City: Jordan
Top Things to do in Jordan
Top Hotels in Jordan
- 1. Sun City Camp Wadi Rum
- 2. Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea
- 3. Al Manara, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Saraya Aqaba
- 4. Movenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea
- 5. Bedouin Lifestyle Camp
- 6. Little Petra Bedouin Camp
- 7. Corp Amman Hotel
- 8. InterContinental Jordan, an IHG Hotel
- 9. Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa
- 10. Movenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba
Countries
10 Ancient Ruins in Jordan That You Shouldn't Miss
Jordan (/ˈdʒɔːrdən/; Arabic: الْأُرْدُنّ Al-‘Urdunn [al.ʔur.dunn]), officially The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Arabic: المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية Al-Mamlakah Al-Urdunnīyah Al-Hāshimīyah), is a sovereign Arab state in western Asia, on the East Bank of the Jordan River. Jordan is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north, Israel and Palestine to the west. The Dead Sea lies along its western borders and the country has a small shoreline on the Red Sea in its extreme south-west, but is otherwise landlocked. Jordan is strategically located at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe. The capital, Amman, is Jordan's most populous city as well as the country's economic, political and cultural centre.
Restaurants in Jordan
1. Al-Khazneh
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,117 reviews
Be prepared for the breathtaking sight of this 2000-year-old monument which resembles a Greek temple with an urn at the top that was once reputed to hold priceless treasures.
Reviewed By manishsW7478IE - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Reminds you of Indian Jones Movie. Very short walk from the visitor center. Really amazing carving done on the rocks. Make sure that you go to the Monastery right after you are done with treasury as treasury is on the way to Monastery. When you buy a ticket you get a free horse ride to near the treasury. Too many people trying to make money off you at the visitors center. So don't discuss anything with them.
2. Monastery (Al Dayr)
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,328 reviews
Reviewed By georgeworld85 - Athens, Greece
After Treasury the Monastery is one of the most impressive monumental buildings in Petra. It is carved in a limestone rock and after a very long walk (it's abput an hour and a half walk from Treasury) you'll be standing in awe in front of a really breathtaking building. There is a cafe right in front of the monument where you can enjoy your tea.
3. Petra
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14,198 reviews
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Petra (ancient capital city of the Nabataean people) recently proclaimed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Reviewed By StephG851 - Adelaide, Australia
Everyone has seen the iconic image of the Treasury (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!), but there is so much more to the Rose Red City of Petra. At the time of writing, a 2-day pass to the site is 55 Jordanian Dollars (roughly AUD110), which is not a lot more than the 1-day pass. However - you need to be aware that it is a walk of about 1.6km to get from the ticket office to the Treasury and to walk to the Temple of Dushares at the end of the main path through the City and back to the exit involves about a 10km round trip (our guide said 13km, but I don't think it was that much). Then there the side trips to visit the Monastery, the Royal Tombs and the High Place of Sacrifice, etc. There is a horse ride included in the ticket price, which will take you from the entrance to the beginning of the Siq (the 1km gorge that protects the way into the city itself); if you are an animal lover, it is better to avoid this, as the animals are not well treated (apparently this is improving, as the operators are being monitored by the Tourist Office - but I decided to walk). The same goes for the horse carriages that charge up and down the Siq - besides looking to be a pretty scary ride, the little ponies that pull the carriages are dripping in sweat and mostly look pretty malnourished. Obviously up to the individual, but I also feel that you miss a lot of amazing sights by charging through in a covered carriage. There are camel rides offered from the Treasury further into the City and if you have had enough walking, then these are probably the best option, as camels are pretty resilient! By the way, there are toilets at various intervals throughout the site! We got there at 10 a.m. and expected the crowds to be horrendous, but it wasn't too bad and we managed to get good photos without too many intruders into our shots. Recommended to get there early (it opens at 6 a.m.), but just remember the long walk before you even get to see much! We only managed the one day, but stayed for 6 hours, taking things slowly, and found that was enough - others in our group who had planned to go back the next day felt that they did not need to, as they had seen all they wanted to. We went in December and it was sunny, but the temperature during the day was pleasant (about 23 degrees Celsius). I don't really need to say anything about the site itself - just that it fulfilled every expectation and more - just a bit of a shame about the myriad stalls along the way selling jewellery, souvenirs, and general junk, they did detract from the atmosphere a bit, but it was still awesome and the highlight of our visit to Jordan (which we really liked - there is so much more to see than just Petra).
