Entertainment and Attractions in Jordan
There are countless sights on ancient Jordanian land: sacred places, as if descended from the pages of the Bible, the ruins of thousand-year-old temples that bear the memory of the Roman era, majestic palaces where history was made. And, of course, the unique nature: what are only the Dead Sea with miraculous mud and the Wadi Rum valley with alien landscapes.
Jerash is an almost completely preserved example of a provincial city from the time of the Roman Empire, it is often called the “Pompeii of the East”. It has 17 Byzantine churches, two amphitheaters, several ancient streets framed by columns. It is located one hour north of Amman.
Christian pilgrims and people interested in the history of the first centuries of Christianity should visit the sights of Madaba and its environs: Madaba itself, the memorial of Moses on Mount Nebo, the site of the Baptism of Jesus in Tel al-Harrar, as well as many other historical places. And tourists interested in the history of the Crusades should definitely visit the Crusader castle in Karak, whose walls remember the era of Salah ad-Din.
On the way from Petra to Aqaba, you can visit the Wadi Rum desert to enjoy unique landscapes that are not like anywhere else on the planet.
Gadara (now Umm Qais) is the scene of the biblical legend about the Gadara pig. Majestic streets framed by colonnades, a vaulted terrace and the ruins of two amphitheaters have survived to this day. The “favorite” of archaeologists, Pella, is incredibly rich in antiquities. There, in addition to excavations of the ruins of the Greco-Roman period, you can see traces of the Eneolithic settlement (4th century BC), the ruins of fortified cities of the Bronze and Iron Ages, the ruins of Byzantine churches and houses, as well as a residential area of the early Islamic period, with a small medieval mosaic.
The Caliph’s palaces of the desert are about 30 residences, once buried in greenery and flowering gardens and irrigated with the help of original irrigation facilities, some of which have survived to this day, for example, the castle in Ajlun.
Anyone who is interested in the history of the Arab Caliphate should not miss the unique monument of that era – the medieval baths of Qasr Amra, decorated with frescoes depicting people and animals.
Fans of outdoor activities will not be bored in Jordan. You can rent an off-road vehicle and travel from the north to the south of the country, visiting biblical cities and legionary fortresses. Or, as part of a caravan, cross the central highlands and the desert in the east of the country in a week, stopping in a new place every night. These same routes can be covered by a train from the First World War, which goes along the very edge of the desert. In addition, you can fly in a balloon or paragliding over the Wadi Rum desert, play paintball or golf, ride horses or go hiking in the mountains.
- Are there excursions from Hurghada to Petra
- Are there excursions from Taba to Jordan
4 things to do in Jordan
- Visit the Royal Car Museum in Amman, which displays 60 of the rarest personal cars of King Hussein.
- Enrich the collection of souvenirs with products of skillful potters, embroiderers, weavers Salta.
- Treat yourself with healing mud and thermal waters in the first-class balneological complex “Ashtar”, which is 70 km from Amman.
- Capture the moment when the colors of the rocks surrounding Aqaba change.
Holidays and events
Western New Year in Jordan is celebrated on January 1: tourists from all over the world come to the shores of the Red and Dead Seas for the winter holidays. The Muslim counterpart is Ras al-Sana: the beginning of the first month of the lunar calendar, Muharram, and an occasion for celebrations throughout the country. January 15 is Tree Day, or rather, a palm tree, revered in the Middle East since biblical times: the Virgin Mary gave birth to baby Jesus under a palm tree, and at the beginning of winter, Jordanians are actively planting new trees to the delight of environmentalists.
Sports are loved in Jordan: on fine spring days, they organize an Ultramarathon on the Dead Sea under the patronage of the royal family, and also a prestigious car rally in the vicinity of Jerash.
In February, Aqaba hosts a festival of traditional arts dedicated to the culture of the Bedouins, in March-April in Amman – the International Theater Festival, which turns the capital into a grandiose stage, and at the end of summer in Jerash – a festival of arts with concerts and fairs against the backdrop of ruins. Twice a year, congratulations on the birthday of the kings: January 30 – Abdullah, November 14 – Hussein.
March 21 – Mother’s Day, May 25 – Independence Day, June 10 – Army Day with large-scale parades in the presence of crowned persons. Eid al-Adha marks the end of fasting, which is obligatory in the month of Ramadan, Eid al-Adha symbolizes absolute faith in the Almighty. And on December 25, Catholic families gather at the festive table in honor of the Nativity of Christ: it cannot be otherwise in the Holy Land.
Climate
The climate in the country is subtropical Mediterranean, sharply continental, very dry. Average temperatures in January are +8…+14 °C, in July +24…+30 °C (at average daily temperatures around +35 °C). The best time to visit Jordan is spring and autumn. In the north, it rains from November to March. See CITYPOPULATIONREVIEW for weather information.
The Dead Sea and Aqaba are usually warm, you can swim all year round. The water temperature in the Red and Dead Seas does not fall below +21 ° C all year round. Summer nights in these places are warm. At the same time, in most of the central regions of the country, it is quite cool at night: tourists need to take long sleeves and trousers with them when traveling through them.
See also the current weather forecast for the main Jordanian resorts and major cities.