Ancient Gadara, located at modern-day Umm Qais in northern Jordan, is one of the country’s most remarkable archaeological sites and was once an important city of the Greco-Roman Decapolis. Perched on a dramatic hilltop overlooking the Yarmouk Valley and Lake Tiberias, the ancient city combines exceptional archaeological remains with some of the most impressive panoramic views in Jordan.
Visitors can explore Gadara’s distinctive black-basalt ruins, ancient theatres, colonnaded streets, vaulted terraces, tombs, Byzantine remains and other structures that reveal centuries of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic and Ottoman history. The site also includes the Umm Qais Archaeological Museum, housed within a historic Ottoman building and displaying artifacts discovered in and around the ancient city.
Beyond its archaeological importance, Umm Qais is renowned for its spectacular setting, with sweeping views toward the Yarmouk Valley, Lake Tiberias, the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon. Its combination of history, architecture, landscape and cultural heritage makes Ancient Gadara one of northern Jordan’s essential destinations.