With the Lost City of Petra, whose mystery is still unsolved, its red deserts, mystical spots, delicious food and warm-blooded Bedouins, Jordan is a destination that leaves our mouths open and enters the list of legends.. If this country that we have postponed until now has taken its place among your travel plans, I hope you will find the basic information you will need in the Jordan Travel Guide article.
Transparency matters! The Jordan Travel Guide blog post you started reading contains some collaboration links. If you like my posts and if you want to support me, you can get me a small commission at no extra cost with any reservation you make through the links.. Thanks in advance.
JORDAN TRAVEL GUIDE
- General Information About Jordan
- How To Get To Jordan
- How To Get Jordan Visa
- Money Unit and Credit Card Usage
- Simcard and Internet
- Transportation in Jordan
- Accommodation in Jordan
- Food and Drink and Alcohol Use
- Health Precautions
- Safety in Jordan
- Clothing Rules: What to Wear in Jordan?
- Shopping: What to Buy in Jordan ?
- When to Go to Jordan?
- What is Jordan Pass?
- Places To Visit In Jordan: What To Do In Jordan?
- Latest Tips for Travel to Jordan
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JORDAN TRAVEL GUIDE
General Information About Jordan
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, officially known as the Hashemite Kingdom, is a tiny Arab country in the heart of the Middle East, which, so to speak, had to struggle all the time to avoid war.. Think about it; its neighbors are Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Palestine, whose entire borders are now under Israeli control.. It is difficult to say that it is not affected by the warming weather; While a large part of its population consists of Palestinians, the increasing number of Syrian refugees in recent years has shaped the demographic structure of the country.. So for now, things are calm in Jordan.. Trying to be roasted in its own fat like a neutral zone in the heart of the Middle East. Interestingly, it has no oil either.. Profit from commercial activities and tourism.
The main reason why it is highly preferred as a tourist attraction is that it is a country full of history and culture.. The lands of Jordan between Mecca and Jerusalem are sacred not only for Muslims, but also for Christians and Jews, with many historical points, especially the Baptism Site, where Jesus was baptized, and Mount Nibu (Nebo), believed to be where the Prophet Moses died and was buried.
The official language is Arabic In Jordan, English is widely spoken, especially in touristic areas.. However, it is not easy to see a language other than Arabic on the signs and menus in Amman and its surrounding areas.. Thanks to serials and arabesque music, this geography, where Turks are cherished, can easily be included in every traveler’s list.
How to Get to Jordan?
If you are planning to go to Jordan by plane, there are 2 different airports you can use. Depending on your plan, you can use Queen Alia Airport in the capital Amman or King Hussein Airport in Aqaba, the city on the Red Sea coast.. THY departs from Istanbul to both Amman and Aqaba; Royal Jordanian, on the other hand, flies directly to Amman only.
If you say “How many hours by plane from Jordan to Istanbul?”, the journey time is approximately 3 hours.. If you prefer THY, you can get discounted tickets to Petra.. For more detailed information Petra Ancient City: Route Details and Tips»
As our starting point is Bahrain, we traveled with the Royal Jordanian, which gave the best price.. I don’t know if there is a quality difference in Turkey flights, but I will write my impressions for those who will use it for the first time: The seats are very hard and the distances between the seats are quite narrow.. Inflight entertainment system varies by plane, may not always be available. Free food and beverage service is available, but don’t keep your expectations high; In the morning, only a package of pastries is served, while on the evening flight a sandwich is served.
How can you choose the airport?
• If you are going to visit Jordan from start to finish without renting a car, you can choose Amman for arrival, Aqaba for return or vice versa.. Because the country is so small, it takes no more than 5-6 hours to drive from one end of the country to the other, where there are places to visit. If you are planning to spend in Wadi Rum, you can choose Aqaba for the round trip because the transportation is shorter from here.
• If you have included Amman and its surroundings in the Jordan itinerary and you are not interested in underwater, you can choose Amman for the round trip.
