Quseir Amra
Quseir Amra
4.5
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The eighth-century castle built on a desert caravan road is most famous for its ornate baths.
Duration: < 1 hour
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4.5
264 reviews
Excellent
147
Very good
88
Average
23
Poor
3
Terrible
3
sllim2015
Singapore, Singapore366 contributions
Feb 2020
This UNESCO world heritage palace served as a bathhouse and hunting lodge during the 8th century. Inside, its halls and ceilings are covered with a number of paintings, depicting the lifestyles of Arab princes. The castle is not crowded at all and we had the whole place to ourselves, taking beautiful pictures!
Written 10 February 2020
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.
Vandana
Bangalore, India163 contributions
Feb 2019
Easy to miss as you drive by, if not for the domes that are eye catching in the desert. This 8th century property was not a castle but served as a hunting lodge and bathhouse. From the visitor center you walk down to the domed sandstone building. There were not many visitors when we visited and we could admire the wonderful frescoes and rooms. The frescoes are well preserved, colourful, interesting and emotive. The representation of the zodiac is apparently the earliest known. Definitely worth the visit.
Written 29 January 2020
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.
LegalRover
Jordan6,663 contributions
Mar 2020
Quseir Amra is worth a stop if you are heading east on Hwy 40 towards Azraq. Even though it is referred to as a castle, it was an old hunting lodge and bath house during the Umayyad period - the first Islamic caliphate. Today, the bath house (hammam) remains. It is well preserved and has some beautiful frescoes which include Byzantine style portraits and hunting scenes accompanied by Greek and Arabic inscriptions. The Italians have been working to restore the frescoes for the last 10 years.
It takes just over an hour to get to Quseir Amra from Amman. It is referred to as part of the "desert castle loop" but I am not sure why it is referred to as a castle since it is a bath house (maybe the name stuck from over 1300 years ago). You can't miss it while on 40 since the entrance is only a few meters from the highway. Of the handful of sites that are part of the "desert castle loop" I think this is the most worth visiting. The castles in the loop primarily have most of the outer walls remaining and the interior is rubble whereas Quseir Amra has a well maintained exterior and has beautiful frescoes that you will not see elsewhere.
It takes just over an hour to get to Quseir Amra from Amman. It is referred to as part of the "desert castle loop" but I am not sure why it is referred to as a castle since it is a bath house (maybe the name stuck from over 1300 years ago). You can't miss it while on 40 since the entrance is only a few meters from the highway. Of the handful of sites that are part of the "desert castle loop" I think this is the most worth visiting. The castles in the loop primarily have most of the outer walls remaining and the interior is rubble whereas Quseir Amra has a well maintained exterior and has beautiful frescoes that you will not see elsewhere.
Written 6 February 2021
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.
Aleksandra B
Amman, Jordan173 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
Easy access from the main road (Amman-Azraq) and easy drive from Amman.
We found no one at the entrance but decided to walk to the fortress and see if it was open. And it was.
Looking from outside, you’d never think how impressive it is once you get in.
It is a small place. It is said that it was a fortress with a garrison but also a residence/pleasure palace with the reception hall and hammam.
But again, just being able to enjoy those frescos from such a close distance is an unique experience.
Huge, super deep well in front of it is scary. Couldn’t watch inside of it for long.
I spent really long time inside of the fortress admiring frescos.
This fortress is UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We found no one at the entrance but decided to walk to the fortress and see if it was open. And it was.
Looking from outside, you’d never think how impressive it is once you get in.
It is a small place. It is said that it was a fortress with a garrison but also a residence/pleasure palace with the reception hall and hammam.
But again, just being able to enjoy those frescos from such a close distance is an unique experience.
Huge, super deep well in front of it is scary. Couldn’t watch inside of it for long.
I spent really long time inside of the fortress admiring frescos.
This fortress is UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Written 5 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.
Sue W
Ilkeston, UK1,190 contributions
Apr 2024 • Friends
This truly is a castle in the desert. It is well preserved with the well outside and the thrown room inside adorned with amazing pictures telling the stories of the time. It's a long way out into the desert but I thought it was worth it.
Written 26 April 2024
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.
David G
Exeter, UK124 contributions
Nov 2021 • Couples
We finished our stops in Amman and decided that we would head out towards the desert ‘castles’ before returning to Madaba for the night.
Although it’s a 170km journey there and back, I’m very happy we took the time out to visit this ruin.
