Travel advice for Jordan
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Jordan
Book your individual trip, stress-free with local travel experts
written by Eleanor Ross
updated 23.09.2018
One of the world’s top adventure spots, tourists to Jordan tend to zip right through Amman and head straight to the mountains, Petra, or the fabulous burnt-orange desert in the south. But Jordan’s capital is well-worth devoting a long weekend to. It’s a vibrant, buzzing place to spend a few days, browsing through the fashionable city-centre boutiques, filling up on falafel and listening to an Ammani rock band bring the house down in a dry music venue.
And with Jordan as one of our top places to visit in 2018 – boosted by last year’s opening of the Jordan Trail – there’s never been a better time to visit its alluring capital.
6 days / from1333 USD
Discover Jordan
Jordan has it all: spectacular desert scenery; the Dead Sea, age-old cities, castles, monuments, and more. Discover the best of this welcoming country as you delve into the history of ancient civilizations and see one of the New Seven Wonders of the World up close.
customize ⤍8 days / from1665 USD
Treasures of Jordan
From the Dead Sea's restorative salty shores to Red Sea reefs teeming with aquatic life, Jordan is full of treasures. Get a taste of desert life and adventure in Wadi Rum; then fill up on culture in Petra and Amman, and maybe squeeze in a trip to Jerusalem, too.
customize ⤍6 days / from1080 USD
Highlights of Jordan
Explore the highlights of Jordan in this compact itinerary. Activities include stargazing in Wadi Rum, exploring Petra and spending a day at leisure at the Dead Sea. Your knowledgeable guide will share stories about history and culture and introduce the Bedouin lifestyle to you.
customize ⤍8 days / from1890 USD
An active adventure in Jordan
Experience a mix of hiking in the North of Jordan, canyon trails and relaxing activities combined with sightseeing of the highlights and meeting locals. This trip is accompanied by a knowledgeable guide and is not recommended during wintertime (November to February).
customize ⤍8 days / from1770 USD
Jordan Culture in depth
Get to know the Jordanian culture in depth, indulge in mouthwatering street and local homemade food, meet the owner of the smallest hotel in the world, learn more about the Bedouins and the desert in Wadi Rum and finish off by floating over the Dead Sea mineral water.
customize ⤍8 days / from1800 USD
Family adventure in Jordan
Indulge into the magical ancient world of Jordan on this thrilling family adventure! This tour has been specially designed to highlight the most exciting corners of Jordan, from natural reserves to historical Jerash to magnificent Petra, from Wadi Rum desert to the blissful Dead Sea.
customize ⤍8 days / from1330 USD
Follow the Foot Steps of Jesus in Jordan
Jordan is a full-option land that include marks for each religion and civilization! During this holiday you will be introduced to many Biblical places across our beloved county accompanied with our knowledgeable tour guide you will tells you a lot about fascinating history and culture of Jordan.
customize ⤍8 days / from1440 USD
Jordan Heritage Step by Step
Visit the highlights and attractions of Jordan from the North to the South to find out more about the region’s ancient history, experience the Bedouin lifestyle and meet locals. A knowledgeable tour guide will accompany you to describe the fascinating history and culture of Jordan.
customize ⤍8 days / from1590 USD
Mind, body & soul in Jordan
Jordan is known worldwide as a natural spa and you will discover why. During this holiday, you will find your “peace of mind”. Discover Jordan highlights with relaxing activities and meeting locals. Visit peaceful spots with breathtaking landscapes and practice true relaxation.
customize ⤍9 days / from7650 USD
Luxury Tour of Jordan
Embark on a remarkable journey through Jordan, exploring Petra's ancient wonders, indulging in Aqaba's Red Sea luxury, and immersing in Wadi Rum's surreal desert landscapes. Visit the sacred site of baptism in Bethany, connecting with history and spirituality.
customize ⤍5 days / from1425 USD
Classic Tour in Jordan
Journey through ancient wonders and breathtaking landscapes in Jordan. Explore the iconic marvels of Petra and traverse the surreal red desert of Wadi Rum. Capture mesmerizing memories and carry the beauty of Jordan in your heart forever.
customize ⤍10 days / from3105 USD
Honeymoon in Jordan
Indulge in a blissful honeymoon in Jordan, where relaxation and adventure await. Soak in the soothing Ma'in Hot Springs, explore the captivating landscapes of Wadi Rum, and wander hand in hand through the ancient wonders of Petra.
customize ⤍6 days / from2045 USD
Jordan Highlights - from Aqaba
Uncover the magic of Aqaba's Red Sea, marvel at Petra's ancient wonders, and immerse yourself in the surreal landscapes of Wadi Rum. Jordan's captivating beauty will leave an indelible mark on your heart, creating memories that will endure a lifetime.
customize ⤍7 days / from1630 USD
Jordan for Culture Enthusiasts
Jordan is perfect for Arab culture enthusiasts! Immerse yourself in Jordanian culture and experience real Bedouin hospitality. Visit the highlights in Jordan, meet locals and learn from them and your knowledgeable guide about Jordanian customs and traditions.
customize ⤍No matter where you are in Amman it can seem like you’re at the top of a hill, climbing a hill, or in a valley contemplating the hill you’re about to ascend. The city was originally built on seven hills, but it now sprawls across 19, which is why a trip to Amman can feel a little like preparing for an Everest expedition. Despite its many slopes, Amman is a walkable city, packed full of attractions. Plus, it’s bursting with countless falafel joints and cake pit stops so you can happily justify grazing your way around the city all day long.
