Welcome to our Jordan itinerary! If you are looking for well-planned tips for an unforgettable trip, you are in the right place. Feel free to get inspired!
More and more people are visiting Jordan to see its most famous landmark, Petra. But many of them do not want to stay in just one place—they want to see more. That is why we created the “Jordan – Travel Advice, Tips, and Itinerary” guide, which will take you not only to the country’s best-known sights but also answer the most essential travel questions.
Visa
A visa is required to travel to Jordan. To enter the country, you need a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of entry. A single-entry visa for a stay of up to one month can also be obtained at border crossings, except at the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge crossing, for a fee of 40 JOD—approximately €44. Holders of diplomatic passports may enter visa-free under a bilateral agreement.
Slovak citizens holding a regular (including official) passport may apply for a multiple-entry visa at the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Vienna. (Source: www.mzv.sk)
However, if you plan to stay in Jordan for at least three nights and four days, you do not have to pay the visa fee if you purchase a Jordan Pass starting at $99. The pass also includes admission to more than 40 attractions across Jordan. You can find more information and purchase the Jordan Pass here: Jordan Pass.
Nevertheless, we recommend confirming the current information with the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Vienna before your trip—a phone call is sufficient. The requirements do not usually change, but it is best to check just in case.
How to Get There
Several airlines fly from Vienna to Jordan (Amman):
- Turkish Airlines with a layover in Istanbul
- Jordan airlines – direct flight
- Pegasus Airlines — a Turkish low-cost carrier with a connection in Istanbul.
- Air France — with a connection in Paris.
Many people also choose to fly with Ryanair from Bratislava to Eilat, Israel, and then cross into Jordan overland via the border crossing to Aqaba.
Weather and when to go
The best times to travel are from April through the end of May and from September through the end of October. In the summer months, temperatures can reach as high as 50°C, while winter—December, January, and February—can bring snow in Amman and Jerash, along with genuinely cold temperatures down to around 0°C.
Transportation
Probably the best option is to rent a car from any reputable company—such as Avis, Europcar, Hertz, or Sixt. From around €25 per day, excluding insurance, you can travel comfortably around the country on well-signposted roads.
To rent a car, you only need:
- Your domestic driving licence (check with the company through which you book the car).
- At least two years of driving experience.
- Credit card
The maximum speed limit on motorways is 110 km/h, and you should watch out for speed bumps, which are often very poorly marked.
I have only four years of driving experience. If you are very strict about following traffic rules, you may find driving here challenging. People overtake from every direction, indicators are not always used, and you need to anticipate what other drivers might do.
You cannot take a rental car into Israel. Likewise, if you travel from Israel to Jordan, the same restriction applies: rental cars may be driven only within Jordan.
Safety
Jordan is a safe country. It is a Muslim country, but you do not have to dress as you would in Iran. You do not need any special clothing, but there is no need to overdo it with miniskirts in a city or village either. If anyone still doubts whether Jordan is safe, they should be convinced by the fact that, for example, Petra was visited by over 1 million visitors last year.
Currency
Jordan is a more expensive country than Turkey or Lebanon. The official currency is the Jordanian dinar, and you can find its exchange rate here. Of course, payment cards can also be used here.
Approximate prices:
- 1 liter of water in a supermarket — from 0.4 JOD.
- Street kebab (shawarma) — from 1.5 JOD.
- A meal at a restaurant — from 7 JOD, excluding tip.
- Beer — from 5 JOD.
- Guesthouse in Wadi Musa — from 6 JOD.
- 3-star hotel — from 30 JOD.
Border crossings
Jordan has border crossings with:
- Israel (Allenby Bridge, Eilat–Aqaba)
- Syria (travel to Syria is currently not recommended).
- Saudi Arabia (the land border crossing is not accessible to non-Muslims like us).
- Iraq (the situation is unpredictable, and travel is not recommended).
Public transportation
Probably the best bus company is “JETT Bus,”
You can find more information about current prices and schedules on the official website: http://www.jett.com.jo/
Itinerary:
When creating the itinerary, “Jordan — Travel Advice, Tips, and Itinerary,” we aimed to help you enjoy Jordan properly while also exploring more than just its famously well-known sights. Everything can be adjusted depending on how much time you have and which flights you are able to find.
