Asia · Western Asia

Jordan

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Flag of Jordan
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+03:00
🏛️ Capital
Amman
👥 Population
11,734,000
📐 Area
89,342 km²
💱 Currency
Jordanian dinar (د.ا)
🗣️ Languages
Arabic
📞 Calling Code
+962
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+03:00
🌐 Region
Asia / Western Asia

About Jordan

Jordan is a land of extraordinary contrasts, where rose-red ancient cities rise from desert canyons, Roman columns cast long shadows over Byzantine mosaics, and the lowest point on Earth reflects a burning sun into still, mineral-rich waters. Positioned at the crossroads of the Middle East, this small but historically colossal kingdom has welcomed travelers for millennia, and it continues to do so with a warmth and generosity that leave a lasting impression on every visitor. From the moment you arrive in Amman, with its layered hills of white stone buildings and its buzzing coffee houses, you will feel the ancient and the contemporary in constant, dynamic dialogue.

You will discover that Jordan's physical landscape is as varied as its history. The capital sits on the edge of a fertile highland plateau that slopes eastward into a vast desert covering eighty percent of the country. To the west, the Great Rift Valley carves a dramatic channel down to the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, where coral reefs thrive in the warm waters of the Red Sea. In the south, Wadi Rum's alien sandstone and granite desert — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — has served as a backdrop for everything from ancient Nabataean inscriptions to Hollywood blockbusters. Jordan packs the geological drama of a continent into a country smaller than Portugal.

What ultimately makes Jordan special, beyond its world-class antiquities and landscapes, is the character of its people. Jordanian hospitality is not a tourism slogan; it is a deeply held cultural value expressed through shared meals, cups of sweet mint tea, and conversations that stretch well beyond polite exchange. Whether you are exploring the treasury of Petra at dawn, floating effortlessly in the Dead Sea, or camping under a star-filled sky in Wadi Rum, Jordan delivers experiences that are both genuinely humbling and profoundly memorable.

History & Background

Jordan's territory has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era, but it was the Nabataean civilization, flourishing from the fourth century BCE through the first century CE, that gave the region its most spectacular legacy: the rock-carved city of Petra. The Nabataeans were masterful traders and hydraulic engineers who channeled water through sandstone channels to support a city of perhaps twenty thousand souls in the heart of the desert. The Roman Empire absorbed the Nabataean kingdom in 106 CE, adding a distinctly classical layer to the urban landscape evident today at Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities in the world. Byzantine, Umayyad, Crusader, and Ottoman periods all left their architectural fingerprints across the land.

Modern Jordan emerged from the post-World War I collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The Emirate of Transjordan was established in 1921 under Emir Abdullah I, grandson of the Hashemite Sharif Hussein of Mecca, and gained full independence in 1946. The country has navigated the turbulence of the modern Middle East with relative stability, hosting successive waves of Palestinian and Iraqi refugees and maintaining a broadly moderate foreign policy under the Hashemite monarchy. The assassination of King Abdullah I in 1951 and the subsequent reigns of Hussein and the current king, Abdullah II, have shaped a modern state that continues to balance tradition, reform, and regional complexity with considerable skill.

Culture & People

Jordan's culture is rooted in Arab and Bedouin traditions that place immense value on hospitality, family, and community. The concept of karam — generosity toward guests — is a bedrock social value, and you will encounter it in everyday interactions: the shopkeeper who offers tea before any transaction, the family that invites a stranger to share a meal, the taxi driver who insists on explaining the best local restaurant as a point of personal pride. Islam is the religion of the vast majority of Jordanians and shapes the rhythms of daily life — the five daily calls to prayer resonate across city and desert alike — but the country is notably moderate and welcoming to people of all faiths and backgrounds.

The kingdom's cultural diversity reflects its position as a historical crossroads. Bedouin traditions of desert nomadism, poetry, and horsemanship coexist with the urban sophistication of Amman's contemporary art galleries, independent cafes, and design studios. The influence of Circassian, Armenian, and Palestinian communities adds further depth to Jordanian society, producing a rich culinary and artistic landscape. Traditional crafts — mosaic-making in Madaba, pottery in Beit Idis, Bedouin weaving and silver jewelry — are actively preserved and make for meaningful souvenirs that connect you directly to living artisan traditions.

