Jordan packs a lot into a small country: the rock-cut city of Petra, Roman streets at Jerash, a night in the Wadi Rum desert, and a float in the Dead Sea, more than 400 m below sea level. Most trips start in Amman, the capital, with Jerash about 45 km to the north. Petra is about a 3-hour drive south on the Desert Highway, or 4 hours on the King's Highway.
This page starts with our ranked picks for a first trip, best first, each with a practical tip on timing, tickets or etiquette. Below them you will find every sight we cover around Amman and Petra, with opening notes and checked entry fees where we have them, and then answers to common questions.
The 18 best things to do in Jordan
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- 1Petra
Walk the Siq to the Treasury in Petra
Petra was the city of the Nabataeans, an Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2,000 years ago, and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The classic way in is on foot from the Visitor Center: past the Djinn block tombs and the Obelisk Tomb, then into the Siq, a natural gorge just over 1 km long, with Nabataean water channels cut into both walls. At its end the Treasury appears, a 39.5 m facade that was most likely a royal mausoleum from the reign of Aretas IV. Local legend says a pharaoh hid treasure in the urn at the top, and bullet holes show where people tried to shoot it down. The walk can take up to an hour.
Tip: Start at opening time (6:00 AM in summer, 6:30 AM in winter), since the park asks every visitor to leave before sunset and the best of Petra lies well beyond the Treasury.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo)Petra ticket - 2Petra
Climb the 800 steps to Petra's Monastery
Ad-Deir, the Monastery, is one of the largest monuments in Petra: a facade 46.77 m wide and 48.3 m high, carved into the cliff of Jabal ad-Dayr in the early 2nd century AD. It was probably a hall for religious meetings, and its name comes from the crosses carved inside when it was reused as a Christian chapel. The trail starts at the stairway by Qasr al-Bint and climbs about 1.6 km and around 800 steps, past the Lion Triclinium and other rock-cut sanctuaries. Allow about 90 to 105 minutes up. It needs moderate fitness rather than climbing skills, and a viewpoint beyond the Monastery looks out over the mountains.
Tip: The late afternoon light on the facade is the reason to climb then, but carry water, sunscreen and a hat, and leave enough time to walk back out of the park before sunset.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo)Petra ticket - 3Petra
Follow Petra's main trail to Qasr al-Bint
Past the Treasury, the main trail continues into the heart of the old city. You pass the Street of Facades and the Theater, cut from the rock in one piece in the early 1st century AD and able to seat up to 6,000 people. The four Royal Tombs line the slope of Khubtha Mountain: the Urn Tomb, the Silk Tomb with its banded sandstone, the Corinthian Tomb and the Palace Tomb. The trail then follows the Colonnaded Street, a Roman street of the 2nd century AD, past the Great Temple, Petra's largest building, to Qasr al-Bint, the city's main temple. The whole route from the Visitor Center is 3.9 km one way.
Tip: Plan lunch near Qasr al-Bint, where the trail ends by two restaurants, including The Basin, and the Monastery trail begins.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com)Petra ticket - 4Wadi Rum
Spend a night in the Wadi Rum desert
Wadi Rum, often called the Valley of the Moon, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of towering sandstone mountains, slender valleys and sand dunes, home to Bedouin tribes. T.E. Lawrence described it as "vast, echoing and God-like", and the Nabataeans left temples, water systems and rock inscriptions here too. The Jordan Trail here passes Lawrence's Spring (Ain Shellaleh), a Nabataean temple and the cliffs of Jabal Rum and Jabal Um Ishrin. Most visitors explore on a 4x4 tour across the dunes and rock formations, then sleep in a Bedouin-style camp. The desert is at its best overnight, when you can watch both sunset and sunrise and spend the evening under the stars.
