Pella, Jordan Archaeological Site

Address: Pella (Tabaqat Fahl) Archaeological Site, Irbid Governorate, Jordan

Website: https://www.mota.gov.jo/

Hours: Typically daily during daylight hours (dawn-dusk); official hours may vary by season

Admission: Entrance to the Pella archaeological site: approx. 2-5 JOD for foreign visitors (prices vary)

Pella is an archaeological site in northern Jordan’s Irbid Governorate that preserves remains of an ancient Greco-Roman city and earlier occupations. The site is one of the region’s important classical-period urban centres with visible structural remains.

Ruins on the site include streets, building foundations and public structures spread across a broad tell, plus areas with mosaic and church remains. The exposed excavations are arranged over terraces and slopes rather than a single compact ruin.

Excavations and study over the 20th century revealed occupation layers spanning antiquity into the Byzantine period; the location remained a local settlement through successive eras. The site’s material record shows continuity of habitation rather than a single-phase foundation.

The site sits in northwestern Jordan within Irbid Governorate, on hills overlooking parts of the Jordan Valley region. It lies inland from the Jordan River plain in the area traditionally associated with the Decapolis cities.

• Site layers: The main archaeological area sits on a multi-layered tell with visible ruins from Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods; some mosaics and building foundations are exposed.
• Access and terrain: Open-air site with uneven ground and walking paths; wear sturdy shoes and expect some walking between excavated areas.

Pella lies about 40 km northwest of Amman and roughly 20 km southwest of Irbid city. The common approach is by car or organised tour from Amman or Irbid; the site is near the village of Tabaqat Fahl and is signposted from main regional roads. Public transport is limited - taxis or private transfers are most reliable.

• Hire a local guide in the nearby town to get the layered history (Neolithic, Hellenistic, Byzantine) explained - signs are sparse.
• Bring sun protection and water; many ruins are in exposed fields.
• Combine a visit with nearby sites like Umm Qais (Gadara) or Ajloun for a full northern-Jordan archaeological day.