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: 2026-10-07
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 14.195984
AAVE 0.008063
ADA 5.504711
AED 5.179831
AFN 90.955235
AKT 1.947931
ALGO 11.820473
ALL 115.307600
AMD 510.434330
AMP 2,393.478013
ANG 2.539854
AOA 1,293.762228
APE 9.374206
APT 1.838434
AR 0.328485
ARB 7.588244
ARS 2,144.259676
ATOM 0.827383
ATS 17.281284
AUD 2.023809
AVAX 0.127362
AWG 2.524683
AXS 1.165279
AZM 11,988.717360
AZN 2.397743
BAKE 5,952.477020
BAM 2.456288
BAT 13.384604
BBD 2.820874
BCH 0.004603
BDT 173.390497
BEF 50.662068
BGN 2.456288
BHD 0.530324
BIF 4,236.064742
BMD 1.410437
BNB 0.001838
BND 1.804364
BOB 16.910911
BRL 7.028137
BSD 1.410437
BSV 0.073614
BSW 3,478.602861
BTC 0.000017
BTCB 20.738417
BTG 2.202473
BTN 136.157707
BTT 3,859,662.458044
BUSD 1.410927
BWP 19.388851
BYN 4.331613
BYR 27,649.826616
BZD 2.838387
CAD 2.006351
CAKE 0.610940
CDF 3,260.224693
CELO 14.525580
CFX 27.220336
CHF 1.175700
CHZ 88.723297
CLP 1,373.532325
CNH 9.456934
CNY 9.457491
COMP 0.061190
COP 4,566.025873
CRC 644.461821
CRO 21.901189
CRV 4.008206
CSPR 571.096308
CUC 1.410706
CUP 33.839674
CVE 138.485874
CVX 0.662053
CYP 0.735034
CZK 30.653517
DAI 1.410851
DASH 0.026260
DCR 0.078783
DEM 2.456288
DFI 1,757.464225
DJF 251.081761
DKK 9.387541
DOGE 15.658585
DOP 84.987455
DOT 1.256840
DYDX 10.583084
DZD 189.908069
EEK 19.650300
EGLD 0.340053
EGP 73.787531
ENJ 45.476935
EOS 14.153950
ERN 21.156559
ESP 208.960829
ETB 227.210977
ETC 0.166385
ETH 0.000540
EUR 1.255880
EURC 1.255934
FEI 1.416138
FIL 1.296865
FIM 7.467123
FJD 3.173029
FKP 1.064635
FLOW 44.706297
FLR 196.926007
FRAX 1.422668
FRF 8.238032
FTT 5.726548
GALA 609.530654
GBP 1.064635
GEL 3.657473
GGP 1.064635
GHC 165,967.599707
GHS 16.596760
GIP 1.064635
GMD 104.657022
GMX 0.168091
GNF 12,419.063996
GNO 0.011795
GRD 427.941067
GRT 50.993556
GT 0.127151
GTQ 10.767206
GUSD 1.413262
GYD 294.942768
HBAR 14.677841
HKD 11.068980
HNL 37.860315
HNT 2.799569
HOT 3,267.408463
HRK 9.462427
HT 38.660466
HTG 184.599193
HUF 459.212046
ICP 0.440821
IDR 25,228.034825
IEP 0.989086
ILS 4.304845
IMP 1.064635
IMX 8.040430
INJ 0.187274
INR 136.157707
IQD 1,847.996152
IRR 2,443,553.427976
ISK 172.353395
ITL 2,431.722522
JEP 1.064635
JMD 223.957225
JPY 223.468948
KAS 34.056342
KAVA 21.142240
KCS 0.184097
KDA 156.024016
KES 183.223940
KGS 123.354083
KHR 5,713.185492
KLAY 36.598698
KMF 617.852395
KNC 10.126349
KPW 1,269.635344
KRW 1,888.041158
KSM 0.290958
KWD 0.436784
KYD 1.172069
KZT 635.778919
LAK 31,658.863559
LBP 126,574.423059
LDO 3.245930
LEO 0.158733
LINK 0.103614
LKR 466.267663
LRC 142.785744
LRD 241.056962
LSL 23.397503
