Jordan is a compact country with an unusual amount packed into it: the rock-cut city of Petra, the red desert of Wadi Rum, Roman ruins, the Dead Sea at the lowest point on land and a short stretch of Red Sea coast with coral reefs. Most trips follow a north-to-south route that takes a week or two. Since 2022 the clock no longer changes, and the climate ranges from cool, sometimes snowy highlands to hot desert and sea level.
Jordan for visitors
Trips usually start in Amman, the capital, a hilly city of white stone houses. Its Citadel and Roman Theatre sit right in the centre, and the old downtown is the place for street food and markets. North of the city, Jerash has one of the best-preserved Roman provincial towns anywhere, with colonnaded streets and theatres, and Ajloun has a hilltop castle.
South-west of Amman, Madaba is known for its Byzantine mosaics, including an old mosaic map of the Holy Land, and nearby Mount Nebo looks out over the Jordan Valley. The Dead Sea is a short drive down from the capital: the water is so salty that you float without effort, and the shore is lined with resorts.
Petra, Wadi Rum and the south
Petra, the Nabataean city carved into rose-coloured sandstone, is the main reason most people come. You enter through the Siq, a narrow gorge, to reach the Treasury, and the full site, with the Monastery high above, needs at least a full day and ideally two. The road there along the old King's Highway passes castles, canyons and the Dana Biosphere Reserve, a good area for hiking.
Wadi Rum, further south, is a desert of sand and towering rock mountains, explored by jeep, on foot or by camel, with nights at Bedouin camps under very dark skies. Aqaba, Jordan's only port, sits on the Red Sea and is the place for diving and snorkelling over coral reefs.
Getting around
There are no passenger trains. Tourist buses link Amman with Petra and Aqaba, and minibuses serve smaller towns, but many visitors rent a car or hire a driver, which makes it easier to stop along the way. Main roads are good, and signs are in Arabic and English. Long-distance hikers can follow the Jordan Trail, which crosses the whole country from north to south.
Time in Jordan
Jordan has one time zone, Asia/Amman. It is UTC+3 all year: there is no daylight saving time, so the clocks don't change.
That is a recent change. Jordan used to move its clocks between winter and summer time, but in October 2022 it dropped the seasonal change and stayed permanently on what had been its summer time, three hours ahead of UTC ([1]). Older guidebooks and some devices that haven't been updated may still assume clock changes.
Right now Amman is 3 hours ahead of London, 1 hour behind Dubai and 1 hour ahead of Cairo. Because Europe and Egypt still change their clocks, the gap with them grows or shrinks by an hour twice a year, while Jordan stays the same. Flights from Western Europe take a few hours, so jet lag is small; from the Americas or East Asia, an easy first day in Amman helps.
The weekend is Friday and Saturday, and many shops and offices close on Friday, especially around midday prayers. During Ramadan, working hours are shorter and life shifts into the evening, when families break the fast; outside tourist areas, be discreet about eating and drinking in public during the day.
Climate and weather
Altitude and distance from the sea make a big difference in Jordan, so the weather can change completely within a two-hour drive. The highlands, where Amman, Madaba and Petra are, have hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, with cold nights and occasional snow on the higher ground. The Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, far below sea level, are much warmer: hot in summer and mild even in winter.
The east and south are desert. In Wadi Rum, days are hot for much of the year and nights can be cold, especially in winter, when temperatures drop sharply after sunset. Aqaba, on the Red Sea, has a hot desert climate with very hot summers and warm, sunny winters, making it, with the Dead Sea, one of the warmest places in the country in the cool season.
Most of the rain falls between late autumn and early spring, mainly in the north and the highlands; the summer months are dry everywhere. Heavy winter showers can cause flash floods in desert valleys and narrow canyons, including around Petra, and snow occasionally closes roads in the highlands for a day or two.
We don't have climate figures for Amman, so this page describes the seasons in words. Our Weather page shows live conditions and the forecast for any town in Jordan before you go.
Best time to visit Jordan
Spring, from March to May, and autumn, from September to November, are the best seasons for most trips. The days are warm and the nights mild, which is ideal for walking around Petra, hiking in Dana and camping in Wadi Rum. In spring the hills are green and wildflowers bloom. These are also the busiest periods at the main sites, so arrive early in the day.
Summer is very hot in Petra, Wadi Rum and especially at the Dead Sea, so start sightseeing at first light and rest at midday. Aqaba is a beach destination in summer, though the heat is intense. Winter is the quietest time: cool to cold in Amman and Petra, with occasional rain or snow, but a good season for the Dead Sea and Aqaba. Desert nights in winter call for warm layers.
Practical facts
- Capital: Amman.
- Population: about 11 million (UN World Population Prospects 2024, 2023 estimate).
- Currency: Jordanian dinar (JOD). Cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and shops in Amman and Aqaba; carry cash for taxis, small shops, Bedouin camps and smaller towns.
- Language: Arabic. English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and at tourist sites. Marhaba (hello) and shukran (thank you) are worth learning.
- Calling code: +962.
- Tipping: customary in restaurants and for guides and drivers.
- Driving: on the right.
- Dress: casual but modest clothing, covering shoulders and knees, is best outside resorts, and is expected when visiting mosques and churches.
- Emergency number: 911 for the police, fire service and ambulance ([2]).
Plan your trip with hoyoopin
- World Clock: Jordan's time next to your own and other cities.
- Weather: live conditions and the forecast for Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba or any town in Jordan.
- Asia: time zones and key facts for every country on the continent.
- Before you fly: how to pack for any weather, useful for hot days and cold desert nights, and how to prepare for extreme heat.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Jordan in?
Jordan uses one time zone, UTC+3, all year, with the IANA identifier Asia/Amman.
Does Jordan have daylight saving time?
No, not any more. Jordan stopped changing its clocks in 2022 and now stays on the same time all year ([1]).
When is the best time to visit Petra?
Spring and autumn, when days are warm and nights mild. Summer is very hot, so go early in the morning; winter is cool, with occasional rain.
Does it snow in Jordan?
Sometimes. Snow falls occasionally in winter on the highlands, including Amman and the area around Petra, but it rarely lasts long.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Jordan?
On the right.
Sources
- IANA: Time Zone Database release 2022e: Jordan abandons the DST regime and changes to permanent +03, so its clocks did not fall back on 28 October 2022.
- GOV.UK: Jordan, getting help: telephone 911 for ambulance, fire and police.