BROWSE | Places to Visit in Jordan and an 8-Day Trip Plan
• A final alternative is this: There are rare places in the Middle East where you can cross the border between two countries.. One of them is the borders of Israel and Jordan.. Since the number of travelers planning to cover the two countries is quite high, you have the opportunity to find a bus or tour.. In this case, you can also consider Tel Aviv.
There are lounge options available at Amman Queen Alia Airport.. Any MasterCard Platinum holders can use the Royal Jordanian Lounge for free; 30 JOD ($42) for additional guests. There are snack foods and drinks, large seats suitable for sleeping, shower and internet. If you have a suitable credit card and you have to wait for a long time on your return flight, I recommend you to check the lounge entrances.
How to Get a Jordan Visa?
Is there a visa to Jordan, is a visa required for Jordan? One of the most important points that makes Jordanian travel attractive is visa-free to be . It is enough to take your passport with at least 6 months validity and go, that is, a passport is required for Jordan.
The only point you need to pay attention to is this; You need to enter the “Visa Exempt/Holders” line, not the “Visa Purchase” line, while going through customs when entering the country.. It is useful to have this information ready in case they ask for details such as the number of days you will stay and the name of the hotel.
One of the main mistakes made when traveling to visa-free countries is skipping travel health insurance.. Don’t forget to take out insurance that will be valid throughout your trip before you set off.
Click to get a travel health insurance quote.
Currency and Credit Card Usage
Jordan’s currency Jordanian dinar; briefly written as JOD. Being one of the most valuable currencies in the world is also one of the most challenging parts of travel because it is not easy to establish the perception of cheapness/expensiveness.. I recommend those who do not want to make money calculations, download the XE Currency application, which I use on every trip, to their phone.
As of July 2020, 1 JOD = $1.4 = 9.6 TL
Especially tourists like Petra and Wadi Rum. In places where it is busy, payment in dollars can be accepted.. You may not be able to use it in restaurants, but you can pay for hotels or activities in dollars.. In other words, the currency you will bring when you come to Jordan should be dollars.
Credit cards are valid throughout the country, but there is no guarantee that you can use them anywhere, including hotels, because the POS device does not work or does not accept credit cards. too much. Jordan is a safe country, there is no need to worry about theft, so I recommend you come with enough cash if you can.
Simcard and Internet
Wi-fi is almost impossible to find in Jordan except in hotels and some restaurants. If you think you will need to use the internet, I recommend you buy a local line.. There are 3 different companies that you can take advantage of the tourist package: Orange, Zain and Umniah. When you leave Amman Airport, you will see the authorized kiosks of all three companies.
Before my trip to Jordan, as a result of my research on the forums, the most affordable and attractive alternative was Umniah. I bought our tourist package (Visitors Line) directly from there.. I can say that the attendants at the kiosk are the most friendly and helpful salespeople ever.. They set up our line on the phone, prepared everything, and gifted Petra magnets on top of it.
The package we bought from Umniah valid for 10 days (8 GB daytime & 2 GB internet at night + 15 minutes local & 15 minutes international calling + 5 minutes) SMS) we paid 10.9 JOD ($15.3) including taxes. Except for Wadi Rum -which also had problems there from time to time- it worked flawlessly everywhere we were and its internet was enough for 2 people for 8 days.
If you’re staying for a shorter time, you can buy a lower package.. If you want to review, I also share the links of the packages that you can use in other companies.. Remember to consider the taxes included when comparing prices.
• Orange»
• Zain»
Transportation in Jordan
Using among places to visit in Jordan There are two alternatives you can choose: renting a car or using a bus.. If you don’t want both, you can arrange a tour and go.
Rent a car
The way of mind is one; The most convenient mode of transportation for Travel to Jordan is to rent a car and get around. If you have limited time for the Jordan sightseeing route, I would say rent the most affordable car from rentalcars.com» as soon as possible because the prices increase significantly as the rental date approaches.
We rent a car. Since we were a little late on the issue, we found the offers of international companies to be very high because fees such as “Airport pick-up” and “weekend drop off” are added to the daily rental price that appears on the sites.. That’s why, in the first place, we wanted to rent from a friend of our Jordanian friend, but we had to do a last-minute research because we were informed that there was a malfunction in the gear one day before the trip.. So the rental price I wrote is the last minute price.
