Aqaba is a hidden paradise along the Red Sea and the only coastal city in Jordan. One to two days in Aqaba is the perfect amount of time to see all the sites Aqaba has to offer. It should be a part of any Jordan itinerary, and it is the perfect place to relax for a few days after hiking around Petra.
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History of Aqaba
Aqaba has a long history associated with it. In 4000 BC, the area was known for its copper production and potential religious sites. Throughout the next several thousand years, various groups lived in the region and developed the area.
During the Greek era, it became one of the most important trading cities in the Middle East. It later was conquered by the Romans and became a Christian town. During that period, the church and the citadel were built. Throughout the following years, it continually changed hands between Muslim groups, including the Ottomans.
In the modern era, Jordan gained control of the area in the 1960s thanks to a deal with Saudi Arabia. During this period, it has been built up as more of a resort town with delicious restaurants and a gateway to water sports in the Red Sea. It is a popular beach destination for Jordanians and for people around Europe.
When to Spend Two Days in Aqaba
The best time to spend two days in Aqaba is not during the hot summer months (June-August). If you can visit during fall or spring as there will be the least number of crowds, but the weather will still be good for the beach and being out on the water. We visited in May, and while it was a little hot, it was not unbearable and made it easier to get in the water.
How to Get to Aqaba
Queen Alia International Airport is the main airport in Amman. If flying in from other countries, you will most likely fly into that airport. However, Aqaba does have a small airport, King Hussein International Airport, that has seasonal flights from around Europe and several flights a day from Amman.
You can also hire a shuttle to take you from Amman to Aqaba if you opt to not rent a car. However, if planning on doing a Jordan road trip, you will want to have a car to get around the country.
Transportation in Aqaba
We had a rental car for our week in Jordan, so it made it very convenient to get in and around Aqaba. Traffic was almost nonexistent, and it was pretty easy to get around. You can also opt to take taxis or Uber around the city as well. I recommend renting a car through Autoslash, as that is where I always find the best deals.
Where to Stay in Aqaba
We stayed at the InterContinental Aqaba, which was a dream! I highly recommend it even though it is a bit on the higher end pricewise (we paid $200/night), but it was so worth it for the amenities. You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price. TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Aqaba hotels here! Other options include the following hotels.
Other popular hotel options in Aqaba include the Movenpick Resort Aqaba, the Movenpick Tala Bay, or Kempinski Hotel Aqaba.
What to do During Two Days in Aqaba
Want a guided tour to start out your trip and get acclimated to the city? Then check out Guru Walks for a free guided tour. You can book online to reserve your spot and pay what you wish when you get there. Check out the tours in Aqaba here.
Day 1: Arrival in Aqaba
Today, plan to arrive in Aqaba in the morning. On our trip, we spent a short second day at Petra prior to driving down to Aqaba.
Aqaba Castle/Fortress
Cost: 3 JOD or Free with the Jordan Pass
Hours: Sun-Mon, Wed-Sat: 8am-4pm (closed Tuesdays)
The Aqaba Castle, also known as the Aqaba Fortress, was built as a stop for those journeying on the Hajj. It is a fun and quick stop during your two days in Aqaba. It was later used as a military stronghold and also helped to defend Aqaba. Visitors can wander through the castle. Not much is left of it besides the walls, but it is cool to imagine what it once was like.
Aqaba Archeological Museum
Cost: 3 JOD or Free with the Jordan Pass
Hours: Sun-Thurs, Sat: 8am-3pm (closed Fridays)
The Aqaba Archeological Museum is conveniently located right next to the castle. Inside, visitors can check out the various artifacts found throughout archeological digs in Aqaba. Some of the artifacts date back to the early BC times all the way to the present. It is not a huge museum, but you can easily spend an hour there looking at everything.
Relax on the Beach
One of the best things about staying at a nice resort hotel is relaxing on the beach at your resort. At the Intercontinental, they provided comfy loungers and umbrellas right on the beach. They also made sure you were well hydrated with an ice chest full of water and ice you could get refilled as many times as you wanted. Relaxing on the beach needs to be part of any two days in Aqaba.
At the resorts are several places to eat and drink as well, so plan on grabbing dinner at your hotel or opt to venture into town to one of the many delicious restaurants.
