Jordan: Travelling

Means of Transport Recommended in Town

Recommendation

Two means of transport can be used in town. On the one hand there are taxis. They have a meter and the fare for some rides such as that to the airport is fixed by the government. Their level of English is sufficient to understand directions and destinations. Buses are inexpensive but their routes are mostly written in Arabic.

Maps of Urban Networks

UT Library on line
Mapblast

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Amman - Queen Alia Intl (AMM)	26 km / 16 miles	JOD 15 / 35-45 min	JOD 2 / 50 min	-	Available

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Recommendation

The most convenient means of traveling in the country are shared taxis, minibuses and buses. Shared taxis have between 5 and 7 seats. They only leave when all the seats are occupied. They are as cheap as buses but they go much faster. They are white and have set, regular lines. All towns are served by buses or minibuses. Minibuses only leave when they are full. Buses have fixed schedules. The public company Jordan Express Tourist Transport manages the buses. From the point of view of trains, there is only one line which transports passengers, the Hedjaz line which links Amman to Damas in 8 hours. Domestic flights are limited. There is only one link Amman/Aqaba operated by Royal Jordanian Airlines.

Rail Companies

Jordan Hedjaz Railways

Airlines

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Travelling By Yourself

Recommendation

Road safety is not guaranteed: drivers often drive dangerously. It is preferable in the event of a non serious accident to try and find an amicable arrangement, since Jordanians are usually badly or not insured. However, in more serious cases, call the police to have a report drawn up. When there are Jordanian victims involved, it is advisable to go directly to the nearest police station to protect oneself against a possible hostile reaction from witnesses.

Road Maps

Road map of Jordan

Find an Itinerary

Via Michelin

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical

Petra is one of the few magic places in the world.  Petra was the capital of the Nabateans, a Semitic population, native of Arabia. About 600 monuments, carved in the cliff, extend over a 6 km long and 3 km wide field.
The castles of the desert (Qasr), were built in the 7th and 8th centuries.
Jerash is the ancient Gerasa site, abandoned since the 12th century, and re-occupied by the Circassians at the end of 19th century. With its well preserved ruins and its huge restorations, Jerash is undoubtedly the most spectacular Roman site in Jordan.
The Kerak region: located on a peak which overlooks the whole region.

Cultural

There is a Jordanian Fine Arts museum in Amman. In addition, the capital has many galleries and cultural centers.

Nature

There are several very beautiful natural parks in Jordan. The Dana reserve for example is magnificent with its different landscapes. In the same way, the Wadi Rum desert with its red sand dunes is particularly impressive.

Religious

There is very little religious tourism in Jordan. However, the country has great potential especially with its fabled Biblical sites and its early Christian churches paved with mosaics.

Thermal

Thermal and well-being tourism has grown up around the Dead Sea. The very salty water together with the mud has reviving and curative virtues for problems of rheumatism, allergies and circulation of the blood.

Beach

The Gulf of Aqaba is renowned. The beaches are very beautiful, and the reefs have a wealth of varied flora and fauna.

Winter Sports

This type of tourism is not developed.

Outdoor Activities

You can practice diving and snorkeling in the Gulf of Aqaba. The mountainous relief of the country provides opportunities for hiking, trekking and climbing.

Shopping

You can wander in the souk in Amman. The capital has several shopping malls.

Tourism Organisations

Visitjordan.com

Health and Safety

Health Precautions

A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is required for travelers over one year old coming from affected areas.
Bathing in fresh water exposes you to the risk of urinary bilharziosis (or schistosomiasis). Bathing can be envisaged when a reliable report on the place is available. Bilharziosis is particularly present in the valley of the Jordan. As conditions of hygiene are not especially good, you should avoid drinking tap water, eating raw vegetables and consuming raw or poorly cooked foods.
If you are staying in a rural area, you should take repellents with you to avoid possible bites from phlebotoma which can transmit phlebotoma fever (leishmaniosis).

For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions

WHO website

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference

It is %T:%M %A In Amman (GMT+2 in winter, GMT+3 in summer)

Summer Time Period

Summer time from March to September