Getting there & Getting around

Getting there

Amman has an international airport, with flights from Beirut, Cairo, Damascus and further afield. Departure tax is 5.00 for foreign travellers departing by land, air or sea. Buses travel between Amman and Damascus (about four hours unless there is considerable delay at the border), Baghdad (14 hours), Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh (about 24 hours). There are indirect buses to Jerusalem; for Eilat you'll need to hire a taxi from Aquaba (5.00). You can also catch service taxis from Jordan to Syria and Iraq, or a train from Amman to Damascus (Monday and Thursday). A ferry/bus service runs from Amman to Cairo, or you can get a fast boat between Aqaba and Nuweiba in Sinai.

Getting around

The only domestic air route is between Amman and Aqaba. JETT bus company runs from Amman to Aqaba, the King Hussein Bridge, Petra and Hammamat Ma'in. Private buses run from Amman to Irbid and Aqaba. Minibuses travel between the smaller towns on an irregular service - usually they leave when they're full. Service taxis cover much the same routes. They're more expensive than minibuses, but a lot faster.

Visa information

All foreigners need a visa to enter Jordan. You can get a single-entry visa at the airport or at most border crossings when you arrive, or from consulates in your country. Visas are valid for three months from the date you enter the country but you must register at a police station within one month of arrival. Don't forget to register or you'll be liable to pay a fine of 1.5 for every unregistered day. Avoid registering at Wadi Musa, which is notorious for its red tape. Note that visas of any sort are not available at King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge, so don't come this way unless you already have a visa. Multiple-entry visas are not issued on arrival anywhere, and must be obtained in advance. One quirk in the system is that if you arrive in Jordan on a single-entry visa via any border except King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge, you can then cross into Israel and the Palestinian Territories via the King Hussein Bridge crossing and then return to Jordan the same way without needing a multiple-entry visa or another single-entry visa. The cost for all nationalities is 10.00 (single entry visa). Keep your passport on you whenever you're near the Israeli border, as there are lots of military checkpoints. Visitors arriving from Aquaba can request a free visa (Aquaba is a special economic zone). The ASEZ visa is valid for one month and there is no need to register with the police. ASEZ visa holders staying longer than one month can only extend the visa in Aquaba. If that sounds like too much of a hassle, you can always get a normal visa in Aquaba for the regular cost. ASEZ visa holders do not pay departure tax.