Last Updated on November 14, 2022 by Tia
This Jordan travel guide holds all the information you need in one place, so you don’t need to go looking for it.
Here, you will find all the tips for making your holiday in Jordan the most memorable experience yet!
Forget about having to type dozens of questions into Google, to plan a single trip. Additionally, forget about getting there and being underprepared.
The country’s location, population, currency, climate, visas, and vaccinations advice to name a few, are right here, so keep on reading!
All you need is right here in this guide, so keep on reading.
After all, enticing and mysterious, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan continues to captivate travelers with an eclectic mix of tradition and modernism.
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Table of Contents
Jordan at a Glance
From the busy city center of urban Amman to the enchanting starkness of the Wadi Rum desert.
Then, from the wonders of the Dea Sea to the majestic ruins of hidden and forgotten cities like Petra.
Jordan is a unique Saudi Arabia destination on the continent of Asia!
It offers truly breathtaking sights, rich history of civilizations once forgotten, and exquisite cuisine.
Additionally, it is home to numerous Unesco Heritage Sites, and 7 New wonders of the World which are sure to leave you in awe.
For a step-by-step guide on the best things to do in Jordan, make sure you read up on my article!
Jordan Caters for the affordable luxury and the backpacker traveler alike, offering fantastic luxury hotel accommodations and charming Airbnbs.
You will find the most options in Amman, Petra, Aqaba, and the Dead Sea.
In this Jordan Travel Guide, we cover the basics that everyone should know, before planning their trip to Jordan.
Without further ado, let’s travel to Jordan together…
Jordan Travel Guide – The Basics
Jordan’s World Location. Contrary to popular belief, Jordan is located in the continent of Asia, sharing neighboring borders with Israel, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Palestine.
Jordan covers over 88.000 km of land and 540 square km of water.
The capital of Jordan is Amman, and Its residents are referred to as Jordanians.
Jordan Population. Just over 10 million people
Flight Time Cyprus to Jordan.1 hour and 5 minutes (on a Direct flight). Aegean, Ryan Air, and Air Jordannia all fly to Jordan from Cyprus.
Visa. You need a passport that is valid for a further 6 months and a visa to Enter Jordan. Travelers from Cyprus can obtain a Jordanian visa upon arrival at the airport in Amman. The cost for the Visa is small, only 40 JOD. (50 euros)
Alternatively, you can also arrange your visas before you fly. Personally, I always do this to avoid long annoying queues at the airport and unpleasant surprises!
My trusted agency TRAVEL PASS always takes care of this for me!
Entry Visa tip: you need to apply for a visa a minimum of 15 days before you travel.
To do it yourself, visit the embassy
What Jordan is famous for
- The elusive ancient city of Petra, (also known as the Rose City). Petra is an entire city of unique architecture carved straight into the rock. It is also one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a Unesco Heritage Site.
- Many wonders of the Christian Faith. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Jordan River (where Jesus was baptized), and Mount Nebo (where Moses died)
- The Dead Sea. It actually has a 34.2% salinity making it almost 10times as salty as the ocean!
- The Wadi Rum Desert. The stark beauty of the Wadi Rum is clearly loved in Hollywood, with many movies being filmed here. Laurence of Arabia and Alladin (2019) are only a few of them.
Jordan Travel Guide – Transportation In Jordan
Getting Around Jordan: Driving in Jordan is a recommended option, although having your own driver will seriously enhance your journey.
Other than that, taxis are your next best bet – if you have a smartphone, download Careem, the Jordanian equivalent to Uber!
Uber, in general, is cheap too, 2 JD (3.5 euros) for a 10-15 min car ride.
Local Information you need to know
Jordan Telephone Code: +962
Electrical Current. Jordan typically uses 220 AC volts with rounded 2 prong wall plugs. Many hotels, especially in Amman offer various plugs options in our room though- to cater to all which I thought was amazing!
In any case, you will need a travel adapter – I don’t travel anywhere without mine and it’s super cheap
What is the main religion in Jordan?
According to the last census and the latest statistics, 96% of the population is Muslim in Jordan. The great majority of these are Sunni Muslims. Christians are the remaining 4%.
For more information on how and If Ramadan can affect your holidays, and the things you are allowed to do during this time read my Ramadan guide here
What type of Climate does Jordan have?
Much like Cyprus, Jordan is characterized by long, hot dry summers and short cool winters.
July is the hottest month of the year – averaging 25-35 degrees and the coldest is January with an average of 8 degrees.
December is the wettest month of the year and should be avoided unless you don’t plan on taking outdoor activities (And I highly recommend you to do many outdoor activities in Jordan)
Internet in Jordan
The country is not part of the EU, so there are additional costs and roaming charges for using the internet.
No Jordan travel guide would be complete without a mention of the internet!
Possibly the biggest stress most of us have when abroad is not being able to have access to the internet, especially in Jordan, where outdoor activities are plentiful.
Is there wifi in Jordan?
There is wifi in the big cities, like Amman for example. But you will be doing a lot of traveling/driving so to me it simply isn’t ideal to be offline for that long. So if you are like me, fear not!
