Are you planning your Jordan travel itinerary? We spent a long weekend in Jordan and found some of the best things to do and see. From hot springs below sea level to Roman ruins in the middle of a city, and the jaw-dropping ancient city of Petra, there are some amazing places to visit in Jordan.
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Suggested tours in Jordan:
- 1-Day Tour from Amman: Petra and Wadi rum
- 2-Day Tour from Amman: Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea
- 3-Day Private Tour from Amman: Petra, Wadi Rum, Dana, Aqaba, and Dead Sea
Table of Contents
If you are looking for the best sights to see on a long weekend, check out our weekend in Jordan travel guide below.
Day 1 (AM): Visit the Jerash Roman Ruins
After arriving in Amman, rent a car or organise a tour that takes you to Jerash and the Dead Sea. Jerash is easy to get to, only being an hour drive north of the Amman airport. It’s an ancient Roman masterpiece. Unlike other ruins in Rome, you will find no security guards or flocks of tourists. It’s very much a free for all (once you’ve paid the entrance fee). You can walk down a 2,000-year-old esplanade, explore ancient theatres and temples. A few hours here was enough time for us to explore the grounds.
What to see in Jerash, Jordan:
- Hadrian’s arc: This impressive gateway to Jerash was built to celebrate the Roman Emperor Hadrian
- Hippodrome: An ancient sports field that used to hold over 15000 people
- Temple of Zeus: Situated on the summit of the hill, this temple boasts beautiful views over the crumbled paradise below
- North Gate: Located at the northern end of the ruins, the street leading up to it is still paved with the original stones
- Nymphaeum: Dedicated to water nymphs, this impressive ornamental fountain is a must-see when you visit the ruins.
- Temple of Artemis: Dedicated to Artemis, the daughter of Zeus, this temple still has 11 standing columns.
Tips for visiting the Jerash Ruins
- Opening hours: 7:30am-7:00pm in the Summer seasons, and 8:00am-5:00pm in the Winter seasons.
- Cost: Approximately 17 USD; 12 JOD
- How to get to Jerash:
- Hire a Car: approximately an hour drive from Amman
- Bus: approximately 1JD ($1.50USD)
- Taxi Cab: Negotiate the price before going. Minimum of 40JD ($57 USD) for a return trip (2-3 hours at Jerash).
Day 1 (PM): The Dead Sea
A site to not be missed on your weekend in Jordan adventure. From Jerash, journey to the Dead Sea for an afternoon of relaxation. At 430m below sea level (the lowest point on earth), a visit to the Dead Sea one of the best things to do when you visit Jordan.
Please note: to access the Dead Sea in Jordan, you have to go to designated public beaches (there are entrance fees), or to a beach club/resort and purchase a day pass.
As we couldn’t access the public beaches due to a middle eastern summit, we paid the 25USD entrance fee for the O Beach Club (we opted for no food/drinks). Although the place itself was a little run down and quiet at the time, we didn’t mind as we were able to have the Dead Sea all to ourselves. There was an infinity pool, a shower, and changing rooms.
The experience of floating in water is bizarre yet incredible. Definitely a must-do on your weekend in Jordan. However, if you are on a budget, there are several spots further south that you can take a dip at no cost.
Budget hack: Herodus Spring is popular with the locals as you can access the sea for free, there is also a small waterfall you can use to rinse off all that salt.
Tips for the Dead Sea
- Cost: Amman Public Beach 20JD; Mount Nebo Beach 1JD; Bethany beach 12JD, or consider a day pass at one of the resorts.
- How to get to The Dead Sea
- Hire a Car: approximately 1hour 50 minutes from Jerash, or 1 hour from Amman
- Bus: approximately 1JD ($1.50USD), catch it from Mujaharin bus station to Rame, then a taxi ride for approximately 4JD (6 USD).
- Taxi Cab: Between 20-35JD, but negotiate the price before going.
- Recommendations:
- Do not attempt to dive into the dead sea when you get there.
- You will skim along the surface
- It will burn your eyes badly
- Do not attempt to dive into the dead sea when you get there.
