Did you manage to wedge Aqaba into your Jordan itinerary as a pit stop between Petra and Wadi Rum or are you starting your trip at Aqaba International Airport?
Then, make sure to spend at least two days in the city to explore its historic sites such as the Aqaba Fort and snorkelling sites such as Japanese Garden.
In this article, we will break down how long to stay in Aqaba, what to do in Aqaba in 2 days and how to best prepare your trip as an independent traveller. We will not only provide a rough outline of your 2-day trip, but also share with you hands-on advice for planning your trip, that we got from visiting Aqaba ourselves.
Key Takeaways
- Spend 2 days in Aqaba to balance beach relaxation and historical exploration.
- On day one, enjoy Aqaba’s beaches, snorkeling, or scuba diving at sites like Japanese Garden and the Cedar Pride wreck.
- Use day two to visit Aqaba Fort, the ruins of Ayla, and explore the central souks for local food and souvenirs.
- Choose accommodation based on your budget and style, from affordable hostels near the beach to luxury resorts with private beaches.
Table of Contents
Book a Stay at One of These Aqaba Hotels
Got your ticket to Aqaba? Secure your hotel booking now to start planning your time in Aqaba:
Budget | Hakaia Community | from $ 17 per night | |
Comfort | Bratus Hotel Aqaba | from $ 83 per night | |
Resort | InterContinental Aqaba | from $ 228 per night |
A Brief Introduction to Aqaba City
Aqaba is Jordan’s only coastal city, situated at the northern tip of the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba. The city has a population of around 150,000 and serves as a major working port city, vital for Jordan’s trade.
Aqaba enjoys a warm desert climate with average temperatures ranging from 23ºC in winter to highs of 39ºC in summer. The city is accessible via Aqaba International Airport with direct flights from Europe during the October to March season, and Aqaba Port with a daily connection to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
The city is a popular holiday destination known for its dive sites with coral reefs, including Japanese Garden and the Cedar Pride wreck, which are directly accessible from shore. Besides water sports, historic sites like Aqaba Castle and the ruins of Ayla offer a glimpse into Jordan’s history.
Is Aqaba Worth Visiting? Our Opinion
When sketching out a Jordan itinerary, one doesn’t really think of Aqaba when picking their stops along the way. Then again, Aqaba ends up on your itinerary one way or another, either as the starting point of your trip after landing at Aqaba International Airport, or as pit stop between Petra and Wadi Rum.
If you ask us, though, Aqaba City is much more than just a starting point or a stop along the way. The city is Jordan’s only coastal city and a refreshing contrast in a country that is mostly a desert. It offers well-preserved coral reefs and plenty of marine life, a number of wreck dives and plenty of historic sites.
Are you still wondering whether Aqaba is worth visiting? We already published an article about why we think Aqaba should get much more attention. Check it out!
How to Get to Aqaba from All over Jordan
Whether you are flying into Aqaba International Airport or transferring south all the way from Amman City, Aqaba is fairly accessible from other cities in Jordan and internationally.
This is how to get to Aqaba from several places in Jordan:
- From Amman: From Amman you can easily get to Aqaba by direct bus. Simply book a bus tickets online with JETT bus and get on your way. The JETT Bus Company hosts four daily connections to Aqaba for just 10 JODs per person and the ride to Aqaba will take you around 4.5 hours.
- From Petra: From Petra you can catch the daily JETT bus connection at 5 p.m. for 15 JODs to get to Aqaba within just two hours. Since Petra is much closer to Aqaba, you can also consider simply getting a taxi and sharing it with other travellers. A taxi ride to Aqaba would cost around 60 JODs.
- From Wadi Rum: From Wadi Rum Village you can either take the daily mini bus which departs between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. once it’s full. A single ticket for the mini bus is just 5 JODs. Alternatively, you can take a taxi back to Aqaba for around 30 JODs.
- From Aqaba Port: For those arriving via the Nuweiba Aqaba Ferry, getting to Aqaba City is quite straightforward. Leaving Aqaba Port, you will either find buses waiting and get a ticket for one of those or negotiate with one of the taxi drivers waiting. The ride should cost you around 10 JODs.
