Getting around Jordan

Distances and travel times

Renting a car

International and local agencies have desks at Queen Alia Airport, in Amman and in Aqaba. Driving is on the right; main highways are in decent condition, signs are in Arabic and English, and fuel is cheaper than in Europe. A car is the best way to drive the King's Highway, reach Dana, the desert castles or Wadi Mujib, and stop where you like.

• Bring your national licence; UK drivers need a 1949 International Driving Permit too (UK FCDO). Many rental firms ask for an IDP from other nationalities as well.
• Speed limits range from 40 km/h in towns to 120 km/h on some highways; speed cameras and police checks are common, with on-the-spot fines of JD 15–150.
• Seat belts are compulsory and phone use while driving is illegal; cars must carry a fire extinguisher and warning triangle.
• Avoid driving at night: unlit roads, stray animals, broken-down vehicles and unmarked roadworks are common. The FCDO notes fatal accidents on the Desert Highway.
• Keep your passport and rental papers handy for police checkpoints.
• In Amman, traffic is heavy and parking scarce — many travellers pick up the car on the way out of the city.

JETT coaches and other buses

JETT (Jordan Express Tourist Transport) runs air-conditioned coaches between Amman and Aqaba several times a day, a tourist service between Amman and Petra (Wadi Musa), and buses to the King Hussein Bridge. Book seats online at jett.com.jo or at the Amman office. Other companies, including Trust and Hijazi, run cheaper intercity buses.

Public minibuses link most towns from Amman's North Bus Station (Tabarbour, for Jerash, Ajloun and Irbid) and South Bus Station (Mujamma al-Janoub, for Madaba, Karak, Wadi Musa and Aqaba). They are cheap but leave when full, mainly in the morning, and stop running in the early evening.

Taxis, private drivers and ride-hailing

Yellow taxis are everywhere in Amman and use meters in the city; for longer trips, agree the price before you set off. Uber and Careem operate in Amman and some other cities, and the UK FCDO recommends them over hailing yellow taxis, especially for women travelling alone.

Hiring a car with a driver for a day or a multi-day loop is common in Jordan and good value for two to four people. Hotels arrange reputable drivers, and transfers can be pre-booked online.

Transfer

Queen Alia Airport (AMM) to Amman transfer

≈ 40–50 min

Pre-booked private transfer between the airport and your Amman hotel — useful after a late arrival when taxis and buses are thin.

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Transfer

Airport transfer to and from Petra

≈ 3–3.5 h

Private transfer between Queen Alia Airport (or Aqaba) and your Wadi Musa hotel.

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Domestic flights and the Hejaz Railway

Royal Jordanian flies between Amman and Aqaba in about an hour — useful if you want to start in the south. There are no regular passenger trains: the historic Hejaz Railway, built by the Ottomans to carry pilgrims to Medina, now runs only occasional heritage trips from Amman's old station and a short demonstration line in Wadi Rum.

Getting around cities

• Amman: taxis and Uber/Careem; Amman Bus Rapid Transit and city buses on main corridors. Walk within downtown, Jabal Amman and Weibdeh.
• Wadi Musa (Petra): taxis between the town and the Visitor Centre.
• Aqaba: taxis and walking in the centre; taxis to the south-coast beaches.
• Wadi Rum: only by your camp's or guide's 4×4 inside the protected area.

Driving rules you need to know

• Drive on the right. Speed limits range from about 40 km/h in towns to 120 km/h on some highways; speed cameras and police checks are common (UK FCDO).
• On-the-spot fines of JD 15–150 are issued for offences.
• Seatbelts are compulsory in the front seats, and using a phone while driving is illegal.
• Cars must carry a fire extinguisher and a warning triangle — check your rental car.
• After an accident, do not leave the scene before the police arrive; call 911.
• UK drivers need a 1949-convention International Driving Permit with their licence; other nationalities should check with their rental company and embassy.

The FCDO notes fatal accidents on the Desert Highway and recommends extra care at night, when stray animals, unlit vehicles and unmarked roadworks are hazards. Snow can block mountain roads around Petra in winter.

From the airport

Queen Alia International Airport is about 35 km south of Amman. The Jordan Tourism Board lists the Airport Express shuttle bus to Amman (JD 3), every 30 minutes from 6 AM to 4:30 PM and hourly until 3 AM; taxis take 30–45 minutes to downtown for about JD 15. Uber, Careem and pre-booked transfers are also available. Many travellers skip Amman on arrival and head straight to Madaba (about 30 minutes) or the Dead Sea (about an hour). From Aqaba's King Hussein International Airport, taxis reach the city in about 15 minutes. See Amman getting there and Aqaba getting there.

Ferries and borders

Ferries link Aqaba with Taba Heights and Nuweiba in Egypt's Sinai; contact the operators directly for current schedules (UK FCDO). Land crossings connect Jordan with Israel and the West Bank (Sheikh Hussein, King Hussein/Allenby Bridge, Wadi Araba) and Saudi Arabia (Umari, Mudawara, Durra). Private cars and tour buses cannot cross the King Hussein Bridge — you change vehicles. JETT runs buses between Amman and the bridge. A departure tax of JD 10 is paid in cash at land crossings when you leave. See visa and entry for details.

Getting around without a car: a sample week

• Amman → Madaba / Dead Sea: minibus to Madaba; taxi or tour for the Dead Sea and the Baptism Site.
• Amman → Petra: JETT tourist coach to Wadi Musa (about 3–4 hours).
• Petra → Wadi Rum: morning minibus or a taxi (1.5–2 hours); your camp collects you in Rum village.
• Wadi Rum → Aqaba: taxi or camp transfer (about 1 hour).
• Aqaba → Amman: JETT coach (about 4–5 hours) or a domestic flight (about 1 hour).

Which option suits your trip?