4. Jerash Ruins
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,635 reviews
Reviewed By 994linday - Frisco, United States
I was astonished to find one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world in Jordan, less than 1 hour from Amman. I was also astonished that Jerash hasn’t been named a World Heritage Site! While Jordan has tried a few times to get this gem approved, UNESCO has denied the request for a variety of reasons. Since 2004, the Jerash Archeological city has sat on the ‘World Heritage Tentative List’. Ancient Gerasa dates to the time of Alexander the Great and the 4th century BC. It reached its glory days during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. It’s helpful to have a guide, but with a little research, you can enjoy exploring on your own. Allow about 3 hours to leisurely walk the whole area, soak up the history, and marvel at the architectural beauty of this great Roman city of columns.
5. Lilas Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By suuzaan - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Jordan and wish we had more than 3 days there. For our 3dars tour (2days Amman, 1 day dead sea), Our tour guide, was excellent and really made our trip memorable. He was informative, attentive and a really nice guy. Highly recommend the tour and thanks again Lilas Tours.
6. Roman Amphitheater
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,164 reviews
Step back 2,000 years in time with a visit to the ruins of this imposing amphitheater, which once held 5,000 spectators, and is still used today for theater and entertainment.
Reviewed By MohQut - Amman, Jordan
This is a must-see in downtown Amman, enjoy the theater, have some amazing pictures, and make sure to visit the museum inside, then enjoy a meal and a dessert in downtown.
7. High Place of Sacrifice
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,037 reviews
Reviewed By JBG1 - Leicester, United Kingdom
Whilst the site itself takes a bit of getting to most people will say it is worth it especially for the views and photo opportunities. The option of a different route back also makes it interesting.We did this walk with our tour guide which obviously is the best way to do it because of all the detailed information one gains during the trip adding to the interest of a 3/4 hour walk.Obviously you need to be mobile and be wearing the correct footwear, clothing and make you you have adequate water with you.
8. Street of Facades
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 451 reviews
This street is lined with tall tombs carved into the mountainside.
Reviewed By DQShaw - York, United States
Some of our group stopped and turned around after going through the Siq and reaching the Treasury. There is so much more to see such as the Street of Facades. This is the name given to the row of monumental Nabataean tombs carved in the southern cliff face that lies past the Treasury.
9. Byzantine Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 320 reviews
Amazingly, the ruins of this 6th or 8th century church were not discovered until the 1990s.
Reviewed By 713dianef
The old Byzantine church has remains of some of the pillars and colonades as well as some of the capitols that had been on them. There are some mosaic floors original to Petra there for excellent viewing. A nice view from there across the way gives you a beautiful view down the colonaded street and the city gates.
10. Quseir Amra
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 222 reviews
The eighth-century castle built on a desert caravan road is most famous for its ornate baths.
Reviewed By LegalRover
Quseir Amra is worth a stop if you are heading east on Hwy 40 towards Azraq. Even though it is referred to as a castle, it was an old hunting lodge and bath house during the Umayyad period - the first Islamic caliphate. Today, the bath house (hammam) remains. It is well preserved and has some beautiful frescoes which include Byzantine style portraits and hunting scenes accompanied by Greek and Arabic inscriptions. The Italians have been working to restore the frescoes for the last 10 years. It takes just over an hour to get to Quseir Amra from Amman. It is referred to as part of the "desert castle loop" but I am not sure why it is referred to as a castle since it is a bath house (maybe the name stuck from over 1300 years ago). You can't miss it while on 40 since the entrance is only a few meters from the highway. Of the handful of sites that are part of the "desert castle loop" I think this is the most worth visiting. The castles in the loop primarily have most of the outer walls remaining and the interior is rubble whereas Quseir Amra has a well maintained exterior and has beautiful frescoes that you will not see elsewhere.