Where to stay (Day 1):
Option 1: Ma’in Hot Springs
This was our favourite thing to do during our weekend in Jordan. Inland from the Dead Sea, there are Thermal waterfalls that fall into a series of rock pools, all at about 250m (820ft) below sea level. You can stand or swim in the warm water, which was surrounded, by what felt like a Persian Palace, set in the rocky desert mountains.
We stayed at the Ma’in Hot Springs Resort. Now, it was a little pricey compared to our normal budget, but it was something pretty special. With a stunning breakfast view overlooking the beautiful Ma’in hot springs, you can walk over and swim in the Natural Waterfall Hot Springs before the tourists arrive.
But the best part about the Ma’in Hotsprings hotel is that they have their very own private thermal hot spring waterfall located in the Cascade Spa area. It is well worth booking in some time and organising a treatment (or two!).
Option 2: A Dead Sea Resort
Nestled along the northern shore of the Dead Sea, are a collection of luxury resorts offering guests the full Dead Sea experience. These resorts provide private access to some of the best sections of the Dead Sea and can enhance your stay with world-class spas and luxe pools that gaze out over the stunning sea. These resorts do come with a premium price tag, and there are mixed reviews on some so it is important to do your research before booking. Here are some of the top picks for your weekend in Jordan:
- Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea $$$$
- Mövenpick Resort and Spa Dead Sea $$$
- Dead Sea Spa Hotel $$
- Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa $$
Day 2: Ancient City Of Petra
The ancient city of Petra is one of the most unique places to visit in the world. With so many ruins to explore, we actually recommend to spend at least two days here, however if you are only spending a weekend in Jordan, then you can pick and choose which highlights to see.
How Safe Is Petra?
Like any destination when you travel, it’s important to exercise caution and take care of your belongings. We found the Jordanians extremely kind and hospitable. As Jordan relies on tourism for its economy, they want you to be safe and have a good time.
Where Is Petra?
The Ancient city of Petra is located in the South West of Jordan. Most flights will go to Amman Queen Alia Airport, which is approximately 3 hours away from Petra.
What are some things to do in Petra?
If you only have a short amount of time to explore Petra, these are our top picks.
Little Petra
Arriving into Petra Town in the afternoon we first covered “Little Petra” in a couple of hours. Definitely do this before you do the actual one (it is a much smaller scale version). You can actually walk inside these ruins, and explore all the caves, making it a unique Jordan travel experience. At the exit, there were a few local bedouins who offered a “cave experience”, where you can spend the evening in one of their caves and they cook you some dinner. However, as it was late and we hadn’t read up on the safety of these experiences we were pretty keen to get home.
Petra by night
There’s already plenty of information available about visiting Petra, which is really something everyone should see. Petra by night is only 4 times a week and is worthwhile checking out (you walk around a section of the ruins at night-time with everything candle-lit, some music plays and they hand out a sweet tea in somewhat of an eerie/exiting vibe).
Petra Park by day
We managed to cover the whole Petra Park site in a day. It was a stretch though. Our phone step count said we covered about 22km (13.6 miles). We found out, by taking the wrong track a couple of times and ending up exhausted on mountain tops (which ended up giving great views of the site), that the “Monastery” was another hike up a giant mountain right at the end of the site.
At the end of the hot day, it was a pretty grueling last-ditch attempt, but we did the hike to the “Monastery” and I would definitely recommend it as it is really far away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist drag to a beautiful stone carved monolithic structure. Try the pomegranate juice at the local cafe. It seemed to help the lactic acid build-up and gave us the courage to make the descent back down.
If you want to see the sights as efficiently as possible, while learning the history of the place, we recommend opting for a guide. Bassil is a great guide who can take you on a 3-hour private guided tour of Petra, with hotel pick up (in the area).
