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: 2026-07-06
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 19.676488
AAVE 0.015962
ADA 7.513586
AED 5.179831
AFN 89.674104
AGIX 18.077954
AKT 2.248780
ALGO 15.755974
ALL 115.615683
AMD 518.998892
AMP 3,162.124528
ANG 2.543500
AOA 1,295.337506
APE 10.061357
APT 2.255249
AR 0.706580
ARB 17.633843
ARS 2,105.168064
ATOM 0.891958
ATS 16.975962
AUD 2.036053
AVAX 0.204292
AWG 2.524683
AXS 1.396786
AZM 11,988.714853
AZN 2.397743
BAKE 1,877.088359
BAM 2.412890
BAT 16.015031
BBD 2.820874
BCH 0.005845
BDT 173.869528
BEF 49.766982
BGN 2.412890
BHD 0.530324
BIF 4,198.881279
BMD 1.410437
BNB 0.002413
BND 1.823000
BOB 9.770323
BRL 7.289258
BSD 1.410437
BSV 0.095531
BSW 4,214.099182
BTC 0.000022
BTCB 26.615056
BTG 4.887926
BTN 134.379184
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BUSD 1.409237
BWP 19.036292
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BYR 27,647.240320
BZD 2.840712
CAD 2.004203
CAKE 0.973981
CDF 3,254.221332
CELO 20.993680
CFX 31.525782
CHF 1.134612
CHZ 78.125947
CLP 1,299.294402
CNH 9.578808
CNY 9.575014
COMP 0.084157
COP 4,714.429332
CRC 642.717539
CRO 23.596881
CRV 6.597685
CSPR 726.234748
CUC 1.410573
CUP 37.380198
CVE 136.039136
CVX 1.172714
CYP 0.722047
CZK 29.838362
DAI 1.411104
DASH 0.040096
DCR 0.127061
DEM 2.412890
DFI 1,697.661435
DJF 251.188831
DKK 9.221738
DOGE 18.251415
DOP 83.591405
DOT 1.616844
DYDX 10.679993
DZD 187.579629
EEK 19.303123
EGLD 0.510312
EGP 69.283457
ENJ 48.735569
EOS 19.472575
ERN 21.156559
ESP 205.268955
ETB 225.607231
ETC 0.198589
ETH 0.000793
EUR 1.233691
EURC 1.234590
FEI 1.410938
FIL 1.786292
FIM 7.335195
FJD 3.167147
FKP 1.057088
FLOW 50.329153
FLR 202.913889
FRAX 1.425794
FRF 8.092484
FTT 5.921323
GALA 615.665212
GBP 1.057088
GEL 3.704578
GGP 1.057088
GHC 160,239.453340
GHS 16.023945
GIP 1.057088
GMD 104.011747
GMX 0.238006
GNF 12,366.062959
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GRD 420.380298
GRT 74.341005
GT 0.208047
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GUSD 1.412300
GYD 295.226090
HBAR 18.678855
HKD 11.062115
HNL 37.760546
HNT 5.885684
HOT 3,908.523517
HRK 9.295247
HT 39.366023
HTG 184.618683
HUF 436.237019
ICP 0.639827
IDR 25,377.287701
IEP 0.971611
ILS 4.236480
IMP 1.057088
IMX 10.208471
INJ 0.288698
INR 134.379184
IQD 1,849.356673
IRR 1,940,878.587032
ISK 177.653446
ITL 2,388.759382
JEP 1.057088
JMD 223.445106
JPY 228.278904
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KAVA 31.260494
KCS 0.195364
KDA 241.992065
KES 182.356606
KGS 123.362805
KHR 5,655.615458
KMF 606.936315
KNC 12.653183
KPW 1,269.516631
KRW 2,162.002574
KSM 0.400266
KWD 0.437658
KYD 1.173372
KZT 666.774380
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LBP 126,662.076943
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LEO 0.150693
LINK 0.176635
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LRC 114.795051
LRD 256.169207
LSL 22.924949
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LYD 9.047061
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MANA 20.269903
MBX 56.081903
MDL 24.825283
MGA 5,985.228810
MGF 29,926.144049
MINA 29.750582
MKD 75.997533
MKR 0.000985
MMK 2,960.968420
MNT 5,055.202433
MOP 11.393979
MRO 563.286772
MRU 56.328677
MTL 0.529624
MUR 66.299967
MVR 21.804496
MWK 2,446.595637
MXN 24.653483
MXV 2.795476
MYR 5.750718
MZM 90,079.695518
MZN 90.079696
NAD 22.924949
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NEO 0.713060
NEXO 1.833405
NFT 5,321,997.630321
NGN 1,932.692851
NIO 51.919419
NLG 2.718698
NOK 13.873662
NPR 215.107478
NZD 2.479057
OKB 0.017683
OMR 0.542848
ONE 1,128.423067
OP 13.119448
ORDI 0.434495
PAB 1.410437
PAXG 0.000340
PEN 4.802938
PEPE 517,106.397737
PGK 6.204920
PHP 86.760088
PI 12.468113
PKR 392.397376
PLN 5.295819
POL 19.178588
PTE 247.332892
PYG 8,579.164214
QAR 5.133992
QNT 0.021066
QTUM 1.984172
ROL 64,472.823631
RON 6.447282
RPL 0.696622
RSD 144.702083
RUB 108.685008
RUNE 3.410464
RVN 370.085644
RWF 2,067.518923
SAND 28.269004
SAR 5.289140
SBD 11.413343
SCR 20.154858
SDD 84,660.820219
SDG 846.608202
SEK 13.614716
SGD 1.823000
SHIB 322,144.060277
SHP 1.057088
SIT 295.641774
SKK 37.166183
SLE 32.214316
SLL 32,214.316413
SNX 6.159476
SOL 0.017480
SOS 805.417115
SPL 0.235073
SRD 53.095371
SRG 53,095.370556
SSP 6,698.428683
STD 30,449.723125
STN 30.449723
STX 8.248374
SUI 1.887898
SVC 12.341326
SYP 155.913646
SZL 22.924949
THB 46.883324
THETA 10.054063
TJS 13.073743
TMM 24,747.463487
TMT 4.949493
TND 4.157882
TOP 3.396767
TRL 66,030,249.184681
TRX 4.294837
TRY 66.030249
TTD 9.557103
TUSD 1.413392
TVD 2.036053
TWD 45.261269
TWT 4.102843
TZS 3,706.077527
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UGX 5,154.464768
UNI 0.446278
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UYU 56.768780
UZS 16,879.827069
VAL 2,388.759382
VEB 90,894,009,971.6877
VED 908.859177
VEF 90,885,917.700012
VES 908.859177
VET 298.982066
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VUV 169.523171
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WST 3.901005
XAF 809.248420
XAG 0.022843
XAU 0.000339
XAUT 0.000340
XBT 0.000022
XCD 3.817876
XCG 2.543500
XCH 0.894954
XDC 50.196214
XDR 1.040320
XEC 265,523.615408
XEM 3,294.707045
XLM 7.064954
XMR 0.004358
XOF 809.248420
XPD 0.001110
XPF 147.218528
XPT 0.000861
XRP 1.232070
XTZ 5.668378
YER 334.264369
ZAR 22.924949
ZEC 0.003097
ZIL 457.221507
ZMK 25,880.549356
ZMW 25.880549
ZWD 510.437236
ZWG 37.832973
ZWL 94,534.166081

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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.