Hashemite Kingdom of JordanTravel Guide

Opulence and art come together at the five-star Fairmont Amman. Featuring beautiful wood and marble interiors, the hotel showcases more than 1,600 artworks by Jordanian artists. There's an outdoor pool, an on-site spa, and four restaurants! The variety of cuisine aims to satisfy every palate, from meat lovers to those keen on Jordanian, Lebanese, or Pan-Asian dishes. 
 
If you’re looking for budget accommodation or if you’re a female or solo traveller, The Cabin hostel is a great choice. Situated centrally and not far from some major attractions, this charming hostel offers comfy bunk beds or private rooms, free Wi-Fi, aircon and a warm welcome from your hosts. The bus station is within walking distance.

This city, about an hour from Amman, is famous for its ancient ruins (read about them later). But it’s also a modern city with a variety of dining, shopping and accommodation options. Hussein Rooms is just over a kilometre from the ruins and is a budget-friendly bed and breakfast where you feel like you’re staying with a local family. The units have balconies with views of the courtyard or mountains and there’s even a playground if you’re travelling with little ones. If you’re visiting in late July to early August, the Jerash Festival is a popular event here, featuring music, dance, and theatre performances.

The Rahayeb Desert Camp in the Wadi Rum Protected Area offers a unique stay in a Bedouin-style camp. Here, the stars, desert and boulders are all part of the décor. Tents have comfortable beds, carpeted floors and either a private or shared bathroom. There’s a stargazing deck, a restaurant with live entertainment and plenty of activities from jeep tours, horse riding and abseiling to hiking and a sunrise hot air balloon expedition. 

Jordan’s only coastal city, Aqaba, is on the Red Sea. It’s a popular destination for its beautiful white-sand beaches, snorkelling among the coral reefs, many beach clubs and thriving nightlife scene. Keen on a five-star resort stay? The modern Kempinski Hotel Aqaba offers luxury suites and rooms with sea views, a spa, several dining options and a private beach. 

If you’re the fit and adventurous type, there’s no better way to discover Jordan than by hitting the trail. Lace up your hiking boots and head off on the epic Jordan Trail. Divided into eight sections, it stretches for almost 700 kilometres from north to south, goes through more than 70 villages and towns, and takes about 40 days to finish. But you can also tackle sections, make a day trip of a part of it or curate a six-day hike that includes the Red Sea and Wadi Rum, a magical desert valley of cliffs and canyons where you can do rock climbing or camel trekking. 

You can do wild camping along the Jordan Trail (camping wherever you like rather than in a camping site), but why not immerse yourself in Jordanian culture by staying in one of the villages, tasting local food and experiencing the incredible hospitality of the people? This is as authentic as it gets and gives local communities an economic boost. 

Right in the middle of the city of Jerash lies a sprawling archaeological site and one of the world’s best-preserved Roman ruins. Start your meander at the South Gate and walk down colonnaded streets, past plazas, Roman baths, amphitheatres and under arches along the way.

The history of the area can be traced back to the first millennium BC, and not only does it give you serious gladiator feels, but every day, the ancient ruins come alive with re-enactments of gladiator battles and chariot races at the Hippodrome, which seated 15 000 people back in the day. 

If you prefer art to history, the street art tours in Amman are for you. The city’s thriving street art scene is showcased with guided walking tours that take you through various neighbourhoods to view the striking murals.

The ancient city of Petra has captured imaginations worldwide and even featured in the movie Indiana Jones! A 230-kilometre drive from Amman to Petra, the ‘Rose City’ – so called because of its striking architecture hewn out of sandstone – is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. At its heart stands the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), an impressive tomb believed to be that of King Aretas III, who ruled from 87 to 62 BCE. Another major landmark is a monastery in the hills. You’ll have to walk up 800 stairs to the lookout point, but it’s worth the effort because when the sun sets, you’ll experience Petra by candlelight when hundreds of candles illuminate its many charms. 

Just an hour’s drive from Amman, the Dead Sea is an ideal day trip if you have a rental car.  It’s actually a landlocked salt lake with a salt concentration of 33% – nearly 10 times higher than the world’s oceans, so you’ll have trouble swimming because you’ll be buoyant, but you’ll have loads of fun! Slathering yourself in the black mud is a common practice, as it’s believed to have healing powers. 

Mount Nebo, about a 30-minute drive from Amman, is a place of historical and religious significance. It’s believed to be where Moses died after seeing the Promised Land stretched out before him. Take an easy walk up and you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the Dead Sea, Jericho and even Jerusalem. You can also visit the ancient church on-site and see beautiful mosaics from Byzantine times.