Day 3: Wadi Rum
Beyond Petra, the desert landscapes of Wadi Rum offer an otherworldly experience of beauty. It is about 2 hours from Petra, and here you can explore the desert by 4×4, learn about Bedouin culture, and stay in a luxury Wadi Rum camp under the stars. This unique experience is also worth going on your weekend in Jordan itinerary. Here are some popular places to stay:
Luxury Wadi Rum Camps:
Quick Tips for Jordan Travel
Overall, a weekend in Jordan (or longer a longer trip) is a must do! We crammed a lot in, in only a few days. Here are our quick tips:
Check out Jerash Ruins
It is only a couple of hours drive north of the Amman airport, easy to get to. A maze of empty roman ruins, better intact than most of those you will see in Rome itself. A few hours at the site was enough for us.
Stay at Ma’in Hot Springs
If you’re looking for somewhere a bit different to stay, its hard to pass up the thermal waterfalls into rock pools in a kind of Persian Palace.
OH Beach Club at the Dead Sea
It might be unnecessary if you’re on a budget because you can find free access to the sea further south. But having the showers after that intense salt kick was a real bonus.
Wadi Rum
If you are able to spend longer than a weekend in Jordan, we highly recommend you visit Wadi Rum. There are some amazing desert camps available for you to stay in.
Hire a car a drive yourself
Just be wary of where you make a pin on Google Maps as you might end up in Palestine. Otherwise driving is easy and the roads are generally good.
Petra by Night
We did “Little Petra” in the afternoon (couple of hours) followed by Petra by Night. It’s a little weird, but in a good way and gives a totally different feel than Petra by day.
Cover Petra Park site in a day
I’m glad we did the “little” one the first day. It was a stretch to cover the whole park in a day, but we did it. I think that it was enough for us though (will vary for people’s love of ruins).
If you are staying longer than a weekend in Jordan (3 nights or more), consider getting the Jordan Pass that provides you with pre-paid entry to over 40 attractions in Jordan, as well as waving of tourist entry visa fees.
- The Jordan Wanderer: 70JD (99 USD) provides you with 1 day visit to Petra
- Jordan Explorer: 75JD (106 USD) provides you with 2 consecutive visit days to Petra
- The Jordan Expert: 80JD (113 USD) provides you with 3 consecutive visit days to Petra
How Far Is It From Amman To Petra
It all depends on the route you want to take. Driving around Jordan is the best way to see the country. With long highways, it makes for a relatively easy drive to Petra. However, be extra cautious when you are coming through and out of Amman, as the driving there is a lot more rushed and hectic.
The fastest route from Amman to petra
Take the Desert HWY/Route 15/ Route 45M.
- How many miles from Amman to Petra: 144 miles
- How many km from Amman to Petra: 233km
- Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
Scenic route from Amman to petra
Take the Jordan Valley HWY/ Route 65, driving past the Dead Sea
- How many miles from Amman to Petra: 160 miles
- How many km from Amman to Petra: 257km
- Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
Best route from Amman to petra
Our suggestion is to take a more scenic route during your weekend in Jordan, visiting Jerash, The Dead Sea, Ma’in Hot Springs and then Petra (best to do over 2-3 days).
- Amman to Jerash: Approximately 54km, 50 minutes driving
- Jerash to Oh Beach Dead Sea: approximately 90km, 1 hour 50 minutes
- Oh Beach Dead sea to Ma’in Hot springs: approximately 17.5km, 25 minutes
- Ma’in Hot Springs to Petra: Approximately 196km, 3 hours 20 minutes
- Total miles from Amman to Petra (via highlights): 221 miles
- Total km from Amman to Petra (via highlights): 356.5km
- Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
Eco Travel Tips for your Weekend in Jordan
- Water is a must. You’re in the desert. It gets hot and is super dry. Avoid buying multiple plastic bottles by refiling your reusable from a large container or use a filter system during your weekend in Jordan. There are great portable filters, the size of a normal drinking bottle. Be prepared and bring reusable eco friendly travel products with you.
- Respect the local culture and customs. Dress in respectful clothing (covered for the most part – especially women).
- Jordanians are incredibly friendly and hospitable. Be kind and supporting local businesses is one way you can be an eco traveler.
- Do not litter at the sites. Petra does not have rubbish bins around. Take your rubbish with you. We saw empty plastic bottles rolling around where they should not be, it’s important to say no to plastic.
- Ask before snapping photos of locals!
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