In the height of summer, when temperatures can reach a skin-prickling 45 degrees, you’ll find the city blessed with stunning roof-terraces cooled by air-conditioning – the perfect setting to relax with a refreshing mint-lemonade. Even better, visit in autumn or springtime and you’ll find a far more walkable city ready to explore.
Umayyad Palace © Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock
The city is liberal and bohemian (at least compared to its tumultuous neighbours). That, coupled with the arrival of Palestinian, Syrian, and Iraqi refugees who have taken root here over the past decades, has created a hotbed of entrepreneurialism. You’ll find kooky coffee shops tucked behind stairwells and cafés serving plates of sweet cheesy kanafeh (Habibah Sweets is highly rated) located on verandahs high above the gridlocked roads of downtown.
And since last year with the recently opened Jordan Trail – an adventurous 650km hiking trail that links the nose and tail of the country – Amman is now a great place to put your feet up post-trek.
The Romans conquered most of Jordan in 63 B.C and ruled for a further 400 years, so there are plenty of ruins to explore. Dry desert conditions have preserved these sites well, and an ancient theatre – with a vertigo-inducing 6000-person capacity – still dominates downtown.
If you’re hankering after more ancient sites, you can glimpse the Ummayad-era Citadel from almost all of downtown. Like Athens’ Acropolis, the temple walls and pillars cut a striking figure against the sky. Go to the Citadel at dusk to catch the call to prayer, listening to what feels like one-hundred muezzins across the city. It’s a good place to watch the city glow pink as thousands of birds beat their wings across the sky, before heading back downtown for a cool glass of sweet mint tea and a hookah-pipe with friends.
Jabal Luwaibdeh, a neighbourhood with a bohemian vibe, is well-worth a wander. Around every corner you’ll stumble upon bright murals, tucked-away cafes and artists’ workshops. Make a beeline for Darat al Funun, an exhibition space for emerging and established Jordanian artists. Set in three villas, the workshops put on gallery shows and cinema screenings – there’s also a tumbling, fragrant garden.
Further afield, Jerash, one of the world’s most ancient and well-preserved cities is just a 45-minute minibus ride away. It can be visited easily as a quick day trip – aim for early morning before the sun rolls up into the sky, baking the rows of Roman columns and Greek temples that are crammed into this site.
Roman theatre © Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock
Eating could well be a full-time hobby in Jordan, a country where it’s always time for a mint tea pick-me-up or a plate of eye-wateringly garlicky dip.
For a quick meal Hashem is a great downtown joint offering plates piled high with falafel and freshly chopped herb salads. Dishes are served on plastic sheets to speed up the experience and service is friendly, if initially mystifying. You’ll get what the waiters bring you and it’ll be vegetarian, cheap, and delicious.
Sufra is suave and sultry in a colonial-style house decked with cool white tiles. Come here for the incredible (and yet miraculously still not bank-breaking) traditional Jordanian food; Sufra serves up some of the city’s best mansaf (a hearty meat stew and rice) but the salads are knock-out too, with plates of stewed aubergine, tomatoes and mint, and spinach fatayah (pastries) to nibble on.
If you’re looking for another chilled-out dining option with a stonking view from the terrace of the Citadel, then head to Shams al-Balad. With a farm-to-table concept, the food is some of the best in the city – especially for vegetarians. The persimmon and walnut salad is to die for, and the fatoush and eggplant mutabl are best eaten with heaps of fluffy-on-the-inside bread.
If you’re after a quick falafel sandwich before a day-trip, then Al Quds on Rainbow Street serves up cheap, cheerful and insanely good specimens, which are perfect for cramming into your bag en route to Jerash or the desert.
Traditional bread in Amman © Barnuti Daniel Ioan/Shutterstock
Amman has a laid-back style: lunches turn into dinner which lead on to nightclubs which then lead into long sessions of conversation. For those who are happy to slow the pace during vacation, Amman is a good place to settle and experience contemporary Arab culture up close. And while the delicious juices and mint teas are often your best bet, the city has enough watering holes to keep all but the most committed drinkers entertained.
A good place to start is OTR, a 1920s-style speakeasy specializing in cocktails. It’s hardly off the beaten track, but it’s a great place to sample different uses for the Levantine spirit arak; you can try it here paired with gin, lemonade, and herbs. Books@Cafe on Rainbow Street has long been one of the go-to places for expats and tourists. Expect exposed brickwork and plenty of Macbooks during the day, before the place transforms into a bustling café-bar in the evening. Finally, keep your eyes peeled for Carakale, the Jordanian craft beer brewery – it produces bottles such as Dead Sea-rious, which combines salt from the Dead Sea and orange oil. Their tasting room is open from Thursday to Saturday, so make a pitstop there.
Amman at night © SJ Travel Photo and Video/Shutterstock
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written by Eleanor Ross
updated 23.09.2018
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