The ruins of Umm el Jimal are open for free exploration — there are no fences or ticketing, and you can wander at will through the basalt streets and buildings. The ruined city centre gives the best sense of the town's scale and density; the churches are among the best-preserved ecclesiastical ruins in Jordan. The water system — reservoirs, channels, and cisterns cut into the basalt — is extraordinary for a site in such an arid location.
The Roman barracks, standing nearly to roof height in places, give the clearest picture of the military phase of occupation. The Nabataean arch and early structures mark the site's origins as a trading waystation predating the Roman period by over a century. The modern village of Umm el Jimal continues to live alongside the ruins, and some local families act as informal guides; engaging one adds considerably to a visit.