Major city · Jordan
Irbidإربد
Give Irbid one night as a staging base for Umm Qais, Pella and Ajlun — not as a sightseeing city. The town itself is a half-day at most.
Irbid is northern Jordan's university and administrative city, 88 km north of Amman, with a Bronze Age past buried under modern streets. Its value to a traveller is position: Umm Qais, Pella, Jerash and Ajlun are all within reach, and beds cost less than in Amman. The city's own sights — a citadel mound, two university museums, a clock tower — fill an afternoon, not a trip. Come for the base, not the town.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JOD
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot), Jan–Feb (wet and cold)
- Airports
- AMM · QIR
- Nights
- 1
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
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
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Irbid911 ▾
- Police, ambulance and fire911
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 Irbid, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Jordanian dinar (JOD) is divided into 1,000 fils (or 100 piastres); one dinar is a high-value note.Jordan-wide
- SIM or eSIMZain, Orange and Umniah sell tourist SIMs at Queen Alia arrivals; passport registration is required.Jordan-wide
- Tap waterTreated at source but stored in rooftop tanks; drink bottled or filtered.Jordan-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge; many mid-range places add 10%.Jordan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/F/G/J. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Jordan-wide
- SafetyIrbid is a working Jordanian city and generally calm for visitors; the practical risks are unlit pavements, fast traffic and unmetered taxis.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; squat toilets at some bus stations.Jordan-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, ambulance and fire
- Sundays & holidaysFriday is the main weekend day: government offices, banks and many downtown shops close, some open after midday prayers.Jordan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportAMM Queen Alia International (Amman) (About 1 h 45 min–2 h by road to Irbid; no rail link.
- Getting aroundTaxis are the default: in Irbid the meter is rarely used, so agree a price before you get in.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealFalafel sandwichJD 0.20–0.50
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Short taxi ride in the cityAgree the price first; the meter is often not used.JD 1–3
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekJD 8–15
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per personJOD 8
- Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomJOD 40
- High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomJOD 65
A day, not counting the bed: Budget JOD 20 · Mid JOD 40 · High JOD 70
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
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.
- Airports
- AMM Queen Alia International (Amman) (About 1 h 45 min–2 h by road to Irbid; no rail link. Shared and private transfers run from Amman.) · QIR Amman Civil Airport (Marka) (Closer to the north but few scheduled passenger flights; check before planning around it.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Feb
Avoid
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Mar
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Apr
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
May
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jun
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jul
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Oct
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Dec
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jan–Feb, Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jan (5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C) low), wettest Jan (12 rain days), driest Jul (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Irbid: 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
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
12 rd
Feb
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
11 rd
Mar
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
8 rd
Apr
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
4 rd
May
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
2 rd
Jun
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
1 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
0 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
0 rd
Sep
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
1 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
3 rd
Nov
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
6 rd
Dec
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
10 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
Taxis are the default: in Irbid the meter is rarely used, so agree a price before you get in. Service taxis and minibuses run fixed routes with no timetable and leave when full. Distances inside the city are short; most trips cost a few dinars.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Umm Qais (Gadara)
goDoor to door: About 30–40 min each way
Taxi or rental car north on the Irbid–Umm Qais road
Roman basalt ruins with views over the Golan and Sea of Galilee; best in clear morning light.
Pella
goDoor to door: About 45 min each way
Taxi or car via the Jordan Valley road
Decapolis ruins in a valley; little shade, so go early and carry water.
Door to door: About 1 h each way
Car or taxi south on the Amman road
Jordan's largest Roman site; needs three hours on the ground.
Ajlun Castle
goDoor to door: About 45 min each way
Car or taxi south-west via Ajlun
Ayyubid hill fortress; pairs well with Jerash in one long day.
Door to door: About 1 h 30 min–2 h
Bus or coach from the Amman Jadeed terminal, or taxi
Cheap buses stop en route; more comfortable coaches run direct.
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.
University Street area
Restaurants, cafés, shops and the city's larger hotels; the practical base if you have a car or use taxis.
Downtown (around the citadel and clock tower)
Older, cheaper hotels, noisy traffic and evening crowds; walkable to the citadel and the archaeological museum.
Yarmouk University area
Quiet, student-oriented, close to the Museum of Jordanian Heritage and the Natural History Museum.
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
- Budget
- JD 20–35 excl. bed
- Mid
- JD 35–60 excl. bed
- High
- JD 60+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range double room1 × 1 night × JOD 40 | JOD 40 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × JOD 40 | JOD 80 |
| Bus Amman (Tabarbour) → Irbid, one way2 × JOD 1 · check | JOD 2 |
| Direct coach Amman → Irbid, one way2 × JOD 2 · check | JOD 4 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × JOD 10 | JOD 20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | JOD 15 |
| Trip total≈ JOD 81 per person per day, bed included | JOD 161 |
2026 estimate in Jordanian dinars; intercity transport and site tickets excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Falafel sandwich | JD 0.20–0.50 |
| Shawarma sandwich | JD 0.60–1.50 |
| Hummus or falafel plate to go | JD 0.40–1.50 |
| Grill restaurant main (kebab, chicken) | JD 4–9 |
| Shisha at a café | JD 1.50–3 |
| Short taxi ride in the cityAgree the price first; the meter is often not used. | JD 1–3 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | JD 8–15 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Taxis in Irbid often skip the meter — fix the fare before departure.
- Minibuses and service taxis wait until full; allow slack time for any connection.
- Summer afternoons are hot and dry; do the citadel and walking early.
- Winter (Dec–Feb) is wet and cool, with the heaviest rain of the year.
- Alcohol is sold in downtown liquor stores rather than bars; there are no pubs in the city.
Emergency numbers
- Police, ambulance and fire
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Irbidإربد
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
إلى هذا العنوان، لو سمحتTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, ambulance and fire911
Embassy
Most embassies are in Amman; check your country's mission there before travelling north.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Amman (Tabarbour) → Irbid: from about JD 1, roughly 1 h 30 min (check)
- Direct coach Amman → Irbid: about JD 2.10, no intermediate stops (check)
- Taxi Irbid → Umm Qais: agree before departure; expect several dinars (check)
Say or show
- مرحبا — Hello (marhaba)
- شكرا — Thank you (shukran)
- كم السعر؟ — How much is it? (kam al-si'r?)
- غالي كثير — Too expensive (ghali ktir)
- وين موقف التاكسي؟ — Where is the taxi stand? (wen mawqif al-taksi?)
- الحساب لو سمحت — The bill, please (al-hisab law samaht)
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 Irbid. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot), Jan–Feb (wet and cold) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for AMM: road time to Irbid, transfer options and a late-arrival fallback.
- Four walking clusters with anchors: citadel and clock tower, downtown, University Street, Yarmouk University.
- Place pages with verified hours (citadel, archaeological museum, university museums) and eat pages with last orders.
- Border and day-trip fixtures so Umm Qais, Pella and Ajlun gates can go green.
Sources
- officialIrbid municipality (official)
- officialJordan Tourism Board
- secondaryWikivoyage: Irbid, revision 5205238 (CC BY-SA 4.0)