Hisham's Palace
Hisham's Palace
4.5
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
130 reviews
Excellent
62
Very good
48
Average
15
Poor
5
Terrible
0
Marcobatuta
New Providence, NJ278 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
A most amazing place. Perhaps the best mosaics to be see in the Middle East. Quite under appreciated. We were the only tourists which boggled the mind. Perhaps because it’s in the West Bank. Absolutely phenomenally beautiful and well preserved mosaics in most expansive area. An absolute number one spot of any non religious visit. Was very easy to go to with our guide and taxi from Jerusalem
Written 26 May 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.
AnniWe9
Lajares, Spain98 contributions
Oct 2019 • Solo
I’ve been at Hisham’s Palace during my one day trip to Jericho. Unfortunately a big part of it is closed at the moment as they do some working on it. Therefore I was not able to see all the mosaic floors which I came for, just one little space with a beautiful mosaic floor was open. They have an extra room for small pieces and you can watch an interesting movie about the palace, too. It’s a great thing to do when being around Jericho and worth a visit. I just wondered why they do not protect the floors and special areas with ropes and something similar like barriers as everyone could easily step on this historic pieces of art.
Written 14 October 2019
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.
Talal J
New York City, NY442 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
In the heart of Jericho, but off the beaten path, are the ruins of Hisham's Palace, an Umayyad dynasty palace. You start off by watching a brief video in English, which is quite informative, followed by perusing the small museum they have set up.
Then you can see the star that is emblematic of the palace, as well as a bathhouse that was recently opened to visitors.
When we went there were renovations going on at the palace and so we couldn't see a portion of it, but it's still a beautiful place to visit if you like archaeology.
Then you can see the star that is emblematic of the palace, as well as a bathhouse that was recently opened to visitors.
When we went there were renovations going on at the palace and so we couldn't see a portion of it, but it's still a beautiful place to visit if you like archaeology.
Written 26 July 2018
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.
chefangie
Mazatlan, Mexico134 contributions
Dec 2017
We had a very great time visiting this place. We also saw a video and visited the museum. It is one of the greatest places to visit in our trip . People in Jericó is so nice. I recomend to come and visit this beautiful place!
Written 28 December 2017
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.
ingeslovakia
Bratislava, Slovakia11 contributions
Jul 2019
Interesting site to visit, although the most interesting part, the mosaics, are still under renovation. However, I do not have good memories of this place and wanted to warn especially solo female travelers not to walk to the palace alone, as I was badly sexually harassed (incl. his genitals out) on the main road close to the palace by approx. 17 years old boy. I literally had to fight with him and was lucky to escape. Cannot imagine he had a knife or call friends or... I was modestly dressed incl. long trousers, sleeves, covered head. Always take a taxi there or join a group. It’s approx. 2 km away from Jericho’s Old city and the area around Hisham’s palace is very quiet (although with some houses and buildings around).
Written 29 August 2019
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.
nestle diane p
Tel Aviv, Israel34 contributions
Aug 2019 • Business
Wonderful ancient palace during umayyad dynasty.A beautiful archaelogical site with full of history and you can see the amazing mosaic being preserved by them until now.Almost similar to capernaum with typical luxurious type of living as Hisham and its successor muslim leaders on this place which you can find 3 dimentions classified into the place,ancient bath and agrcl.extensions .Come and see more.
Written 28 August 2019
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.
Periakka
Tiruvannamalai, India59 contributions
Jun 2018 • Friends
We went to Hisham's Palace this June in the afternoon, when it was around 40º C. First you see a short video about what the digs are about and the mosaics, then you walk out into some terrific examples of Umayyad period architecture. This Palace was an oasis in the desert, basically. A castle of pleaser or a rich man's huge palace and farm.
At the time we visited, all the moasics were covered by the Japanese International Cooperative Agency, which were allowed to uncover and fortify the mosaics in the castle. Their work was to ready the huge mosaic in the main hall for presentation, so all the mosaics, except a small one in a bath house, was not available to see. Shame! That is one of the main parts of this tour. There are big boards with pictures of some of the mosaics so you can see them.
We did not go into the agricultural area, because of the high heat. We toured the main exhibit and and the baths found it to be beautiful.