It’s a very pretty ruin of a hunting lodge with a deep well, baths and reception rooms. The paintings inside are superb, considering their age, and are very well preserved.
The colours are still visible with much of the wall of ceiling intact.
An incredible piece of history, seemingly randomly built in the middle of the desert.
Whilst the drive out there is dull and does seem to go on forever, the ruin is worth the effort and I would implore people to take time in their schedule to go and see this piece of history.
Although it’s a 170km journey there and back, I’m very happy we took the time out to visit this ruin.
It’s a very pretty ruin of a hunting lodge with a deep well, baths and reception rooms. The paintings inside are superb, considering their age, and are very well preserved.
The colours are still visible with much of the wall of ceiling intact.
An incredible piece of history, seemingly randomly built in the middle of the desert.
Whilst the drive out there is dull and does seem to go on forever, the ruin is worth the effort and I would implore people to take time in their schedule to go and see this piece of history.
Written 11 November 2021
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.
AparnaK
McKinney, TX427 contributions
Mar 2020 • Family
The second castle on our desert castle tour . Doesn’t disappoint . Just that for a visitor it throws you off to see the officials sitting and smoking hookah !!
This is a UNESCO site with frescoes and I hope they do everything to preserve it well . Hunting lodge back then and now it just sits there close to the highway reminding you of the erstwhile Umayyad that once lived and travelled these very same streets.
This is a UNESCO site with frescoes and I hope they do everything to preserve it well . Hunting lodge back then and now it just sits there close to the highway reminding you of the erstwhile Umayyad that once lived and travelled these very same streets.
Written 16 April 2020
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.
Flipperty Gibbert
Carlisle, UK132 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
I visited as part of a tour group- one of 3 sites visited under the 'Desert Castles' label as half a day trip. Only one of the castles is a castle.... this one is a Hammam (bath house)
The ride from Amman to the Qasr/s is flat desert and military sites with the occasional camel to spot and the 'castles' are easily spotted from the road. Each has their own point of interest.
The Hammam dates from the early Islamic period (740s), but contrary to the later traditions of the Islamic era, it is decorated in nude frescoes- paintings of bathing beauties. Other rooms/areas are painted with animal designs, including one of a bear playing music and a clapping monkey. Other paintings depict the zodiac (in the sky) , the first depiction of it on a domed surface and scientifically accurate.
Once, this was part of a larger complex... a 'resort' where the sultan would have entertained and relaxed. The bath house, its pump, the entrance hall are all that remain, however this is considered to be a very important historic site due to the style and innovation of the artworks and its UNESCO status reflects that
The ride from Amman to the Qasr/s is flat desert and military sites with the occasional camel to spot and the 'castles' are easily spotted from the road. Each has their own point of interest.
The Hammam dates from the early Islamic period (740s), but contrary to the later traditions of the Islamic era, it is decorated in nude frescoes- paintings of bathing beauties. Other rooms/areas are painted with animal designs, including one of a bear playing music and a clapping monkey. Other paintings depict the zodiac (in the sky) , the first depiction of it on a domed surface and scientifically accurate.
Once, this was part of a larger complex... a 'resort' where the sultan would have entertained and relaxed. The bath house, its pump, the entrance hall are all that remain, however this is considered to be a very important historic site due to the style and innovation of the artworks and its UNESCO status reflects that
Written 22 June 2024
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.
Kcmenon
Manama, Bahrain263 contributions
Nov 2021
One among the desert castles. UNESCO world Heritage site and must watch in the desert. It has a well, a lifting mechanism and a waterway connecting the well and the building. castle has frescoes on the inside walls and is a treat to watch.
Written 22 December 2021
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.
CasaRoscoe
Ottawa, Canada252 contributions
Mar 2023
A visit to Quseir Amra doesn't take much time because it is such a compact venue. This 8th Century UNESCO World Heritage site appears suddenly in the middle of the desert after a 1 hr 20 minute drive from downtown Amman, and it must have been a very welcome sight for those travelling the ancient trade routes. One could get camels looked after, eat a decent meal, have a bath in the hammam, and maybe a frolic (if the well-preserved frescoes are any indication). The site is very popular with tourists, so if you are wondering how everyone will squeeze into the small space, just wait a few minutes and the crowd will clear out. It doesn't take long to visit Quesir Amra, but it's a visit well worth doing.
Written 14 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.
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