Things to do in Jordan

25 things to do in Jordan

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Watch sunrise over the Treasury at Petra

  Walk through the cool, dark Siq as dawn breaks, emerging to see the rose-red Treasury façade glowing in the first light of day.

  Petra

• Float effortlessly in the Dead Sea

  Bob weightlessly on the world’s saltiest lake, with the desert cliffs of Jordan behind you, and cover yourself in mineral-rich black mud.

  Dead Sea

• Sleep under the stars in a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum

  Spend the night in a traditional goat-hair tent, sharing stories around a campfire before drifting off beneath an unpolluted canopy of stars.

  Wadi Rum

• Walk through the Roman ruins of Jerash

  Stroll down colonnaded streets, stand in the vast Oval Plaza, and hear the re-enacted chariot races in one of the best-preserved provincial Roman cities.

  Jerash

• Canyoneering through the Siq Trail of Wadi Mujib

  Trek, swim, and scramble through the towering sandstone gorge of the ‘Grand Canyon of Jordan,’ splashing under waterfalls and clinging to rope rails.

  Wadi Mujib

• Explore the ancient city of Amman from the Citadel

  Climb to the hilltop ruins with their Temple of Hercules and powerful panoramic views over white-stone Amman and its Roman theatre.

  Amman

• Snorkel or dive the vibrant coral reefs of Aqaba's Japanese Garden

  Float over a garden of colourful corals and tropical fish just metres from the shore, with excellent visibility in the northern Red Sea.

  Aqaba

• Taste authentic mansaf at Hashem Restaurant in downtown Amman

  Dig into a heaped platter of tender lamb over fragrant rice and thin bread, topped with tangy jameed yogurt sauce, at an Amman institution.

  Amman

• Savor kunafa at Habibah Sweets on Rainbow Street

  Bite through crisp, golden threads of pastry to reach warm, gooey cheese, while perched on a stool overlooking the lively Amman street.

  Amman

• Hike among the sandstone mountains of Dana Biosphere Reserve

  Descend from the medieval village through a dramatic wadi of cypress, juniper, and Nubian ibex, spotting rare birds along the cliffs.

  Dana

• Explore the mosaic map of Jerusalem in Madaba

  Stand before the 6th-century floor map of the Holy Land inside St. George’s Church, with Greek text and intricate tilework still vivid today.

  Madaba

• Visit the crusader castle of Kerak

  Roam the echoing galleries and underground halls of this massive hilltop fortress, once a strategic stronghold on the King’s Highway.

  Kerak

• Discover the hidden mosaics of Umm ar-Rasas

  Wander among the ruins of a Roman-Byzantine town to find spectacular floor mosaics, including scenes of cities and wildlife, largely overlooked by crowds.

  Umm ar-Rasas

• Witness the sunset from Ajloun Castle

  Stand atop this 12th-century Islamic fortress, watching the sun sink over the olive groves and hills of the Jordan Valley, with the West Bank in the distance.

  Ajloun

• Dive into the warm waterfalls of Ma'in Hot Springs

  Bathe under steaming thermal cascades tumbling down basalt rocks, surrounded by palm-fringed pools after a dusty desert journey.

  Hammamat Ma'in

• Visit the presumed baptismal site of Jesus at Bethany Beyond the Jordan

  Walk to the lush riverbank ruins and the modern baptismal pool on the Jordan River, a serene place of pilgrimage and archaeology.

  Al-Maghtas

• See the desert frescoes in Qasr Amra

  Enter the small Umayyad bathhouse adorned with vivid early Islamic murals, including a famous zodiac dome and scenes of hunting and bathing.

  Qasr Amra

• Take in the panoramic view from Mount Nebo

  Stand where Moses is said to have glimpsed the Promised Land, seeing the Dead Sea, Jericho, and on clear days, Jerusalem’s skyline.

  Mount Nebo

• Explore the lesser-known Siq al-Barid (Little Petra)

  Enter a miniature version of Petra’s canyon, with carved biclinium facades and a secret staircase to the upper terrace, completely free of crowds.

  Little Petra

• Ride a camel through the red dunes of Wadi Rum at sunset

  Sway gently atop a camel as the shifting light paints the sand in oranges and pinks, a classic Lawrence of Arabia moment.

  Wadi Rum

• Attend the magical Petra by Night show

  Follow candlelit paths through the Siq to the Treasury, where bedouin music and storytellers create an ethereal atmosphere under a starlit sky.

  Petra

• Hike the back route to the Monastery in Petra

  Skip the main trail and climb the steep route from Little Petra to Ad-Deir, emerging directly onto the plateau for your first breathtaking view of the Monastery.

  Petra

• Sip tea with a Bedouin family in Wadi Feynan

  Join locals in their black tent for sweet sage tea and unbaked bread baked over embers, while learning about their transhumant desert life.

  Wadi Feynan

• Stroll along Rainbow Street's cafes and art galleries at night

  Feel Amman’s creative pulse on this vibrant strip, where murals, shisha cafés, vintage stores, and lively bars keep the evening buzzing.

  Amman

• Discover the ancient Roman amphitheatre in downtown Amman

  Climb the steeply tiered stone seats of the 6,000-spectator theatre, then visit the small folklore museum nestled inside its vaults.

  Amman