We used “Class One”, a company we found on Rentalcars.com». We paid 212 JOD ($300) all inclusive for 8 days. The system works a little differently from the car rental standards we are used to; I guess it is the same in other well-known companies because price offers are normally received in 1 day, but in Jordan they came in 1 week.. The details are as follows:
We were given a different vehicle than the one they said, we didn’t mind because it was of the same class.. The person who will deliver the vehicle greeted us at the airport exit, holding a name card in his hand; didn’t know a word of English. We all checked the scratches on the vehicle when we took delivery, but the petrol condition was not checked.. The gas tank was given an absurd value like a little over half, so we tried to deliver it around that area.. We paid the airport parking fee on the day we received the vehicle.. In addition, the vehicle was a little troubled in terms of cleaning, but over the next few days, we realized that the cleaning approach is a little different in Jordan.
The price of gasoline in Jordan is 0.7 JOD ($1) per liter.. We continued on the road including Amman, Jerash, Salt, Madaba, Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and Petra for 8 days and descended to Aqaba and returned the same way. We had a total of 76 JOD ($107) fuel costs.
Traffic and Road Conditions in Jordan
We did not have any difficulty in traffic except Amman.. In Amman, both the urban traffic is very heavy, the driving styles of the drivers are terrible, and parking at central points is a serious problem.. I recommend you to use a taxi instead of renting a car for the day you will visit in Amman.. I don’t even remember the number of vehicles that make very dangerous overtaking (or checkout) on 3-lane roads that are used commuting, it is necessary to pay attention to it.. It is possible to encounter vehicles that do not give way in the left lane, or that come at full speed in the right lane.
But the most challenging part is the wind in the desert region! There was a heavy storm at the time we went, and the wind that suddenly cut off while passing by the truck on the road around the desert made it very difficult to steer.
Speed limit is maximum 120 km/h; seat belt mandatory. It was said that there were frequent police rounds and checkpoints, but we didn’t come across a single one until we landed in Aqaba.. Even if you come across it, if you have a driver’s license, passport, license and insurance and you are not drunk, there is no reason to worry.
Transportation by Bus in Jordan
There are two types of public transportation that you can use for intercity transportation in Jordan: buses and minibuses.
< The most well-known option for
Bus The buses of JETT Bus. Click here» You can find out the route information and departure details.
The minibuses, which are more economical but less comfortable options, are a mode of transportation mostly used by locals.. I do not recommend it to those with limited time as there is no specific departure time. You will find transportation information about the places you want to go in the relevant articles.
Accommodation in Jordan
Where to stay in Jordan? Some points should be underlined in order to both understand the situation throughout the country and evaluate when making a Jordan plan:
• Jordan was a touristic country far beyond my estimation; especially Petra and Wadi Rum. Therefore, “When the time comes, we make our reservation.” convenience did not work here. Affordable, high quality or experience-oriented accommodation alternatives such as balloon hotels are filled months in advance.. You should be quick about the reservation.. click to see hotel and hostel deals across Jordan»
• Of course, the last one is frozen, don’t worry. But if you are late, you have to arrange places that will make you unhappy.. We said, “Oh, we’re just going to come and sleep at night.” we can’t go that simple because we can see a clogged toilet, an unclean room, a lousy breakfast or unheated water in the bathroom in a hotel in the Middle East.
• Staying in the water for 15 minutes in the Dead Sea and muddy Since there was not much to do except the bathroom, we did not arrange accommodation there, but the cost of using the beach for 2 people (because there is no free public beach, you will have to use the facility) almost coincided with the price of a single night room.. If I was re-planning now, I would arrange a one-night stay in the Dead Sea.
• When choosing a hotel, you can look at its ventilation/air conditioning, if you rented a car, its parking lot, whether it provides 24-hour hot water and the reviews on several different booking sites.. For the first time, I saw someone who praised the hotel for being very clean and complained, “It was the dirtiest hotel I’ve ever seen,” while making a travel plan to Jordan.
