Next to Oman, Jordan is another country we love in the Middle East. However, to get the most out of your trip, good planning is essential. When we traveled to Jordan, we did a lot of research on how to budget for this trip, where to stay, how to get around, what to do and how safe it is to travel in Jordan in 2024. We gathered all the information and wrote a post about it, so you don’t have to do the extensive research anymore. So here you go, these are our top 10 things you need to know before you visit Jordan!
10 things to know before you visit Jordan
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1. Essential travel information about Jordan
Jordan is nestled between Israel, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. The country occupies a strategic position in the region, serving as a crossroads for centuries of trade and cultural exchange. The population of Jordan is a mosaic of diverse ethnicities and religious backgrounds, making Jordan people very open to people with different backgrounds and tourists. The country is mainly known for its famed archaeological sites but has many other things to offer like stunning nature in the Dana Biosphere reserve or the Wadi Rum desert and buzzling cities like Amman and Aqaba. These are all highlights you cannot miss when you visit Jordan!
A typical travel itinerary to visit Jordan looks like this: Amman – Jerash – Dead Sea – Dana Biosphere Reserve – Petra – Wadi Rum – Aqaba. You can take a flight back from Aqaba to Amman or drive back to the North. A huge advantage is that the country is relatively small: 562 km from North-East to South-West and 349 km from South-East to North-West. This means you can see a lot in a short time.
Read more: Our tips and advice for Wadi Rum
2. Is Jordan expensive?
Compared to other countries in the Middle East, Jordan is relatively expensive. But of course, it all depends on how you travel. To save some money during your visit to Jordan, consider the following:
- Buy a Jordan Pass when you visit Jordan (we cover this in detail in the next paragraph)
- Rent a car, so you’re not dependent on taxis for more difficult to reach destinations. Renting a car in Jordan was really cheap. It gives you a lot of freedom and you don’t have to negotiate or bargain with taxi drivers.
- Calculate how much money you will need during your time in Jordan. If you want to withdraw money from an ATM, you pay a fee of at least 5 euro. So make sure to withdraw enough money in one time, so you only have to pay the fee once or twice.
- Travel during low season. Between November and February, prices for accommodation tend to be lower and you sometimes get free upgrades. As a bonus, there are also a lot less tourists at the main attractions like Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea. Saving money and having the place to yourself: a double win!
- Eat where the locals eat. At tourist places like Wadi Musa in Petra, you have a lot of touristy restaurants that charge double or triple of the normal price for a dish. If you eat where local people eat, you will eat cheaper. And probably better.
We recommend to rent a car in Jordan through Discovercars.com with free cancellation and insurance included. Discovercars is a world leader in comparing prices and guarantees the best rates.
Check prices and book your rental car for Jordan here.
3. Save money with a Jordan Pass
The Jordan Pass is a ticket that includes the entrance fee to more than 40 attractions in Jordan, including the entrance to Petra, Jerash and Wadi Rum. As soon as you stay a minimum of three nights in Jordan, it also waives your visum fee. As soon as you bring a visit to Petra and you need to pay for a visum, you are better off by buying the Jordan pass. It’s not only cost effective, it also gives you the comfort of just buying one ticket. So we highly recommend it.
You can easily book the Jordan Pass upfront. It is valid for 12 months after purchase and will expire two weeks after it’s scanned for the first time. You can download the Jordan Pass on your smartphone and show it when you are at the entrance of an attraction.
There are different Jordan passes to choose from, but the main difference is the amount of days you can spend in Petra. The cheapest Jordan Pass (Jordan Wanderer) costs 70 JD (around 90 euros) and includes a one day entrance to Petra. The Jordan Explorer Pas costs 75 JD and includes a two day entrance to Petra. The Jordan Expert Pass costs 80 JD and includes the entrance for three days in Petra.
4. What is the best time to visit Jordan?
In general, the best seasons to visit Jordan are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). During these months, the temperatures are milder with an average of 18° C (or 65 °F). But of course, it all depends on your travel plans, budget and preferences.
Autumn months
The autumn stretches from September to November and are great months to visit Jordan. Temperatures are mild and comfortable, although it can be chilly in the evening. The autumn months are the ideal time for the many outdoor activities in Jordan, like hiking, biking or snorkeling.
Spring months
Spring is also a great time to visit Jordan. Spring months are from March to May. As in autumn, the temperatures are mild and comfortable, with cool evenings. Same as in autumn, it is perfect to enjoy outdoor activities. Expect some crowds and higher prices during spring time as this is a popular time to visit Jordan.
Summer months
Be prepared for serious heat when you visit Jordan in summer (June to August), especially in desert areas like Wadi Rum, Petra and Aqaba. Not an ideal time for long hikes as temperatures rise to 40 degrees celsius in the afternoon. However, activities like snorkeling in Aqaba or floating in the Dead Sea are perfectly doable in summer.
Winter
If you are planning a winter visit (from December to February), don’t forget to bring warm clothes. It can get cold at night with sub zero temperatures. Some days may be cloudy, with rain showers. However, this can be a great time of year to visit Jordan and explore some of its best attractions. You can save some money on accommodation and in general, there are no crowds. Be aware that in case of heavy rains, there might be flash floods, and some parts of the country can get blocked.
