Jordan travel guide

Getting there

Most travellers fly into Queen Alia International Airport near Amman, with some flights to King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba. Ferries link Aqaba with Egypt, and land crossings with neighbouring countries exist, but check current status before travelling overland.

Best time to visit: Mar–May and Sep–Nov – warm, pleasant days for hiking and sightseeing.

Tougher months: June–August: intense heat in Petra and the desert makes long hikes tough – start very early if you go then.

Weather by month in Amman

• 13°J●●
• 14°F●●
• 18°M●
• 23°A●
• 28°M
• 31°J
• 33°J
• 33°A
• 31°S
• 27°O
• 20°N●
• 15°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Asia/Amman. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 144 of 198 other passports can enter Jordan without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 54 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Jordan (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 3: Reconsider Travel (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-08-29). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Jordan travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Jordan are based around Petra, Wadi Rum or Dead Sea. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$40–60 for a backpacker and US$100–180 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Jordan page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, D, F, G, J. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +962.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Petra (South · ancient city): The Nabataean rock city is one of the world's great archaeological wonders and deserves at least two days.
• Wadi Rum (South · desert): A protected desert of red sands and towering rock formations, ideal for jeep tours, hiking and stargazing.
• Dead Sea (Jordan Valley · salt lake): Float in hyper-salty water surrounded by desert hills, an easy trip from Amman.
• Amman (Capital · city): A lively hilly capital with a Roman theatre, the Citadel, cafés and excellent street food.
• Jerash (North · Roman ruins): A vast and remarkably intact Roman city with columned avenues and a hippodrome.
• Dana Biosphere Reserve (Central south · nature): Jordan's largest nature reserve, with spectacular hiking and a traditional stone village.
• Aqaba (Red Sea · coast): Jordan's only coastal city, with beaches, diving and a relaxed resort feel.
• Madaba & Mount Nebo (Central · mosaics & pilgrimage): A friendly town of Byzantine mosaics and the biblical viewpoint over the Jordan Valley.

Things to do

• Walk the Siq to Petra's Treasury. Follow the narrow winding canyon until the carved façade of Al-Khazneh appears in a burst of rose-pink light.
• Climb to the Monastery. Hike some 800 rock-cut steps to Ad-Deir, Petra's colossal hilltop temple, for sweeping desert views.
• Sleep under Wadi Rum's stars. Spend a night at a Bedouin camp among red dunes and towering sandstone mountains.
• Float in the Dead Sea. Bob effortlessly on the salty water at the lowest point on land, then coat yourself in mineral-rich mud.
• Explore Roman Jerash. Walk colonnaded streets, theatres and temples in one of the best-preserved Roman cities outside Italy.
• Hike Dana to Feynan. Trek through the dramatic canyons of Dana Biosphere Reserve down to a desert ecolodge area.
• Wade up Wadi Mujib. Splash through a narrow sandstone gorge to a hidden waterfall in summer.
• Snorkel in Aqaba. Discover coral reefs and colourful fish in the clear waters of the Red Sea.

Source: full Jordan guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Mansaf – lamb cooked in yogurt sauce, served with rice
• Maqluba – upside-down rice with vegetables and meat
• Falafel and hummus – classic breakfast plates
• Knafeh – warm cheese pastry soaked in syrup

Source: RoamSun Jordan guide

Talk

Twenty basic Arabic phrases with a simple sound guide. Say them slowly; a smile does the rest.

Basic phrases: pronunciation is approximate and the list has not yet been reviewed by a native speaker. Capital letters mark the stressed syllable where that applies. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Money and safety

Currency: Jordanian dinar (JOD). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Around 10% in restaurants; tips for guides and drivers are expected.

Emergency numbers: 911 all emergencies.

• The Jordanian dinar is the currency; ATMs are widely available in cities and Wadi Musa.
• Cards are accepted in hotels and larger restaurants, but carry cash for taxis, small shops and Bedouin camps.
• Jordan is generally considered safe for tourists, but avoid areas near the Syrian and Iraqi borders and check your government's latest travel advice given regional tensions.
• Carry plenty of water and start hikes early – heat and sun at Petra and Wadi Rum are serious.

Source: RoamSun Jordan facts