Jordan rewards those who plan well. The country is compact, safe, and genuinely welcoming to first-time visitors — but a few early decisions make the difference between a trip that feels rushed and expensive, and one that flows naturally and delivers everything Jordan promises.
This guide covers the ten most important things to know before your first visit.
1. Buy the Jordan Pass — it almost always saves money
The Jordan Pass is the single best pre-trip planning decision you can make. It costs 70–80 JOD (depending on tier) and includes:
- Your visa waived — saves 40 JOD (the standard visa-on-arrival fee)
- Petra entry for 1, 2, or 3 days — a 1-day Petra ticket costs 50 JOD standalone; with the Jordan Pass it is included
- Entry to 40+ additional sites across Jordan
The maths: if you visit Petra for even one day, the Pass pays for itself over buying a visa and Petra entry separately. Almost every first-time visitor benefits.
Important condition: You must stay a minimum of 3 nights in Jordan to use the Pass for the visa waiver. If you are only transiting for 2 nights, the Pass still covers Petra entry but not the visa.
Buy it online at jordanpass.jo before you arrive. The Pass is activated electronically and shown on your phone. Full details in our Jordan Pass guide.
2. Seven days minimum — ten is better
Jordan is small on a map (roughly the size of Indiana or Portugal) but large in what it offers. Doing justice to Petra, Wadi Rum, Amman, and the Dead Sea in less than 7 days means spending more time on buses and in taxis than at the sites themselves.
Recommended first-time allocation:
- Amman: 1–2 nights (base for Madaba, Mount Nebo, Dead Sea day trips)
- Petra: 2 nights minimum (2 full days inside)
- Wadi Rum: 1 night (full-day jeep tour + overnight in Bedouin camp)
- Aqaba: 1 night (Red Sea, possible snorkel or dive)
That is 5–6 nights and 7 days minimum. If you have 10 days, add Jerash (a half-day from Amman — extraordinary Roman ruins), a proper Dead Sea resort afternoon, and maybe a night in Dana.
3. Petra needs two days, not one
This is the most common first-time mistake. Petra is enormous — roughly 300 square kilometres — and the most dramatic sites are spread across a large area. In one day you can reach the Treasury (Al-Khazneh), walk the main valley, and see the major facades. In two days you can add the Monastery (Ad Deir, 850 steps up from the valley floor — worth every step), the High Place of Sacrifice, the Royal Tombs at sunset, Little Petra, and the back route trails.
The difference between one day and two days in Petra is not quantitative — it is the difference between ticking a box and actually understanding the place.
Jordan Pass Wanderer (70 JOD): 1 day at Petra. Jordan Pass Explorer (75 JOD): 2 days. Jordan Pass Expert (80 JOD): 3 days. The 5 JOD upgrade for a second Petra day is self-evidently worthwhile.
4. Book Wadi Rum camp early
Wadi Rum has limited high-quality camp accommodation, and the best camps fill weeks or months ahead during peak season (March–May and September–November). If you have not booked your Wadi Rum camp before arrival, you risk either:
- Missing the camp experience entirely (staying in Wadi Rum village instead of the desert)
- Getting into whatever scraps remain at inflated last-minute prices
Budget camps (15–35 JOD/person): basic Bedouin tents, shared facilities, local food, atmospheric. Perfectly comfortable for a night.
Mid-range camps (50–100 JOD/person): private tents, better bedding, proper bathrooms, good zarb dinner. The majority of positive reviews fall in this range.
Luxury bubble camps (150–300+ JOD/person): transparent geodesic domes with full hotel-style amenities, private bathrooms, air conditioning. Sun City Camp and Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp lead this category.
Book directly with camps by email or WhatsApp, or through booking platforms. Ask specifically about pickup from Wadi Rum village (most camps include it, but confirm).
5. The JETT bus is your friend for budget transport
JETT — Jordan’s long-distance tourist bus — runs reliable, air-conditioned coaches between Amman and Petra (11 JOD, 3.5 hours) and Amman and Aqaba (11 JOD, 4.5 hours). For solo travellers and couples, this is significantly cheaper than taxis and only marginally less comfortable.
Book via jett.com.jo or buy at the terminal (7th Circle in Amman). See our JETT bus guide for full details.
If you are a group of 4: a private taxi between Amman and Petra costs 60–80 JOD for the whole car — comparable to JETT per-person for two adults and two children, with more flexibility.
6. Try mansaf — Jordan’s national dish
Food is one of Jordan’s underrated pleasures, and mansaf is the experience you need. Slow-cooked lamb on a bed of yellow rice, served over paper-thin flatbread (shrak) and covered with a rich jameed sauce (fermented dried yogurt, reconstituted into a broth). Eaten communally in many families, using your right hand to form balls of rice.
