How to spend time in Jordan: what to see and eat
Jordan is known to most as a country with deserts and Petra – a city in a rock, also called the seventh Wonder of the World. Many go there mainly for it, but besides such an important attraction, there is a lot of interesting things in the kingdom. We tell you everything we learned.
Entry Requirements
The Kingdom has lifted quarantine for tourists from the "red zone", including Russians. A negative PCR test no older than 72 hours is required for entry. However, there are no direct flights yet, you can get there with transfers.
Airports
There are two airports in Jordan that welcome tourists: in Amman and Aqaba. There is a domestic flight between the cities, so after exploring the capital (Amman), you can fly to the Red Sea beaches to warm your bones.
Amman Airport – Queen Alia
This is Jordan's main airport, 32 km from the capital. You can safely take a taxi, because the price is fixed by the state – 20 dinars (approximately 2,000 rubles, depending on the exchange rate), but those who like to save money are also not left out. Every 30 minutes, a shuttle runs from the arrival hall to the final station “North Bus Station” – it costs only 3.3 dinars (almost 400 rubles). You can also rent a car, but unprepared drivers will find it difficult to fit into this chaotic traffic flow. Read more about prices and opportunities at the airport on the airport's website.
Jordan has its own currency – the Jordanian Dinar. As of January 21, 2021, 1 Dinar = 103.7 Rubles.
Aqaba Airport – King Hussein
This airport has an interesting location, as just 20 km away there are as many as 3 countries: Egypt, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. Aqaba is only a few kilometers from the airport.
Since it's a resort, 90% of tourists get to the city by transfer from a tour operator; for private tourists, we recommend taking a taxi, as the journey is short.
City Transport
Public transport is quite well developed. In cities, there are buses and minibuses, and between cities – comfortable JETT scheduled buses. Tickets can be bought on the carrier's website or at the bus station ticket office. You can get from Amman to Aqaba by such a bus in 4 hours.
You can also use a taxi – 0.3 dinars for boarding and then by meter. In Amman, city transport runs strictly on schedule, payment upon entry. In other cities, transport is more confusing, so a taxi will help you out again.
Amman
How do you imagine an Arab capital? It is an incredibly dynamic city, equipped for tourism. It is a modern metropolis with business centers, shopping malls, restaurants, galleries, and museums.
If you are not chasing a tan and beach holidays, it is better to go to Jordan during the off-season. In winter, it's about 20 degrees here – quite comfortable for climbing mountains and exploring new places. In summer, the air warms up to 35 degrees and above, so besides lying on the beach, there's not much else to do in this heat. And you wouldn't want to.
What to see
It's quite interesting to walk around the capital itself to start. The city is divided into East Amman and West Amman. East Amman – authentic backstreets, narrow streets, everything breathes history and poverty. And on the outskirts, you can even stumble upon Palestinian refugee camps. We do not recommend going there alone, or at least with a guide.
But the Western part is a new city with business centers, art galleries, comfortable neighborhoods. If you want to breathe the spirit of antiquity, go see the Citadel, and nearby are the Roman Amphitheater and other ruins. An hour's drive from the capital is the ancient city of Jerash, and there is the park “Pompeii of the East”. In the south of the city, on Kan Zaman hill, there is also a favorite spot for tourists – a complex of stables and other premises where you can try real Jordanian coffee, smoke a hookah, and buy local handicrafts.
We also recommend driving to the Wadi as-Sir valley. There are interesting caves, gorges, and fortresses in the area.
Museums
To get acquainted with the traditions of the kingdom, visit the Jordan Museum of Popular Traditions in the Roman Amphitheater. Costumes, household items, interiors – all this will introduce you to the country and its history.
If you're interested in painting, visit the Jordan National Gallery. It features not only paintings but also sculptures and ceramic works by artists from across the Middle East. And those interested in coins will enjoy the Central Bank's Numismatic Museum. The Royal Automobile Museum is also worth attention. It houses a collection of all the cars driven by the kings of Jordan.
But the largest open-air museum is the central Souk market. It's not just market stalls; it's an entire world – here you can find everything from spices to antique items. Allocate at least half a day for visiting the market.
Surroundings
Not far from Amman, towards the border with Israel, there are many beautiful green fields that will change your perception of Jordan. Go on a road trip along the Jordan River – the places and local village farms are incredibly beautiful.
Excursions
There are many excursions in Jordan, the most popular ones are to Petra – the city in the rock, and the Wadi Rum desert. This is a red desert where some films were shot, for example, “The Martian”. You can get there on your own, but it's more interesting with an excursion, and there's less hassle, if only because you won't have to worry about the road in an unfamiliar country. The cost of excursions varies, inquire on site – at the hotel or search online in advance. Here are some good options.
Excursions are also organized to Petra – the city in the rock and a Wonder of the World, but you can also get there on your own. The surest way is by bus from Amman. The journey will take 3.5 hours, Jett buses depart early in the morning from Abdali bus station. If you go with an excursion, you will take the same buses. See schedules and prices on the website, but it certainly won't be cheaper than 1,500 rubles.
What to try in Jordan
Arab cuisine knows how to surprise! If you find yourself in the Kingdom during local holidays – be sure to try mansaf. This is lamb marinated in yogurt, cooked with rice and pine nuts.
Meat lovers will also enjoy the meat roll “Kebab” – it contains three types of meat, grilled over an open fire. Arab cuisine even has something similar to chicken soup. Here it is called mlukhiyah. It got this name due to the presence of mlukhiyah leaves in its composition – a herb somewhat similar to spinach. It also contains garlic, rice, onions, and herbs.
For dessert, besides the traditional baklava, or as they say here – baklava, try sahlab – a milk pudding. It's a mixture of milk mousse, nuts, dried fruits, and it's topped with coconut flakes.
