Want to know the best things to do in Jordan?
From exploring ancient ruins and modern cities, to diving in the Red Sea and driving across the desert, we’ve got you covered.
For its size, Jordan offers up so much for the curious traveller.
Several famous UNESCO World Heritage sites, ancient Roman ruins, a desert doppelgänger for Mars, scuba diving amongst shipwrecks and sunk tanks, an unexpected hiking reputation, several Biblical landmarks, an internationally renowned street art scene, bathing in the lowest point on earth, and epic twisting roads through valleys of rust and dust.
A safe, compact, and manageable introduction to the Middle East, it’s impossible not to be left awestruck or humbled by the places you’ll see on even the shortest trip.
Across our two-week road trip in Jordan earlier this year - starting and ending in the capital city of Amman - we were able to independently cover quite a bit of the country beyond its most famous sites at the slow, deliberate pace we enjoy.
Whether you’re old or young, on a budget or splurging on luxury, backpacking solo or planning a family adventure, these are the places and experiences which we think are unmissable.
This is 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Jordan.
Bonus // We’ve included dedicated guides + planning posts for each of the best things to do in Jordan, so make sure to bookmark them or come back to Along Dusty Roads for more details, inspiration, and planning advice. Also, go ‘behind the scenes’ of our two-week trip by checking out this instagram Stories highlight.
You can also visit our dedicated Jordan travel blog page to see all our guides in one place.
BEST things to do in Jordan
/ Discover the ancient city of Petra
/ Street art and culture in Amman
/ Enjoy a Wadi Rum adventure
/ Explore the ruins of Jerash
/ Take a road trip
/ Go canyoning in Wadi Mujib
/ Visit the Biblical sites
/ Devour Jordanian cuisine
/ Float in the Dead Sea
/ View the mosaics of Madaba
/ Dive in Aqaba
/ Visit a Crusader Castle
/ Walk the Jordan Trail
/ Plan your route with our Jordan itinerary
13 Wonderful Things to Do in Jordan
Discover The Ancient City Of Petra
The most famous place in Jordan, one of the new ‘Seven Wonders of the World’, and a deserved number one entry on nearly every travellers’s bucket list in the country.
At the crossroads of several civilisations and a cosmopolitan power broker amongst them, Petra was an influential and well-known place in the ancient world. However, it was effectively forgotten by history and outsiders for a thousand years until its ‘rediscovery’ by a disguised young Swiss adventurer-scholar.
The beautiful rock-cut facades of the Monastery and the Treasury, carved directly into the mountain from the top down, are the most captivating and well-known places in the former capital of the Nabataeans, but there are several other equally beguiling temples, death tombs and cave homes which pockmark the sandstone cliffs. You can also hike to multiple trails for viewpoints and hidden-away treasures.
In short, there’s much more to Petra than simply a few well-known Instagram shots.
A walk through this UNESCO World Heritage Site across a day or three provides more questions than answers, and more mysteries than epiphanies in the sand and dust. But succumbing to the mystery of how the rose-red city in the rocks came to be, and came to be forgotten, is part of the appeal.
If you’ve got the time, we’d also recommend nipping over to the nearby Little Petra, a collection of rock-cut facades that date back to the 1st century AD. Back then, this once lush agricultural area was an important base for the long-distance trade, and acted as a resupply post for the many caravans that visited Petra.
It’s not a substitute for the main event, but does offer the chance to walk between carved Nabataean temples and ancient caves in relative stillness; an experience that can difficult to gain in Petra itself if you’re not an early riser.
Keep Reading
A Definitive Guide to Visiting Petra
A Quick Guide To Petra Tickets
How to Get From Amman to Petra
Street Art & Culture in Amman
Climbing up and clustering down seven hills, in folds and stacks of beige concrete blocks, the capital city of Jordan doesn’t make much sense to the first-timer.
A secret staircase cuts walking time in half or leads to a series of switchback roads where even the drivers get befuddled. The seven hills are less talked about than eight circles, which are actually just roundabouts, you have to look up to eat and down to know where you need to go next. What looks like a short walk to the next neighbourhood may see your thighs burn and back sweat on a steep incline, and at moments you’ll just have to decide that a taxi is the only way to get back to square one, even if you wanted to go to circle two.
This is all part of the fun though.
Not simply a place to use as a base for trips or tours elsewhere in Jordan, a few days for curious minds in the capital will see you explore bustling markets, art galleries, Roman ruins and a famous mosque, as well as sample some of the country’s most well-known falafel. You can get your hands dirty in a fantastic cooking class, hunt down world-class street art, and seek out the best viewpoints in the city too.
