Getting around in Irbid

Irbid is known by the locals as “The Yellow City". Known this way because of the numerous yellow taxis used to get around the city. The charge for a taxi as of 2005 was only 85 gerash. You will be able to travel from one side of the city to the other for this small amount. Taxi’s run 24 hours a day and are a great way to get around.

You can even travel to Amman from Irbid in a private taxi for about 10 JD. Taxi’s are everywhere. You only have to wait between 2 minutes and 10 (the very longest) to catch a taxi. The drivers usually speak English and are very cordial. You will find that even if they don’t speak English they will do their very best to help. Men and boys usually sit with the driver and the women sit in the back.

Waiting for a city bus at the station allows you to shop the many small shops inside the station. You can buy everything from jewelry, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts magazines and Arabic and English newspapers to keep you occupied while travelling. You can even get hot shawarmah and falafel sandwiches there. There are sweet pastries and chocolate, my favorite, available as well. Fresh Arabic coffee and Nescafe along with juices and soda pops are easily purchased in the bus station also.

History of Irbid

Artifacts and graves in the area shows that Irbid has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Before Islam the city was known as Arabella and was famous for some of the best wines in the ancient world. The area in the region had extremely fertile soil, with the moderate climate allowing the growing of high quality grapes.

After the introduction of Islam the city became knwon as Irbid, and moved from wine to olive oil production. Wheat was also an important produce in the area.

The city of Irbid is also notable as being close to the Battle of Yarmouk, a decisive battle across the banks of the Yarmouk River roughly 30 kilometres north of the city. The battle was between the power of Islam and the Roman Empire.

Irbid, the bride of the north, is considered as one of the most beautiful Jordanian cities. Its population amounts to 650,000 and situated on a plain land, 65 k.m. to the north of the capital, Amman. It is situated in the north west of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, surrounded by fertile agricultural lands from north, east and south, Irbid was named “The Daisy” after the daisy flower grows in its plains. Irbid witnessed human settlements 5000 B.C., such as settlements of the Adomites ,Ghassenids and Southern Arab civilizations.

It was distinguished by the Greek, Roman and Islamic civilizations leaving behind them historical and archaeological sites. Roman and Greek cities such as, Arabella (Irbid), Capitolias (Beit -Ras), Dion (Al-Husin), Gadara (Umm Qais), Pella (Tabeqt Fahel) and Abello (Qwailbeh) were established. They were members of the Decapolis: a pact that consists of the ten Roman cities in the area. Ghassenids had established their country in the north of Jordan covering Irbid, Golan and and Horan plains. It was described as the most beautiful Syrian countries. Also it had the Islamic soldiers’ supplies. Christianity spread out there in the second and the third century A.D.