• The cheapest accommodation option is Bedouin tents, which start at $25 per night.. You can use it during your Petra and Wadi Rum trip.. Furnished room rental in the form of an aparthotel for Amman is around $50 per night.. For an economical solution in Aqaba, I can recommend you to take advantage of companies that offer diving and accommodation packages together.
Food and Drink and Alcohol Use
Vegetarians survived! There’s no place in Jordan where you can’t find hummus and falafel, including in the middle of the desert.. Bad news; At the end of 8 days I said “Enough, I don’t want to see hummus anymore.” I left saying. But Jordanian food in general will suit all of us.
If you’re a breakfast lover, I highly recommend arranging your stay outside of Amman with a breakfast hotel.. You can guess that there is no understanding of breakfast like us.. If you want to have a local Jordanian breakfast, you will find on the menu; hummus, falafel, labneh cheese, maybe manakesh (a kind of pita), olives, full (crushed broad beans) and cold cuts do not precede tomato-cucumber. In addition, it is impossible to find a place to eat before 09:00, including in Amman.
In Jordanian cuisine, where Lebanese influences are felt, the variety of dishes suitable for our taste is unlimited.. In addition to kebab varieties, familiar delicacies such as stuffed leaves or stuffed vegetables, meat dishes with eggplant sitting, biryani, etc.. It is possible to find dishes.
As can be seen from the abundance of olive trees around Amman, olives and olive oil are on every table.. Bread with zahter, my favorite spice mix, is also very common.. Mint has an important place. Maybe that’s why every lemonade I drank was beyond delicious, I say ask for it wherever you find it.
The most famous desserts are künefe, liqamat (like donuts) and baked goods, but if you see Omali dessert on the menu and don’t try it, you will regret it. .
It is possible to find Arabic coffee in Jordan, but it does not even compare to what I drink in Gulf countries.. Jordan should not be the first place you will try. The thing here is Bedouin tea. A beverage that you can easily find anywhere without exception.. The only downside is that it’s a candy bomb; Unfortunately, I did not come across a place that was served without sugar.
BROWSE | 10 Traditional Beverages from the Middle East Cuisine
You can find the details of venue suggestions in the related articles. The point you need to know in general terms is that tax and 10% service charge are added to the prices in the menu in almost every place.
You can come across restaurants and bars selling alcoholic beverages in every city of Jordan.. It is not very common, but it is much easier to reach than other countries in the region.. If you want to buy it yourself, you will need to use Liqueur Stores, which are similar to our monopoly dealers.. You will come across Liqueur Store every step of the way in Aqaba as it is a tax-exempt zone.
Amstel is the most consumed beer brand since it is produced in Jordan. Known for its high alcohol content, Petra is a local beer.. Our favorite is Jordan’s first and only boutique beer, Carakale. You can visit the production center in Amman or use the bars in touristic cities to try it out.
Health Precautions
There is no vaccination requirement for travel to Jordan. As far as I’ve seen across the country, the hygiene standards are a bit low.. Therefore, when choosing to eat out, I recommend that you prefer places with high circulation.. Although it is said that tap water is drinkable, it is necessary to take the risk and drink packaged water.
Jordan’ Security Status in de
Is Jordan safe? Although it is a fortunate country in terms of its geopolitical and political position, it is a very safe country compared to its neighbors.. Since it adopts a peaceful approach in its foreign relations and has a stable policy, there is nothing to worry about.. Since the face of Amman may look different, the side streets may be unsettling; relax, it’s a generally uneventful city.. It might be true. But I must say this; we accidentally got into the pitch black and the environment was too light to see even in front of us. Occasionally, there were Bedouins who made a fuss while passing by, but we did not encounter any adverse situation.
Because it is a country that hosts tourists from all over the world, I can say that it is not a problem for women traveling alone.. Unlike other conservative Middle Eastern countries, most of the men here chat and shake hands with women; that’s something. All you have to do is walk around in the appropriate clothes according to the place.
Clothing Rules: What to Wear in Jordan?
If you are going to Jordan in spring, which is the most preferred season, you should prepare for multi-layered clothing.. You should consider the temperature up to 45 degrees during the day in the summer and the possibility of snowfall in the winter, especially in Amman.. In addition, it is necessary to be prepared for rain in the region, which is known for heavy rainfall in winter.
