This quiet bend of the Jordan River is revered as the very place where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist.
About Bethany Beyond the Jordan
Identified through scripture, ancient pilgrim accounts and excavation, the site flourished as a Christian pilgrimage centre in the Byzantine period, when churches and monasteries clustered around the baptism spot. The river has shifted over the centuries, leaving some ancient structures away from the current channel. Rediscovered and developed in recent decades, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and visited by successive popes.
Bethany Beyond the Jordan, known in Arabic as Al-Maghtas, is widely revered as the place where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. A UNESCO World Heritage Site on the river's eastern bank, it holds ancient churches, baptism pools and pilgrimage remains, making it one of the holiest sites in Christianity.
“Bethany Beyond the Jordan, known in Arabic as Al-Maghtas, is widely revered as the place where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist in the Jordan River.”
Where Jesus Was Baptised
Archaeological and scriptural evidence point to this stretch of the Jordan as the location of Jesus's baptism, a foundational event of the Christian faith. The site was a major pilgrimage destination in the Byzantine era, when churches, chapels and monasteries were built around the spot, their ruins still visible today. Recognised by UNESCO and visited by popes, Bethany Beyond the Jordan draws Christian pilgrims from around the world to the banks where the river once ran.
The Experience
You walk through a protected riverside landscape to the remains of Byzantine churches and baptism pools, then down to the Jordan River itself, narrow here and shared with the Israeli bank opposite, where pilgrims pray and some are baptised. Nearby, the is one of quiet devotion. The ancient ruins, the river and the deep religious significance combine to make a moving visit.
Why It Matters
As the traditional site of Jesus's baptism, Bethany Beyond the Jordan is among the most sacred places in the Christian world and a key pilgrimage destination. Its UNESCO status and papal visits underline its global importance, and it anchors Jordan's role in the religious history of the Holy Land.
Why Visit
One of Christianity's holiest sites, the revered place of Jesus's baptism on the Jordan River, with ancient churches, baptism pools and a deeply spiritual atmosphere.
Insider Tips
- 1
Access is through the protected, guided site; follow the route.
- 2
Dress modestly at this deeply sacred pilgrimage place.
- 3
See the Byzantine church ruins as well as the river itself.
- 4
The Jordan Valley is very hot in summer; visit in cooler seasons.