Tip: Book your 4x4 tour together with your camp, or through the Wadi Rum visitor center, and stay at least one night rather than visiting on a day trip.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo)Included in the Jordan Pass - 5Jerash
Walk the colonnaded streets of Roman Jerash
Jerash, about 45 km north of Amman, was Roman Gerasa, one of the cities of the Decapolis, and is one of the best-preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. Hadrian's Arch, built for the emperor's visit in 129 AD, was meant to be the city's main southern gate, and the hippodrome nearby once seated 15,000 for chariot races. The Oval Plaza, 90 m by 80 m and ringed by Ionic columns, opens onto the Cardo, an 800 m street still paved with its original stones and worn with chariot ruts. Along it stand the Nymphaeum fountain of 191 AD and the South Theatre, built between 90 and 92 AD, where a speaker on the orchestra floor can be heard in every seat without raising their voice.
Tip: Ask at the Jerash Visitors Center about the RACE Roman army and chariot show in the hippodrome, and if you travel in summer, check next season's dates for the Jerash Festival, usually held from late July into early August.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com)Entry: JOD 10 (about $14) · Pay at the gate or use the Jordan PassLast verified
- 6Amman
Look over Amman from the Citadel
Citadel Hill, Jabal al-Qal'a, is the highest point in Amman and the place where the area's first inhabitants lived, so it is the natural place to start. On top you walk among the columns of the Temple of Hercules, the remains of a Byzantine church and the Umayyad Palace complex, with wide views across the downtown valley and the Roman Theatre below. The Jordan Archaeological Museum, built on the hill in 1951, shows finds from excavations across the country. Afterward, walk down to the Roman Theatre and the downtown souqs afterward.
Tip: Start your Amman sightseeing here and check the closing time, which is 5:00 PM on the Jordan Pass list.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan (jordanpass.jo)Included in the Jordan Pass - 7Amman
Sit in the seats of Amman's Roman Theatre
At the foot of Citadel Hill, the Roman Theatre was carved into the hillside in the 2nd century AD and seats around 6,000 people. It has been restored and is still used for performances, as is the smaller Odeon nearby, which seats up to 500 for concerts. In the eastern part of the theater, the Folklore Museum of Costume and Fashion, opened in 1971, collects Jordanian and Palestinian traditional dress. A short walk away is the Nymphaeum, a public fountain complex built in 191 AD that once had fountains, mosaics and stone carvings.
Tip: Pair it with the Citadel on the same morning, since the theater sits right below the hill; both close at 5:00 PM on the Jordan Pass list.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan (jordanpass.jo)Included in the Jordan Pass - 8Dead Sea
Float in the Dead Sea at Amman Tourist Beach
The Dead Sea lies about 427 m below sea level, and its warm water is around ten times saltier than sea water, so buoyant that it is practically impossible to sink. Floating on your back here has drawn visitors since ancient times, and the rich black mud along the shoreline, full of minerals, is part of the experience. Amman Tourist Beach is the simple choice for a day trip from the capital, with the Dead Sea hotels as the other option. The Baptism Site is about 9 km to the north, so the two make an easy day together.
Tip: Visit the Baptism Site first, as it is about a 20-minute drive from the Dead Sea hotels and closes to new visitors in the afternoon, then end the day floating at the beach.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Baptism Site Commission (baptismsite.com)JOD[fee] - 9Madaba
Find the ancient mosaic map in Madaba
Madaba is known as the City of Mosaics, and its best-known treasure lies in the floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, built in the 19th century. There you see a mosaic map from the 6th century AD, uncovered in 1884. What survives measures about 10.5 m by 5 m and is made of between 700,000 and 800,000 natural stone pieces. It points east, like the church, and shows the Jordan River, the Dead Sea, Kerak and Petra, with Jerusalem at its center and the Nile delta at the edge. Nearby, Madaba Archaeological Park holds a Roman road and more mosaics in Hippolytus Hall and the Church of the Virgin Mary.
Tip: Dress modestly for the church, and see the Archaeological Park before it closes at 4:00 PM.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan (jordanpass.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo)JOD[fee] - 10Madaba
Look toward Jerusalem from Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo, 8 km northwest of Madaba, is where Moses is believed to have seen the Promised Land before he died. On the Ras Siyagha summit, Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land look after a memorial to Moses and the ruins of a Byzantine monastery. Mosaics found here in three and sometimes four layers, covering 700 square meters, are now shown inside the new basilica. Outside stands a modern copper serpent sculpture on a cross, made in 1983 and 1984. From the terrace the view reaches over the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley toward Jericho and Jerusalem, 46 km away in a straight line.
