The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is one of the most welcoming and fascinating countries I’ve ever visited.
It’s super safe, the locals are among the friendliest people in the world, the food is delicious, the history is fascinating and the landscapes are wonderfully diverse.
While it’s a relatively easy country to travel in, here’s a selection of important travel tips to aid your trip!
So, here are my best Jordan travel tips.
1. Consider car rental
A rental car is useful for exploring beyond the main tourist sites – it’ll give you flexibility for destinations like Umm Qays, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.
Roads vary in quality, but most popular tourist roads are well-maintained.
Signs are in English and Arabic and there’s little traffic on the road.
We rented with Monte Carlo and had a great experience with them. Highly recommend!
2. Avoid driving in Amman – use Uber or taxis instead
Traffic in Amman is chaotic – and add that to steep, narrow roads, unpredictable roundabouts, and limited parking!
In Amman, I’d recommend using Uber or Careem (the local ride-hailing app).
To avoid driving in the capital, we stayed in Amman for four nights, and then booked a car rental from Monte Carlo’s Queen Alia Airport branch.
We then took an Uber to the car rental and drove from there, thus bypassing Amman’s traffic!
3. Have adequate travel insurance
Jordan is safe, but travel insurance is essential for unexpected medical issues, lost belongings, or trip cancellations. I use and recommend SafetyWing—it’s affordable, flexible, and designed for travellers.
One of the biggest perks is its pay-as-you-go model – you’re covered for as long as you need and can cancel anytime.
There’s also no deductible, so even small claims are covered, and you don’t need pre-approval – it takes just five minutes to buy, even after your trip has started.
Families benefit too, as kids under 10 are included for free with an adult policy.
Coverage spans over 180 countries and protects against travel delays, lost luggage and trip interruptions.
If you’re bringing expensive gear or planning adventure activities, optional add-ons cover electronic theft and high-risk sports.
With 24/7 support and medical coverage up to $250,000, it’s one of the most flexible options out there.
4. Buy a Jordan Pass
A Jordan Pass will save you loads of money in the country!
It’s a tourist pass with a flat fee, that includes entry to over 40 attractions (including Petra – which costs 50 JOD per day anyway), a ride on the heritage Hejaz railway and it waives your visa fee if you stay for at least three nights.
You can purchase a Jordan Pass here.
5. Consider seasons wisely
Jordan has extreme temperatures, so plan your trip accordingly!
- Summer (June–August): Very hot, especially in Petra and Wadi Rum. Expect highs of up to 45-50 degrees Celsius.
- Winter (December–February): It can be cold in Amman and Petra (although mild temperatures and sunshine are frequent too!), and snow is possible. We visited in February, and to be honest, I wouldn’t recommend it. It was very chilly in Petra, Madaba and the Eastern Desert! We did have a few nice sunny days in Amman and Wadi Rum at the beginning and it was lovely and warm at the Dead Sea at the end.
- Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November): Largely thought as the best times to visit, with comfortable temperatures and little rainfall.
6. Get a local SIM card
I don’t recommend an eSIM card for Jordan. They’re very expensive and only offer a small amount of data.
Instead, pick up a SIM at the airport for around 14 dinar (with about 40 GB of data). We used Umniah, although when I posted this on TikTok many locals said they had the worst coverage (I found it to be fine!).
Others recommended Zain.
7. Hire a guide when you can
Jordan has some of the richest history of the world.
To really get to grips with this, I’d highly recommend hiring local guides when possible.
Here are some recommendations:
- Amman: We did a food tour with 3J Expeditions (which also included lots of history and culture).
- Madaba: We stayed at Aitch Boutique Hotel and were connected with a local city guide.
- Petra: You can organise a guide at the entrance (price is 50 JOD).
- Umm Qays: Baraka Destinations offer a range of community-based tours and experiences, including tours of the ancient ruins and hikes and camping trips.
