actual area and the river, and also make jokes that if you wander off, the Israeli border patrol will shoot you because Palestine is literally right on the other side of the river.

Well they’re joking….but also high-key not joking. So uh, make sure to follow your tour guide’s instructions and stay with them at all times.

You’ll be fine. 🙂

First Stop

You will first stop at a small viewing area where you can see the Jordan River and a building in the distance. Here, the tour guide will get to know everyone a bit and have mini intros so everyone is less awkward around each other haha. From here on out, you will be walking for the tour. Expect to walk about 2km/1.25mi during the tour. Please wear comfortable walking shoes, whatever that means for you.

image: a slim river slices through tall reeds and grass, separating Jordan and Palestine in the distance

If you are unable to walk the entire distance or use a wheelchair/walker, the are accessible options (from what I saw, one option is taking you through the site on a golf cart). You can either ask for these options at the ticket booth, but I think a better option would be to contact them in advance at the below contacts:

By phone: +962 78 062 2109
or email: muhannad@baptismsite.com

Yanno, just to make sure they have everything set for your arrival!

At this first stop, our guide gave us a more in-depth explanation to what “Beyond the Jordan” means, and also background on the land disputes between Jordan, Palestine, and Israel. It was nice to learn the meaning behind the terms and words that were crucial to understanding how geography worked during Biblical times.

image: tour group of 8ish people walking in two lines under a shaded awning structure

As it turned out, there was only one person in our group who spoke Arabic (though they also spoke English), so our guide spoke in English the whole time. That said, the guides are bilingual, usually in English and Arabic, and can give the tour in both languages if needed.

Second Stop

You will continue walking on the path, and while there is a liiiiittle shade from a few awnings (I stress the word little), I highly recommend you bring both sunscreen and a hat. If you struggle with finding a sunscreen that won’t leave you looking grey and ashy, I’ve put together a list of sunscreens for darker skin tones.

the baptism site of jesus christ. there is a long clay-stone staircase leading down to a dry dirt pit that used to be filled with water from the river. The surroundings are all dirt.

Your guide will take you to the actual Baptism Site of Jesus Christ, which you will notice isn’t actually on the (current) Jordan River. My guide explained, with maybe the slightest bit of shade, that the river had once originally flowed through the ancient site, but since then someoneeeee *COUGH ISRAEL COUGH* on the other side of the river decided to divert the Jordan River which dried up the source to the Baptism Site. Another consequence of diverting the river is the Dead Sea drying up (it’s estimated to have MAYBE 60ish years left??). Whyyyy did they decided to divert the river? Well…if they didn’t, there would be *too much* water flowing through Palestine…………………………………but I digress.

Anyways, this stop was hype! When I showed my mom and aunt the pictures later, they lost their freaking marbles. It even inspired them to want to go on a Holy Land tour (a tour would be a great option if you will be traveling with a wheelchair). But again, I’m getting side tracked. This stop is “the main event,” but there is surprisingly still more to see!

Third Stop

image of the ceiling of the church. images of angels, wings, jesus and his disciples are painted on the ceiling and upper walls. A large crystal chandelier hands in the center.

framed picture of the bust of the virgin mary and baby jesus, clothed in robes and etched halos around their heads

The last stop was also pretty cool, and a bit more interactive. You will stop by an Orthodox Church where you can purchase blessed Holy Water. The inside of the chapel is BEAUTIFUL. Then you will get a chance to stop by the Jordan River. Thankfully, this portion will be shaded. But prepare yourself, because there will be an armed guard.

wooden structure with three peaks at the top. Near the base of the structure is a stone slab with the words "Jordan River" carved into it in Arabic and English

clay-stone stairs leading down to a level platform that is on the river's edge

On the Jordan side of the river, there will be a Jordanian guard chilling under the awning. Likewise, there is an Israeli guard on the other side, noticably NOT CHILL. They are there juuuuust in case someone tries to cross under the little floating divider in the River.

there is a river and on the other side of the bank is steps leading down into the river. A group of about 50 people all in white robes wait on the platform, stairs, and in the river for their turn to be baptized in the river by the religious leader

While I was there, a tour group on the Israeli side of the river was getting Baptized. That is also something you can arrange on the Jordan side, you just have to notify them ahead of time.

By phone: +962 78 062 2109
or email: muhannad@baptismsite.com

One person in our group decided to do it, though he was not accompanied by any kind of religious leader. He was provided with a white robe (he changed somewhere else in a dressing room I assume), and he was given about 5 minutes to dip three times in the Jordan River.

image: a man in a white robe walking away into the river. Behind him, his friend stands and watches and an armed guard sits on a bench to the side, relaxed

His first words after getting in the water: “It’s freezing.”

His second words: “Apple watches are waterproof, right?”

Fourth (and Final) Stop

The fourth, and final, stop at the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ is the mini museum (and gift shop). At the museum, you will find a lot of artifacts an information about the era and time period pre-Jesus. Tons of pots, clothing, paintings, and explanations about the political/government situation during that period.

image: large circular room with pillars segmenting the back wall every few feet. Inside the room are glass containers filled with ancient artifacts. The one in the middle has clay pots. Two along the back wall have an ancient robe in each of them.

I personally like to collect souvenirs like mugs, pencils, and magnets, but you won’t really find much of that here. Instead, the souvenirs are more along the lines of rosaries and bottles of Holy Water. The accept both cash (Jordanian dinars) and credit card (Visa).

The Baptism Site of Jesus Christ: Conclusion

Overall, the entire tour was pretty dope! It was awesome to see like…the ACTUAL Baptism Site of THE Jesus Christ. For you skeptics out there, the evidence support the site’s authenticity is OVERWHELMING, with biblical, archeological, AND historical records as evidence. Regardless of your faith or religion, an astounding majority of religious leaders around the world recognize this location as the authentic Baptism Site of Jesus Christ.

If you STILL don’t believe it, you can check out the letters of authentications on-site.

image: stary kitten standing near a stone wall

I really appreciated the tour guide’s passion for the site and their endless knowledge about it. It made the tour feel thorough and insightful, instead of just “ooo look at all this old stuff!” I also liked that the tour wasn’t too long. One, because I have a short attention span. Two, there’s SO much to see in Jordan that it was great to get a concise tour without it taking the whole day. And three, it was like 10 degrees hotter at the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ than in Amman (because of the super low altitude).

For someone visiting for the first time, I would definitely recommend stopping by if you can work it into your schedule.

Final Words

Have you ever been to the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ? How was your experience? AND – what was your favorite part? Let me know in the comments below!

If you’ve never been to Jordan – or skipped the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ on a previous visit – do you think you would want to include this site to your itinerary?

Baptism Site of Jesus Christ in Jordan: Visiting the Beautiful Holy Land