Yardenit: the place of Jesus Christ’s baptism

Located on the banks of the Jordan River, in the Southern tip of the Sea of Galilee, the Yardenit Baptismal Site is one of the most emblematic sites of the Christian faith. Symbolically designated as the place of Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist as described in Mark 1: 9-11, it allows Christians to live a key episode that marks the beginning of the ministry of the Christ.

A place of tolerance, serenity and spiritual awakening, Yardenit welcomes every year about 500 000 visitors, tourists and pilgrims, of diverse origins, who wish to take refuge, strengthen their faith or simply  be baptized in the same waters as the Christ.

Yardenit : A real setting

Open to the public since 1981 as an alternative to the original site of Qasr El Yahud, the Yardenit Baptismal Site houses thousands of daily visitors in the best possible conditions. However the place has preserved its authenticity, as you will see on the site.

The greenery and the pastoral landscapes that border the river give the setting a bucolic charm, with a wild fauna that always evolves in its natural environment. We can see   fishes and otters swimming in the waters of the river.

Site visit

Access to Yardenit is free. Once there, visitors are greeted by the transcription of the verse of the Evangelist St. Mark in more than 80 languages on the "Wall of New Life". Symbol of tolerance and Christian unity, this wall bears witness to the respect to all religious denominations. All security measures are taken to facilitate the access to the river to all visitors.

Baptisms can be made directly in the river or in one of 12 landscaped basins containing the Jordan River water. White baptismal gowns, sold or rented on the site are imposed. For those who wish, quiet areas for meditation and group prayers are also available after the rite.

Other amenities and opening hours

In order to ensure a pleasant stay to all visitors, the Yardenit Baptismal Site has several showers and rest rooms, as well as restaurants with different types of meals. In addition, a gift shop is open full-time and sells souvenirs: river bed stones, Christian books and images, holy water and other local handicrafts.

The site is open 7 days a week except during Yom Kippur holiday, from 8 AM to 6 PM from Saturday to Thursday and from 8 AM to 4 PM on Fridays.