Tip: Go on a clear day for the long view, and note the shorter winter hours, when the site closes at 4:30 PM instead of 6:00 PM.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Custody of the Holy Land (custodia.org); Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com)Entry: JOD 3 (about $4) · Pay at the gateLast verified
- 11Dead Sea
Visit the Baptism Site on the Jordan River
Al-Maghtas, Bethany beyond the Jordan, is honored as the place where John baptized Jesus, and it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It lies about 9 km north of the Dead Sea, about 50 minutes by car from Amman. The standard visit includes a free local guide and a shuttle bus, which take you along a peaceful path through Dead Sea vegetation to Elijah's Hill, the ancient baptismal pools, the spot where Jesus is believed to have been baptized, and a viewpoint over the Jordan River. Along the way you see remains from the Roman and Byzantine eras. A shorter 45-minute express tour covers the main highlights.
Tip: Cover your shoulders and belly and wear shorts or skirts at least to the knee, and arrive well before last entry, which is 4:00 PM from November to March and 5:00 PM from April to October.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Baptism Site Commission (baptismsite.com); Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Baptism Site Commission (official)Entry: JOD 12 (about $17) · Guided visit by shuttleLast verified
- 12Amman
Eat hummus, falafel and knafeh in downtown Amman
Downtown Amman, Al-Balad, is where the city's old souqs and street food vendors crowd around the Grand Husseini Mosque, built by King Abdullah I in 1924. Hashem Restaurant, one of the oldest restaurants in the country, has served hummus and falafel for more than forty years, and both locals and visitors fill its downtown branch at any hour. For dessert, walk to nearby Habibah, one of the best-known places for Nabulsi knafeh, where people queue for a slice to eat in the courtyard. Then wander Souq al-Sukar, the busy fruit and vegetable market where Ammanis shop for fresh produce.
Tip: Carry small notes and coins, since many vendors are short of change, and expect a queue at Habibah.
Sources: Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com)Pay as you go - 13Petra
Explore Little Petra and the Beidha Neolithic village
Siq al-Barid, or Little Petra, is about a ten-minute drive north of Petra. Caravans traveling between southern Arabia and Gaza rested and traded here, and you enter through a narrow cleft in the rock, like a small Siq. Inside are carved facades, cisterns, dams and dining halls, and one hall still has remains of a Nabataean fresco of grape vines. Nearby, the Beidha Neolithic village was occupied from about 7200 to 6500 BC, making it one of the first settled villages in human history. Its round house foundations are still visible, and reconstructions show how the dwellings may have looked.
Tip: Go in the morning, since the Little Petra ticket office closes at 2:00 PM in winter and 4:00 PM in summer.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo)JOD[fee] - 14Petra
See Petra by candlelight on Petra by Night
On Petra by Night, you follow a path of about 2,000 candles through the Siq in near silence until the Treasury appears out of the dark. The experience first ran in 1998 and was reimagined in May 2025, adding projection mapping and narration to the original candlelit walk. It runs every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM, all year, as a group experience. The walk back through the candlelit Siq is part of the evening, so wear comfortable shoes for the uneven ground.
Tip: You can only buy a ticket if you hold a daytime Petra ticket or a Jordan Pass, so plan it for one of your Petra days, arrive 10 minutes early, and leave flash and flashlights off.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra by Night (official operator); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo)Entry: JOD 30 (about $42) · Separate evening ticketLast verified
- 15Petra
Hike to Petra's High Place of Sacrifice
The Nabataeans worshiped their gods at open-air high places, and this one sits on a mountaintop reached by ancient steps. On top is a rectangular courtyard with carved benches, an altar where sacred stones probably stood, and a basin that likely collected rainwater for purification. The view takes in Petra, Wadi Musa and the shrine of Aaron on the highest peak in the area. The Al Madras trail climbs an ancient Nabataean staircase from near the Obelisk Tomb, then descends through Wadi Farasa past the Lion Fountain, the Garden Hall, the Roman Soldier Tomb and the Renaissance Tomb. The trail is 4.8 km and takes about 2.75 to 3 hours of walking.