Although we went at the end of April, we experienced both winter cold and summer heat in every city we set foot in.. While we were baking during the day in Petra, we froze under double blankets at night in Wadi Rum; We got caught in heavy rain and hail in the Jordan Valley. Therefore, you should definitely have a coat, a thin raincoat, fleece/sweater, beanie, and t-shirt with you.. I say shape the remaining materials according to the weather conditions when you go.. Click here» to get the most accurate weather forecasts.
I recommend you to choose a shoe for Petra and Wadi Rum that you will not regret getting dirty and even sacrifice. In spring and summer, a comfortable sneaker is much more useful than sandals or flip-flops.. In winter, you should choose shoes that will not get wet in the rain.
BROWSE | Petra Ancient City: Route Details and Tips
Let’s come to the dress code of female tourists…Wadi Rum, Petra, Aqaba and Amman’s west facing places are relatively more comfortable places in terms of clothes.. As long as you keep the belly and chest area closed and adjust the dose of the shortness, there is no problem with the clothes.. We can even say that it is quite comfortable considering that Saudi Arabia is next to it.. Places where you might regret wearing short dresses and skirts, shorts, tank tops are central Amman (around the Citadel), around Aclun and all roads covering local places in general.. It is useful to carry a shawl with you to use it in places where you are not sure.. For the spring months, wide trousers or baggy trousers that will not make you sweat during the day and will cover the body, and bright shirts are all Jordanian.
Shopping: What to Buy in Jordan?
The world-famous Dead Sea Its salt and mud are widely used in skin care products.. So there are dozens of stores in Jordan where you can find Dead Sea products.. If you are interested, you can get them from them.
It is a must to buy the pushi called “Keffiyeh”, which you will see in almost everyone’s minds when you go, locals and tourists. However, it was not very comfortable for me to use it instead of a hat during the day when the weather was hot; it both sweats and does not protect the face like a hat against the sharp sun.
The famous mosaic of Madaba, known for its historical mosaics, made of fragrant spices, especially zahter Products, handmade soaps or ceramic are also among your options.
As Aqaba is tax-free as a region, electronics, perfumes at affordable prices are within the city. There are many shops where you can find liquor and jewellery.. Don’t forget to check the prices if you include this city in your plans.
When to Visit Jordan ???. It can still be visited year-round if you’re willing to sweat a little.
Don’t be misled by the name of the desert, Jordan can be cold beyond your expectations.. There is a possibility of snowfall at higher elevations between December-February when the winter season is experienced. The only place where you can enjoy freezing during that period is Aqaba, where the temperature hovers around 25°C.. Even if you get sunny and windless weather in high areas like Petra, where strong winds are not lacking, be prepared for sub-zero weather at night.
March to May (and even June now) rains It is the highest season when it is replaced by dry air, the air temperature is not yet dead during the day, the cold is more bearable at night, and you can swim in the Dead Sea lake and dive in Aqaba. If you are going to visit Amman and its surroundings, you can enjoy a colorful nature during this period.
June to September is a period known for both hot and sandstorms.. The country does not become completely impossible to travel in the open air like Dubai.. Outside of the blazing Aqaba and Wadi Rum, the temperature is 40 degrees.. Even this can be challenging for most people.
Mid-September-end of November Another high season that allows you to travel comfortably when temperatures drop, rains begin.. It’s also the best time to dive in Aqaba.
browse | Visa Free to the Red Sea: Diving in Aqaba
Jordan What is a Pass?
There is a card that you can use while visiting the main historical points of Jordan, both to avoid waiting in line and to get tickets at a more affordable price in total: Jordan Pass.
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With this card, which you can buy online before you go, you can enter more than 40 points, especially Petra and Wadi Rum, free of charge.. In addition, if you are a citizen of a country that is not visa-exempt, the visa fee of 40 JOD ($56) is also free.
Click here» to view the price or buy. BUT If the time you spend in Jordan is limited, if you do not spend much time on museums and archaeological sites, Jordan Pass is not advantageous, on the contrary, you will be more expensive.