As with some of the other digs in Jericho, it is not greatly protected, but more so than Tel-Es-Sultan. Basically, the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism doesn't have enough funds to adequately protect these areas. So, I suggest going to visit them sooner than later.
At the time we visited, all the moasics were covered by the Japanese International Cooperative Agency, which were allowed to uncover and fortify the mosaics in the castle. Their work was to ready the huge mosaic in the main hall for presentation, so all the mosaics, except a small one in a bath house, was not available to see. Shame! That is one of the main parts of this tour. There are big boards with pictures of some of the mosaics so you can see them.
We did not go into the agricultural area, because of the high heat. We toured the main exhibit and and the baths found it to be beautiful.
As with some of the other digs in Jericho, it is not greatly protected, but more so than Tel-Es-Sultan. Basically, the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism doesn't have enough funds to adequately protect these areas. So, I suggest going to visit them sooner than later.
Written 24 June 2018
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.
Ann C
Nashville, TN3,382 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
An Islamic archeological site with amazing mosaic flooring, remains of baths and pillars.
The best part is the tree of life mosaic located under a covering that protects it...the largest and most intact mosaic from this time period we have ever seen.
The best part is the tree of life mosaic located under a covering that protects it...the largest and most intact mosaic from this time period we have ever seen.
Written 15 November 2016
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.
kitty567
New York City, NY619 contributions
Jun 2014 • Solo
Hisham's Palace (Qasr Hisham/ Khirbet al-Mafjar)
For the archaeology lover, if you are going to the dead sea, there is no excuse not to take a (20 min drive) detour to see possibly the largest and most beautiful 7 century CE mosaic pavements ever discovered. The famous tree of life (diwan mosaic) is absolutely gorgeous and you can still see the fragment of the richly decorated stucco panels (fortunately or unfortunately, most of the better preserved pieces and statues are currently in the possession of the Rockefeller museum in Jerusalem and many other items ended up on the black market due to poorly documented work early on). Although access to the mosaics is (understandably) restricted, even seeing it from a distance makes an unbelievable impression and helps one comprehend the splendid grandeur of Hisham's Palace 1,300 years ago.
The site is only partially excavated (with ongoing excavations in 2011) and although the Palace mosaic is all covered up by and is not visible, (I recommend to look up some pictures online prior to visiting for the full impact) enough is exposed to make an impression).
The admission is a miserly 10NIS, which is a total joke, compared to the average price of 30NIS of Israeli National Parks.
more info: https://oi.uchicago.edu/sites/oi.uchicago.edu/files/uploads/shared/docs/ar/11-20/11-12/11_12_Mafjar.pdf
For the archaeology lover, if you are going to the dead sea, there is no excuse not to take a (20 min drive) detour to see possibly the largest and most beautiful 7 century CE mosaic pavements ever discovered. The famous tree of life (diwan mosaic) is absolutely gorgeous and you can still see the fragment of the richly decorated stucco panels (fortunately or unfortunately, most of the better preserved pieces and statues are currently in the possession of the Rockefeller museum in Jerusalem and many other items ended up on the black market due to poorly documented work early on). Although access to the mosaics is (understandably) restricted, even seeing it from a distance makes an unbelievable impression and helps one comprehend the splendid grandeur of Hisham's Palace 1,300 years ago.
The site is only partially excavated (with ongoing excavations in 2011) and although the Palace mosaic is all covered up by and is not visible, (I recommend to look up some pictures online prior to visiting for the full impact) enough is exposed to make an impression).
The admission is a miserly 10NIS, which is a total joke, compared to the average price of 30NIS of Israeli National Parks.
more info: https://oi.uchicago.edu/sites/oi.uchicago.edu/files/uploads/shared/docs/ar/11-20/11-12/11_12_Mafjar.pdf
Written 20 June 2014
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.
holy land ZB Travel
Jerusalem, Israel30 contributions
Mar 2014
Visiting this sight in the oldest city and the lowest city in the world and visiting this magnificent palace and to see the tree of life with its beautiful mosaic and to understand what it means , like you didn't visit jericho . Zaferbarakat@ hotmail.com
Written 13 May 2014
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.
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