Luxury hotels in Amman

Amman guide

Amman and the road to Petra

The Citadel above the white city, Roman Jerash, Wadi Rum's desert and the rose-red city.

Most journeys to Jordan begin in Amman, and its Citadel, with the Temple of Hercules and the Umayyad Palace above the Roman Theatre, is the city's most cited sight. Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, is under an hour north.

The most cited destination in the country is Petra, the rose-red Nabataean city and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, about three hours south; walking the Siq to the Treasury at opening time is unforgettable. Wadi Rum's desert camps and the Dead Sea complete the classic route, best in spring and autumn.

Petra by night and the Monastery

Petra deserves at least two days, and its most cited experiences beyond the Treasury are Petra by Night, when the Siq and the Treasury are lit by more than a thousand candles on certain evenings, and the climb of about 800 steps to the Monastery, Ad Deir, larger than the Treasury.

The High Place of Sacrifice trail and the Royal Tombs offer views over the whole city. Early mornings and late afternoons give the best light and fewer crowds. Petra is about three hours from Amman.

The Dead Sea and Wadi Rum

The Dead Sea, about an hour from Amman and more than 400 metres below sea level, is one of Jordan's most cited experiences: floating effortlessly in water so salty you cannot sink, followed by a mineral mud treatment at one of the resorts on the shore.

In the south, Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon, is a desert of red sand and sandstone mountains, explored by jeep or camel with Bedouin guides. A night in a desert camp, some with transparent domes for stargazing, is unforgettable.