Jordan without overpaying: visa, buses and tickets to Petra

Jordan seems distant and complicated only on a map. In reality, you get your visa right at the Amman airport, and the tourist infrastructure runs year-round. A week covers Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, and Aqaba. To keep the trip from turning into a logistics battle, decide three things in advance: visa, transport, and tickets.

This guide pulls together practical advice on all three. The Jordan Pass starts at 70 dinars and replaces both the visa and Petra entry, while a regular visa on arrival costs 40 dinars (as of 2026, official Jordan Pass website, Jordan tourism portal). Below we cover the visa, getting there, transport, food, and local rules.

Ad: this article contains affiliate links. We earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

Visa and Jordan Pass

Jordan welcomes tourists with a visa on arrival. A standard single-entry visa costs 40 Jordanian dinars and is valid for 30 days from the date of entry (as of 09/2026, Jordan Tourism Board). The border officer may ask for a hotel booking and a return ticket, so keep them handy on your phone.

💡 In short:

• Get the Jordan Pass online before your trip: it waives the visa fee for stays of three nights or more and gives you entry to more than 40 sites.
• Book the JETT bus to Petra and Aqaba in advance, morning departures sell out quickly.
• Carry cash in dinars: some sites and taxi drivers do not accept cards.
• Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official Jordan Pass website

It is cheaper to buy the Jordan Pass online in advance. The Wanderer package with one day in Petra costs 70 dinars, Explorer with two days costs 75, Expert with three costs 80 (as of 09/2026, Jordan Pass pricing and terms). The pass is valid for 12 months from purchase and activates for 14 days from first use.

With it, you get free entry to more than 40 attractions: Petra, Jerash, Wadi Rum, the Amman Citadel, and Aqaba Castle (as of 09/2026, list of sites). For an itinerary that includes Petra, the pass is almost always cheaper than paying for the visa and entries separately.

There is a third option for those heading only to the sea. When entering through Aqaba, the visa fee is waived. If Petra is on your list, the pass is still the better deal.

© xorge · CC BY-SAPhoto: xorge, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

How to get to Jordan

Air connections with Europe are unstable. Ryanair keeps opening routes to Amman from Warsaw, Prague, and Poznan, then shifting them to the winter schedule, so check flights before booking (flights to Amman). Direct flights are few, most itineraries involve one stopover.

The second way into the country is overland, through Israel. The Wadi Araba (Yitzhak Rabin) border crossing operates between Eilat and Aqaba. Day tours to Petra run from Eilat and Tel Aviv, and it is convenient to book them in advance: Petra and Wadi Rum tours on GetYourGuide.

Flight prices depend on the season. In the fall, tickets from central Europe are usually cheaper than at the height of summer. Here it is more reliable to trust a search engine than a fixed figure.

How to get around the country

Getting around Jordan requires patience. Signs on local buses are only in Arabic script, including route numbers. The average Jordanian speaks poor English, especially outside markets and hotels.

Between cities, take JETT buses. The company carries tourists to Petra, Aqaba, and Wadi Rum in air-conditioned coaches, and the staff speak English. A ticket from Amman to Petra and from Amman to Aqaba costs 11 dinars, and the trip takes about 3 to 4 hours (as of 09/2026, JETT website).

From Queen Alia Airport to the city, you can get there by taxi or shared minibus. The minibus leaves from a bus station away from the center, and the taxi line can be long. It is easier to book a transfer in advance so you do not have to haggle after the flight: Amman airport transfer.

When taking a taxi on the street, bargain. The driver's first offer is always inflated, and calm haggling brings the price down. The Careem and Uber apps work more reliably than hailing a car by hand.

There are no railways between cities in the country, so do not look for trains. Having your own car is convenient for Petra and Wadi Rum, but renting requires an international driving permit and a fuel reserve.

What to see in Amman

Amman sits on hills and preserves layers of three empires. The main sights are clustered close together, so the city can realistically be covered on foot in one day. Entry is symbolic almost everywhere, and free with the Jordan Pass.

The Citadel

The Citadel holds the oldest part of Amman: people have lived on this hill continuously for seven thousand years. From the Roman era, the ruins of the second-century Temple of Hercules remain. Of the columns that surrounded the temple, only three have survived, and fragments of fingers and a knee remain from the huge statue.

© David Bjorgen · CC BYPhoto: David Bjorgen, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5), Wikimedia Commons

The Byzantines left a basilica on the hill, and the Arab caliphate left the Umayyad palace complex. The palace stood for about thirty years and collapsed in an earthquake; the dynasty was overthrown a year later. An archaeological museum with ancient Dead Sea scrolls operates nearby.

Entry to the Citadel costs about 2 dinars, and the museum about 3 dinars, free with the Jordan Pass (as of 09/2026, official list of entrance tickets).

Roman amphitheater

The Roman amphitheater is carved directly into the rock and has barely suffered over twenty centuries. It seats about six thousand spectators, and the acoustics work without microphones. Climb to the upper tier: from there you can see the entire old city.

© Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SAPhoto: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Nearby stand an odeon seating a few hundred and the Nymphaeum fountain. Entry costs about 2 dinars, and one ticket covers both the amphitheater and the odeon (as of 09/2026, entrance ticket price list).

King Abdullah I Mosque

This is the only mosque in Amman open to tourists. It is recognized by its huge blue dome, under which ten thousand worshippers fit. Entry costs about 2 dinars (as of 09/2026, entry prices).

