Entry requirements | Organizing your trip | Visiting | Eating | Paying | Speaking |

Entry requirements

Passport and visa service

Information from the US State Department
World Travel Guide website

Diplomatic representations

The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website gives the addresses of its diplomatic representations by country
Embassies abroad website

For more information

Embassy of Jordan in Greece
21, Papadiamanti
154 52 Psychico
Phone: 2106744161
Fax: 2106740578
jor_emb1@otenet.gr

Organizing your trip

Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation

Two means of transport can be used in town. On the one hand there are taxis. They have a meter and the fare for some rides such as that to the airport is fixed by the government. Their level of English is sufficient to understand directions and destinations. Buses are inexpensive but their routes are mostly written in Arabic.

Maps of urban networks

Maporama
UT Library on line
Mapblast

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation

The most convenient means of traveling in the country are shared taxis, minibuses and buses. Shared taxis have between 5 and 7 seats. They only leave when all the seats are occupied. They are as cheap as buses but they go much faster. They are white and have set, regular lines. All towns are served by buses or minibuses. Minibuses only leave when they are full. Buses have fixed schedules. The public company Jordan Express Tourist Transport manages the buses. From the point of view of trains, there is only one line which transports passengers, the Hedjaz line which links Amman to Damas in 8 hours. Domestic flights are limited. There is only one link Amman/Aqaba operated by Royal Jordanian Airlines.

Rail companies

Jordan Hedjaz Railways

Flight from Greece

No aircraft company operates direct flight from Athens to Amman. To find out air connections from Greece to Jordan click here

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation

Road safety is not guaranteed: drivers often drive dangerously. It is preferable in the event of a non serious accident to try and find an amicable arrangement, since Jordanians are usually badly or not insured. However, in more serious cases, call the police to have a report drawn up. When there are Jordanian victims involved, it is advisable to go directly to the nearest police station to protect oneself against a possible hostile reaction from witnesses.

Road maps

Road map of Jordan

Find an itinerary

Generator of itineraries

Visiting

Different forms of tourism

Historical

Petra is one of the few magic places in the world.  Petra was the capital of the Nabateans, a Semitic population, native of Arabia. About 600 monuments, carved in the cliff, extend over a 6 km long and 3 km wide field.
The castles of the desert (Qasr), were built in the VIIth and VIIIth centuries.
Jerash is the ancient Gerasa site, abandoned since the XIIth century, and re-occupied by the Circassians at the end of XIXth century. With its well preserved ruins and its huge restorations, Jerash is undoubtedly the most spectacular Roman site in Jordan.
The Kerak region: located on a peak which overlooks the whole region.

Cultural

There is a Jordanian Fine Arts museum in Amman. In addition, the capital has many galleries and cultural centers.

Nature

There are several very beautiful natural parks in Jordan. The Dana reserve for example is magnificent with its different landscapes. In the same way, the Wadi Rum desert with its red sand dunes is particularly impressive.

Religious

There is very little religious tourism in Jordan. However, the country has great potential especially with its fabled Biblical sites and its early Christian churches paved with mosaics.

Thermal

Thermal and well-being tourism has grown up around the Dead Sea. The very salty water together with the mud has reviving and curative virtues for problems of rheumatism, allergies and circulation of the blood.

Beach

The Gulf of Aqaba is renowned. The beaches are very beautiful, and the reefs have a wealth of varied flora and fauna.

Winter sports

This type of tourism is not developed.

Outdoor activities

You can practise diving and snorkeling in the Gulf of Aqaba. The mountainous relief of the country provides opportunities for hiking, trekking and climbing.

Shopping

You can wander in the souk in Amman. The capital has several shopping malls.

Tourism organizations

Visitjordan.com

Eating

Food specialties

The Jordanian culinary specialty par excellence is the mensaf. This is a dish of lamb or chicken accompanied by a slightly sour fromage blanc sauce and oriental rice. In Jordan, as in most countries of the region, you can taste excellent mezzes. Another favorite dish is kobeiba. This consists of meatballs mixed with bulgur wheat, pine kernels and walnuts.

Drinks

The Jordanians prefer tea. You can also find locally produced wine (Eagle and Haddad). The country also brews beer under the Amstel license and another brand has appeared recently: Farida. You can drink arak, too (like ouzo).

Dietary restrictions

Obviously eating pork is forbidden for Muslims.

Paying

Domestic currency

Jordanian Dinar

ISO Code

JOD

To obtain domestic currency

You cannot obtain Jordanian Dinars outside the country. You can change money in banks and the many bureaux de change. Banks offer a better exchange rate. You can also change traveler's cheques but banks take a very large commission. Finally, you can withdraw dinars at one of the many ATMs.

Possible means of payment

The most widely used means of payment is cash. You should avoid 20 or 50 Dinar notes in remote areas. More and more hotels, chic restaurants and tourist boutiques take Visa and Master Card.

Exchange rate on

Automatic Teller Machines (ATM)

To find out the locations of ATMs in in Jordan, click on the link to your credit card: Visa, Mastercard or American Express

Speaking

Official language

Arabic.

Other languages spoken

The Adhyge language, the Domari language, Armenian.

Business language

English

Getting some knowledge

Cornell University gives Arabic lessons in video format. Arabic for free also gives basic Arabic lessons.

Free translation tools

Arjeeb - Free English-Arabic-English translation of texts and web pages
Ectaco - Free Arabic-English-Arabic dictionary
Translated - Free Greek-Arabic-Greek translator
TV5 - Free Greek-Arabic-Greek translator
lexicool - Free Greek-Arabic-Greek dictionary

We can translate your foreign-language documents.

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Last updates: May 2012