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Qasr al-Yahud Baptismal Site
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Qasr al-Yahud Baptismal Site

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See all things to do
Qasr al-Yahud Baptismal Site
4.5
#54 of 419 things to do in Jerusalem
Religious Sites
08:00 - 17:00
Monday
08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
08:00 - 17:00
Thursday
08:00 - 17:00
Friday
08:00 - 16:00
Saturday
08:00 - 17:00
Sunday
08:00 - 17:00
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About
This Jordan Rive baptismal site is a special and sacred spot for Christianity. Here the Jordan River flows through the plains of Jericho, creating a thread life through the heart of the desert. Christian pilgrims come here to be baptized in the river, just as – according to tradition – John the Baptist baptized Jesus some two thousand years ago.
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4.5
185 reviews
Excellent
92
Very good
63
Average
24
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4
Terrible
2
Tim M
Honolulu, HI59 contributions
The Bible points to the Jordanian side of the river as the actual site.
Sep 2023 • Solo
If you are visiting this area from the Israeli side you are close but the actual site according to the bible John 1:28 states, (“All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan,) meaning on the Jordan side of the river, further evidence is found on the oldest surviving map of the middle east that indicates the Jordan side of the river. Johns cave is also found in Jordan (just up the hill)
The Israeli site was constructed after the actual site was rediscovered from using that ancient map, and excavated in Jordan. So yes you are visiting the area, just not the site. As Israel and Jordan have yet to agree on terms to allow easy access to the actual site from the Israeli side, and the Israelis are hesitant to lose the tourist income.

Yes you should go, just know the truth is on the other side of the river.
So many of us forget that much of what we find in the bible occurred in what is now Jordan.
Written 14 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SmartTraveler
Muar, Malaysia658 contributions
The Baptism of Christ
Mar 2023 • Couples
Jordan River flows from Lebanon, to the Sea of Galilee and end in the Dead Sea. It borders Israel, Syria and Jordan. Numerous events of this river were written in the Bible.

Abraham allowed Lot to choose the fertile valley land at the Jordan River. Joshua defeated the Cannanites and his priests carried the Ark of the Covenant across this river. Prophet Elijah and Elisha performed miracles in here.

We are at the baptismal site in Jordan River. In the New Testament, John the Baptist preached on its river bank. He baptised Jesus with water. During the baptism, God proclaimed His Son, with a Dove descending upon Jesus. The Baptism of Christ is a milestone. It heralds the start of his ministry.
Written 16 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Temper43 - Alfredo
Panama City, Panama1,321 contributions
A great site for Christian visitors
Feb 2023
such an important site to bring tourists, and is near Jericho, the site is being now renovated and it will be larger in order to accept more visitors.

Amazing how the tourists feel when visiting the site.
Written 24 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bluebellplasnewydd
Cardiff, UK1,935 contributions
Border with Jordan
Nov 2022
This site is not so commercialised as the other religious attractions. Probably because it is in the centre of a mined military border area. There are wooden steps down to the river and if you want to bathe the area is roped off. Indeed if you stray outside this area you will be confronted by armed Jordanian soldiers who are patrolling a similar baptismal site on the other side of the river. The river itself is far narrower than you may expect and very muddy. It is lined with reeds and flows very slowly. Whether this is the real baptismal site of Jesus is up for debate but visiting is a moving experience.
Written 16 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,808 contributions
Highlight of visit to Holy Land
Nov 2022
According to Christian tradition, Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan on this site by his cousin, John the Baptist. For those of us who were brought up on hymns which proclaim "Jordan River is chilly and cold" the site may be a tad disappointing. The River Jordan is muddy and narrow here, but as with many other things in the Holy Land, imagination supplants reality. Believers who visit this site will probably be strengthened in their faith.
Written 4 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony C
Bedford, UK1,143 contributions
Watch pilgrims be baptised
Oct 2022 • Couples
This is right on the banks of the Jordan river which is very narrow at this point and therefore can be reached from either Jordan or Israel. We joined it from the latter although I don’t think the experience is different from either side.
As it is right on the border there is a lot of security before you get to the site. You won’t need long there - assuming you are only looking and the site. This is reality is just a narrow dirty looking part of the river but, for religious reasons, is extremely important to pilgrims.
While we were there a party of pilgrims were being baptised (again I assume) in the river. This was interesting to watch what it meant to the people.
You won’t need long but recommended
Written 27 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SnowyShasta
Portland, OR2,119 contributions
Can be crowded
Nov 2022
We visited with a tour group, and during the time we were there saw a lot of other groups come through, some just to look, others to be baptized. I'm not sure how confident anyone is that this is the actual site where Jesus was baptized, but it was a nice experience to talk with our guide about the scriptural accounts, and to see the Joran River. The river is pretty slow-moving with a lot of sediment this close to the Dead Sea. We spent about an hour here, although without a guide's talk, less time would likely be fine.
Written 25 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christopher S
Fort Collins, CO72 contributions
Small oasis in the DMZ
Jul 2022 • Family
Very cool to see the place where Jesus was baptized... according to my research anyhow. Jordan border is a stone throws away too which added to the experience. You do have to drive through the DMZ to get there but again I think that adds to the overall experience of traveling to far away lands.
Written 2 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yaki a
Tel Aviv, Israel434 contributions
Magical atmosphere
Apr 2022 • Family
We visited the place with a small group in a guided tour.
The guide updated us in advance that it is almost impossible to predict how the visit will go and he was correct.
We had fantastic time there as we came in parallel to a group from South America that sang songs and made a ceremony and this gave the entire place a magical feeling

If not - it is a nice place to visit, more impactful if you are Christian
Written 23 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shahar L
Tel Aviv, Israel259 contributions
Joshua, Jesus and John the baptist were here
Dec 2021
This place has a huge amount of mythology and history behind it - it is believed Joshua crossed here with the people of Israel after they left egypt, it is here, where John the baptist did his baptising, and jesus heard about him came and got baptized... in addition to the possibility to dip in the jordan river- you also have a multitude of monasteries surrounding this site - both on the israeli and jordenian sides. You can also cross (requires coordination with the israeli army) into what is called "the monasteries land" - where several old monasteries got deserted/destroyed during the time after the 6 days war... All and all- amazing area!
Written 11 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Qasr al-Yahud Baptismal Site, Jerusalem

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