How to Get Around Jordan

Getting in. Queen Alia International near Amman is the main airport, with King Hussein at Aqaba serving the south. Land crossings to Israel and the Palestinian territories, and to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, exist and have their own rules and opening hours; note that arriving overland can affect Jordan Pass visa eligibility.

Driving is the best way to see the country. Roads are good, distances short, and the three routes south — the fast Desert Highway, the scenic King’s Highway through Madaba, Kerak and Dana, and the Dead Sea road — make a natural loop. Signs are bilingual.

Buses. JETT runs comfortable coaches between Amman, Petra, Aqaba and the Dead Sea and is the practical option without a car. Local minibuses serve everywhere else, cheaply, on no fixed timetable — they leave when full.

In Amman. Taxis are metered and cheap, and ride-hailing apps work. The city is built on steep hills, so walking between neighbourhoods is harder than a map suggests.

Wadi Rum is entered only with a local guide and a four-wheel-drive, arranged at the visitor centre or through your camp.