What should you see and do in Jordan?

Table of content

• What should you see and do in Jordan?
• Are Petra by Night and Little Petra worth adding to your visit?
• What is a jeep tour and camp night in Wadi Rum like?
• How do you spend a day at the Dead Sea?
• What can you do in Amman, and what should you eat there?
• Why is Jerash one of the best day trips in Jordan?
• What can you see on Jordan's Biblical trail?
• Which outdoor adventures in Jordan are worth it?
• How can you combine these things to do in Jordan in 3, 5 or 7 days?
• When is the best time to go, and how do you get around Jordan?
• How much do entry tickets cost in Jordan, and is the Jordan Pass worth it?

What should you see and do in Jordan?

Beyond Petra, the best things to do in Jordan are a night in Wadi Rum, a float in the Dead Sea, the Roman ruins of Jerash, Amman's Citadel and food scene, the Biblical sites around Madaba and the Jordan River, and snorkeling or hiking on the edges. Together they turn a one-site trip into a full journey.

Petra deserves its fame, But the country rewards a longer look. Amman is a hilltop capital where a Roman theater sits between cafes. Jerash is one of the best-preserved Roman cities anywhere. Wadi Rum turns red and gold at sunset, and the Dead Sea lets you float at the lowest point on Earth.

Amman Cityscape

Are Petra by Night and Little Petra worth adding to your visit?

Yes, if your schedule allows. Petra by Night gives you the Siq by candlelight, and Little Petra gives you a quieter taste of the Nabataean world without a long walk.

On selected evenings, usually around 8:30 p.m., hundreds of candles line the Siq all the way to the Treasury, where visitors sit on mats for a short talk and a cup of Bedouin tea. It needs a separate ticket and is not covered by the Jordan Pass. Little Petra, a short drive north of the main site, is a smaller Nabataean settlement with carved dining rooms and a painted ceiling, and it is far quieter. It is also free to enter.

Quick facts: Petra by Night runs on selected evenings from around 8:30 p.m. and lasts about 2 hours. Ticket around 17 JOD (≈$24), not included in the Jordan Pass. Little Petra is free, takes about 1 hour and is a short drive north of Petra. Best in spring and autumn.

Memphis Tours Expert Tip: Bring a light jacket for Petra by Night. The Siq cools quickly after sunset, and the walk back to your hotel afterwards is easier if you have your headlamp or phone light handy.

Lone tourist walking through the narrow Siq canyon in Petra, Jordan

What is a jeep tour and camp night in Wadi Rum like?

A jeep tour and camp night is the part of a Jordan trip people talk about most: red sand by day, a Bedouin dinner at sunset and a sky full of stars. At least one night is worth the detour.

Known as the Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum is a protected desert where sandstone mountains rise straight out of red and gold sand. Bedouin families still run the camps and the jeep tours. A 2–3 hour tour covers rock bridges, dunes and canyons, and longer tours add a camel ride or a sunrise walk. In the evening, dinner is cooked in the sand, and once the camp lights go down the stars come out in force.

Quick facts: open all day, with tours from sunrise to sunset. Entry around 5 JOD (≈$7), included in the Jordan Pass; jeep tours extra from around 15 JOD (≈$21). Allow 4 hours to overnight. 1.5–2 hours from Petra and about 1 hour from Aqaba. Best in the late afternoon and evening.

Memphis Tours Expert Tip: Desert nights get cold, even in spring. Choose a camp with proper bedding, ask for an extra blanket, and bring a warm layer for after sunset.

4x4 vehicles waiting for tourists who descend from rocks on top of red dunes of Wadi Rum desert

How do you spend a day at the Dead Sea?

Spend it at a resort beach: float, rinse, eat lunch and relax. The float lasts a few minutes, but the afternoon beside the water is the point, and it works best at the end of a trip.

The Dead Sea sits around 420 meters below sea level, the lowest point on Earth, and its water is roughly seven times saltier than the ocean. You wade in, lie back, and the water holds you up whether you want it to or not. The classic photograph is floating with a newspaper. Mud from the shore is meant to be spread on your skin and left to dry. Resort day passes include showers, towels and lunch, and the sea has been shrinking for decades, so public access points have moved.

Quick facts: resort beaches are open around 8:00 to sunset. Day pass with lunch around US$45. Allow half a day. About 1 hour from Amman. Best in the afternoon, from autumn to spring.

Don't miss

• The float, newspaper in hand
• A mud treatment on the beach
• Sunset over the water

Man relaxing in nature.. View of Dead Sea coastline. Salt crystals at sunset. Texture of Dead sea. Salty sea

What can you do in Amman, and what should you eat there?

Amman is worth a full day for the Citadel, the Roman Theater and its food. Start on the hill, finish in the downtown cafes, and plan every meal.

The Amman Citadel looks out over the city, with the columns of the Temple of Hercules and an Umayyad palace complex on the hilltop. Below, the Roman Theater still seats thousands, and downtown's souks lead to the lively cafes of Rainbow Street. The Royal Automobile Museum is a good stop for car lovers. For food, order mansaf, Jordan's national dish of lamb cooked in a tangy yogurt sauce and served over rice, along with hummus, falafel, grilled meats, knafeh, a warm cheese pastry soaked in syrup, and strong Arabic coffee with cardamom.

