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Major city · Jordan

Mafraq

Skip Mafraq as a destination: use it only as a transit stop or to visit Umm el-Jimal ruins. Half a day is enough.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Mafraq is a crossroads town 70 km north-east of Amman, historically a Hejaz Railway junction. Today it is a service centre with one major sight — the Nabataean-Roman ruins of Umm el-Jimal — and the Zaatari refugee camp. Most travellers pass through on the way to the Eastern Desert castles or Syria (border closed). A half-day stop covers the ruins; the town itself has little to offer tourists.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
JOD
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
avoid Jul–Aug (very hot), Dec–Feb (cold and wet)
Airport
AMM
Nights
0

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Mafraq: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 4
  • Jordan ↗Get the visa or the Jordan Pass only on official channels; lookalike sites charge extra.
  • Jordan ↗Yellow taxis must use the meter; if the driver refuses, use a ride-hailing app instead.
  • Jordan ↗In Ramadan, eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight is not accepted; hotels and tourist restaurants serve.
  • Jordan ↗Do not pack a drone: import without a prior permit is refused and the drone is held at the border.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Mafraq911 ▾
  • Police911
  • Fire and ambulance911

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Mafraq, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Umm el-Jimal ruinsHejaz Railway historyZaatari refugee campCrossroads location
Airports
AMM Queen Alia International Airport (About 1 h 15 min drive south via Highway 15)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    12°C (54°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    14°C (57°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  5. May

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  6. Jun

    not flagged

    33°C (91°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    35°C (95°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    35°C (95°F)

  9. Sep

    not flagged

    32°C (90°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    20°C (68°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    14°C (57°F)

Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (35°C (95°F)), coolest Jan (3°C (37°F) low), wettest Jan (6 rain days), driest Jun (0). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Mafraq: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

12°C (54°F)

3°C (37°F)

6 rd

Feb

14°C (57°F)

4°C (39°F)

6 rd

Mar

18°C (64°F)

7°C (45°F)

5 rd

Apr

24°C (75°F)

11°C (52°F)

3 rd

May

29°C (84°F)

15°C (59°F)

2 rd

Jun

33°C (91°F)

19°C (66°F)

0 rd

Jul

35°C (95°F)

21°C (70°F)

0 rd

Aug

35°C (95°F)

21°C (70°F)

0 rd

Sep

32°C (90°F)

18°C (64°F)

0 rd

Oct

27°C (81°F)

14°C (57°F)

2 rd

Nov

20°C (68°F)

8°C (46°F)

4 rd

Dec

14°C (57°F)

4°C (39°F)

6 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Taxi or private car is the only practical option. The town is small enough to walk between the few sights, but Umm el-Jimal is 15 km east — you need a car or arranged driver.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Umm el-Jimal

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Taxi from Mafraq centre, about 20 min

Nabataean and Byzantine ruins; free to enter, no facilities on site.

Qasr Amra

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Car via Desert Highway, about 1 h

Umayyad desert castle with frescoes; combine with other Eastern Desert castles.

Amman

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Car or bus via Highway 15, about 1 h

Base for most travellers; far more accommodation and dining.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

City centre (Army Street area)

A few basic hotels and the Azraq Desert Hotel; limited options, book ahead.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
JD 15–25
Mid
JD 30–50
High
JD 60+

Watch out

Safety

Mafraq is generally safe, but the area near the Syrian border (north-east) is off-limits to tourists. Do not approach the Zaatari camp without prior arrangement. Petty crime is low; watch your belongings in crowded markets.
  • Zaatari camp visits require pre-arrangement through an NGO; do not go without permission.
  • No train service despite the historic station; the Hejaz Railway is defunct.
  • Limited dining and accommodation; plan to eat and sleep in Amman or along the Eastern Desert loop.

Emergency numbers

Police
911
Fire and ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

MafraqMafraq

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

إلى هذا العنوان، من فضلكTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police911
  • Fire and ambulance911

Embassy

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Taxi Mafraq → Umm el-Jimal: about JD 10–15, 20 min
  • Taxi Mafraq → Amman: about JD 25–35, 1 h

Say or show

  • مرحبا — Hello (marhaba)
  • شكرا — Thank you (shukran)
  • كم؟ — How much? (kam?)
  • أين أم الجمال؟ — Where is Umm el-Jimal? (ayn umm al-jimal?)

Jordan uses 911 for all emergencies.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mafraq. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (very hot), Dec–Feb (cold and wet) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Jordan

Sources

Ask about Mafraq

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