Overview
Jordan is small (you can drive its length in about four hours), yet it holds some of the Middle East's great sights: the rose-red city of Petra, the red desert of Wadi Rum, the Roman city of Jerash, and a float in the Dead Sea at the lowest point on Earth. Most first trips follow the same north-to-south line from Amman to Aqaba along the Desert or King's Highway. Seven days covers the essentials; ten lets you add hiking in Dana or the Wadi Mujib canyon, or diving in the Red Sea.
Main regions
Amman and the north. The capital has the Citadel, the Roman Theatre, the cafés of Rainbow Street, and some of the region's best street food (falafel, hummus and knafeh). North of Amman, Jerash is one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities in the world, and Ajloun has a 12th-century castle.
Petra. Start with our Petra destination page and the 4-day Petra and Wadi Rum itinerary. The Nabataean city is reached through the narrow Siq canyon to the Treasury, with the Monastery a climb of about 800 steps beyond. It deserves at least two days.
Wadi Rum. A protected desert of red sand and sandstone mountains, best experienced with a jeep tour and a night in a Bedouin camp under some of the clearest stars you'll ever see.
The Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley. Float in water so salty you can't sink, 430 meters below sea level. Nearby are the baptism site at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, Mount Nebo, and Madaba's Byzantine mosaic map.
Dana and Wadi Mujib. The Dana Biosphere Reserve for hiking and eco-lodges; Wadi Mujib for a wading hike up a canyon river (open roughly April to October).
Aqaba and the Red Sea. Jordan's only coastal town, with coral reefs and wreck diving just offshore.
Best time to visit
- March to May and September to November: the best months: warm days and cool nights, ideal for Petra's long walks and Wadi Rum. Spring brings wildflowers.
- June to August: very hot, especially at the Dead Sea, in Wadi Rum and in Aqaba (often above 40°C), though Amman stays milder. Start sightseeing at dawn.
- December to February: cool and sometimes rainy, with cold desert nights and occasional snow in Amman and Petra. Fewer crowds.
During Ramadan (roughly February to March in 2027), sights stay open with shorter hours, and eating and drinking in public during daylight is frowned upon.
Getting around
- Car hire: the most flexible option. Roads are generally good; the scenic King's Highway is slower than the Desert Highway. Petra is about three hours from Amman by the Desert Highway.
- Buses: JETT buses connect Amman with Petra (Wadi Musa), Aqaba and the Dead Sea. Minibuses are cheaper but leave when full.
- Private drivers: a driver for a multi-day loop is good value, especially split between two or three people.
- In Amman: Uber and Careem work well; the city is hilly and spread out.
Visa basics
Most visitors, including US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian citizens, can get a visa on arrival for 40 dinars (JOD). The better deal is the Jordan Pass (70–80 JOD depending on how many days at Petra), which includes Petra entry, more than 40 other sites and waives the visa fee, provided you stay in Jordan for at least two nights. Buy the pass online before you arrive. Your passport needs at least six months' validity.
Typical daily costs
Prices as of September 2026. The dinar is pegged to the US dollar, at about $1.41 per dinar:
- Budget (JOD 35–55, about $50–78): a hostel or simple hotel, street food and local restaurants, JETT buses.
- Mid-range (JOD 90–150, about $127–212): a 3–4 star hotel, restaurant meals, a rental car or driver, a Wadi Rum camp.
- Comfort (JOD 250+, about $353+): Dead Sea resorts, luxury desert camps and private guides.
Petra is the biggest single cost if you don't have the Jordan Pass: 50 JOD for one day, 55 for two and 60 for three, with a much higher price for day-trippers who don't stay overnight in Jordan. Petra by Night runs on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and needs a separate ticket. Tip about 10% in restaurants, and tip guides and drivers.
Top destinations
- Petra: start with the Petra destination guide and the full Petra travel guide for routes, tickets and the best times of day.
- Wadi Rum: a jeep tour and a night at a desert camp.
- The Dead Sea: floating, mud and sunset over the West Bank hills.
- Jerash: colonnaded streets and a Roman hippodrome.
- Amman: the Citadel, downtown food and the café scene.
Jordan combines easily with neighboring destinations: Cairo is about an hour and a quarter from Amman by air, and Istanbul about two and a half hours. Or let our trip planner build a day-by-day Jordan route around your dates.