© Berthold Werner · CC BYPhoto: Berthold Werner, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

Other Amman sights

The Al-Husseini Mosque in the city center is accessible for viewing from the outside. The "Chess Mosque" is visible from afar, but you have to climb uphill about five kilometers from the center to reach it. It is easier to appreciate it from the Citadel.

Above Raghadan Palace flies a flag that locals call the "Pride of Amman." When it was installed, it was considered the largest in the world, and it remains impressive today. The palace grounds are not open to visitors; the flag is viewed from outside.

© David Bjorgen · CC BY-SAPhoto: David Bjorgen, CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/), Wikimedia Commons

Car enthusiasts should visit the Royal Automobile Museum: it houses more than seventy rare exhibits.

Tickets to these places are best bought in advance so you don't have to stand in line at the entrance ticket office: Citadel and Roman Theater tickets on Tiqets.

What to try in Jordan

Get ready for hearty, simple food. The country's signature dish is mansaf: an even layer of rice, lamb in sour cream, fried nuts, and a thin flatbread. Waiters in Amman ask about mansaf almost immediately, and for good reason.

© Abdulla aljammal · CC BY-SAPhoto: Abdulla aljammal, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

For everyday food, go for adas, a lentil soup with chicken and lemon. Portions here are huge, one bowl is often enough for two adults. Vegetarians have it easy too: hummus and falafel are considered a local invention.

Eat at the old establishments in the center. Among the tried-and-true spots in Amman, AlQuds and Hashem have stood the test of time, both open from early morning. The routine is simple: grab a table, order several dishes to share, and try a little of everything.

For dessert, definitely get knafeh. It's sweet vermicelli with goat cheese under caramel, served hot. The line for the best knafeh in the city forms at Habiba Sweets, so come before evening.

Alcohol: where to buy it and how much it costs

Alcohol in Jordan is trickier than food. Wine and beer are produced here, but sold in specialized stores on the outskirts and in residential neighborhoods. In central Amman there are almost no such places due to the proximity of mosques.

Cafes and restaurants usually don't serve alcohol, so plan a dinner with a glass in advance. A bottle of beer in a store costs a few dinars, spirits are noticeably more expensive. You'll have to make a special trip to a residential area for a bottle.

Local customs and rules of conduct

Jordanians are religious, but not fanatical. Three pillars of local life: the mosque, the king, and the bazaar. People either stay silent about members of the royal family or speak well of them, and portraits of the monarch hang in almost every building.

Dress modestly, especially women. Bare shoulders and shorts will attract attention, though there will be no outright aggression. A headscarf is not required, but a light wrap will come in handy.

At the market, be ready to haggle. Sellers instantly spot tourists and start with a high price. Calm bargaining often brings the price down, while refusing to bargain leaves you without a discount.

Do not photograph military personnel or police officers. There is plenty of equipment and patrols on the streets, a normal precaution in a volatile region. For a photo with a person, it is better to ask permission.

What else to know before the trip

Jordan has little water. The country is among the four most water-scarce in the world, and almost its entire area is desert. Buy water in advance and keep a couple of bottles in your backpack.

There are almost no pedestrian crossings in Amman. People cross the road wherever it is convenient, and drivers usually yield. Dashing across wide highways through traffic quickly becomes a habit.

The crime rate is low, but simple precautions do not hurt. Women should not walk alone at night in unfamiliar areas. Keep cash separate from your card: some places accept only dinars.

Plan your trip for spring or autumn. In summer, Amman is hot and dry; in winter, the hills are cold and windy.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Jordan?

For most Europeans, a visa is issued on arrival at Amman airport or at the Wadi Araba crossing. The fee is about 40 dinars and is valid for 30 days. With a Jordan Pass purchased in advance, the fee is waived for stays of three nights or more (as of 09/2026, Jordan Pass terms).

Does the Jordan Pass pay off?

The pass costs from 70 dinars and includes Petra and more than forty other sites. A separate visa and a Petra ticket together cost more. For an itinerary with Petra, the pass is almost always the better deal (as of 09/2026, Jordan Pass prices).

How to get from the airport to Amman?

From Queen Alia Airport, shared minibuses and taxis go to the city. It is more convenient to book a transfer in advance, so the driver will meet you in the arrivals hall.

Can you drink alcohol in Jordan?

Alcohol is sold, but in specialized shops on the outskirts, and cafes usually do not have it. Drinking on the street is not a good idea: in the center it will draw disapproval.

What should you definitely try?

Start with mansaf: lamb with rice in sour cream and nuts. Also try adas, hummus, and falafel, and for dessert knafeh at Habiba Sweets. Portions are large, so feel free to order several dishes for two.

Is it safe to vacation in Jordan?

Jordan is considered one of the calmest countries in the region, and the crime rate is low. Military personnel are visible on the streets, but this is a precautionary measure. Do not walk alone at night, do not photograph patrols, and respect local customs.

In short: what to book

A first-trip plan comes together from four bookings. Take a hotel in central Amman, near the Citadel and the Roman Theater, so you can walk. JETT buses to Petra and Aqaba are worth booking a couple of days ahead, especially for the morning.

If you have three days: stay in Amman and take one tour to Petra. If you have five days: add Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea. If you have a week: make it to Aqaba and its reefs.

Compare hotels in Amman on Trip.com, tours around the country on GetYourGuide, and museum tickets in advance: find hotels in Amman, browse tours in Jordan, tickets to the Citadel and museums. One evening of booking is enough to avoid spending your vacation on logistics.