Food & Cuisine

Jordanian cuisine is generous, aromatic, and deeply tied to communal eating traditions. Mansaf — Jordan's national dish — is a celebration meal of slow-cooked lamb in a tangy dried yogurt sauce called jameed, served over a mountain of rice and pine nuts and traditionally eaten standing around a communal platter. You will encounter mansaf at weddings, family gatherings, and in restaurants throughout the country, and accepting an invitation to share it is one of the most meaningful cultural experiences Jordan offers. Beyond mansaf, the mezze tradition is central to daily eating: hummus, mutable baba ghanoush, fattoush salad, falafel, and warm flatbreads are the building blocks of nearly every meal.

Street food in Amman is outstanding and affordable. Falafel wraps from the old city's downtown stalls, kunafa — a warm cheese pastry soaked in sugar syrup — from Habibah bakery, and shawarma carved from rotating spits are all must-eat experiences. The revival of Jordanian culinary culture is also producing exciting farm-to-table and modern mezze restaurants in Amman's Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street neighborhoods, where local chefs reimagine traditional dishes with seasonal Jordanian ingredients. A glass of freshly squeezed pomegranate juice from a street cart in the old city downtown is one of the simplest and most satisfying pleasures the country offers.

Top Attractions

  • Petra — The rose-red rock-carved Nabataean city, one of the world's great archaeological wonders, best experienced at dawn before the crowds arrive.
  • Wadi Rum — A UNESCO-listed desert wilderness of towering sandstone and granite mountains, perfect for jeep tours, stargazing, and Bedouin camping.
  • Dead Sea — The lowest point on Earth, where hypersaline water makes floating effortless and mineral-rich mud promises a legendary skin treatment.
  • Jerash — One of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities outside Italy, with colonnaded streets, temples, and theatres still remarkably intact.
  • Amman Citadel — An ancient hilltop complex in the capital overlooking the modern city, with Roman, Byzantine, and Umayyad ruins within a single site.
  • Dana Biosphere Reserve — Jordan's largest nature reserve, offering spectacular canyon trekking, birdwatching, and village guesthouses run by local communities.

Practical Travel Tips

  • Purchase the Jordan Pass before arriving — it covers your visa fee and entry to over 40 attractions including Petra, offering excellent value for most itineraries.
  • Dress modestly outside of resort areas; covering shoulders and knees is respectful and will be appreciated, particularly at religious sites and in smaller towns.
  • Haggling is expected in souks and with taxi drivers who don't use meters; agree on a price before getting in any non-metered cab.
  • Cash in Jordanian dinars is essential for smaller towns, rural guesthouses, and local markets — ATMs are plentiful in Amman and Aqaba.
  • Spending the night in Wadi Rum at a Bedouin camp is a genuine highlight; book a reputable camp that employs local guides for a more authentic experience.
  • The Dead Sea has extremely high salinity — do not submerge your face, avoid shaving or waxing before your visit, and rinse off thoroughly after floating.
  • Water is scarce and precious in Jordan; carry a reusable bottle and refill from hotel filters rather than constantly buying single-use plastic.

Visa Overview

Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at Queen Alia International Airport or at land and sea border crossings, valid for one month. The Jordan Pass, purchased online before travel, includes the visa fee for stays of at least three nights and is the most cost-effective option for most tourists. Citizens of certain Arab countries have different arrangements. The visa fee without the Jordan Pass is typically around 40 Jordanian dinars. Extensions are available at police stations if you wish to stay longer. Always check the latest requirements with the Jordanian embassy for your country.

Getting Around

Amman is well served by the JETT bus company and shared minibus services for intercity travel to Petra, Aqaba, and the Dead Sea. Private taxis and rideshare apps including Careem are convenient in Amman and straightforward to negotiate for day trips. Renting a car gives maximum flexibility for reaching off-the-beaten-track sites like Wadi Mujib, Dana, and the desert castles of the Eastern Badia. Roads are generally good between major destinations. Petra is best explored on foot; horse-drawn carriages and donkey rides are available but entirely optional. There are no passenger trains in Jordan.

