Arrival & Transport

Jordan has two international airports:

Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) — Amman

The country's main airport, 35 km south of Amman. Modern terminal (opened in 2013). Direct flights from Frankfurt (4:15h, Royal Jordanian, Lufthansa), Munich (3:50h), Berlin (4h). Other airlines: Ryanair (from Cologne/Berlin), Wizz Air, Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul), Emirates (via Dubai).

Transfer to Amman: Airport Express Bus (3.25 JOD, 45–60 min, runs every 30 min), taxi (fixed price 20–25 JOD to city center, 30–35 JOD to West Amman). Rental car counters in the arrivals area.

King Hussein International Airport (AQJ) — Aqaba

Small airport on the Red Sea, 10 km north of the city. Mainly charter flights and low-cost carriers (Ryanair from Europe). Useful if the trip starts or ends in Aqaba — saves the 4-hour drive from Amman.

Transfer: Taxi to the city (10 JOD, 15 min). No public bus.

Flight Prices (Guidelines)

The Jordan Pass is the best deal for travelers to Jordan and should be purchased online before the trip at jordanpass.jo.

What's Included?

• Visa: The Visa-on-Arrival (usually 40 JOD) is included — you save the waiting time AND the money
• Petra: Entry included (usually 50 JOD for 1 day!)
• 40+ other attractions: Jerash, Ajloun, Wadi Rum Visitor Center, Amman Citadel, Madaba, Umm Qais, Desert Castles, and many more

Variants

Is the Pass Worth It?

Example calculation: Visa (40 JOD) + Petra 1 Day (50 JOD) + Jerash (10 JOD) + Amman Citadel (3 JOD) + Wadi Rum (5 JOD) = 108 JOD. The Jordan Wanderer costs 70 JOD — you save 38 JOD (approx. 49€). And that's the minimum. The pass is always worth it from the first visit to Petra.

Conditions

• Buy online before the trip (not available at the airport)
• Minimum 3 nights stay in Jordan required (for the free visa)
• Valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, activation upon first visit to an attraction
• Non-transferable, linked to passport number

A rental car is the most flexible way to travel around Jordan. The roads are well-developed, the signage is bilingual (Arabic/English), and the country is compact enough for a round trip.

Prices & Booking

Providers: Hertz, Avis, Europcar at the airport. Local providers (e.g., Reliable Rent a Car) often 30% cheaper.

Important Driving Tips

• International Driving License: Recommended, in practice, the EU driving license is usually accepted
• Fuel: Approx. 0.95 JOD/liter (approx. 1.23€) — more expensive than in neighboring countries, but cheaper than in Europe
• Driving Style: Jordanians drive "creatively" — frequent honking, spontaneous lane changes, overtaking in curves. Drive defensively!
• Speed Controls: Speed cameras everywhere, especially on highways. Speed limit: 60 km/h in cities, 80–110 km/h on rural roads/highways
• Wadi Rum: A normal car is sufficient up to the Visitor Center. For the desert itself, you need a guided Jeep tour — own vehicles are not allowed
• King's Highway: The most scenic route (Amman–Petra via Madaba, Kerak). Winding, slower than the highway, but incredibly beautiful

JETT Buses — Jordan's Best Public Transport

The state-owned bus company JETT (Jordan Express Tourist Transport) operates air-conditioned, reliable buses on the main routes:

Booking: At the JETT bus station (7th Circle, Amman) or online at jett.com.jo. Recommended to book one day in advance — especially for Petra.

Minibuses

For routes not covered by JETT, there are minibuses. They depart from bus stations (North Bus Station for Jerash/Ajloun, South Bus Station for Kerak/Tafila/Aqaba) when full. Cheap but unpredictable.

Taxis

• Yellow Taxis (Amman): With taximeter, cheap. Short distance 1–3 JOD. Insist on the taximeter!
• White Taxis (Intercity Taxis): For routes between cities. Negotiate the price beforehand. Amman → Dead Sea approx. 25–30 JOD, Amman → Jerash approx. 20 JOD.
• Uber/Careem: Available in Amman and Aqaba, convenient and fair prices.

Distances & Travel Times