You will find mansaf in Amman restaurants and in the camps of Wadi Rum. Try it at least once.
Other essentials:
- Knafeh from a street vendor in Amman — cheese pastry in sugar syrup, served hot
- Falafel and hummus at Hashem Restaurant, downtown Amman, open since 1952
- Zarb in your Wadi Rum camp — slow-roasted meat and vegetables cooked underground in a pit
Alcohol is available at hotel bars, restaurants in Amman, and liquor stores — Jordan is a liberal Muslim-majority country where alcohol is legal and culturally accepted in tourist and urban contexts.
7. Drink bottled water — not tap
Jordan’s tap water is technically treated and meets WHO standards in Amman, but it tastes heavily of chlorine and is heavily mineralised in some areas. Travellers routinely experience digestive adjustment even with tap-water-washed food in the first day or two. Bottled water is cheap (0.25–0.50 JOD for a 1.5-litre bottle at supermarkets, more at tourist sites) and universally available. Use it for drinking and teeth-brushing throughout your trip.
Carry a reusable bottle for refilling — it reduces plastic waste and saves money.
8. Cash is king outside the main tourist trail
ATMs are reliable in Amman, Wadi Musa (Petra), and Aqaba. Cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted at hotels, most mid-range restaurants, and larger shops. Outside these points, expect cash only:
- Small Bedouin vendors and camel rides in Petra
- Petra by Night ticket desk (verify — payment options change)
- Wadi Rum camp extras and purchases
- Local restaurants off the tourist trail
- Minibuses and some taxis
Withdraw JOD from ATMs rather than exchanging currency at hotel desks (hotel rates are significantly worse). The JOD is pegged to the USD at approximately 0.71 JOD per dollar, a rate that has been stable for decades.
See our Jordan currency and money guide for the full breakdown.
9. Dress modestly — but not as restrictively as you may think
Jordan is a Muslim-majority country with a liberal, tourist-accustomed culture. The dress code reality is nuanced:
At Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba beach: Normal tourist casual dress is acceptable. Shorts, t-shirts, and sandals are fine. Bikinis and swimwear at Aqaba beach resort areas are accepted.
In Amman’s downtown and markets: Shoulders and knees covered is recommended. Long trousers or a long skirt for women; t-shirt or light shirt (not vest/singlet) for men.
At religious sites (mosques, churches, Bethany Beyond the Jordan): Full coverage required — shoulders and knees covered for both men and women. Some mosques provide coverings for women at the entrance.
The practical approach: Carry a lightweight scarf or pashmina. It covers you in religious contexts and serves as a layer in air-conditioned restaurants and buses.
10. Tips on tipping
Jordan has a tipping culture. It is not aggressive, but it is expected in specific situations:
- Restaurants: 10% if service is not already included in the bill
- Hotel porters: 1–2 JOD per bag
- Private drivers and guides: 5–10 JOD per day (on top of the agreed rate)
- Wadi Rum camp cook: 5 JOD at breakfast before you leave is a thoughtful gesture
Cash tips only. See our tipping in Jordan guide for the complete list.
Organised tours for first-timers
If the logistics of planning a Jordan trip feel overwhelming, an organised 3-day or 5-day package handles transport, accommodation, and main site entries.
Jordan: 3-day highlights tour to Petra, Wadi Rum & Dead Sea Whispers of Stone, Sand & Sea: Jordan in five daysThese are legitimate options for first-timers who prefer not to deal with self-booking every element. They cover the Jordan Pass sites and use English-speaking guides throughout.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need travel insurance for Jordan?
Yes, always. Standard travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is essential. Jordan’s medical infrastructure is good in Amman, more limited in rural areas. For peace of mind and practical protection, do not skip it.
Can I use my credit card throughout Jordan?
At most hotels, mid-range restaurants, and tourist-facing businesses: yes. At local markets, small guesthouses, and camp sites: cash only. Carry enough JOD to cover approximately 2–3 days of cash expenses as a buffer.
Is Jordan expensive compared to other Middle East destinations?
Jordan is more expensive than Egypt and Morocco, comparable to Turkey, and cheaper than Israel and the Gulf states. Budget approximately 50–70 USD per day for a comfortable backpacker experience, 125–200 USD for mid-range travel.
Will I experience culture shock?
Jordan is one of the more accessible Arab countries for Western visitors. English is widely spoken in tourist areas. The culture is warm and hospitable rather than formal or restrictive. Most first-time visitors are pleasantly surprised at how comfortable Jordan feels compared to expectations shaped by news coverage of the region.