Upon arrival at Amman Airport and in the arrivals terminal- you will find Zain – a Jordanian telephone provider. Buy yourself a 20GB local sim card (for the price of 25 euros) and roam the internet non-stop!
I bought a sim card, and hotspot internet for my friend too for the entire journey so we ended up splitting the cost.
There is also a 50KB Sim card that also offers 100 international minutes for about 37 euros. The internet was super fast too, we even ended up watching movies from our phones!
Money Transactions in Jordan
Currency: The currency of Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar (JOD), One Dinar equals 1.26 Euros, 1.41 Dollars, or 1.13 Uk Pounds.
I would advise changing your currency once you land In Jordan and not before – choose a bank instead of your hotel and save even more cash.
Credit cards: For all of you that don’t like to carry too much cash, you are in luck!
I was happy to see that all major credit cards like Visa, Diners Club, MasterCard/American Express can luckily be used in large shops, ATMs, and hotels. Some local shopping especially outside of Amman will require cash.
Top Travel Money Tip:
The best solution not to lose any money is the Revolut Mastercard – which you get for free. Mine arrived a week before my trip and I’m so happy I got it!
Revolut is a great pre-paid debit card that is connected to your chosen bank account.
It gives you access to easy and free money transfers in over 29 currencies, cheap currency exchange, cryptocurrency exchange, and peer-to-peer payments.
With Revolut, you can pay or use the ATM in 120 currencies and via the app, you can directly send money in 29 currencies!
It’s major benefits are the interbank exchange rate saving you money with each transaction.
Amazingly, you can get free ATM withdrawals up to 200euros per month – then only a 2% change after that.
Clothes, Modesty and Customs – Jordan Travel Guide
What to wear. Dress moderately modestly as Jordan is primarily a Muslim Country.
Muslim women usually cover their arms, legs, and hair, and while we Western folk don’t need to stick to the same strict rules, I would advise dressing modestly and respectfully.
Leave your shorts at home, and stick to looser fabric that covers legs and cleavage.
For an in-depth list, including attire for the Dead Sea and Petra, read my Jordan Packing List
Health and Safety in Jordan
Vaccinations: the 3 most common recommended vaccines are Tetanus, Typhoid and Hepatitis A.
These three are the most commonly recommended for most countries outside of Europe.
You can read my guide to Tropical Vaccinations and Diseases here.
I was shocked at the number of people from Cyprus that are not getting vaccinations before they travel!
I don’t know why you would be so naive to think an illness will simply pass you by? Please do your research (or ask me!) about the correct travel vaccinations!
Tip: Travelers from Cyprus can get their vaccinations very cheaply at the old Nicosia Hospital or visit their private physician.
Can I drink tap water in Jordan?
The water is said to be safe to drink, but strangely, no tourist seems to choose to, and neither did I.
Stick to bottled water when you are out and about, and avoid ice unless you are in a high-end hotel that has its own water purification system.
Purified ice cubes are long and clear, with a hole running through the middle.
Safety in Jordan. In my Jordan travel guide, (and all my other guides) It is important to me to make sure you are safe and to report any concerns I may have.
Despite being neighbors with Syria and Iraq, Jordan is a very peaceful country and a very safe one to visit.
The last major terrorist attack in Jordan was in 2005, and since then, the government has invested to keep Jordan as safe and peaceful as possible.
The country, in general, has low levels of crime, and punishments for theft are high.
I found the locals completely respectful of visitors and their belongings.
To ensure maximum safety, you will witness high-security presence and metal detectors in hotels and malls. You will also see monitored border zones and tourist police in all major sites. Don't be alarmed though, it's very safe!
Like all countries please beware of tourist scams- such as taxis not using meters or antique shops selling fake antiques.
If you are renting a car, beware of kids demanding money at the traffic lights- if the driver refuses they stone your traffic lights! Simply try to avoid eye contact – or if you wish to give money to the children, keep petty change in hand.
Interesting scam story
I heard of a rather interesting scam performed by local Bedouin men, that I thought I should share!
In this scam, local Bedouins befriend lonely female travelers and pursue romantic relationships with them. Within days, they swear their undying love and promises of marriage, before they start asking for money and loans in return. Ladies, beware!!
Food and Cuisine – Jordan Travel Guide
Cuisine. Prepare to indulge in large mezze-style feasts, similar to the world-famous Cypriot ones.
Meze in Jordan consists of hummus, falafels, olives, bread, rice, bulgar wheat, stuffed cabbage leaves, and various spiced meats.
The meal is always followed by baklava, halva, and kataifi; all traditional syrup desserts known and loved by Greeks all over the world.
I Personally suffer from IBS, (Irritable bowel Syndrome) and high lactose intolerance- which means any food with lactose, pulses, sesame or fibers can make me really sick.
I have to admit, I didn’t have the easiest time in Jordan; although the food was delicious! I couldn’t resist tucking into the best falafels I have ever eaten, delicious salads, and hummus.
My friend was also a vegetarian and had no trouble finding delicious food during our trip.
Luckily, I have a great guide for vegan and vegetarian food in Jordan so be sure to check it out!
I hope you have found my Jordan travel guide helpful!
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