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: 2026-05-19
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 15.411192
AAVE 0.015839
ADA 5.609832
AED 5.179831
AFN 88.164656
AKT 1.749677
ALGO 13.134766
ALL 115.755243
AMD 519.087049
AMP 1,685.742838
ANG 2.541098
AOA 1,295.592038
APE 9.780134
APT 1.493933
AR 0.660208
ARB 12.067815
ARS 1,969.100831
ATOM 0.685547
ATS 16.671799
AUD 1.976215
AVAX 0.152822
AWG 2.524683
AXS 1.201162
AZM 11,988.763062
AZN 2.397753
BAKE 1,907.636691
BAM 2.369658
BAT 14.558086
BBD 2.820874
BCH 0.003712
BDT 173.319845
BEF 48.875293
BGN 2.369658
BHD 0.530324
BIF 4,201.796753
BMD 1.410437
BNB 0.002196
BND 1.805426
BOB 9.775524
BRL 7.066001
BSD 1.410437
BSV 0.093754
BSW 1,647.840722
BTC 0.000018
BTG 3.666487
BTN 135.950802
BTT 4,383,966.206981
BUSD 1.411152
BWP 19.174969
BYN 3.878688
BYR 38,786.877820
BZD 2.838837
CAD 1.939045
CAKE 0.997709
CDF 3,236.883150
CELO 17.527878
CFX 23.952380
CHF 1.108349
CHZ 28.686118
CLP 1,270.840936
CNH 9.596637
CNY 9.593331
COMP 0.064021
COP 5,358.447924
CRC 638.527829
CRO 20.183249
CRV 5.978006
CSPR 477.455776
CUC 1.410437
CUP 33.843505
CVE 133.601684
CVX 0.812644
CYP 0.709110
CZK 29.454513
DAI 1.411136
DASH 0.032882
DCR 0.083791
DEM 2.369658
DFI 1,436.333468
DJF 250.971594
DKK 9.053906
DOGE 13.522971
DOP 83.492033
DOT 1.129454
DYDX 9.751214
DZD 187.246864
EEK 18.957264
EGLD 0.359840
EGP 75.207988
ENJ 32.839147
EOS 17.435778
ERN 21.156559
ESP 201.591093
ETB 222.094955
ETC 0.158368
ETH 0.000662
EUR 1.211587
EURC 1.210643
FEI 1.415818
FIL 1.461580
FIM 7.203768
FJD 3.110136
FKP 1.051549
FLOW 39.086972
FLR 168.847828
FRAX 1.420362
FRF 7.947489
FTT 4.365347
GALA 419.484245
GBP 1.051549
GEL 3.767962
GGP 1.051549
GHC 161,352.859498
GHS 16.135286
GIP 1.051549
GMD 104.193769
GMX 0.213173
GNF 12,372.053236
GNO 0.011925
GRD 412.848227
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GT 0.198812
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GYD 294.988182
HBAR 15.669190
HKD 11.045538
HNL 37.520798
HNT 1.712607
HOT 3,554.795245
HRK 9.128701
HT 9.726499
HTG 184.608807
HUF 436.891025
ICP 0.546114
IDR 25,000.168356
IEP 0.954202
ILS 4.093551
IMP 1.051549
IMX 8.285476
INJ 0.270609
INR 135.950802
IQD 1,848.040346
IRR 1,859,182.911506
ISK 173.740486
ITL 2,345.959312
JEP 1.051549
JMD 223.027987
JPY 224.166358
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KAVA 24.490243
KCS 0.176072
KDA 169.562865
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KGS 123.380504
KHR 5,656.833578
KLAY 27.115681
KMF 596.061667
KNC 9.823458
KPW 1,269.365876
KRW 2,122.956043
KSM 0.283251
KWD 0.434191
KYD 1.173135
KZT 661.819887
LAK 30,937.235812
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LDO 3.960210
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LTC 0.025974
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MBX 36.019446
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MGA 5,901.755673
MGF 29,508.778367
MINA 24.690170
MKD 74.663079
MKR 0.000818
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MNT 5,047.926111
MOP 11.376904
MRO 563.926919
MRU 56.392692
MTL 0.520134
MUR 66.689754
MVR 21.783614
MWK 2,454.805732
MXN 24.407266
MXV 2.761932
MYR 5.605544
MZM 90,085.204771
MZN 90.085205
NAD 23.482788
NEAR 0.874116
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NFT 4,986,872.470038
NGN 1,933.798541
NIO 51.844304
NLG 2.669986
NOK 13.079857
NPR 217.623246
NZD 2.409072
OKB 0.017249
OMR 0.542550
ONE 688.090788
OP 10.985787
ORDI 0.338854
PAB 1.410437
PAXG 0.000311
PEN 4.826838
PEPE 382,998.105840
PGK 6.231483
PHP 87.039668
PI 9.292041
PKR 392.956327
PLN 5.139997
POL 15.516339
PTE 242.901359
PYG 8,584.545742
QAR 5.133992
QNT 0.018850
QTUM 1.562007
ROL 63,117.047169
RON 6.311705
RPL 0.812683
RSD 142.203361
RUB 102.221380
RUNE 3.151563
RVN 255.204580
RWF 2,062.219935
SAND 19.585272
SAR 5.289140
SBD 11.292193
SCR 20.706069
SDD 84,658.805128
SDG 846.588051
SEK 13.270898
SGD 1.805426
SHIB 244,698.273701
SHP 1.051549
SIT 290.344678
SKK 36.500266
SLE 32.305883
SLL 32,305.882948
SNX 4.553304
SOL 0.016594
SOS 805.974561
SPL 0.235073
SRD 52.503250
SRG 52,503.249506
SSP 6,649.688043
STD 30,003.875731
STN 30.003876
STX 5.904423
SUI 1.333031
SVC 12.341326
SYP 155.903607
SZL 23.482788
THB 46.008902
THETA 7.144187
TJS 13.128790
TMM 24,733.580349
TMT 4.946716
TND 4.096063
TON 0.700929
TOP 3.355321
TRL 64,292,636.905655
TRX 3.954352
TRY 64.292637
TTD 9.567059
TUSD 1.412156
TVD 1.976215
TWD 44.623091
TWT 2.951735
TZS 3,669.986959
UAH 62.258896
UGX 5,315.510529
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VAL 2,345.959312
VEB 72,965,603,664.6658
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WST 3.801206
XAF 794.748890
XAG 0.018531
XAU 0.000310
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XBT 0.000018
XCD 3.818546
XCG 2.541098
XCH 0.508166
XDC 45.372278
XDR 1.031822
XEC 192,278.412568
XEM 2,119.253013
XLM 9.607334
XMR 0.003649
XOF 794.748890
XPD 0.001006
XPF 144.580772
XPT 0.000716
XRP 1.020418
XTZ 4.125010
YER 336.558433
ZAR 23.482788
ZEC 0.002463
ZIL 358.746736
ZMK 26,657.260314
ZMW 26.657260
ZWD 510.437236
ZWG 36.544741
ZWL 91,315.229879

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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.