Middle East
Jordan
Ajlun Governorate
Ajlun
Places to visit in Ajlun
Ajlun Castle (Qala'at ar-Rabad)
See all things to do

Ajlun Castle (Qala'at ar-Rabad)

See all things to do
See all things to do
Ajlun Castle (Qala'at ar-Rabad)
4.5
Top ways to experience Ajlun Castle (Qala'at ar-Rabad)
See all
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
303 reviews
Excellent
133
Very good
122
Average
45
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Khamlia
Sweden19,130 contributions
Interesting castle
May 2022 • Solo
I have seen many different castles but never any Islamic castle so it was interesting to see it. It was built 1184 AD for to protect the country from Crusaders so it was located on a hill with wonderful view around. Very well kept it was and gave insight into how it could look like at that time so. Many rooms and many stairs, it was also so I do not gone all the way at the top, and contented myself with what I saw. But anyway it was not so much different from other not Islamic castle I saw before. Even cannonballs saw like the others I saw before. In any case it was really interesting so I could compare this castle with Crusaders castle Karak and that was a big difference.
P.S. I have been there already in May 2016 but then I not wrote any review about so I better me now.
Written 20 April 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.
gszekely
Budapest, Hungary258 contributions
A bite of history
Apr 2023 • Solo
A very interesting castle on the highest pontoon north Jordan. The castle has a diverse history and now you can see the difference between the similar ones in the other parts of the world from the same age.

There is a small collection of Bronze Age relics, worth to see. Unfortunately the information about routes within the castle and rooms is quite poor.

You will enjoy the view from the walls. In autumn-winter period everything is green.

Be careful: this might be the coldest point in Jordan, whenever you go
Written 7 April 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.
Brun066
Florence, Italy12,243 contributions
Natural bulwark, fortified by the Islamic emirs in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Aug 2022
Only at the end of my trip to Jordan, having traveled the country from north to south, did I realize how rare the landscape around Ajlun is: wooded and cool even in the height of summer. The mountains (Ajlun rises to about 700mts) are evidently high enough for the area to escape the most extreme drought. Consider then that the castle is further up: 1250 mts.
So in this unusually fresh and green scenario the castle rises. It can be considered one of the main historical military settlements of Transjordan: the mountain range which, without reaching great heights, however dominates the depression of the Jordan valley from the east, has easily attracted the attention of military and government men in the past, who have fortified some sites that are already natural fortresses in themselves.
However, while further south, in Kerak and Shoubak, it was the crusaders who seized this opportunity between the beginning and the middle of the 12th century, in Ajlun the initiative was taken by the Arab emirs, and the crusaders at no time during their presence in Holy Land have mastered this location. The fortress was built starting from 1184, in the wake of the Salah-e-Din offensives, and rebuilt by the Mamluk sultan Baybars (the other main protagonist of the revenge against the Crusaders) after the destruction by the Mongols in 1260.
As is often the case with castles in Jordan, the fortress is poor in captions that clarify the role of the different parts of it. However, this does not detract from the charm of the monument. I found the contrast between the dark underground passages that one travels through, and the aerial vision of the valleys below that one can enjoy from the terraces, in the dazzling light and in the clear air of this mountain region, especially striking.
Written 3 February 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.
HaydnL
Bedford, UK42 contributions
definitely worth a visit
Dec 2022
Definitely worth a visit, very atmospheric and interesting contrast with Roman Jerash and other ancient sites.
Written 21 December 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.
Tony C
Bedford, UK1,143 contributions
See my view for this under Jerash
Oct 2022 • Couples
There is also a record of this in Jerash. Please see my review on that page.
Recommended - couple with the Roman sit at Jerash for a good days sightseeing
Written 13 November 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.
Jörg Fischer
Berlin, Germany405 contributions
You can visit is you like.
Nov 2022 • Couples
The castle is certainly worth seeing, because it has been and is being restored quite well. Is the detour between Jarash and Amman worth it? The road to the castle is quite confusing.
Written 12 November 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.
banstead
Kirkby Lonsdale, UK435 contributions
Well described makes a good self tour
Nov 2021
The castle is accessed by a slope and steps so may not be good for the less mobile, especially the steps inside. There is no tour, but every room has detailed boards explaining its use. Its very easy to imagine the castle inhabited and under attack!
Written 7 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.
Nick
Nottingham, UK236 contributions
Well preserved and worth a visit
Oct 2021 • Couples
This site is very well preserved. It's well worth a visit if you're on a day trip incorporating Umm Qais and Jerash as we did with a guide.
Written 3 October 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.
palawanismyhome
Palawan Island, Philippines24,511 contributions
well worth a visit
Sep 2021
Years ago when i lived in Jordan we would visit the castle. Back then there was no road, no car park and no guides and once you were in the ruins you had to scramble over rocks and stones. Now, 40 years later i was pleased to see the renovation work. There is a road, an entrance fee to be paid and visitors must put their bags through an xray machine. There is a souvenir shop and a snack store. Guides are available. Inside the castle lights have been installed on the floor, steps have been constructed and their are plaques with descriptions throughout the castle, as well as a museum. The castle is perched on top of a hill and you can enjoy 360 degree views. I repeat, do not miss this castle, and you can also stay in the own at night if you fancy some cooler weather.
Written 18 September 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.
Maria
Amman, Jordan10 contributions
Great place
Oct 2020 • Family
Nice place to visit. It's clean and safe.
There are no parking lots for cars. And the road needs some maintenance.
Written 21 June 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.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 175
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Ajlun Castle (Qala'at ar-Rabad) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Ajlun Castle (Qala'at ar-Rabad)
According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Ajlun Castle (Qala'at ar-Rabad):