Rumour has it that the best falafel can be found at Hashem Restaurant. And if you look at the number of locals waiting for a table outside in downtown Amman, it’s obviously true! This eatery features traditional street food, and in addition to the regular falafel, there’s also a stuffed falafel with an onion and sumac (lemony spice) stuffing with sesame seeds on top. Enjoy other local delicacies like creamy hummus, moutabel (roasted eggplant dip), ful medames (slow-cooked fava beans) washed down with mint tea.

If you have a sweet tooth, you must pop into Habibah Sweets downtown to stock up on traditional treats and desserts. You might know baklava, but there’s so much more like the kunafa, a cheese pastry drenched with sweet syrup. Habibah Sweets is not a sit-down restaurant, so crowds often gather outside to tuck into their delicious treats.

For “feel-good dining” head to Dar Ne'meh Souf in Souf village. This restaurant franchise supports Jordanian women who make a variety of food products and crafts, so dining here means you pay it forward, too. The menu features diverse Middle Eastern and North African dishes from mezze platters and shakshuka (poached egg in tomato) to qidreh (spicy lamb and rice).

Petra Kitchen in Tourism Street is all about authentic Jordanian food made the traditional way. Ingredients are locally sourced with olives picked from the family’s orchards, spices grown nearby, and the rest bought from local markets. In the evenings, Petra Kitchen offers cooking classes and dinners where you work with local chefs to create a full Jordanian dinner. 

Street food is a part of Jordanian culinary culture and easy to find in the cities. Amman even has a dedicated Street Food Park, operating out of shipping containers. Dishes to try that we haven’t previously mentioned include arayes (toasted sandwiches of pita stuffed with chopped lamb) and manakeesh, a Middle Eastern “pizza”. In Aqaba, vendors can be found near the beach selling fresh fish and local dishes.

The TAJ Lifestyle Center, also known as the TAJ Mall, is a premium destination in Amman for shopping, dining and entertainment. It’s known for its comprehensive retail mix from international high-end fashion brands to home décor and even a supermarket. There’s also a cinema, an expansive food court and open-air restaurants.

In the heart of Amman, perched on a hill, Rainbow Street is lined with shops, hookah bars, quaint coffee shops and restaurants. During summer, the pop-up open-air Souk Jara flea market takes place every Friday. The handicrafts here are not mass-produced but original high-quality items like wood carvings, paintings, handmade soap, and traditional Bedouin woven items from kilims to bags made of wool or goat hair.

Shopping in Aqaba is diverse, from high-end malls to markets plus a fabulous duty-free store! Part of the Jordanian Duty Free Shops chain, this is the best place to stock up on perfumes, cosmetics, accessories, confectionery and more. 

The ancient city of Petra and the town of Wadi Musa next door are home to many small shops and markets selling a variety of local products, such as silver jewellery, pottery, crafts, raw incense, local oils and natural perfumes. Some have fixed prices, whereas others welcome bargaining. Souvenirs in Petra centre around its landmarks and architecture, so you can buy a miniature of the Treasury to take home!

Also known as Al Hussein Park, this is one of Amman’s landmarks near the Royal Palace. It’s ideal for relaxing, having a picnic in the landscaped gardens and strolling along the walkways. There are also two museums on-site worth visiting. The Royal Automobile Museum showcases various vehicles, including vintage models like the 1916 Cadillac. The Children’s Museum exhibits toys and games and offers activities for the kids.

This reserve is focused on wildlife conservation and working hard to reintroduce endangered species like the Arabian oryx and Dorcas gazelle. It’s situated about 1.5 hours from Amman, making it ideal for a day trip. Go on a guided safari, hit the biking trail and then pop into the on-site museum. You can also stay in a tented camp in the reserve.

Jordan's largest nature reserve, the Dana Biosphere Reserve, is part of the Rift Valley, and known for diverse ecosystems, cultural experiences, and rare animals like the Syrian wolf and the sand cat. The landscape of mountains and valleys makes it an excellent hiking spot. 

Start your adventure exploring Dana Village, a traditional Bedouin village with winding streets, stone buildings, and incredible views. From there, the 14-kilometre Wadi Dana Trail will take you through striking scenery, including rocky terrain, fascinating rock formations and a dry riverbed surrounded by lush vegetation. Goat traffic jams are common but don’t worry, the friendly nomadic shepherds will herd them along. The trail ends at the Fenyan Ecolodge, and you can either opt to stay the night or ask the lobby to arrange transport for you back to your starting point. 

Attention action and nature lovers! Head to the Mujib Biosphere Reserve in the Wadi Mujib gorge near the Dead Sea for epic canyoning! This is known as the lowest nature reserve in the world, home to hundreds of species of plants, and many species of carnivores and birds. The reserve also has several hiking trails and a waterfall for swimming.