Azraq Castle (Qasr al-Azraq)

The basics

While the design is impressive, most visitors come here to learn about Thomas Edward Lawrence (AKA Lawrence of Arabia), who wrote about staying at Azraq Castle in his book, Seven Pillars of Wisdom. You can even visit the room he stayed in here. There are plenty of tours from both Amman, Madaba, and the Dead Sea that visit Azraq (and other area castles); if you're coming independently, you can enlist the services of the caretaker for a small fee.

Things to know before you go

• Visitors are charged a small fee to enter the castle, but it’s free for Jordan Pass holders.
• There’s a restaurant at the castle that serves lunch and dinner.
• The site doesn’t have much signage, so it’s worthwhile to hire a guide or go as part of a tour.
• Azraq Castle is not wheelchair friendly.

How to get there

Azraq Castle is located a 90-minute drive east of Amman, on highway 30 or Highway 40, or about a 2-hour drive from the Dead Sea. Public transportation isn’t an option, so you’ll either need to rent a car, hire a taxi, or go as part of a tour.

When to get there

Azraq Castle is open every day, and there is generally a caretaker on hand to escort visitors inside as they arrive. Weather will likely be your biggest consideration. Because the castle is in the desert, it can get fairly cold in the winter months, even in the daytime. If you're coming during the hot summer months, try to get there early to beat the heat of the day.

Amra Castle and Kharana Castle

Many tours to Azraq Castle also feature stops at two other nearby castles: Amra and Kharana. The 8th-century Amra Castle is particularly known for its beautiful floor-to-ceiling frescos dating back over 1,000 years, while Kharana is noteworthy for its elegant architecture and its courtyard featuring a rainwater-harvesting pool.