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LTL 4.336302
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LUNC 27,796.993326
LVL 0.882632
LYD 9.061912
MAD 14.059441
MANA 13.735215
MBX 48.555712
MDL 25.144730
MGA 6,239.475201
MGF 31,197.376007
MINA 13.607774
MKD 77.205307
MKR 0.000706
MMK 2,961.373620
MNT 5,073.065231
MOP 11.401049
MRO 564.390913
MRU 56.439091
MTL 0.539149
MUR 66.811417
MVR 21.802114
MWK 2,444.273950
MXN 25.418906
MXV 2.875877
MYR 5.764235
MZM 90,080.209366
MZN 90.080209
NAD 23.397503
NEAR 0.284016
NEO 0.586605
NEXO 1.676756
NFT 5,964,139.217339
NGN 1,870.138488
NIO 51.868731
NLG 2.767595
NOK 13.496786
NPR 217.954450
NZD 2.516598
OKB 0.010515
OMR 0.542854
ONE 10.026863
OP 11.605526
ORDI 0.329995
PAB 1.410437
PAXG 0.000341
PEN 4.854635
PEPE 343,584.199596
PGK 6.386222
PHP 88.495996
PI 16.866984
PKR 390.558341
PLN 5.494025
POL 13.653765
PTE 251.781309
PYG 8,258.346020
QAR 5.133992
QNT 0.005636
QTUM 1.518234
ROL 67,179.896322
RON 6.717990
RPL 0.780338
RSD 147.471827
RUB 119.559912
RUNE 1.926552
RVN 630.663928
RWF 2,081.427811
SAND 18.896125
SAR 5.289140
SBD 11.380150
SCR 20.236778
SDD 84,651.712049
SDG 846.517120
SEK 14.136804
SGD 1.804364
SHIB 254,521.814222
SHP 1.064635
SIT 300.959053
SKK 37.834637
SLE 34.803838
SLL 34,803.838182
SNX 5.805823
SOL 0.011915
SOS 804.867779
SPL 0.235073
SRD 53.124038
SRG 53,124.037726
SSP 8,112.151835
STD 30,968.636947
STN 30.968637
STX 3.534482
SUI 1.241198
SVC 12.341326
SYP 18,341.992485
SZL 23.397503
THB 47.506467
THETA 6.415247
TJS 13.003119
TMM 24,656.068734
TMT 4.931214
TND 4.224535
TOP 3.396889
TRL 69,384,628.967159
TRX 4.240720
TRY 69.384629
TTD 9.560571
TUSD 1.411495
TVD 2.023809
TWD 44.947456
TWT 2.554062
TZS 3,734.507593
UAH 63.249734
UGX 5,703.691685
UNI 0.173592
USD 1.410437
USDC 1.410828
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USDT 1.410993
UYU 56.890193
UZS 16,605.790572
VAL 2,431.722522
VEB 122,764,657,059.4917
VED 1,227.646571
VEF 122,764,657.059492
VES 1,227.646571
VET 171.382221
VND 36,687.113873
VUV 169.429419
WAVES 5.033759
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WOO 109.810974
WST 3.921996
XAF 823.803194
XAG 0.023240
XAU 0.000341
XAUT 0.000341
XBT 0.000017
XCD 3.818253
XCG 2.539854
XCH 0.932334
XDC 41.927326
XDR 1.041226
XEC 183,595.824611
XEM 2,474.814765
XLM 6.841256
XMR 0.002531
XOF 823.803194
XPD 0.001216
XPF 149.866333
XPT 0.000834
XRP 0.961178
XTZ 4.495364
YER 333.199581
ZAR 23.397503
ZEC 0.001070
ZIL 418.493466
ZMK 27,996.583685
ZMW 27.996584
ZWD 510.437236
ZWG 37.749250
ZWL 94,324.963518

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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.