With ancient ruins, vast desert landscapes and pristine beaches, Jordan is well-prepared to experience another year of strong growth on the tourism market. For you, this means only one thing: make your Jordan trip a reality, before everyone else makes it there before you.
These are 8 places to put on your bucket list for your Jordan trip in 2026. From all-timers, to rising destinations and hidden gems, these are some of the places you cannot miss on your Jordan tour.
Key Takeaways
- Jordan is home to Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders, plus Amman’s vibrant culture and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth.
- Visit Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land, and ancient Desert Castles along the King’s Highway, plus Azraq Wetland Reserve, a hotspot for over 150 bird species.
- Aqaba is undergoing major redevelopment with the Marsa Zayed waterfront project, transforming it into a world-class tourism and business hub and establishing it as a rising destination for diving.
- Wadi Rum’s stunning pink sandstone desert offers unforgettable jeep tours, authentic Bedouin camp stays, and traditional meals—a true bucket list adventure.
5 Jordan Travel Tips for a Smooth Trip
Are you finally getting ready to cross that Jordan trip off your bucket list? These are 5 essential travel tips to make your Jordan adventure the best experience possible:
- Pick Your Flights Wisely: With more and more low-cost flight connections between Europe and Jordan, taking that trip to Jordan just keeps getting easier. For a lengthly Jordan trip, book your tickets to Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport. For a short desert adventure, save your flights to Aqaba’s King Hussein International Airport.
- Book the Jordan Pass: We have said it before and we will say it again. If you are planning a Jordan tour, you simply have to book the Jordan Pass. The Jordan Pass includes your entry visa fee and entrance fees to over 30 attraction, among them the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Petra and Wadi Rum. Even if you only come to Jordan for 3 days, the Jordan Pass will be worth it!
- Pack these Things: Do not make the mistake of only packing for the heat in Jordan. Yes, Jordan has beaches and deserts. But, especially if you are travelling in spring or autumn, nights in Jordan can get quite cold – even in the Wadi Rum desert. So, make sure that you have clothes from the heat and the cold alike.
- How to Get Around Jordan: If you are planning a lad’s trip to Jordan, we urge you to look into renting a car. Car rentals from Jordan’s international airports are super affordable and driving in Jordan is much more relaxed than you would expect from a country in the Middle East. If you are travelling solo, get familiar with the routes of JETT bus to plan your itinerary along them.
- Book a Tour for Wadi Rum: Travelling independently is amazing, but one has to know when to ask for help. Wadi Rum is one of those cases. Exploring the Wadi Rum desert on a private or group tour is not only much more enjoyable, but also turns out to be cheaper with overnight stays in a Bedouin tent and all meals included in the price.
For more travel tips and cultural insights, make sure to check out our full-length guide for first-time travelers to Jordan.
The 8 Best Places to Visit in Jordan in 2026
After taking a serious blow at the end of 2023, the Jordanian tourism industry has recovered impressively over the course of 2025 and looks poised for another year of growth.
With the Jordan Tourism Board partnering with Royal Jordanian to bring even more flights to the safest country of the Middle East and major development along the Red Sea progressing swiftly, this is your chance to visit Jordan, before it becomes too popular.
These are 8 places to consider visiting in Jordan in 2026:
Amman: Jordan’s Cultural Hub
Jordan’s capital city, Amman, often serves as a starting point for Jordan trips, but is rarely seen as a destination of its own. But, let us be frank: We’d hate to see you spend just one night in Amman.
Amman is not just Jordan’s administrative capital, but also the country’s cultural and culinary capital. Whatever national foods you may have in mind, you’ll find the best renditions of in Amman. Some of the best food spots to pop by in Amman are:
- Hashem Restaurant for a typical lunch of Falafel, Hummus, Moutabal and many more
- Habibah Sweets for a typical Nabulsi Kunafah (a layered dessert with cheese from Palestine)
- Jubran Restaurant for Mansaf (a traditional Jordanian lamb and rice dish)
Some say that Mansaf is so heavy on the stomach that one may take a nap straight after. To avoid sleeping away your time in Amman, we recommend you head over to Rainbow Street for a cup of coffee. At The Good Bookshop, you can sip your coffee surrounded by Arabic and English books that teach you about the region and the deep cultural ties between Jordan and Palestine.