Safety Notes

Jordan is one of the most stable and safe destinations in the Middle East and consistently receives positive safety assessments from international travel advisory bodies. Petty crime targeting tourists is uncommon. Women travelers may receive unsolicited attention in some areas and are advised to dress modestly and move confidently. The border areas near Syria and Iraq carry higher risk and should be avoided. Always monitor your government's travel advisories for the latest regional updates. Natural hazards include flash floods in the desert canyons — never enter a wadi during or after rain without local guidance.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in Jordan.

Jordanian dinar (JOD) د.ا
Updated: 2026-08-20
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 16.297960
AAVE 0.014739
ADA 7.576348
AED 5.179831
AFN 92.314191
AGIX 24.787405
AKT 2.743587
ALGO 17.133150
ALL 111.910177
AMD 511.981118
AMP 3,676.730779
ANG 2.526400
AOA 1,295.323526
APE 10.967545
APT 2.521381
AR 0.758854
ARB 16.125873
ARS 2,111.537458
ATOM 0.945122
ATS 16.614504
AUD 1.984221
AVAX 0.208216
AWG 2.524683
AXS 1.564808
AZM 11,988.431139
AZN 2.397686
BAKE 2,027.649243
BAM 2.361514
BAT 22.556930
BBD 2.820874
BCH 0.006678
BDT 171.617966
BEF 48.707326
BGN 2.361514
BHD 0.530324
BIF 4,195.101047
BMD 1.410437
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CELO 22.537439
CFX 32.202554
CHF 1.126498
CHZ 110.334128
CLP 1,299.830974
CNH 9.485782
CNY 9.486264
COMP 0.076535
COP 4,305.763868
CRC 634.993691
CRO 28.305657
CRV 5.405898
CSPR 528.097935
CUC 1.410228
CUP 37.371048
CVE 133.142542
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CYP 0.706673
CZK 29.182918
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EEK 18.892114
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EOS 21.370696
ERN 21.156559
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ETH 0.000625
EUR 1.207423
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FIL 2.095153
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FKP 1.036584
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FLR 219.364034
FRAX 1.422481
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GGP 1.036584
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GIP 1.036584
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NZD 2.372796
OKB 0.013776
OMR 0.542869
ONE 1,954.946287
OP 15.880220
ORDI 0.383116
PAB 1.410437
PAXG 0.000315
PEN 4.726032
PEPE 486,897.779973
PGK 6.332147
PHP 86.909328
PI 15.694950
PKR 389.911454
PLN 5.214692
POL 17.278580
PTE 242.066592
PYG 8,439.507842
QAR 5.133992
QNT 0.023869
QTUM 1.953998
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RWF 2,068.219030
SAND 34.147311
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SCR 20.459323
SDD 84,649.153233
SDG 846.491532
SEK 13.310780
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SHIB 297,673.600983
SHP 1.036584
SIT 289.346864
SKK 36.374827
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SLL 32,316.547194
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SOL 0.016625
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SRD 53.322279
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STX 10.812570
SUI 1.998522
SVC 12.341326
SYP 18,335.787446
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TRY 67.636831
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ZMK 26,421.652064
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ZWD 510.437236
ZWG 37.616802
ZWL 93,994.014599