Tip: Wear sturdy shoes, carry plenty of water and sun protection, and stay on the marked trail unless you are with a licensed guide from the Visitor Center.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo)Petra ticket - 16Petra
Cook a Jordanian dinner at Petra Kitchen
After a day on Petra's trails, Petra Kitchen in Wadi Musa offers an evening cooking class where you work alongside local chefs to prepare dishes from a typical Jordanian family menu with fresh local ingredients, then sit down to eat what you made. It runs nightly in a casual, family atmosphere, on Tourism Street in Wadi Musa. Guests who book a multi-night course also shop for ingredients at the local markets with the chef. For a different evening, the Ammarin Bedouin Camp is a community project founded and owned by local Bedouin.
Tip: Classes start at 6:30 PM from March to October and 6:00 PM from November to February, so book ahead and leave Petra in good time.
Sources: Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com)Book a class - 17Ajloun
Visit the Ayyubid hilltop castle at Ajloun
Ajloun Castle, Qal'at ar-Rabad, towers over the green hills of northern Jordan and can be seen from miles away. One of Saladin's generals built it in 1184 to guard the area against the Crusaders, who held castles at Shobak and Kerak in the south, and it was expanded to its present shape in 1214. From the 12th to the 15th centuries it served as a watch post over the trade routes. The woodlands of the nearby Ajloun Forest Reserve are popular for hiking, especially in spring, when wildflowers cover the hills.
Tip: Combine it with Jerash on the same day trip from Amman, and arrive by early afternoon, since the castle closes at 5:00 PM on the Jordan Pass list.
Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Jordan Tourism Board (official); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan (jordanpass.jo)Included in the Jordan Pass - 18Amman
Spend an evening on Rainbow Street and Jabal al-Weibdeh
Rainbow Street in Jabal Amman is one of the city's oldest streets, now lined with cafes, restaurants and a few art galleries, and it is where many people head for a meal or a night out. Craft showrooms such as Turquoise Mountain and the Jordan River Foundation sell work by local artisans. Jabal al-Weibdeh is Amman's art neighborhood, home to Darat al Funun, an arts center in historic houses overlooking downtown, and a women's handicraft association near Paris Square. The old Al-Kalha staircase links Weibdeh with downtown, with the cultural space Jadal in a house from 1933 on the way.
Tip: If you are in Amman on a Friday in summer, look for Souq Jara, the street market in Jabal Amman with crafts, street food and live music.
Sources: Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com)Pay as you go
Every sight, city by city
Ajloun Castle, Ajloun
A hilltop castle northwest of Jerash, one of the sites included in the Jordan Pass.Entry: Included in the Jordan PassSearch tickets and tours on KlookAmman Citadel
Hilltop ruins of the Umayyad Palace, the Temple of Hercules and a Byzantine church, with views over downtown.Entry: Included in the Jordan PassSearch tickets and tours on KlookAmman Tourist Beach, Dead Sea
A public day beach on the Dead Sea, about 427 m below sea level, for floating in the salty water.Entry: JOD[fee]Search tickets and tours on KlookBaptism Site (Al-Maghtas)
The UNESCO-listed site on the Jordan River where John is held to have baptized Jesus.Entry: Guided visit by shuttleSearch tickets and tours on KlookDowntown souqs (Al-Balad)
Busy market streets around the Grand Husseini Mosque, with the Souq Al-Sukar produce market and street food stalls.Entry: Pay as you goHabibah Sweets
A downtown sweet shop famous for Nabulsi knafeh, eaten standing in the lane beside it.Entry: Pay as you goHadrian's Arch, Jerash
A triumphal arch built for Emperor Hadrian's visit in 129 AD at the southern approach to Jerash.Entry: Included in the Jordan PassSearch tickets and tours on KlookHashem Restaurant
One of Amman's oldest restaurants, serving hummus and falafel downtown for more than forty years.Entry: Pay as you goJabal al-Weibdeh
A hillside quarter of art galleries, cultural houses and the Jordanian Crafts Center near Paris Square.Entry: Free to visitJerash Archaeological City
Roman Gerasa, one of the best-preserved provincial Roman towns, with an oval plaza, theaters and a paved Cardo.Entry: Pay at the gate or use the Jordan PassSearch tickets and tours on KlookKing Abdullah I Mosque
