Reasons to Visit

Bethany Beyond the Jordan is recognized by major Christian churches as the authentic location where John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ. To visit the Site is to stand within the landscape in which this defining event in the life of Christ took place.

The Baptism Site offers a place for prayer, reflection and spiritual renewal. Pilgrims can contemplate the Baptism of Christ, reflect upon the meaning of their own baptism and spend time in the quietness of this sacred landscape.

The Site and its surroundings are associated with some of the most important figures and events in the Bible. John the Baptist lived, preached and baptized here, while the wider landscape is connected with the Prophets Elijah and Elisha, Joshua, Moses and the entry of the Israelites into the Promised Land.

Christians have journeyed to Bethany Beyond the Jordan since the earliest centuries of the Church. Visiting today continues an ancient tradition of pilgrimage, prayer and baptismal remembrance extending back almost two thousand years.

The remains of ancient churches, chapels, baptismal pools, monasteries and pilgrim facilities bear witness to the Site’s long history as a center of Christian worship and pilgrimage.

The Site’s protected natural landscape preserves the stillness and simplicity of the wilderness associated with John the Baptist. Its springs, reeds, native plants, wildlife and proximity to the River Jordan create a peaceful setting for contemplation and prayer.

Bethany Beyond the Jordan was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015 in recognition of its exceptional religious and historical significance and its enduring importance to Christian pilgrimage.

The Baptism Site can form the beginning of a wider pilgrimage through the biblical landscape of Jordan, including Mount Nebo, Madaba, Mukawir and Umm ar-Rasas.