Places to visit in Jordan: What to do in Jordan
• The ancient city of Petra, the first place that comes to mind when Jordan is mentioned. At least one full day should be reserved for this wonder of the world.
• Breathtaking with its red sand and unique nature, Wadi Rum also deserves a full day with a desert tour.. I would even highly recommend camping in the desert for a night.. Detailed information is in the Wadi Rum Desert Travel Guide and Places to Visit.
• Seeing the different atmosphere of the Dead Sea (Dead Sea), which is at the lowest point of the world, and not experiencing the world’s saltiest lake, NOT SINKING it is not possible. Of course, if you’ve seen it on the Israeli side, you don’t need to come here again.
• Red Sea means diving.. The underwater in Aqaba, which offers suitable alternatives for divers of all levels, will not make you regret it.. More information is in the Visa-Free Access to the Red Sea: Diving in Aqaba article.
• You can visit the archaeological ruins in the city center, taste delicious Jordanian dishes, and taste the delicious Jordanian dishes in Amman, which is known for its ugliness. You can have a good time in. Why not have an idea while you’ve come this far!
• If you are interested in archeology, add Jerash, the largest ancient city after Petra, to your list.
• Hz.. Baptism Site, which is believed to be the point where Jesus was baptized and Christianity started, is also a very important point in terms of religion.. I hope you can come across a baptismal ceremony on the river.
• The city of Madaba, famous for its mosaics from the Byzantine period, is another stop on the way.. But I think the most important part is that it hosts restaurants that serve wonderful Jordanian food.. Note Haret Jdoudna and Food Basket.
• Canyoning in Wadi Mujib was an activity we wanted very much. In fact, we had adjusted our plan to the end of April, as it would open on April 1st.. Unfortunately, due to the endless rains in spring this year, it took the month of May to open.. We could not do it, but if you are interested in activities intertwined with nature, I would love for you to do it.
• Other alternatives that we did not do but that might interest you: Hiking in Dana National Reserve, Nebo where the promised land was shown to Moses before he died. Mountain, safari in Shaumari Wildlife Reserve where you can see oryx in its natural environment, canoeing in Jordan River.
BROWSE | Places to Visit and 8-Day Trip Plan in Jordan
Latest Tips for Traveling to Jordan
• Socket type is very mixed in Jordan; with two inputs in one place, three in another, etc.. I strongly recommend that you take a socket converter with you.
• Tourist rigging is also here.. Of course, you don’t have to be careful with every step you take, but “Ooooo! Are you Turkish? Then I’ll give you a discount.” and they can sell you the item they normally sell for 3 for 5. Do not neglect to bargain, especially while shopping.
• Those who pay attention to Tripadvisor ratings while choosing a venue, like us, should think twice about Jordan.. Some businesses have figured out that tourists act accordingly; They pressure you to enter Tripadvisor and rate it. In other words, don’t think that the business with a low score/comment is bad, on the contrary, the place with high ratings is also very good.
• Since eating and drinking is prohibited in open areas during Ramadan, it is useful to consider it when making your travel plan.
• Moving fast is not for a trip to Jordan, because in any environment, “Let’s sit down and have tea.” it is possible to try; of course, Bedouin tea with lots of sugar. You will love this feature of Jordan, which has the most hospitable people you will ever see.. Therefore, do not rush anything.
• While sharing on Instagram during travel, the most questions came from the owners of children.. I don’t know if it is right for me to express my opinion and comment on this subject, but as far as I can see, it is not a problematic destination for traveling with children.. We have encountered families with children/infants at every point in Wadi Rum, from breastfeeding to carrying them in their arms in Petra.
OTHER JORDAN ARTICLES THAT MAY ATTEND YOU
- What to do in Jordan Places | 8-Day Trip Plan»
- The Ancient City of Petra: Route Details and Tips»
- Visa-Free Access to the Red Sea: Diving in Aqaba»
- Wadi Rum Desert Travel Guide and Attractions»
- Is Jordan Expensive? Prices and Trip Cost in Jordan»
- Don’t Leave Without Trying: 10 Traditional Middle Eastern Drinks»
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