A blue-domed memorial mosque holding up to 7,000 worshippers inside and 3,000 more in its courtyard.Entry: View from outsideSearch tickets and tours on KlookMadaba Archaeological Park, Madaba
Mosaic floors, a Roman road and church remains beside the Madaba Visitors Center.Entry: Included in the Jordan PassSearch tickets and tours on KlookMount Nebo, Madaba
The Memorial of Moses, a basilica with Byzantine mosaics on a summit looking over the Jordan Valley.Entry: Pay at the gateSearch tickets and tours on KlookNymphaeum
The remains of a large public fountain complex built in 191 AD in downtown Amman.Entry: View from the streetSearch tickets and tours on KlookRainbow Street
One of Amman's oldest streets, lined with cafés, restaurants and craft showrooms in Jabal Amman.Entry: Pay as you goRoman Theatre
A restored 2nd-century theater cut into the hillside, seating about 6,000, with a folklore museum beside it.Entry: Included in the Jordan PassSearch tickets and tours on KlookSt George's Church, Madaba
A Greek Orthodox church whose floor holds the 6th-century Madaba mosaic map of the Holy Land.Entry: JOD[fee]Search tickets and tours on KlookThe Jordan Museum
The national museum in Ras al-Ain, telling Jordan's history and heritage in a series of galleries.Entry: JOD[fee]Search tickets and tours on KlookAmmarin Bedouin Camp
A Bedouin-owned camp in Al Baidha serving clay-oven dinners with music and stargazing.Entry: Book aheadBeidha Neolithic Village
One of the first settled farming villages, with reconstructed round houses near Little Petra.Entry: JOD[fee]Search tickets and tours on KlookColonnaded Street
The paved Roman main street of the city center, running past the Great Temple to the Temenos Gate.Entry: Petra ticketSearch tickets and tours on KlookGreat Temple
Petra's largest building, a temple complex of 7,560 square meters with two open-air precincts.Entry: Petra ticketSearch tickets and tours on KlookHigh Place of Sacrifice
A Nabataean open-air altar on a summit, with views over Petra, Wadi Musa and Aaron's tomb.Entry: Petra ticketSearch tickets and tours on KlookLawrence's Spring, Wadi Rum
A spring (Ain Shellaleh) below the cliffs of Jabal Rum, a regular stop on desert tours.Entry: On 4x4 desert toursSearch tickets and tours on KlookLittle Petra (Siq al-Barid)
A caravan stop north of Petra, entered through a narrow cleft, with carved halls, cisterns and a painted ceiling.Entry: JOD[fee]Search tickets and tours on KlookNabataean Temple, Wadi Rum
The remains of a Nabataean temple in Wadi Rum village, on the Jordan Trail.Entry: In Wadi Rum villageSearch tickets and tours on KlookPetra by Night
A candlelit walk through the Siq to the Treasury, with light and sound, on Sunday to Thursday evenings.Entry: Separate evening ticketSearch tickets and tours on KlookPetra Kitchen
An evening cooking class on Tourism Street where you cook and eat a traditional Jordanian meal.Entry: Book a classPetra Museum
Five halls of finds from Petra by the main gate, open every day until the evening.Entry: Free to visitSearch tours on KlookPetra Theater
A theater hewn from the rock in the early 1st century AD that once seated up to 6,000.Entry: Petra ticketSearch tickets and tours on KlookQasr al-Bint
Petra's main freestanding temple, 23 m high, where the main trail ends and the Monastery climb begins.Entry: Petra ticketSearch tickets and tours on KlookRoyal Tombs
Four grand tombs on Khubtha Mountain: the Urn, Silk, Corinthian and Palace tombs.Entry: Petra ticketSearch tickets and tours on KlookThe Basin restaurant
A restaurant inside the ancient city by Qasr al-Bint, at the foot of the Monastery trail.Entry: Pay as you goThe Monastery (Ad-Deir)
A facade nearly 47 m wide and 48 m high, reached by about 800 rock-cut steps above the city.Entry: Petra ticketSearch tickets and tours on KlookThe Siq
A narrow natural gorge just over 1 km long, the dramatic main way into Petra.Entry: Petra ticketSearch tickets and tours on KlookThe Treasury (Al-Khazneh)
Petra's 39.5 m rock-cut tomb facade, the first monument you see as you leave the Siq.Entry: Petra ticketSearch tickets and tours on KlookWadi Rum Protected Area
A UNESCO-listed desert of sandstone mountains and sand valleys, explored by 4x4 from the visitor center.Entry: Included in the Jordan PassSearch tickets and tours on KlookQuestions travelers ask
What are the best things to do in Jordan for a first trip?