We really enjoyed having the comfort of our down jackets during our visit in Jordan. We always take them with us when traveling as they keep us perfectly warm and are lightweight at the same time.
Check them out here.
5. Carefully plan out your days when you visit Jordan
There are so many things to see in Jordan but make sure to plan your itinerary carefully. It is important not to rush to take in all the beauty Jordan has to offer. Also keep the travel time in mind from one place to another. Things to keep in mind: in contrast to the summer months in Europe, the sun sets relatively early in Jordan. So to make the most of your time in Jordan, early birds have the advantage. When visiting attractions, try to avoid Fridays. The weekend in the Middle East is from Friday to Saturday, making Friday a popular day to visit tourist attractions.
Limited time in Jordan? Consider this day tour that combines Petra with the Wadi Rum desert.
6. How safe is it to travel to Jordan in 2024?
Although there are conflicts in its neighboring countries, Jordan is generally considered a safe destination for travelers, due to the country’s stable political environment and all the efforts taken to ensure tourist safety. In 2024, Jordan continues to prioritize the safety and security of tourists, with the government implementing measures to safeguard visitors.
The tourist sites, like Petra, Jerash, and Wadi Rum, are typically patrolled and monitored by tourist police to ensure the safety of every visitor. When we visited Jordan in February 2024, we never felt unsafe at any moment. Along the way we sometimes encountered police checkpoints but as soon as they saw we were tourists they just had a friendly chat with us and we could continue our drive.
Additionally, Jordan’s hospitality is famous! People are known for their warmth and attentiveness to guests, creating a welcoming atmosphere for travelers. Note that we always advise to stay updated on travel advisories from your own government and follow safety recommendations. While incidents targeting tourists in Jordan are rare, common sense is always recommended when traveling.
7. Mobile coverage and buying a SIM card in Jordan
The first thing we did when arriving in Jordan was buying a local SIM card. This would help us navigate or would help us to look up information along the way. These days having mobile internet is a must have. It makes traveling much easier, for instance our hotels and tours communicated with us via Whatsapp. It only took us 5 minutes to buy a SIM card at the arrival hall in the airport of Amman in Jordan. There are two main telecom operators: Orange and Zain. In our experience, Orange provides the best coverage in the entire country.
We always share the mobile data on the SIM card by using a portable WiFi hotspot travel router. This small and portable device turns a local 4G signal into a WiFi signal and allows you to connect your tablet, smartphone and laptops as if you have your own WiFi network. So no need to buy two SIM cards or switch between phones. Just put the SIM card in the device and you’re set.
8. What travel plug do you need for Jordan electricity?
The standard voltage in Jordan is 230V, and the frequency is 50Hz. The primary type of plug used is the Type C plug, which has two round pins. Also Type D and Type F outlets are common in some locations.
It can be wise to bring a suitable adapter to charge your electronic devices when you visit Jordan. We highly recommend this travel adapter from Skross as it allows us to plug in different devices at the same time. It has a sturdy design, features 2 extra USB ports and is made in Switzerland. Some hotel rooms only had one power outlet, but this travel adaptor made sure all our electronics were charged.
While power outages are uncommon in urban areas, they can occur occasionally in rural or remote regions. Just in case, we recommend bringing a power bank with you. It will help keep your devices charged, especially if you are planning to take a lot of photos. Trust us, you will!
9. How many days do you need to travel in Jordan?
When we traveled to Jordan, we spent only seven days and we had the impression we had seen the main attractions. This was our travel itinerary:
- Day 1 – Jerash and Dead Sea
- Days 2 and 3 – Petra
- Days 4 and 5 – Wadi Rum
- Day 6 – Drive back to Amman via Dead Sea
- Day 7 – Amman
We even spent two days in Petra and two days in Wadi Rum and we highly recommend you take your time for these two attractions when you visit Jordan. However, spending 10 days would have allowed us to see some other attractions of Jordan, like Aqaba, Dana Biosphere Reserve or Madaba. In summary, 10 days in Jordan seems the perfect amount of time to see the highlights of Jordan.
10. Health and vaccinations
- Routine Vaccinations: Make sure that your routine vaccinations, such diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, polio, and influenza, are up to date before traveling to Jordan.
- Recommended Vaccinations: Depending on your travel plans and itinerary, certain vaccinations may be recommended. Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations are advised for travelers to Jordan.
- Water and Food Safety: We recommend to stick to bottled water (most hotels provide bottled water in your hotel room). Als always when traveling, be cautious when eating street food and ensure that meals are thoroughly cooked to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.
- Healthcare and medical facilities: Jordan has modern medical facilities in its major cities like Amman, but finding medical facilities in rural areas are more difficult. Consider purchasing travel health insurance that covers medical expenses and emergency evacuation in case of illness or injury. We highly recommend Safety Wing. They’ve got you covered for global travels outside your home country and offer decent prices and coverages.
- Mosquito-Borne Diseases: The risk is low, but consider using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves and pants, especially if you plan to visit areas where mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever occur.
- Personal Medications: Certain medications are not readily available in Jordan or may have different brand names. So in case you need specific medications, make sure to take it with you from home.
There you go, the 10 things you need to know when you want to visit Jordan. We hope these tips help you plan your travels to Jordan. If you have any tips, questions or feedback, don’t hesitate to send us an email or contact us on social media.
Happy travels!
Matthias and Mieke
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