The top places to visit in Jordan are Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, Amman, and Jerash. Jordan recorded 6.1 million tourist arrivals in 2024, down 3% from 6.3 million in 2023, according to the Ministry of Tourism. These five span the country’s rock-cut ancient city, its desert protected area, and the lowest point on Earth’s land surface.
- Petra — The Nabataean rock-cut city, UNESCO-listed in 1985, whose Treasury facade stands 37 metres tall and is the first monument seen after the Siq gorge.
- Wadi Rum — A desert protected area of sandstone mountains and ancient rock carvings, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
- Dead Sea — A hypersaline lake roughly 440 metres below sea level, the lowest land-based elevation on Earth, on Jordan’s western border.
- Amman — Jordan’s capital, built across seven hills, with a Roman-era amphitheater still standing in the downtown core.
- Jerash — One of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities outside Italy, with a still-intact colonnaded main street and hippodrome.
Planning note: Amman and Jerash pair as a single day; Petra and Wadi Rum sit further south and connect easily to each other, with the Dead Sea reachable on the way back north. A week covers all five without excessive driving.
Sources
- Jordan Pulse — Jordan Records 3% Drop in Tourist Arrivals in 2024
- Wikipedia — Petra
- Wikipedia — Wadi Rum
- Wikipedia — Dead Sea
See the Top 10 Countries to Visit in 2026 roundup for how Jordan compares globally.