Discover Jordan – a small nation of natural beauty and vast history. If you’re looking for a destination that is as rich in beauty as it is in history, along with being home to an unearthly desert, which could easily be home to a Martian civilization, then Jordan is the right place for you. There are many amazing landmarks in Jordan you must visit, and they all should be a part of any Jordan itinerary.
Despite being small in size, Jordan is full of beautiful surprises, just waiting to be uncovered as you travel around its Middle Eastern landscape. Although Jordan is ancient and has been the home of many civilizations, it also has its modern quirks, which are popping up in increasing numbers throughout its capital.
This post will give you a glimpse into some of the most iconic landmarks throughout the country following my tour of the nation. Depending on your travel style, you will be able to visit all of the below sites from anywhere between a three day trip to a two week trip. It is difficult to choose a favorite; however, sleeping under the stars in a Bedouin camp under the stars in the Wadi Rum Desert was a sure contender for our trip.
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Where to Stay in Jordan
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Jordan hotels here!
Amazing Landmarks in Jordan: Amman
From a historical standpoint, my favorite part of Jordan was its ancient capital, Amman. The city, which is built upon seven hills (Jabal), offers fascinating insights back into civilizations of yesteryear. There are also many amazing day trips you can take from Amman.
Amman Citadel
One of the best landmarks in Jordan is the Amman Citadel. The citadel site overlooks the whole city, so you will find this a great place to start your exploration into Jordan’s past. We really enjoyed a birdseye view of the city, including the Roman Theatre. This was made even more special by hearing the call to prayer reverberate around the city as we basked in the Middle Eastern sunshine.
There are various monuments dotted around this site from ancient times, including the ‘Temple of Hercules’, a ‘Byzantine Church’, and a museum housing artifacts dating back 9000 years.
Our favorite thing to do while exploring the Citadel was to stand underneath the Temple of Hercules, which showed us the true scale of the columns, which stand at 13.5 meters tall. They can be spotted from various vantage points in the city.
Roman Theatre
A short walk down some stairs from the Citadel site will bring you out to the Roman Theatre, which is another historical gem and one of the awesome landmarks in Jordan. The two thousand year old amphitheater was built into the hillside of Jabal Al-Jofeh around two thousand years ago, and is still very well preserved to be used in the modern world.
After entering the site, you can climb the stairs all the way to the top to enjoy awesome views of downtown Amman. You can also test the amphitheater’s world famous acoustics on the small circle located on stage. Interestingly, the stage was designed to face south, to protect the audience from the sun. This isn’t a bad spot to escape the Middle Eastern sunshine for a while.
King Abdullah I Mosque
The last Amman landmark to go and visit is recent in terms of history, compared to the ancient treasures of the city, however, it is just as impressive. King Abdullah I Mosque was built in the 1980’s, and can hold up to 7000 worshippers under its iconic blue dome.
On site, there is also a small Islamic Museum that features personal photos and information about King Abdullah. The King Abdullah I Mosque is one of the best landmarks in Jordan.
You are allowed to enter inside the mosque outside of prayer times for a small fee, and as long as you adhere to the rules and cultural expectations. The mosque is located around 3 km from the Citadel site.
Many tourists head to Amman on their way in or out of the country at ‘Queen Alia International Airport’. This is the way we worked the chaotic city into our tour of Jordan. A full day is enough time to see the historical highlights, admire the arty side of the city, and to sample some local Middle Eastern cuisine in an authentic restaurant.
Amazing Landmarks in Jordan: The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea
One of the most beautiful nature spots in Jordan is at its lowest point, which is actually the lowest point on earth. The Dead Sea is located 427 meters below sea level and separates Jordan from Israel. The Dead Sea is one of the awesome landmarks in Jordan.
You will find many resorts at the Dead Sea, all of which offer a grand buffet lunch, multiple swimming pools, and private beaches. We opted for the Crowne Plaza Resort, which cost us around 50 JOD (£55) for three hours. This was plenty of time to enjoy a nice lunch, enjoy the sunshine, and experience floating in the sea.
Interestingly, the Dead Sea will no longer exist as it does today in half a century, with it drying up as a result of mineral extraction from both Jordan and Israel. The time is ticking for you to go and enjoy the magic floating experience.
In the height of summer, the temperatures reach extreme highs due to its geographic location, and the Dead Sea area intensifies this due its low point, therefore, if you want a pleasant experience it is advisable that you visit outside of the summer months.