- From Aqaba International Airport: Located some 10 kilometres outside of Aqaba, King Hussein International Airport offers no shuttle service to the city centre. A ride to the centre with a local taxi takes 15 minutes and costs around 10 JODs. Check with your hotel, if it offers a transfer service.
Connecting the dots? Check out how to get to Aqaba from Petra and vice versa in our separate transportation guide on how to get to Aqaba.
What to Pack Before You Fly to Aqaba, Jordan
Flight booked? Transport sorted? Next, let’s take a look at what you should be packing for your Jordan trip.
These are five essential items you should pack for your flight to Jordan:
- Passport: For most European countries, the US and Canada, Jordan offers a visa on arrival. All you need to take along for getting into Jordan, is a valid passport and money to pay the visa fee.
- Travel Insurance: No matter where you travel to, you should always be travelling with travel insurance. It covers many of your costs in case of accidents that can happen at any time.
- Sun Protection: Whether you are spending a day at a beach club or exploring historic sites in the desert, do not forget bringing along sun protection with at least SPF 50. Apply regularly.
- Modest Clothing: When visiting Aqaba, dress modestly, especially when visiting public beaches or religious sites like the Sharif Hussein Bin Ali Mosque, which features the largest dome in Jordan.
- Jordan Pass: Save money on your Jordan trip by booking the Jordan Pass in advance. The Jordan Pass waives your entry visa fee and the entrance fees including Aqaba Castle and Aqaba Museum.
Is the Jordan Pass really worth investing 70 JODs? We compared the cost of the Jordan Pass to what you would pay without it. This is what we found out about the Jordan Pass.
How Many Days in Aqaba are Enough?
While we do think that Aqaba is worth visiting, we do also admit that it’s not the type of place to stay for a full week, not by a mile. Rather than planning your visit to Aqaba like a full city trip, consider your stay as more of a deep breather between some intense exploring in Petra and the Wadi Rum Desert.
For that, staying 2 days in Aqaba is already enough. Take one day just to relax on one of Aqaba’s beaches and to go for a dive if you feel like it and take the other day to do some leisurely exploring in and around Aqaba, checking out the castle and the central markets.
And that’s a wrap! Heading onto the next destination from Aqaba, you will mostly like be going to the Wadi Rum Desert. This transportation guide tells you everything you need to know to get to Wadi Rum.
What to Do in Aqaba, Jordan, in 2 Days
Luckily for you, planning what to do in Aqaba in 2 days is fairly straightforward. We recommend allocating one day to Aqaba’s beaches and the Red Sea and the other one to its history and on-land exploring. This is how we would spend 2 days in Aqaba.
Day One: Go Scuba Diving in the Red Sea & Enjoy Aqaba’s Beaches
On your first day, we recommend starting nice and easy by heading out to one of Aqaba’s beaches. Stretch out your legs after some days of intense walking in Petra or Wadi Rum and soak in the sun at one of the public beaches or private beach clubs.
As for public beaches, you can check out Al-Ghandour Beach, or City Beach, located right in the center of Aqaba or South Beach, sometimes referred to as Southern Beach, too. The South Beach gives you easy access to Aqaba’s best snorkelling sites such as Japanese Garden, Seven Sisters and the Cedar Pride.
Do note though, that these public beaches do not have a lot of installations, if any. If you wish to have access to swimming pools, sun beds and sanitary installations, consider spending the day at one of Aqaba’s private beach clubs such as Berenice Beach Club with daily entries starting from just 13 JODs.
As for beach activities, glass bottom boat tours provide a great way to experience the underwater world without getting wet. For leisurely swimming and snorkelling, we recommend renting equipment from one of the providers along the beach. If you wish to do scuba diving, you will also find plenty of certified dive schools there.
Day Two: Explore Jordan’s Historic Sites at Aqaba Fort & Wander the Souks
After resting up on your first day, we recommend easing back into exploration mode before heading on to the Wadi Rum Desert. In and around Aqaba City, you can pick between two major historic sites: the Aqaba Castle, or Aqaba Fort, and the Ruins of Ayla.
If you decide to explore Aqaba Fort, you just have to head to the city centre just south of Al-Ghandour Beach. The Aqaba Fort is a Mamluk castle that was built in the early 16th century on the pilgrimage route to Mecca. Later, it played an important role in the Arab Revolt in the early 20th century. For Jordan Pass holders, the entry to the fortress is free.