Quick facts: the Citadel and the Roman Theater open around 8:00 to late afternoon, with tickets around 3 JOD each (≈$4). Allow 1–2 hours at each. Best in the late afternoon for the light.

Don't miss

• The Temple of Hercules at the Citadel
• The Roman Theater
• A plate of mansaf
• Knafeh and coffee on Rainbow Street

Roman Theatre, a famous landmark in the Jordanian capital, Amman, Jordan

Why is Jerash one of the best day trips in Jordan?

Jerash is one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the region, and it is only about an hour from Amman. Allow 2–3 hours, and go early in the day.

You walk through Hadrian's Arch, cross an oval plaza lined with columns, and follow a colonnaded street where ancient cart ruts still show in the paving. Two theaters, temples and fountains fill the rest, and early in the day you can have much of it nearly to yourself. When the show runs, the hippodrome stages a re-creation of Roman chariot races and legionary drills.

Quick facts: open around 8:00 to late afternoon. Ticket around 10 JOD (≈$14), included in the Jordan Pass. Allow 2–3 hours. About 1 hour north of Amman. Best just after opening.

Memphis Tours Expert Tip: Go straight to the far end of the site and work your way back. Most groups start at the entrance, so you will walk against the crowd, and you will finish near the cafe with shade.

Jerash Jordan Gerasa Roman Ruins

What can you see on Jordan's Biblical trail?

The Biblical trail combines Mount Nebo, the mosaics of Madaba and the Baptism Site on the Jordan River. It makes a meaningful half to full day, and many American visitors place it at the top of their list.

Mount Nebo is where Moses is said to have looked out over the Promised Land, and on a clear day the view runs across the Jordan Valley to the Dead Sea. Madaba holds a 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land on the floor of St. George's Church. The Baptism Site, known as Bethany Beyond the Jordan, sits on the east bank of the river and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Jesus is believed to have been baptized. Further south, Karak Castle is a Crusader fortress with long vaulted halls.

Quick facts: most of these sites are open around 8:00 to late afternoon, with small entry fees included in the Jordan Pass. Allow half to a full day. Mount Nebo and Madaba are about 30 minutes from Amman, and the Baptism Site is about 1 hour away. Best in the morning.

Don't miss

• The Mount Nebo viewpoint
• The mosaic map in Madaba
• The Baptism Site on the Jordan River

Winding road and beautiful desert landscape, mount Nebo Jordan

Which outdoor adventures in Jordan are worth it?

Wadi Mujib for a canyon wade and Aqaba for snorkeling are the two best-value adventures. Both suit active travelers and fit into a half day.

Wadi Mujib, in a protected reserve near the Dead Sea, lets you wade and scramble up a narrow canyon fed by a stream, with cool pools and sheer walls. The routes are booked in advance through the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature and run only in the warmer months, because flash floods close the canyon in winter. In Aqaba, the Gulf's reefs sit close to the shore, so you can snorkel or dive for an afternoon, and the Cedar Pride shipwreck is a well-known dive site.

Quick facts: Wadi Mujib is open in the warmer months, usually from spring to autumn, and needs advance booking. Allow half a day. Aqaba is about 4 hours by road from Amman and about 1 hour from Wadi Rum. Autumn to spring is best for the Red Sea.
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Memphis Tours Expert Tip: Pack a dry bag and water shoes for Wadi Mujib, and be ready to get fully wet. Phones and cameras need proper waterproofing in the canyon.

Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan. Khazali canyon

How can you combine these things to do in Jordan in 3, 5 or 7 days?

With 3 days, combine Amman, Jerash and Petra. With 5 days, add Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea, and with 7 days add the Biblical trail and an adventure day. Plan the trip as a loop from Amman.

Our Taste of Jordan in Petra tour, from $550 for 4 days, is a private first taste of the country. Our Egypt and Petra tour, from $1,145 for 7 days, combines both countries, and our Taste of Egypt and Jordan, from $2,195 for 10 days, adds a Nile cruise.

When is the best time to go, and how do you get around Jordan?

The best time to visit Jordan is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). Between cities, a private driver or tour is the easiest way to travel, and Amman has ride-hailing apps.
 

Spring and autumn bring comfortable temperatures and clear light. June to August is very hot in the desert and at Petra, so start early. December to February is colder and wetter, with occasional snow around Petra, while the Dead Sea and Aqaba stay mild. Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break are popular with American travelers, so book early. Amman to Jerash and to the Dead Sea are each about 1 hour by road, Amman to Petra about 3 hours, Petra to Wadi Rum 1.5–2 hours, and Wadi Rum to Aqaba about 1 hour. In Amman, Uber and Careem are easier than negotiating with taxis.

Jordan Trail long distance hiking from Dana Valley to Petra and Wadi Rum.Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan.

How much do entry tickets cost in Jordan, and is the Jordan Pass worth it?

For most trips the Jordan Pass is the best-value way to pay, at around 70–80 JOD (≈$99–$113). It covers your visa fee, Petra entry and dozens of other sites if you stay at least three nights. Prices are in Jordanian dinars, at about $1.41 per dinar.
 

Memphis Tours Expert Tip: Buy the Jordan Pass online before you fly, because the visa waiver only applies if you buy it first and stay at least three nights. Add Petra by Night, a jeep tour and a Dead Sea day pass, and a full trip comes to around $190 per adult.

Cards work at many main sites, but carry some cash for tips and small entries.