Amazing Landmarks in Jordan: Wadi Mujib Canyon
Wadi Mujib Canyon
Wadi Mujib Canyon is situated along the coast of the Dead Sea and I found it to be around a thirty minute drive from the popular Dead Sea resorts. You can also find great guided tours from Amman. The beautiful nature spot is home to four canyon trails of various difficulties, so you can enjoy a spot of adventure.
The trails involve self trekking through the gorge of the stunning 1km tall canyons. You have to navigate the dry land and river (if low enough), to wade around the tight narrow corners. The enormous canyons do provide some shade to make the walk more bearable.
Our favorite part of the hike was climbing the small waterfall at the end of the route, followed by sliding down the rock into the river. It was an awesome way of cooling down after a trek in the heat! Wadi Mujib Canyon is one of the best landmarks in Jordan.
Amazing Landmarks in Jordan: Petra
Petra needs no introduction! You won’t have planned a trip to Jordan without adding the ancient lost city to your travel plans. Make no mistake about it: as soon as you arrive at Wadi Musa and see the entrance to Petra, the excitement starts, and it builds throughout your tour of the wonder of the world. Petra is the best and most significant of the landmarks in Jordan.
A bright early start is essential if you want to enjoy the best experience. This ensures you beat the crowds, midday heat, and you will get to witness a beautiful glow on many of the highlights of the site.
You also have the option of booking a full-day private tour from Amman.
The Best Spots to Visit at Petra
- The Siq walkway
- The Treasury
- The Monastery
- Royal Tombs
- Great Temple
Al-Siq
The Siq is the main entrance to the Petra site, and it consists of a thirty minute walk slightly downhill towards the Treasury through a narrow gorge. Walking the Siq at Petra is one of the most rewarding experiences in the lost city. As our excitement built to see the famous treasury, we were fascinated by the natural rock formation, which at its narrowest is only 3m wide.
You will be walking for just over 1 km in total, and you are guaranteed to be spellbound by the beauty of your surroundings.
The Treasury
As you come to the end of the Siq walkway, the area will open up at the main highlight of Petra, The Treasury. The famous facade is the symbol of Petra, and instantly recognisable worldwide, as a wonder of the world. This moment is made extra special if you climb up to the viewpoint, where you can look down at the magnificent structure.
You will find camels, horse carriages and many locals in this area, trying to sell you things, but if you ignore them, they do eventually leave you alone. Also known as AL Khazneh, the iconic complex was originally carved out of sandstone to be the tomb for a Nabataean King. We found it fascinating how ancient civilisations could create such an awesome structure.
I recommend you spend a while in this area, to really take in its beauty. There is a cafe opposite with seating, along with a souvenir shop.
The Monastery
If you are successful in tackling the 850 steps up to the Monastery, you will be greeted by another one of Petra’s iconic structures. We struggled in the June heat, however, luckily there were various checkpoints to sit down with a refreshing drink. There are nice seated areas in the shade with fans.
The Monastery is much bigger than the Treasury and was built as a Nabatean tomb back in the 3rd Century, and although you can’t enter inside, it is amazing to admire from the outside. We found it to be well worth the climb! If you aren’t very active or mobile, there is a back route to the Monastery which is easier to navigate.
Royal Tombs
As with the Treasury and Monastery, the Royal Tombs are expertly carved into the cliffs, and would have been gleaming for the whole city to see back in ancient times. Our pick was the three-story Palace Tomb, which is the largest of all the tombs, and is famous for its rock-hewn facade.
Great Temple
The Great Nabatean Temple is an iconic part of Petra, and has had many different uses through several civilizations, including the Nabateans, Romans and Byzantines. The complex was badly damaged by an earthquake, yet has still survived the test of time to give visitors a glimpse into the ancient architectural skills of yesteryear.
Little Petra
We decided to visit Little Petra the evening before the main site, as it is only a ten minute drive away, and it is free to enter, with or without a Jordan Pass. It does cost a small fee if you hire a local guide. We kind of fell into a tour as the guide was very persuasive, polite and just a fun character in general.
Mo showed us all the important parts, while explaining the history behind the site. He also took us up to the souvenir shop at the top of one of the hills, where we were greeted by another local offering us some tea. We obliged, and enjoyed an authentic Bedouin experience. Everywhere in Jordan, you will find the Bedouin people are all very polite and want to give you the best experience of their culture!
Little Petra, also known as ‘Siq Al-Barid’ gives you a glimpse of what is to come at Petra, so it is a worthwhile trip as you wait for the bucket list experience. I wouldn’t recommend visiting this site after the main Petra sites, as it will be underwhelming in comparison.