Day 1: Arrive in Amman, then rent a car for the entire trip. All major car rental companies (Avis, Sixt, Europcar, etc.) are available at the airport. Drive to Petra/Wadi Musa (approximately 210 kilometers / 130 miles, around 3 hours) via the highway. Overnight in Wadi Musa.
Day 2: Full-day visit to Petra. Overnight in Wadi Musa.
Day 3: Transfer to Wadi Rum (approximately 140 kilometers / 87 miles, around 2 hours). We recommend staying overnight in the desert. Accommodation ranges from traditional Bedouin tents starting at €10 per night to luxury tents costing up to €350 per night.
- If you decide not to stay overnight, you can take a 3–4-hour tour for prices starting at 50 JOD per vehicle. You can find drivers at the visitor center and negotiate an arrangement with them. For those staying overnight, most accommodations also organize desert excursions and sunset tours.
- At night, the desert can be cold, and temperatures can drop to as low as 10°C (50°F) even during the summer months. In winter, they can fall to freezing. It should be noted that only luxury tents are heated. Nevertheless, all accommodations provide beds with duvets.
Day 4: Leave for Aqaba in the morning (50 km / 31 miles, 90 minutes). Aqaba is for anyone who would like to swim in the Red Sea. However, do not expect beautiful beaches—it is more about the experience of dipping into the sea. So, if you want to save a day, skip this stop and continue with Day 5.
Day 5: Leave before 9:00 a.m. for the northern part of the Dead Sea (282 km / 175 miles, approximately 4 hours of driving time).
However, plan your route so that you can visit one of the largest Crusader castles—Kerak Castle—which is on the way to the Dead Sea.
A visit to this castle takes approximately 2–3 hours. From the castle, it is another 80 km (50 miles) to the northern part of the Dead Sea.
- The Dead Sea is the lowest place on Earth and contains so much salt that the water’s density makes you float. The northern part is essentially the only area with reasonably accessible entry points to the water. Of course, you can walk down from the road at various places along the route, but access is usually very poor. Where access is good, it is generally paid, with prices starting at 7 JOD.
- When people think of the Dead Sea, many imagine a beautiful beach. In reality, it is usually packed clay, and the water can feel to many people as though they are bathing in oil. During the summer months, when temperatures can reach up to 50°C (122°F), it is difficult to stay there for long.
When swimming, keep the following in mind:
- Do not shave beforehand, because the salt will sting badly.
- Likewise, if you have any cuts or wounds, you will feel it.
- Wash your salty hands thoroughly with fresh water before using any electronics. Salt is highly corrosive and can damage your phone, GoPro, or camera.
- Do not let the water splash into your eyes—it burns intensely afterward.
Accommodation in the northern part of the Dead Sea is more suited to those who enjoy high-quality resorts.
Day 6: Drive 31 km (19 miles) to Mount Nebo, from where Moses saw the Promised Land. Then continue to the lesser-known attractions of Qasr Kharana and Qasr Amra, which history enthusiasts will appreciate. Qasr Amra has beautifully preserved wall paintings. The drive from Mount Nebo is 99 km (62 miles). In the afternoon, transfer to the ancient gem of Jerash (130 km / 81 miles, around 2 hours). Overnight in Jerash.
Day 7: In the morning, explore Jerash—it will take at least 3 hours—then transfer to the capital, Amman (50 km / 31 miles, approximately 1–2 hours). The capital itself is the least interesting stop, so if your flight from Amman is in the evening, you should have enough time to see all the essentials.
Day 8: Fly home, or continue to Israel via the Allenby Bridge border crossing near Amman.
How much does a trip like this cost?
If you follow this itinerary, travel with 3–4 people in one car, and stay in 3-star hotels, it will cost you approximately €400 per person, excluding food and flights. This includes accommodation, car rental, petrol, entrance fees, and visas. If your standards are lower, you can reduce the cost by around €100; if they are higher, you may spend several hundred euros more. What are the current prices of food, transport, services, and other things? Check out prices and the average cost of living in Jordan.
Do you have any questions about our article, “Jordan – Travel Advice, Tips and Itinerary”? Write them in the comments, and we’ll be happy to answer.