For enjoyable insights on the modern-day stories and culture of Jordan, and moments away from tourist groups, a day or two here is a great idea.
Keep Reading
11 Wonderful Things To Do in Amman
16 Things To Know Before You Visit Amman
A Wadi Rum DESERT ADVENTURE
Across our two weeks in Jordan, Wadi Rum was the place that left us most awestruck.
One of the world’s most spectacular desert landscapes, stretching forever ahead and dotted with sandstone mountains, monoliths, canyons and secrets carried by the wind, the ‘Valley of the Moon’ is somewhere that no traveller in Jordan should miss.
It may already feel oddly familiar to some of you though, as the UNESCO World Heritage protected desert has been a much-used filming location by Hollywood, including Matt Damon’s ‘The Martian’, Lawrence of Arabia, and Dune, and a couple of Star Wars flicks.
Explored principally via the back of a converted pick-up truck, bumping and hurtling over the rust-red sands to various rock formations and viewpoints, there are also a cornucopia of desert camps in Wadi Rum. We spent one night wild camping under the stars and another at a traditional Bedouin camp, and we highly recommend everyone tries to fit in an overnight here in their Jordan itinerary - it’s a unique, memorable travel experience and also allows you to witness an incredible sunset.
If you’re looking for something more luxurious though, you can opt for one of several luxury bubble camps!
Keep Reading
21 Things To Know Before You Visit Wadi Rum
Six of the Best Luxury Desert Camps
How To Choose Your Wadi Rum Desert Camp (published soon)
How to Get From Petra to Wadi Rum
How to Get From Aqaba to Wadi Rum
The Ruins of Jerash
The Romans left an indelible mark on Jordan.
In Amman, there’s a beautifully preserved amphitheatre and citadel and they ran Petra for a while, but it’s in Jerash where their influence is most visible.
Though their meaningful conquests in this region began around 63 BC, it was the capture of the Nabataean Kingdom in 106 AD which gave them the greatest foothold at the southeastern fringes of their empire. They established the province of Arabia and trade routes flourished due to the strategic positioning of cities, taxation, and agriculture production.
The northern city of Gerasa was at the epicentre of this Roman period.
Today it lies in ruins and comprises a vast archaeological site across the valley from the modern-day ‘Jerash’. If it weren’t for the more famous Petra and Wadi Rum in the south, we reckon the Jerash Ruins would attract a lot more buzz about it, with the site considered one of the best preserved sites of Roman architecture outside of Italy and sometimes referred to as the ‘Pompeii of the Middle East’.
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Canyoning in Wadi Mujib
Waterfalls weren't really part of our plan for Jordan.
This land is one where the contours of rust red sand shape the day, and the parched earth is cracked and dry.
Moisture for the traveller comes in drips of sweat from the brow or gulps of filtered water from the bottle, a sticky sweet sip of hot tea or cool can slurps.
And yet a morning in Wadi Mujib would see us drenched in the narrow shadows of the lesser-known siq, battling neck-deep against the fast-flowing waters of a Biblical river, reaching out for a bright blue rope nailed into the sandstone swirls of the canyon.
Part-swim, part-walk, part-aquatic obstacle course, canyoning in Wadi Mujib provided a refreshing, fun change after several days exploring the iconic ancient ruins and monoliths in the desert. An adrenaline high in the lowest nature reserve on earth, it's an experience which deserves its lofty position in our best things to do in Jordan.
The one downside? The ‘wet trails’ in Wadi Mujib are only open from April to the end of October.
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take A Road Trip
Long-time followers of Along Dusty Roads will know that we love a road trip.
We’ve gone into more detail in this post about why renting a car in Jordan is such a good idea for your travel experience, itinerary planning, and convenience. But in a nutshell, as the public transport system in the country is really limited in terms of connectivity outside of Amman and Aqaba, independent travellers are best to do 1) a combo of tours, private taxis, and buses or 2) rent their own car.
With our own wheels, we were able to really seek out and savour several unforgettable viewpoints and landscapes on the King’s Highway, use Madaba as a base for the Dead Sea + canyoning in Wadi Mujib, and stop off at remote restaurants, shops, and coffee kiosks along the highways which gave us several serendipitous moments with locals far off the tourist route.
For independent travellers in a small, well-visited country, that flexibility and chance to go where others don’t was vital, but we’re also certain that doing a road trip saved us a bit of money overall too.
