Jordan · best-of list
21 Top Things to Do in Jordan
All 21 things to do our route editors picked in Jordan, across 4 destinations, gathered in one list. 13 come with an insider tip, and 1 cost nothing to visit.
Our curated picks
21 things to do in Jordan, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Petra & Wadi Musa 6 picks
High Place of Sacrifice
Petra & Wadi Musa · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Ridge-top Nabataean altar reached by a stepped trail, returning past tombs via Wadi Farasa.
Photo: Aleksander Romanov · Google
Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)
Petra & Wadi Musa · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Smaller, quieter Nabataean site with a painted ceiling, 9 km north of Wadi Musa.
Tip: Free entry and no crowds.
Photo: Dorina Hajdu · Google
Monastery (Ad Deir)
Petra & Wadi Musa · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Climb about 800 rock-cut steps to Petra's largest facade and nearby viewpoints.
Tip: Start after lunch when the steps are shaded.
Photo: Aneta Angielczyk · Google
Petra by Night
Petra & Wadi Musa · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Candle-lit walk through the Siq to the Treasury with Bedouin music, three nights a week.
Tip: Usually Mon, Wed and Thu; confirm days locally.
Photo: Robby Ocampo · Google
Royal Tombs
Petra & Wadi Musa · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Row of grand tombs carved into the cliff, with swirling colored sandstone inside.
Photo: Royal Tombs · Google
The Siq and Treasury (Al-Khazneh)
Petra & Wadi Musa · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
A 1.2 km slot canyon opening onto Petra's carved Treasury facade.
Tip: Arrive at 6 am opening for quiet photos.
Photo: Nicolò Scala · Google
Amman 5 picks
Amman Citadel
Amman · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Hilltop ruins of the Temple of Hercules and an Umayyad palace, with views over downtown.
Tip: Covered by the Jordan Pass.
Photo: Aneta Angielczyk · Google
Jerash
Amman · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
One of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities, with an oval plaza and colonnaded streets, 48 km north.
Tip: Go early; allow at least three hours.
Photo: Petar Milošević · CC BY-SA 4.0
King Abdullah I Mosque
Amman · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Blue-domed modern mosque that welcomes non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times.
Tip: Robes are provided for women.
Photo: Makeandtoss · CC0
Rainbow Street
Amman · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Café and shop-lined street in Jabal Amman, busy in the evening.
Photo: miiika · CC BY-SA 4.0
Roman Theatre
Amman · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
2nd-century theater cut into the hillside, seating 6,000, with small folklore museums.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dead Sea 5 picks
Amman Beach
Dead Sea · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Public beach complex with pools, showers and Dead Sea access at day-pass prices.
Tip: Don't shave the day before; salt stings.
Photo: Streaming Service · Google
Bethany Beyond the Jordan
Dead Sea · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
UNESCO site of Jesus' baptism on the Jordan River, with church ruins and a guided walk.
Tip: Entry is by guided shuttle; bring water.
Photo: Ivan Kuchař · Google
Madaba Mosaic Map
Dead Sea · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land on the floor of St. George's Church.
Photo: Alina Urse · Google
Mount Nebo
Dead Sea · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Hilltop where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land, with Byzantine mosaics.
Photo: Berthold Werner · CC BY 3.0
Wadi Mujib Siq Trail
Dead Sea · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Wade and scramble up a sandstone gorge to a waterfall in the Mujib reserve.
Tip: Open roughly Apr–Oct; book with RSCN and expect to get wet.
Photo: نزهان الجبوري · Google
Wadi Rum 5 picks
Burdah Rock Bridge
Wadi Rum · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Guided scramble to one of the desert's highest natural arches.
Tip: Requires a local guide and some climbing.
Photo: Miguel Secanella · Google
Hot-air balloon over Wadi Rum
Wadi Rum · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Sunrise balloon flights over the desert, run seasonally from Wadi Rum.
Tip: Weather-dependent; book in advance.
Photo: Wadi Rum Balloons - Jordan Hot Air Balloon · Google
Khazali Canyon
Wadi Rum · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Narrow cleft with Nabataean and Thamudic rock carvings.
Photo: Nógrádi Attila · Google
Lawrence's Spring
Wadi Rum · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Spring on Jebel Abu Judaidah linked to T.E. Lawrence, with views over the valley.
Photo: Giorgos So · Google
Wadi Rum jeep tour
Wadi Rum · On our Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum & the Dead Sea route
Half- or full-day 4x4 trips to dunes, canyons, rock bridges and inscriptions.
Tip: Book through a camp registered at the visitor center.
Photo: 박짱똘 · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the things to do in Jordan?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 21 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of Jordan has the most things to do on this list?
Petra & Wadi Musa has the most (6 of 21), followed by Amman (5) and Dead Sea (5).
Are any of these free?
1 pick on this list is marked free in our route notes: Little Petra (Siq al-Barid). Check ahead, since parking or special exhibits can cost extra.
More lists for Jordan
Top things to do nearby
Destinations on this list
- Petra & Wadi Musa 6 on this list
- Amman 5 on this list
- Dead Sea 5 on this list
- Wadi Rum 5 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.