8. Don’t just visit the same spots!
Petra and Wadi Rum are must-sees, but Jordan has much more to offer. Here are some of the lesser-visited places:
Madaba
Madaba is best known for its stunning Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics – the most famous being the Mosaic Map of the Holy Land inside St. George’s Church.
Dating back to the 6th century, this intricate floor mosaic is the oldest surviving map of the region, depicting cities such as Jerusalem, Jericho and Bethlehem with remarkable detail.
Beyond the Mosaic Map, Madaba has several other sites worth exploring.
The Madaba Archaeological Park contains ruins of ancient churches with well-preserved mosaics, while the Church of the Apostles features an impressive mosaic of the sea god Oceanus.
Outside the city you’ll find Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have viewed the Promised Land before his death.
Umm Qays
Located on a hilltop in northern Jordan, Umm Qays (also known as Gadara) is a ruinous complex and attached village.
Once part of the Decapolis, a group of ten Greco-Roman cities in the Middle East, Umm Qays boasts an impressive collection of ruins, including a well-preserved Roman theatre, colonnaded streets, and ancient tombs.
The village is wonderfully chilled out, and Baraka Destinations organises community-based tourism activities like beekeeping, hiking and camping or cooking classes.
Azraq
Tucked away in Jordan’s eastern desert, Azraq is best known for its oasis and historic fort, which played a key role during the Arab Revolt when T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) was stationed here.
The Azraq Wetland Reserve is a stop for migratory birds – and if you’re lucky, you might spot water buffalo here.
The nearby Shaumari Wildlife Reserve is home to the endangered Arabian oryx – a species that was once extinct in the wild but has been successfully reintroduced.
Umm El Jimal
Recently designated as Jordan’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site, Umm El Jimal is an ancient basalt-stone city with a rich history spanning the Nabataean, Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods.
The site is known for its unique black volcanic stone buildings, many of which remain remarkably intact despite being abandoned over a thousand years ago.
Walking through its labyrinth of multi-story ruins, ancient churches, and water systems gives a sense of what life was like in the region centuries ago.
Despite its UNESCO status, when we were there, we were the only tourists!
9. Look on Get Your Guide for activities
For day trips, guided hikes, and cultural experiences, check Get Your Guide.
We used Get Your Guide to book tours in Umm Qays and a wine tasting experience in Amman.
You’ll also find some day trips from Amman which cover a lot of the country!
10. Petra is huge but you can see the main highlights in a few hours
Petra is massive – if you want to see it all, it’ll take days!
But you can see the main highlights, including the treasury, relatively quickly.
Petra spans roughly 264 square kilometres, with hundreds of structures, tombs and temples carved into the sandstone cliffs.
If you want to explore everything – including the lesser-visited sites like the High Place of Sacrifice, the Tomb of the Roman Soldier and the remote hiking trails – it would take at least two to three full days.
But if your time is limited, you can still experience Petra’s most iconic sights in a single day.
Key Highlights You Can See Quickly
- The Treasury (Al-Khazneh): This is the most famous landmark, located just 2 kilometres from the visitor centre. The walk through the Siq (a narrow canyon) takes around 30–40 minutes.
- The Street of Facades: A row of Nabatean tombs just beyond the Treasury.
- The Theatre: A 4,000-seat amphitheatre carved into the rock, about 10 minutes past the Treasury.
- The Royal Tombs: A collection of grand, intricately carved tombs on the eastern cliffside, requiring a short detour and climb (15–20 minutes).
The Monastery (Al-Deir)
The Monastery is one of Petra’s most impressive structures but it’s a 3.5 km uphill climb from the main Colonnaded Street. The route includes around 800 steps carved into the rock and will take 45 minutes to an hour on foot.
11. Dress modestly, even in tourist areas
Jordan is a conservative country, and dressing modestly shows respect for local customs (in all honesty, I couldn’t imagine anyone saying anything if you didn’t, but that’s because Jordanians are so friendly and welcoming. It’s highly recommended to dress modestly out of respect for their culture).
