Where to stay in Jordan

Bases at a glance

Amman

Petra (Wadi Musa)

Wadi Rum

Dead Sea

Aqaba

Madaba, Dana and the north

Types of accommodation

• International hotels and resorts in Amman, the Dead Sea, Aqaba and Petra.
• Family-run hotels and guesthouses — excellent value in Madaba, Wadi Musa and Dana.
• Desert camps in Wadi Rum, from traditional Bedouin tents to bubble domes.
• Eco lodges run by or with the RSCN and local communities (Feynan, Dana, Ajloun, Azraq).
• Farm stays and heritage houses in the north and in villages such as Sila'.

How much to budget

Hotel prices vary hugely with the season and the exchange rate, so we never quote them; on Booking.com you see live rates. As a rule of thumb, Amman and Madaba are cheapest, Petra and the Dead Sea most expensive, and Wadi Rum camps range from very simple to luxurious. Spring and autumn and the Eid holidays are peak times.

Which base suits whom?

Where to stay in each destination

• Amman: downtown and Jabal Amman for walkable sightseeing and budget prices; West Amman for international hotels.
• Petra: Wadi Musa, ideally the lower town near the Visitor Centre; resorts on the Taybeh road for views.
• Wadi Rum: camps inside the protected area or near Rum village — traditional tents or bubble domes.
• Dead Sea: the resort strip at Sweimeh; mid-range resorts for value.
• Aqaba: the city centre on a budget, Saraya and Ayla for big resorts, Tala Bay for divers.
• Madaba: family-run hotels near St George's, 30 minutes from the airport.
• Dana: village guesthouses on the canyon rim or eco camps on the plateau; Feynan Ecolodge at the bottom.
• Jerash, Ajloun, Karak: small hotels and farm stays for slower trips.

Booking.com scores and how we choose

The stays on this site were read from live Booking.com search results in November 2026 and filtered for well-reviewed properties in each area; scores quoted are as of November 2026 and change over time. We include a mix of price levels and styles, and we never quote prices, which vary daily with season and demand. Always read recent reviews for the details that matter to you — noise, stairs, heating, distance from the sights — and check the cancellation policy, especially given the uncertain regional situation in 2026.

Seasons and prices

Prices are highest in spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November) in Petra and Wadi Rum, in winter and during Eid holidays at the Dead Sea and in Aqaba, and in summer in West Amman, when visitors from the Gulf arrive. Winter (December–February) brings the best deals in Petra and Amman, though budget hotels can be cold — check that rooms have heating. Weekends (Thursday and Friday nights) are busiest at the Dead Sea and in Wadi Rum.

Accommodation types in detail

International hotels and resorts. Amman, the Dead Sea, Aqaba and Petra have the big chains, with pools, spas, several restaurants and bars, security checks at the entrance and reliable standards. At the Dead Sea and in Aqaba, the resort is half the experience: private beaches, infinity pools and sunset terraces. In Petra, the advantage of the larger hotels is location — the Mövenpick sits right at the Visitor Centre gate.

Family-run hotels and guesthouses. The backbone of independent travel in Jordan and often the best value: small hotels in Madaba, Wadi Musa, downtown Amman, Dana, Jerash and Karak with rooftop breakfasts and owners who arrange taxis, drivers, camp transfers and tips about where to eat. Rooms are simpler, some buildings have no lift, and winter heating varies — read recent reviews.

Desert camps. In Wadi Rum, camps range from traditional Bedouin camps with goat-hair tents and shared bathrooms to mid-range camps with private bathrooms and 'luxury' bubble domes with a view of the stars from bed. Dinner and breakfast are usually included, and most camps sell jeep tours. Near Little Petra, a handful of camps offer the same feel close to Petra.

Eco-lodges and nature lodges. RSCN runs lodges and camps in its reserves — for example the Azraq Lodge in a restored 1940s field hospital, cabins in the Ajloun Forest Reserve, the Mujib Chalets by the Dead Sea and guesthouses and campsites in Dana — booked directly through RSCN. Feynan Ecolodge, at the bottom of the Dana reserve, is lit by candles, serves vegetarian food and runs activities with local Bedouin families.

Farm stays and homestays. In the green north around Ajloun, family farms and guesthouses offer home cooking and quiet nights; along the Jordan Trail, village homestays host hikers.

Practical things to know

• Hotels ask for your passport at check-in and register guests — this is normal.
• The UK FCDO notes that it is socially unacceptable for unmarried couples to live together and that some landlords may ask about marriage; hotels rarely ask tourists, but be discreet.
• Quoted rates may or may not include the 16% sales tax and a service charge — check the final price.
• Alcohol is served in international hotels and some smaller ones; family-run hotels and camps often do not serve it.
• In winter, ask whether rooms are heated; in summer, check air-conditioning, especially in Wadi Musa and Aqaba.
• For accessible rooms, contact the hotel directly to confirm step-free access, lifts and bathroom layout.

Booking tips

• Hotel prices include 16 % sales tax and often a service charge — check the final price.
• Many budget hotels in Wadi Musa and Amman arrange taxis, Wadi Rum camps and drivers.
• Unmarried foreign couples rarely face issues in hotels, but very conservative guesthouses may ask; the FCDO notes it can be socially unacceptable for unmarried couples to live together.
• Heating matters in winter in Petra, Dana and Amman; air conditioning in summer at the Dead Sea and Aqaba.