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Cities in Jordan 246
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'Abbin 'Ajlun 'Al'al 'Anbah 'Anjarah 'Arjan 'Ayn al-Basha 'Ayn Janna 'Ayy Abu 'Alanda ad-Dulayl Adar al-'Abdaliyah al-'Aqabah al-'Ayn al-Bayda al-Ashrafiyah al-Azraq ash-Shamali al-Balawnah al-Baq'ah al-Binayat al-Buwaydah al-Faysaliyah al-Faysaliyah al-Fuhays al-Hamra' al-Hasa al-Hashamiyah al-Hashamiyah al-Hussayniyah al-Hussayniyah al-Husun al-Jafar al-Jizah al-Jubayhah al-Juwaydah al-Karak al-Karamah al-Kattah al-Khaldiyah al-Jadidah al-Mabrukah al-Mafraq al-Manshiyah al-Mashari'a al-Mazar al-Mazar ash-Shamaliyah al-Mughayyar al-Qadisiyah al-Qasr al-Qitranah al-Quwayrah al-Quwaysimah al-Yadudah Amman an-Nu'aymeh ar-Rabbah ar-Ramtha ar-Rawdah ar-Rawdah ar-Russayfah ar-Ruwayshid Arhaba as-Salt as-Sarih as-Sawalhah as-Subayhi as-Sukhnah ash-Shahabiyah ash-Shajarah ash-Shunah ash-Shamaliyah Askan Abu Nusayr at-Tafilah at-Talbiyah at-Tawal al-Janubi at-Taybah at-Taybah at-Taybah at-Taybah at-Turrah at-Tuwal ash-Shamali Aydun az-Za'tari az-Zarqa' Badiyat ar-Ruwayshid Bal'ama Balila Bayar Bayt Idas Bayt Ras Bayt Yafa Burma Busayrah Bushra Darar Dayr Abi Sa'id Dayr as-Sa'anah Dayr Yusif Dhiban District 9 Duwaqarah Faqqu' Ghawr al-Mazra'ah Ghawr as-Safi Hakama Halawah Hartha Hatam Hawwarah Irbid Iskan al-Hashamiyah Jarash Jasar ash-Shaykh Hussayn Jawa Judayta Juwafat al-Kafrayn Katam Khalda wa Tila'-al-'Ali Kharbat al-Wahadnah Kharja Khraybat As-Suq Kufranjah Kufur 'Awan Kufur Abil Kufur al-Ma' Kufur Asad Kufur Khall Kufur Rakab Kufur Sum Kufur Yuba Kuraymah Ma'addi Ma'an Ma'in Madaba Mahas Malka Manshiyat Bani Hassan Marj al-Hammam Maw'tah Mugayyar as-Sarhan Mukhayyam al-Husun Mukhayyam Ghazzah Mukhayyam Suf Mulayh Mushayrfat Ras al-'Ayn Na'ur Nuzhat Sahab Qafqafa Qumaym Raymun Sabha Safut Sahab Saham Sakab Sakhrah Sal Sama as-Sarhan Samma Sammaw' Shafa Badran Shnillar Sirfa Suf Suknat ash-Shunah Sum Suwaylih Tabnah Tariq Umm al-Basatin Umm al-Quttayn Umm As-Summaq Umm Nuwarah Umm Qays Umm Qusayr wal Muqabalin Wadi al-Yabas Wadi as-Sir Wadi Musa Waqqas Yarqa Zahar أم السرب إربد الجبيهة الجيزة الحصن الحمراء الراشدية الربة الرصيفة الرمثا الزرقاء الزرقاء الجديدة الزعتري السلط الشوبك الصريح الصفاوي الضليل الطره الطفيلة العقبة القويرة الكرك المطلة المفرق المنشية النعيمة النهضة الهاشمية الزرقاء ايدون بيت رأس جابر السرحان جديتا جرش دابوق دير أبي سعيد ذيبان رباع السرحان زملة الطرقي ساكب سحاب سما السرحان سوف صبحا صويلح ضاحية البستان عجلون عراق الأمير عمان عنجرة عين الباشا قضاء صخرة كفرنجة مادبا مخيم الحصن مخيم الزعتري مخيم الطالبية‎‎ مخيم جرش مخيم سوف مدورة مدينة الشرق معان مغير السرحان ملكا منيشير وادي موسى

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of Jordan needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Jordan?
The capital of Jordan is Amman.
What currency does Jordan use?
Jordan uses the Jordanian dinar (د.ا) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Jordan?
The official language(s) of Jordan include Arabic.
What is the population of Jordan?
Jordan has a population of approximately 11,734,000 people.
What region is Jordan in?
Jordan is located in Asia, specifically in the Western Asia subregion.
What is the international calling code for Jordan?
The international dialing code for Jordan is +962.
What time zones does Jordan observe?
Jordan observes the following time zone(s): UTC+03:00.
What is the current time in Jordan?
The local time in Jordan is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Jordan?
Jordan covers a total area of 89,342 km².
How many states or provinces does Jordan have?
Jordan is divided into 24 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Jordan in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Jordan in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Jordan?
Visa requirements for citizens of Jordan vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.