Give Petra at least a full day: walk the Siq to the Treasury, follow the main trail to Qasr al-Bint and climb to the Monastery. In Amman, see the Citadel and Roman Theatre and eat your way through downtown. From Amman, Jerash makes an easy half day, and Madaba, Mount Nebo, the Baptism Site and a float in the Dead Sea fill another. If you can, add a night in a Wadi Rum camp for the desert, the sunset and the stars.
Sources: Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo)How many days do you need in Jordan?
Five days covers the highlights: two in Amman with day trips to Jerash, Madaba and the Dead Sea, two in Petra, and a day for Little Petra and the trip back. A week adds a night in Wadi Rum. Petra tickets come in one, two and three day versions, used on consecutive days. If you plan to use the Jordan Pass to cover your visa fee, its pages ask for a minimum stay of two whole nights, and some say three, so plan at least three nights.
Sources: Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan (jordanpass.jo); UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeWhen is the best time to visit Jordan for sightseeing?
Spring, from March to May, and autumn, from September to November, are the best seasons, with mild weather for walking Petra's long trails. Spring also brings wildflowers to the green hills around Ajloun. Petra keeps longer hours in summer, from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, than in winter, when it opens 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM. During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daytime, and expect shorter hours at some sites, such as the Baptism Site.
Sources: Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Jordan Tourism Board (official); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Baptism Site Commission (baptismsite.com)Which Jordan attractions should you book ahead?
Buy the Jordan Pass online before you land if you want it to cover your visa fee; it includes Petra and over 40 other sites, and you should carry it printed. Petra tickets can also be bought online or at the Visitor Center. Petra by Night is not part of either, and you need a daytime Petra ticket or the Jordan Pass to buy it. Book your Wadi Rum camp and 4x4 tour, a Petra Kitchen class, and JETT bus seats from Amman to Petra in advance.
Sources: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan (jordanpass.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo)How do you get around Jordan?
Queen Alia International Airport is 35 km south of Amman; a taxi downtown takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and shuttle buses run to the city. JETT buses leave Amman's Abdali station for Petra at 6:30 AM and return at 5:00 PM, and minibuses run from Amman's South Station. By car, Petra is 3 hours on the Desert Highway or 4 on the King's Highway. In cities, yellow taxis have meters, but agree the fare first after 11 PM; Careem, Uber and Jeeny work too.
Sources: Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com)What should you know about money and etiquette in Jordan?
The currency is the Jordanian dinar. Cards work in hotels, restaurants and larger shops, but smaller shops and souqs prefer cash, so carry plenty of small change. Tip waiters about 10 percent unless service is included, and round up taxi fares. Haggling is normal in shops. Dress modestly, especially at religious sites, and never walk in front of someone who is praying. When offered Arabic coffee, accept it; shake the cup gently from side to side when you want no more.
Sources: Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Jordan Tourism Board (visitjordan.com); Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (visitpetra.jo); Baptism Site Commission (baptismsite.com)