Just get ready for those damn speed bumps…
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Visit The Biblical Sites
A key part of the wider area known as ‘The Holy Land’, Jordan is a revered place of pilgrimage for Christians due to two important Biblical sites in close proximity by the Dead Sea.
The first is Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the widely accepted spot on the Jordan River where Jesus was baptised. Situated right up against the border of the controversial Israel-occupied West Bank, it was only possible to revive and safeguard it following the seismic 1994 Peace Treaty signed by Jordan and its neighbour. Since then, it has re-emerged as one of the most important pilgrimage destinations within the Middle East, been visited by Popes and Presidents, and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015.
The second is Mount Nebo. A rocky outcrop towering 1,000 meres above the desert and dry farmlands below, it was the highest point of the ancient kingdom of Moab and where Moses, according to the Old Testament and scholars that have followed, was granted a view of the Promised Land. A fateful glimpse of something he would never step foot upon. The religious importance and view across into Israel and Palestine are they key reasons to visit, but Mount Nebo also hosts several spectacular and well-presented versions of the mosaics for which this region was famous for millennia ago.
Even for the non-religious or the uninterested, curiosity and historical importance should lead you to consider a stop at one or both, although we would suggest that the cost and disappointing set-up of Bethany Beyond the Jordan may make that a place which some of you can put on the ‘maybe’ list when planning your itinerary and priorities.
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Devour Jordanian Cuisine
Anthony Bourdain once said ‘Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them—wherever you go.’, and we think it’s sage advice for everyone, no matter your travel budget or background.
In Jordan that means devouring crispy little balls of falafel served in freshly baked flat bread, bowls and bowls of smooth garlicky hummus, the most extraordinarily delicious eggplant dip and, the upside down savoury rice dish called Makloubeh.
It means roadside stops for thick, dark Turkish coffee, a fruity shisha pipe with sweet hot tea, and sharing syrupy pastries in place of an evening alcoholic drink with friends.
Meat-eaters are exceptionally well catered for here, but vegetarians will never go hungry, and the varied dining options mean that whether you’re trying to keep spending to a minimum or prefer a more refined sit-down meal, there will always be a restaurant or falafel stand to cater to your budget.
If, like us, meeting locals in their own kitchens is something you love to factor into your travel itineraries, we can highly recommend joining one of the excellent cooking classes at Beit Sitti. Hosted in a beautiful family home in one of Amman’s oldest neighbourhoods, their classes are run by local women who teach you to cook simple Arabic dishes, thereby allowing a deeper understanding of Jordanian cuisine whilst supporting and empowering a female only workforce which traditionally does not work.
Another great little foodie enterprise we encountered in the country was Al Numeira Environmental Association, located along the coast of the Dead Sea. Created to educate and support the community in managing local resources, they also provide sustainable tourism employment both in the form of tours, as well as their excellent little restaurant.
If you’re passing through the Dead Sea area we highly recommend aiming for a traditional lunch spread here - it was some of the best local food we had during our time in the country!
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Float in the Dead Sea
Located at 408m below sea level, the Dead Sea - so called for a salinity so high that no life can exist within its depths - is the lowest point on Earth; floating atop its surface is an absolute must do for any visitor to Jordan.
In fact, whilst our entire trip seemed to be filled with bucket-list moments, it was experiencing the weightlessness of the Dead Sea that Emily was most looking forward to!
The most accessible areas of the water - and those that allow you to indulge in the ritual of the famed Dead Sea mud mask - are part of the many luxurious resorts at the northeasterly end of the coast. Day access is common (and encouraged), but it’s not terribly cheap, with basic rates generally around the €25 per person mark. This is often included in tour prices, but be sure to confirm.
Thankfully, for those who’d prefer to save the pennies, there are a small number of free swimming spots. We’ve covered everything you need to know on how to access these and our top recommendations in this post.
If you’re ummmming and ahhhhing about whether to include the Dead Sea in your Jordan itinerary, we say just do it. This incredible quirk of nature that has existed for millions of years (four million to be precise), but a combination of dams in the Jordan River, the potash industry and climate change mean that this 600+ square kilometre expanse of saline water may well disappear entirely in the next 50 years.
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The Mosaics of Madaba
With its substantial Christian population, the small city of Madaba provides visitors to Jordan with a different perspective on the country.