Day 2: Explore the Red Sea
Snorkel or Scuba the Red Sea
Cost: 45 JOD (Full Day) or 25 JOD (Half Day)
Hours: Half Day or Full Day
Today will be all about exploring the Red Sea. The Red Sea is a small inlet from the Indian Ocean that lines several Middle Eastern countries. It is known for some of the best diving in the world with over 1200 fish species that live in the Red Sea along with lots of coral. Although not as impressive to me as the Great Barrier Reef, a day on the Red Sea should be part of any two days in Aqaba.
We opted to book through Sinai Divers because I felt it had the most well-rounded and inclusive itinerary. Sinai Divers has several branches throughout the Middle East. They have had their station in Aqaba since 2009. You can opt to book a half-day excursion or a full-day excursion. The full-day option comes with lunch. We opted for the full day.
Pickup and Boarding
This tour included hotel pick-up, where we were picked up around 9:45am. From there, we were taken directly to the port to board the yacht. Once on the yacht, you have free reign of three decks. The upper deck is shaded and has comfy couches and loungers to relax on. The middle deck has some outdoor deck space and an inside dining area where lunch will be served. The lower deck is all indoors and has some lounging areas.
The number of guests onboard the ship varies depending on how many bookings there are, and it will be a mix of snorkelers and scuba divers. On our ship, we had a group of 11 with six divers and five snorkelers plus a crew of almost 10 people. At the stops, the scuba divers will always descend prior to the snorkelers.
Once onboard, you will pay, sign waivers, and be given a safety briefing. You can pay by cash or credit card.
Snorkel Stops
Throughout the day, you will be taken to two to three stops, depending on conditions and timing. The furthest point we went out to was by the Movenpick Tala Bay. Along the way, you will be able to catch glimpses of Israel and Egypt.
When out snorkeling, you will have one or two guides with you to take you to the best areas and ensure everyone is safe. The day we went out was VERY choppy, so we had several floaties with us and used life jackets.
Each stop includes about an hour of snorkeling, but it is possible to return earlier if you get tired. Your guide will find various sea creatures and make sure to point out anything cool-looking. Feel free to ask any questions, as the guide was pretty knowledgeable.
About halfway through the day, there will be a lunch buffet available in the dining area. It included a large assortment of Jordanian dishes and Middle Eastern cuisine. There were plenty of vegetarian, fish, and meat options, so even if you have dietary restrictions, it will not be a problem. There was also an unlimited amount of water and soda beverages throughout the day to ensure you stay hydrated.
The bathrooms on board were decent ship bathrooms, so that is not a problem to use whenever necessary. They had a nice view overlooking the ocean!
Pros and Cons
Pros
- The boat was amazing and very spacious and comfortable.
- The food was delicious, and I was never hungry.
- The employees were very nice and friendly.
- They have all the equipment you could need (snorkel, wetsuits, lifejackets, etc). We opted to bring our own snorkel and mask because we like using our own.
Cons
- Visibility: We didn’t have the best visibility and a lot of the areas we saw were not that impressive.
- I think I may have gotten bitten or gotten some fungus from using the fins because I had spots all over my feet the next day. It also could have been sand mites.
- The water was very choppy, so it was very tiring to swim in.
Other Tour Options
If the tour above doesn’t sound like a good fit for you, check out these tour options.
Overall, a snorkel or boat tour along the Red Sea should be part of any two days in Aqaba. It is very relaxing and a great way to break up a hectic Jordan itinerary.
Dinner at Alshinawi
Cost: $$
Hours: 9am-2am
After spending the day on the water, you will need a delicious meal to refuel. I recommend grabbing dinner at Alshinawi, which has a ton of Jordanian dishes, some unique to Aqaba. Make sure to grab a freshly blended juice beverage to help keep cool as well.
Final Tips for Two Days in Aqaba
Technically, it is possible to do this entire itinerary in one day, but I spread it out over two in Aqaba to ensure maximum relaxation. If you have the time, opt to head to Wadi Rum for an Indiana Jones-like adventure or head back towards Amman with a stop at the Dead Sea.
2 thoughts on “One to Two Days in Aqaba: The Gorgeous Red Sea Paradise of Jordan”
What a fabulous 2 days in Aqaba. The Fort looks amazing but the snorkling looked like great fun. Having grown up at a beach in Australia I always choose water over land!
Looks like a fun weekend getaway. Love the snorkeling and the food looks good too!