Northern Jordan: Visit the Azraq Wetland Reserve
For the longest time, Northern Jordan was pretty much off limits for international tourists. Considering the travel warnings along the Jordan-Syria border, tourists readily skipped any attractions north of Amman and happily headed down to the Dead Sea or Petra. Well, luckily for you, things have changed.
In recent years, Syria has found increasing stability with the Jaber land crossing between Jordan and Syria reopening and some adventurous Western tourists taking a trip the previously war-torn country. For our second bucket list items, you won’t have to venture that far.
The Azraq Wetland Reserve, located just 1.5 hours from Amman, is an underrated tourist site in Jordan that offers excellent opportunities for bird watching. This oasis in Jordan’s Eastern Desert is a hotspot for migratory birds and a must for very animal lover. The best times to visit are spring and autumn.
Mount Nebo & Bethany Beyond the Jordan: Religious Sites to Visit
Religious tourism continues to shape Jordan’s tourism sector and 2026 might just be the best time to add one or two historical sits of the Holy Land to your Jordan itinerary. Two religious sites you can’t miss in Jordan are Mount Nebo and Bethany Beyond the Jordan.
Mount Nebo, a mountain in Western Jordan, is said to be the place where Moses viewed the promised land before his death. Under good conditions, you can see several places in Palestine, such as Bethlehem, Ramallah and Nablus. Even the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem is visible from the top of Mount Nebo.
Meanwhile, Bethany Beyond the Jordan, or Al-Maghtas, as it its called locally, is said to be the site where John the Baptist baptised no other than Jesus Christ. Today, the site features church ruins and the remains of the baptismal pools. Pro tip: You can book a discounted entry ticket to the site for just 8 JODs when buying the Jordan Pass online.
The Dead Sea: The Lowest Point on Earth
What hasn’t been said about the Dead Sea before? The Dead Sea is anything but a newcomer to Jordan itinerary, but still very much a set piece for any bucket list. Head over to the lowest point on earth to float in its hyper-saline waters and to test the supposed skin-friendly effects of Dead Sea mud.
The Dead Sea in Jordan has steadily developed into a high-end destination for resort tourists looking for a peaceful getaway and world-class spa installations. But visiting the Dead Sea doesn’t mean you have to splurge on a night in a resort. Many Dead Sea hotels offer day passes that give you access to all installations and sometimes even restaurant vouchers without you having to pay for a room.
If you are looking to visit the Dead Sea in Jordan, make sure to check out our full guide to visiting the Dead Sea to find to best transport options, hotels and pro tips.
Desert Castles: Explore Forgotten Ruins along the King’s Highway
‘Driving’ and ‘the Middle East’ seem like two words that shouldn’t appear together in a sentence, at least not in one uttered by a tourist. And yet, we are recommending to do exactly that. Rent a car in Jordan and explore forgotten ruins along the King’s Highway.
Rental cars in Jordan are comparatively cheap with smaller models starting from just 19€ (or $23) per day including insurance. And as for the driving, outside of larger cities it’s pretty chill. Jordanians drive on the right side of the road, traffic is low in rural areas, highways are in reality good conditions and most signage is also in English. Just don’t forget to stop at police checkpoints along the way.
Along the King’s Highway, that runs from Jordan’s northern border crossings with Syria all the way to its southern port city of Aqaba, passes by some of the country’s most significant crusader castles such as Karak Castle and Shobak Castle. While these are fairly popular among tourists, you will find even more ruins of castle and even ancient temples along the King’s Highway that are practically forgotten.
Petra: Beat the Crowd at this World Wonder
The Rose City of Petra is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and undoubtedly the most famous tourist site in all of Jordan. There simply is no way that you have either not heard of Petra before or not added it to your Jordan itinerary yet.
So, without raving too much about this stone city carved into sandstone mountains with its Siq, the Treasury, the Monastery and all of the other incredible archaeological remnants, this its how to beat the crowds at the one place in Jordan that EVERYBODY comes to visit:
- Buy the Jordan Pass which includes your Petra entrance tickets. It’s cheaper and faster this way.