Amazing Landmarks in Jordan: Wadi Rum Desert
Wadi Rum Desert
Wadi Rum desert is located around 100km from Petra, and is another highlight for visitor’s travel itineraries. The protected desert spans for 721 km², and around 2000 local Bedouins call the harsh desert land home. It reaches extreme temperatures at both ends of the spectrum. The Wadi Rum Desert is one of the landmarks in Jordan you will not want to miss.
There is a small fee for entry into the protected area, which is payable to the visitors centre upon arrival, and you will require a 4WD vehicle to travel to the camps. This can be arranged when you arrive, or with your accommodation in advance.
Staying in a Bedouin camp is a one-of-a-kind experience, which introduces you to the simple lives of the locals. After spending the afternoon preparing the food, the Bedouin people put on a show for the guests by using the ‘Zarbing’ technique, which is where the food is placed into a metal tray underground and left to cook. It is later unveiled in front of guests, and served up with sides and salad.
We booked the popular Jeep tour and got driven around the desert for two hours. This was great fun, as we visited some of the iconic rock structures for photos, a giant sand dune to climb up, and were shown the scale of some of the mountains. It honestly felt like we were in a movie on Mars!
Later on, we went on a wander at sunset time, and found ourselves alone in the desert, not too far from our camp, but far enough to have some time in solitude with the picturesque landscape. It was total bliss!
We finished the night sitting around the campfire with the locals, and other International guests with local tea and some great conversations. We then awaited the stars, which can be clear and fill the whole sky on some nights. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the best experience on our trip, but many visitors do!
Getting Around Jordan
Driving is a popular way of traversing Jordan, as the road networks across the country are well maintained. The two main roads are the ‘Kings Highway’, and the ‘Dead Sea Highway’, covering all the main tourist attractions. The Kings Highway weaves through the Great Rift Valley, offering fantastic views, and you will also enjoy seeing the Dead Sea on the other route.
Car Rental
Renting a car is a great option as Jordan is only a small country, so you can cover its whole length in 4- 5 hours. This offers you some flexibility for your travel plans. Amman Queen Alia International Airport is the best spot to organize one. Renting a car is the best and easiest way to see all of the landmarks in Jordan.
Buses
JETT Buses are a suitable transport option for tourists in Jordan. They are scheduled around the main tourist landmarks, and provide a comfortable budget-friendly option.
Domestic flights
It is possible to catch an internal flight in Jordan between Amman and Aqaba, however, this isn’t the cheapest option and won’t save you much time. The size of Jordan makes the other options better.
Private tour
We used a private tour for our trip to Jordan and it was faultless. We were chauffeured around to each landmark/town and given information along the way. We were also provided with breakfast, coffees and one lunch. If you want a more relaxing trip with less organization, it is worth the extra money. As Jordan is so small, there are an array of established tour companies to choose from.
Tips for your Jordan Trip
Jordan Pass
Purchasing a Jordan Pass before you arrive in the country is a smart move, as it covers your entry visa and entrance fees to most of Jordan’s main landmarks. It will cost you significantly more if you purchase them all separately. You have to spend at least 4 days/3 nights to qualify.
Dry Bag for Wadi Mujib
There is one certainty on a Wadi Mujib adventure, you will get wet! A dry bag is a life saver for carrying your belongings. We did not know about this requirement before we arrived, so we were unprepared, but because we visited in June when it was not as busy, we could rent one. This is more difficult in busier months, however, the dri-bags are readily available in Amman in the markets for a cheap price.
Taxis in Amman
You are likely to travel around Amman by taxi, due to its hilly terrain. You need to be very careful when entering taxis, by making sure you agree to a fixed rate before agreeing to the ride. We had a taxi driver lock the doors and change the price once we arrived at our destination. You can avoid any similar scenario with upfront communication.
Summer Considerations
A big allure of Jordan is its vast outdoors, including Wadi Rum Desert, and the various valleys and canyons. This makes hiking and climbing very popular activities for International visitors. You should plan ahead for weather conditions, as it gets very hot in the summer months. We visited in June, and the walk around Petra was very difficult. The shoulder seasons might suit you better if physical excursion is in your travel plans.
Awesome Hotel Options
You will want to check out these awesome hotel options when visiting the best landmarks in Jordan.
- Amman: Nomads Hotel
- Wadi Musa: Petra Moon Luxury Hotel
- Wadi Rum: Wadi Rum Magic Camp
Also, make sure to check out these luxury resorts in Jordan.
About the Author
Tom Henty is a UK travel blogger based in the North East of England. He runs Tom Henty’s Travel as he continues his mission to visit over 100 countries. He enjoys exploring new cities through street art, dark tourism, and outdoor activities.