Alternatively, you can check out the Ayla ruins which are located just north of Al-Ghandour Beach. Here, you can find some of the earliest traces of the early Islamic city of Ayla, Aqaba’s predecessor, possibly reaching back all the way to 1,500 BC. Nearby, you can also visit the Aqaba Museum, which is also free for Jordan Pass holders.
Once you are done exploring, the central souk is the perfect place to go for food and souvenirs. Around there, you will not only find local Jordanian street food staples, but also plenty of beautiful souvenirs manufactured by local artisans.
Where to Stay in Aqaba for 2 Days
While Aqaba is best-known as Jordan’s only resort town, its hotel scene has something to offer for everyone, from affordable hotels to all-inclusive resort hotels.
These are the best hotels we could find in each category, plus where we stayed:
- Hostels: When it comes to saving money, while still having a good time, nothing beats Hakaia Community in Downtown Aqaba. This affordable hostel is just a few minutes away from the beach, features its own co-working area, and serves a banging breakfast. If you are into snorkelling, you can rent your gear for the day directly in the hostel. Nightly rates start from $ 17 (or 15 €).
- Boutique Hotel: If you are looking for a place to relax for a few days, you will enjoy the Bratus Hotel Aqaba a lot more. This boutique hotel is where we stayed and we couldn’t have wished for a better pit stop after our visit to Wadi Rum. The Bratus Hotel features beautifully decorated rooms, excellent service and one of the best hotel breakfasts we have ever had, all that from $ 83 (or 73 €) per night.
- Resort Hotel: You would like to relax even more? Some of Aqaba’s beach resorts offer enough amenities for you not to want to leave the hotel during your 2 days in Aqaba. The InterContinental Aqaba is one of those hotels. This resort hotel not only features high-quality amenities, a pool and a spa, but also its very own private beach. Rooms start from $ 228 (or 200 €) a night.
Find all important information on these three hotels in the following table:
Hakaia Community | affordable, community, close to the beach | from $ 17 per night | |
Bratus Hotel Aqaba | beautiful rooms, excellent service, outstanding breakfast | from $ 83 per night | |
InterContinental Aqaba | international luxury standards, wellness center, private beach | from $ 228 per night |
The Bottom Line
In short, whatever you do when passing through Aqaba, do not skip it. Whether you are into water sports, historic sites or cultural spots, Aqaba has got it all. So, shift down a gear and stay in Aqaba for at least two days to get to know a completely different and refreshing facet of Jordan – quite literally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aqaba worth visiting?
Yes, Aqaba is absolutely worth visiting. While many only pass through Aqaba when transferring between Petra and the Wadi Rum Desert, Aqaba is well-worth visiting as Jordan’s only Red Sea port hosting several dive sites with lush coral reefs and marine life and numerous important historic sites.
How long to spend in Aqaba?
2 days in Aqaba should be enough for the most. In 2 days, you’ll have enough time to relax on the beach and go for a dive and to get to know Aqaba’s history and culture in the historic city centre. From there, you can head on to Petra or Wadi Rum, depending on the direction you are travelling in.
What is Aqaba best known for?
Aqaba, Jordan, is best known for being Jordan’s only port city. Aqaba is the only Jordanian city that lies on the Gulf of Aqaba and is both important for international ship and for resort tourism. The city offers several resorts and great dive sites with coral reefs.
Is Amman or Aqaba better?
While Amman is more culturally dense and offer more historic sites, Aqaba takes the win when it comes to water sports. Being the only coastal city of Jordan, Aqaba offers several great dive sites such as Japanese Garden and the Cedar Pride wreck along with beautiful sand beaches and beach clubs.
Hey! We are glad you are curious about travelling the Middle East.
We are Nancy & Elias.
Over four years of backpacking and digital nomading made us fall in love with the Middle East. We have lived on the Red Sea coast in Egypt, lived in a Bedouin Camp in Jordan and travelled 6+ Middle Eastern countries overland.
As we continue to travel, we share our battle-tested travel advice on this blog, from travel reports and transfer guides to accommodation recs and saving hacks.
