Jericho
Visited in November 2019
The UK Foreign Office currently advises against travel to all or parts of Palestine. This guide is for a safer time. Check the latest travel advice.
At a glance
- Country
- Palestine
- Region
- Jericho Governorate
- Population
- 23,220
- Best time to go
- November to April
- Main airport
- None — nearest is Queen Alia International, Amman (AMM)
- Coordinates
- 31.86°N, 35.49°E
Country visited City visited Still to go Click a pin or country to read more. Zoom with + and −, a double-click or a pinch.
Overview
Jericho is one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns on earth and among the lowest, lying well below sea level in the Jordan Valley. Springs feed a green oasis of date palms, banana groves and fruit stalls amid the surrounding desert.
This guide is written for a future, safer time. When visits resume, Jericho's ancient sites, desert monasteries and winter warmth make it a memorable stop near the Dead Sea.
Things to see
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Photo: Fullo88 at Italian Wikipedia, Public domain Tell es-Sultan
The mound of ancient Jericho, with excavated walls and a stone tower thousands of years old.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Randa Fawzi, CC BY-SA 4.0 Hisham's Palace
Ruins of an early Islamic palace with one of the finest floor mosaics in the region.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Reinhard Dietrich, Public domain Monastery of the Temptation
A Greek Orthodox monastery clinging to the cliffs of the Mount of Temptation above the town.
Things to do
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Photo: This file is a work by Ester Inbar ( user:ST or he:user:ST ), Attribution Hike Wadi Qelt
A dramatic desert canyon trail leading to St George's Monastery, built into the rock face.
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Photo: لا روسا, CC BY-SA 4.0 Dead Sea
Float in the extraordinarily salty water along the northern shore, a short drive south.
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Taste Jericho dates
Fresh dates, citrus and bananas from the oasis are sold at roadside stalls.
Where to stay
Town centre
Simple hotels and guesthouses close to the main square and sights.
Hotels in Town centreOutskirts
Larger hotels with gardens and pools on the edge of town.
Hotels in Outskirts
Getting around
Taxis are the easiest way to reach the scattered sites; there is little public transport.
Jericho is close to the Allenby Bridge crossing from Jordan and has been reached by road from Jerusalem in under an hour.
When to go
November to April is warm and sunny, a welcome escape from the cooler hills. Summers are extremely hot at this altitude below sea level.
Plan your trip to Jericho
- HotelsBooking.com
- Tours and ticketsGetYourGuide
- FlightsKiwi.com
- Attraction ticketsTiqets
- Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras
- Car hireAuto Europe
- Mobile data (eSIM)AiraloCode DAN9406 for money off
- GuidebooksAmazon
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Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.