The call to prayer to still echoes across the sky five times a day, but this is joined by bells from several Orthodox churches that sit within the same city limits; the ubiquitous Turkish coffee shops can be found on every corner, but on every other corner they are joined by official liquor stores; women glide along the streets in brightly coloured abayas, but chat with women whose religion doesn’t mandate them to cover their hair.
It’s also home to several of the world’s most impressive Byzantine-era mosaics, including the famous 6th century ‘Madaba Map’, a remarkable underground church crypt, our pick for the coolest bookshop in Jordan, and perhaps the best family-run guesthouse we’ve stayed at.
From a practical perspective, for those of you looking to rent a car at Amman airport on arrival, Madaba is also a more convenient and easily accessible ‘first base’ for exploring northern Jordan on day trips in comparison to the capital.
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Diving & Resorts in Aqaba
King Hussein of Jordan made many bold decisions with seismic consequences for his young country and the Middle East, but the deal he made with Saudi Araba was the shrewdest.
In a political game of pontoon, the young ruler of Jordan twisted, handing their neigbour Saudi Arabia six thousand square kilometres of desert in exchange for 12 kilometres of seafront. Overnight, he nearly doubled Jordan’s coastline and turned the key a little looser on his almost land-locked Middle Eastern country.
The place which benefitted most was the southern city of Aqaba, which is at the beating heart of Jordan’s modern economy and the centrepiece of the country’s approach to increase ‘winter holiday’ tourism. The aspirations of Aqaba are very much centred around building up the Dubai-lite tourism style of private beaches, high-end hotels, and shopping centres on man-made lagoons, and planned development will transform stretches of the south coast in the next decade.
Its uniqueness within Jordan also makes it a really popular place on weekends or holidays for locals, with its public beach being a cultural experience all on its own!
The coastline of Aqaba also makes the country a standout diving destination, with coral, shipwrecks, sunk tanks, and even a military plane or two. The chance to scuba dive in the Red Sea was in fact the main reason for its inclusion on our Jordan itinerary, and there a loads of good quality diving schools based in and around the city.
Although its proximity to Wadi Rum and Petra makes it part of Jordan’s ‘Golden Triangle’, if you’re not here to dive or have a pampered, relaxing holiday stay at one of the fancier resorts, you could give Aqaba a miss.
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Visit A Crusader CastlE
Jordan has six Crusader castles - in various states of ruin or restoration - but we wouldn’t suggest trying to visit all of them unless it’s a specific area of interest to you. Most are situated in quite random, remote places, so accessing them means a rental car is necessary and you have to go out of your way.
Due to this, we opted to put all our chips on Kerak Castle. Completed in 1161, the fortification was considered vast for its time - much larger than any castles being built during the same period in Europe - and under the control of the Lord of Transjordan it very quickly became an important strong-hold for the Crusaders. This strategic position transformed it into a wealthy centre of power not only for military purposes, but also for the the steady collection of taxes from trade caravans heading to Jerusalem.
It’s probably the most famous of Jordan’s Crusader castles, and for us it was a worthwhile stop along the scenic but slow King’s Highway (indeed, if we had planned things a little differently, Kerak would have been a good option for an off-the-beaten track overnight stay).
If castles are very much your thing, also consider heading east of Amman to follow a 250-kilometre loop that traces the once dusty roads between five 7th and 8th century desert castles built by the Umayyad dynasty. You can find further details on the castles and how to reach them here.
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Walk The Jordan Trail
Although we would never pass up the opportunity to revisit Wadi Rum or Petra, the main reason that we have a return trip in mind for Jordan is to hike.
The Jordan Trail is a long-distance hiking route running 675 kilometers from Um Qais in the north to Aqaba in the south. Although it would take 40 days to cover, it’s possible to simply do a section or a longer stretch as a multi-day route. The Dana Biosphere Reserve is also a popular base for hiking, with several manageable short routes.
Visiting in May, when the heat was regularly in the 30s, we decided to prioritise covering more of the country rather than committing to a multi-day hike. Aside from conditions being a bit too hot for us to pack the hiking boots, we also didn’t think we could dedicate the necessary chunk of time out of our itinerary to do it meaningfully. The one walk we did have in mind - the backdoor hike from Little Petra to Petra - was also closed off for ‘maintenance’.
Hiking in Jordan would be the best way to access untouched, wild landscapes, nature, incomparable views, and meet several local communities. As well as taking you off the well-established tourist trail, it can also connect up several of the best things to do in Jordan in a surprisingly practical way i.e. the 4-day hike from Dana to Petra sounds absolutely amazing and you can also trek between Petra and Wadi Rum!