- Come as early as possible. The complex opens at 6 a.m. (6.30 a.m. in winter).
- Also check out Little Petra. Considered a suburb of Petra it is barely visited but equally beautiful.
Despite being one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Petra has seen dwindling tourist numbers over the last few years. With tourism picking back up in 2025, this might be your last chance to actually beat the crowds at Petra.
The Red Sea: A Rising Diving Destination
When thinking about diving in the Red Sea, one immediately thinks about diving hubs in Egypt such as Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh and Dahab. But what about Jordan? In Jordan’s southern port city, Aqaba, a new major destination for scuba diving and free diving is steadily developing.
The Marsa Zayed waterfront development, backed by Jordan and the UAE, aims at redeveloping the Aqaba City waterfront into a world-class tourism and business hub. Expected to be handed over by 2028, the new waterfront is still far from being finished, but you can already have a slice of Jordan’s new diving paradise.
Book a night in one of Aqaba’s boutique hotels to rest between some heavy exploring in Petra and Wadi Rum. We recommend staying at the Brabus Hotel, a beautifully-designed boutique hotel in a quiet location serving some of the best hotel breakfast we have had in our lives. If you have enough time to spare, some diving spots to hit are Cedar Pride, Japanese Garden and King Abdullah Reef.
Wadi Rum: Experience Bedouin Heritage First-Hand
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan may be young – it was officially founded in 1946 – but its heritage stretches back millennia. The Bedouin, a nomadic desert culture that first appeared in the Syrian Steppe around 6,000 BCE, are considered the Kingdom’s cultural backbone.
Today, the Jordanian Bedouin see themselves confronted with several challenges such as restricted freedom of movement and a lack of economic opportunities. Still though, they manage to retain their unique culture in places such as Wadi Rum, a sandy desert lined with pink sandstone mountains, where they invite tourist to experience it first-hand.
To visit the Wadi Rum Protected Area, one needs to book a tour with a Bedouin guide from Wadi Rum. With a guide, you will be able to explore the historical, cultural and natural sites of the desert on the back of a jeep, spend the night in a traditional-style Bedouin camp and try some Bedouin dishes such as the Zarb, a meat and vegetable dish slow-cooked underground.
Wadi Tribe works with members of the Al-Zalabiah tribe of Wadi Rum, to provide an authentic desert experience in Wadi Rum, including a stay in a tranquil Bedouin camp deep in the Wadi Rum desert.
The Bottom Line
Whether you are looking for deep dive into Middle Eastern culture, a relaxed escape on a pristine beach or a thrilling desert adventure, Jordan has just the right experience in store for you. Make your Jordan trip happen in 2026 and make sure to visit some of the places mentioned above, before it’s too late.
And while we’re at it, make sure to book your Wadi Rum adventure directly with the providers, Wadi Rum’s Bedouin. This not only helps support local communities, but also gives you access to the most authentic desert experience at the best rates.
Wadi Tribe has partnered with Desert Guide Camp to create a tour package that combines ease of travel with first-hand insights into Bedouin culture. With Wadi Tribe, you will venture deep into the desert to learn about Bedouin culture directly from members of the Al-Zalabiah family. Check it out!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 7 days in Jordan enough?
Yes, 7 days in Jordan are a good amount of time to get familiar with the country’s most important sites. To get the most of your trip, while not stressing out, we recommend scheduling no more than four destinations for your 7-day itinerary.
Is Jordan a good tourist destination?
Yes, Jordan is a good tourist destination. Not only is it considered the safest country of the Middle East. but it also combines history, culture and nature on a small area look few other locations around the world can.
What not to miss Jordan?
When you visit Jordan, some places you cannot miss are the Amman, the nation’s cultural and administrative capital, the Rose City of Petra and the Wadi Rum Desert in the South of the country.
What is the best month to visit Jordan?
For the best weather conditions, we recommend visiting Jordan in spring or autumn. In summer, you are likely to experience extreme heat, while activities in nature are susceptible to a higher risk of flash flooding in winter.
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