AsiaPhoto by Mohammad Almashni on Unsplash
Amman
Roman ruins, Petra at dawn, and sweet Bedouin tea.
Why visit
01 / 10The case for going
Amman is the low-key base for an outsized country: a white-stone capital of hilltop Roman ruins and buzzing rooftop cafes.
Point south and within a few hours you hit Jerash's colonnades, a night in a Wadi Rum desert camp, and Petra's Treasury glowing out of the sandstone at dawn.
What to do
02 / 10Ways to spend a day
Activities €80–150 total
- 01Walk the rock-cut canyon to Petra's Treasury at first light. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 02Sleep in a Bedouin camp under the cliffs of Wadi Rum. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 03Wander the Roman colonnades of Jerash. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 04Float in the mineral-heavy Dead Sea. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
- 05Climb to the Amman Citadel above the Roman theatre. Book on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)
Book activities & tickets
Roman ruins, Petra at dawn, and sweet Bedouin tea.
Where to stay
03 / 10The right base
Accommodation €40–70/night
In Amman
Jabal Amman
hilltop, cafes and galleries on Rainbow Street
Al Balad
the bustling old downtown, souks and stairs
In Petra
Wadi Musa
the base for Petra, walk to the gate
Find a place to stay
How to get there
04 / 10Easiest way in
How to get around
05 / 10Once you land
Comfortable JETT buses link Amman with Petra for about 15 EUR; shared taxis cover the shorter hops like Petra to Wadi Rum for 20 to 30 EUR. In the cities, the Careem app is the easy way to get a ride.
Get around
What to eat
06 / 10Order this
Food €20–35/day
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Mansaf
lamb in fermented yogurt
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Falafel
fried chickpea fritters
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Zaatar bread
herbed flatbread
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Maqluba
upside-down rice pot
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Kunafa
cheese-and-syrup pastry
- TasteAtlas (opens in a new tab)
Shawarma
spit-roast wraps
By the numbers
07 / 10Cards on the table
Safety index
75/100
General guide, not advisory data
Best seasons
Spring · Fall
When it's at its best
Stay for
6 days
The sweet spot
Daily spend
$$
Mid-range
How to fit in
08 / 10Read the room
Amman's downtown wakes late: start at the Citadel for the view, then graze falafel and warm knafeh in Al Balad as the cafes fill. Down south, sleep in a Wadi Rum camp to catch the desert silence after the day groups drive back to Petra.
How to pack
09 / 10What goes in the bag
Best in Spring
Spring: pleasant days around 20 to 28C, cooler desert nights, with clear skies.
- sturdy boots for Petra's long trails
- a light scarf for sun and dust
- layers for desert temperature swings
- a swimsuit for the Dead Sea
- a refillable water bottle
How to prepare
10 / 10The boring bits
Three things worth sorting before you fly.
Tomorrow's detour
One place worth the trip.
Curated destinations, one a day.