As it was winter when we visited, I just wore my normal clothes that I’d wear back in the UK – although when we were in a rural area, I changed from my tight gym leggings to baggy tracksuit bottoms as I felt they were more appropriate. I’m not sure if people would have minded, but it’s better to err on the side of caution.
If it was summer, I would have worn long skirts, maxi dresses, loose trousers and flowy tops.
Headscarves are not required (many Jordanian women don’t wear them) and we actually didn’t go into any mosques so I didn’t wear one. I did pull my hood up when we entered an orthodox church in Madaba.
In most areas, it’s recommended for men to not wear shorts, but they are more acceptable in tourist-heavy areas like Petra, Wadi Rum and beach resorts.
Swimwear is fine to wear at resorts.
12. Learn basic Arabic phrases
While English is spoken in tourist areas, a few Arabic words go a long way! Here are a few that I (try to!) remember when I’m in Arabic speaking countries:
- Shukran (شكراً) – Thank you
- As-salamu alaykum (السلام عليكم) – Hello / Peace be upon you
- Wa alaykum as-salam (وعليكم السلام) – And peace be upon you too
- Kam hada? (كم هذا؟) – How much is this?
- Mumkin el-fatora? (ممكن الفاتورة؟) – Can I have the bill?
- Al-hisab, law samaht? (الحساب، لو سمحت؟) – The bill, please
- Afwan (عفواً) – You’re welcome / Excuse me
- Laa (لا) – No
- Na’am (نعم) – Yes
- Wayn al-hammam? (أين الحمام؟) – Where is the bathroom?
- Laziz (لذيذ) – Delicious
- Bech-kam? (بكم؟) – How much?
- Min fadlak (من فضلك) – Please (to a man)
- Min fadlik (من فضلك) – Please (to a woman)
- Mafi mushkila (ما في مشكلة) – No problem
13. Be cautious with tap water
Opinions on Jordan’s tap water vary, but it’s generally best to err on the side of caution.
While tap water is treated and considered safe in some areas, many locals and tourists prefer to avoid drinking it due to its taste and potential for contamination from old pipes.
Hotels usually have refill stations.
A Water to Go bottle allows you to safely filter water from any source – I usually take one with me when I travel.
14. Spend at least a night in Wadi Rum!
Wadi Rum’s desert landscapes are some of the most breathtaking in Jordan – and it’s all the more magical in the evening and early morning!
We stayed at Hasan Zawaideh Camp which has both traditional Bedouin-style tents and modern bubble tents – these are unique but can be pricey, so if you’re on a budget you might want to go for the cheaper alternative!
To make the most of your time in Wadi Rum, take a jeep tour across the vast dunes and sandstone cliffs. You can organise this at Hasan Zawaideh Camp.
You can take a ride on the Hejaz Railway too – it’s a heritage steam train ride that travels through the desert, while reenacting the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire!
Plus, the sunsets and sunrises are immense and stargazing tours are available.
15. If driving, be prepared for checkpoints
There are some checkpoints on the roads in Jordan, particularly in the north near the Syrian border and on the Desert Highway (leading to Wadi Rum).
Tourists are usually waved through without issue, but in some cases, you may be asked to show your passport, driving licence, car rental agreement, or vehicle registration papers.
For us, all checkpoint stops were brief and friendly – usually, as soon as police realised we were tourists, they waved us straight through.
In the far north (on a road where few tourists go) it was a little stricter, but we drove through without issue.
16. Respect local customs during Ramadan
Ramadan is observed by the majority-Muslim population by fasting from sunrise to sunset.
During this time, eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours is discouraged – it’s seen as disrespectful to those who are fasting.
Restaurants in tourist areas and hotels, remain open to accommodate visitors, but some local eateries will likely close during the day.
After sunset, families and communities gather for Iftar, the evening meal that breaks the fast. If you’re invited, a local Iftar is a fantastic way to experience Jordanian hospitality!
With its enthralling history, stunning landscapes and wonderful people, Jordan completely enchanted me. Follow these tips, and I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful trip, just like ours!
