Kerak
Discover Kerak
Kerak (also spelt Karak, Arabic al-Kerak) is a small, Arab city (population 170,000) in southern Jordan. It has a significant Christian population. Kerak is on the King's Highway, 124 km south of the capital Amman, and is the site of a magnificently-situated Crusader castle, now an evocative ruin on the skyline above the city.
Taste of Kerak...
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Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThere are three bus stations in Kerak. 31.18270835.706091 One bus station is near the castle, and the 31.16515535.7396232 Kerak Bus Station is in the south-eastern part of the city about 5 km from the old city. Ask someone local which one to use for the surrounding area, or to get to Madaba or Petra. Minibuses Aqaba (1.75 JD) run roughly hourly. These also pass through Madaba and Ma'an (for Petra). From Amman, mini-buses leave from the South Bus Station (Mujemma Al-Janoob) when full (2.25 JD, 2 hr, Oct 2018). They arrive at the station below the castle. A taxi up to the castle (al-Qasr) will cost 2 JD. It is a 20-min walk back down to the bus station. It is easy to see the castle on a day trip from Amman. Between the old city and the rest of the city local (shared) taxis should be used for around 2 JD. By car, the roads in town are narrow and usually one-way, but the town is compact, so you can park wherever you find space and walk to the castle....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Between the old city and the rest of the city local (shared) taxis should be used for around 2 JD. By car, the roads in town are narrow and usually one-way, but the town is compact, so you can park wherever you find space and walk to the castle. Many medium-priced restaurants with local and partly international cuisine can be found around the castle. From there into the old city, restaurants get less expensive. Kerak is most famous for the Jordan national dish mansaf, which you should definitely try. It is rice with lamb or chicken meat served with a sauce made from special yoghurt called jameed.