Shopping Tour in Jerash

Free Shopping Tour in Jerash with Roamee Pro

Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free shopping tour route in Jerash. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Oval Forum — This unique oval-shaped Roman plaza, measuring roughly 80 by 90 meters, is surrounded by 56 Ionic columns and paved with limestone slabs arranged in a radiating pattern from the center. Its shape is unusual in Roman architecture, where forums were typically rectangular, and scholars debate whether it was designed to accommodate a pre-existing difference in axis between the Cardo Maximus and the Temple of Zeus, or whether it served as a marketplace where the oval shape facilitated the circulation of merchants and customers., Temple of Artemis — Dedicated to the patron goddess of Gerasa, this monumental 2nd-century temple sits atop a hillside platform reached by a grand staircase, its remaining 11 Corinthian columns standing 13 meters tall and visibly swaying in strong winds, demonstrating the earthquake-resistant flexibility the Roman engineers built into the design. The temple precinct originally included a sacred enclosure larger than a football field, reflecting the enormous wealth and civic pride of Roman Gerasa at its zenith., plus hidden gems like North Theater — This smaller, more intimate theater originally served as the city's odeon (council chamber and performance hall) for an audience of about 1,600, and its sheltered location on the northern slope has preserved carved seats with Greek numerical inscriptions marking reserved sections for city officials and guild members. It is less visited than the South Theater but often hosts impromptu performances by local musicians during the Jerash Festival. and Hadrian's Arch — This imposing triumphal arch standing 11 meters tall was erected in 129 AD to commemorate the visit of Emperor Hadrian to Gerasa during his grand tour of the eastern provinces. Originally intended as a new southern gate, the planned city expansion to encompass it never materialized, leaving the arch standing in isolation 460 meters south of the actual city walls, its carved acanthus leaves and Corinthian capitals remarkably crisp after nearly two millennia..

Use this page as a starting point for a Jerash walking tour, a free route, or the Roamee app for Jerash. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.

• •Oval Forum — This unique oval-shaped Roman plaza, measuring roughly 80 by 90 meters, is surrounded by 56 Ionic columns and paved with limestone slabs arranged in a radiating pattern from the center. Its shape is unusual in Roman architecture, where forums were typically rectangular, and scholars debate whether it was designed to accommodate a pre-existing difference in axis between the Cardo Maximus and the Temple of Zeus, or whether it served as a marketplace where the oval shape facilitated the circulation of merchants and customers.
• •Temple of Artemis — Dedicated to the patron goddess of Gerasa, this monumental 2nd-century temple sits atop a hillside platform reached by a grand staircase, its remaining 11 Corinthian columns standing 13 meters tall and visibly swaying in strong winds, demonstrating the earthquake-resistant flexibility the Roman engineers built into the design. The temple precinct originally included a sacred enclosure larger than a football field, reflecting the enormous wealth and civic pride of Roman Gerasa at its zenith.

• •North Theater — This smaller, more intimate theater originally served as the city's odeon (council chamber and performance hall) for an audience of about 1,600, and its sheltered location on the northern slope has preserved carved seats with Greek numerical inscriptions marking reserved sections for city officials and guild members. It is less visited than the South Theater but often hosts impromptu performances by local musicians during the Jerash Festival.
• •Hadrian's Arch — This imposing triumphal arch standing 11 meters tall was erected in 129 AD to commemorate the visit of Emperor Hadrian to Gerasa during his grand tour of the eastern provinces. Originally intended as a new southern gate, the planned city expansion to encompass it never materialized, leaving the arch standing in isolation 460 meters south of the actual city walls, its carved acanthus leaves and Corinthian capitals remarkably crisp after nearly two millennia.

• ›Hit markets early for the best selection and late for the best prices — vendors discount perishables and bulky items rather than pack them up.
• ›Know the haggling norm before you start: in souks and flea markets it's expected, in fixed-price boutiques it's rude. When in doubt, ask politely.
• ›Buy what's actually made locally — ceramics, textiles, food, craft — not mass-produced souvenirs that ship from the same factory worldwide.
• ›Use Oval Forum as a landmark, then explore the side streets around it where independent shops and workshops cluster away from the chain stores.
• ›Carry a foldable tote and small cash, and if you're a visitor, ask about VAT/tax-refund forms for larger purchases before you pay.