Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Jordan

A photograph of Jordan
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

Jordan is 89,342 km2 and held 11,484,805 people in 2023, and for a visitor the country is arranged along one line. It runs south from Amman, the most populous city in the Levant, through the Jordan Rift Valley and past the Dead Sea to Petra, then ends at the short stretch of Red Sea coast in the far south-west. Petra, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, is the reason most people come, and it is a long drive from the capital rather than an excursion from it. East of that line the country is semi-arid and thinly settled.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Arabic; English is widely used in visitor services
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+962
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
911
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C, F and G · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Al Khubtha
    02 20 min

    Al Khubtha

    جبل خبثة

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  2. Jabal Abu Sawwanah
    05 20 min

    Jabal Abu Sawwanah

    جبل أبو صوانة

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  3. Jabal al Farashah
    07 20 min

    Jabal al Farashah

    جبل الفراشة

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  4. Jabal al Hammah
    08 20 min

    Jabal al Hammah

    جبل الحمة

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  5. Jabal al Juwayzat
    09 20 min

    Jabal al Juwayzat

    جبل الجويزات

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  6. Jabal al Khilal
    10 20 min

    Jabal al Khilal

    جبل الخلال

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  7. Jabal Ihsi Qahwash
    12 20 min

    Jabal Ihsi Qahwash

    جبل إحصي قحوش

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  8. Jabal Mabrak
    13 20 min

    Jabal Mabrak

    جبل مبرك

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  9. Jabal Tana
    14 20 min

    Jabal Tana

    جبل طنى

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  10. Jabal Zubayrah
    15 20 min

    Jabal Zubayrah

    جبل زبيرة

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  11. Jebel al Hitta
    16 20 min

    Jebel al Hitta

    جبل الحتة

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  12. Jebel al Kira
    17 20 min

    Jebel al Kira

    جبل الكراع

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  13. Jebel Kafr Isham
    18 20 min

    Jebel Kafr Isham

    جبل كفر سحم

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  14. Jibal Al Batuh
    19 20 min

    Jibal Al Batuh

    جبال البطوح

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  15. Jibal al Dayr
    20 20 min

    Jibal al Dayr

    جبال الدير

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  16. Jibal al Marajim
    21 20 min

    Jibal al Marajim

    جبال المراجم

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  17. Jibal al Qur
    22 20 min

    Jibal al Qur

    جبال القرع

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  18. Khashm al Suwwana
    23 20 min

    Khashm al Suwwana

    خشم الصوانة

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  19. Petra view Petra view
    24 20 min

    Petra view

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  20. Ras al Rumayl
    25 20 min

    Ras al Rumayl

    رأس الرميل

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  21. Ras Um Lawzah
    26 20 min

    Ras Um Lawzah

    رأس أم لوزة

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  22. Road view Road view
    27 20 min

    Road view

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Wadi Musa
  23. Ayn al Mudaylijah
    31 1 hour

    Ayn al Mudaylijah

    عين المجيدلة

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Wadi Musa
  24. Ayn al Rajif
    32 1 hour

    Ayn al Rajif

    عين الراجف

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Wadi Musa
  25. Ayn al Sadr
    33 1 hour

    Ayn al Sadr

    عين الصدر

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Wadi Musa
  26. Ayn Muhaydirat
    34 1 hour

    Ayn Muhaydirat

    عين محيدرات

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Wadi Musa
  27. Ayn Salman
    35 1 hour

    Ayn Salman

    عين سلمان

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Wadi Musa
  28. Bir Ayn al Jubayb
    36 1 hour

    Bir Ayn al Jubayb

    بئر عين الجبيب

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Wadi Musa

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Jordan be?

Seven to ten days allows Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea to form a workable north-to-south route. Give Petra at least two nights in Wadi Musa if the visit should extend beyond the Treasury approach, and treat Wadi Rum as a separate stay.

What entry documents are needed for Jordan?

Jordan’s Ministry of Interior e-services should be checked for the passport, entry point and intended stay. Visa-on-arrival assumptions are risky because eligibility can depend on nationality and border crossing; confirm the rule before purchasing a land or air connection.

What is the best way to travel around Jordan?

Queen Alia Airport serves the main arrival flow. Scheduled coaches link several visitor centres, but a rental car, licensed driver or organised transfer provides more control for Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea; Amman itself relies on road transport.

When is a practical time to visit Jordan?

Spring and autumn reduce the temperature extremes between Amman, Petra and Wadi Rum. Winter nights in the highlands and desert can be cold, while summer exposure is severe at archaeological sites, so choose dates around the longest outdoor day.

What money and payment basics apply in Jordan?

Jordanian dinar is the recorded currency. Carry dinars for small purchases and road stops, verify whether Petra or tour products are prepaid, and use banks or authorised exchange counters rather than relying on an informal quoted conversion.

What practical safety details should I save for Jordan?

Save 911 for emergencies; Jordan’s recorded sockets include Types C, F and G at 230 V. Tap-water guidance is Not recorded, so obtain current advice from the accommodation or local authority, particularly when moving between Amman, Wadi Musa and desert camps.