Jordan sits at the crossroads of civilizations—from Nabataean traders who carved Petra’s rose-red canyons to Roman legions that paved colonnaded avenues at Jerash. Today, the Hashemite Kingdom balances deep tradition and modern warmth: think fragrant cardamom coffee, hospitable Bedouin culture, and bustling souqs humming until late.

Three experiences define a Jordan vacation: walking through Petra’s Siq to the Treasury, watching desert light change the colors of Wadi Rum’s sandstone, and floating atop the mineral-rich Dead Sea—the Earth’s lowest point. Add Amman’s thriving café culture, street food, and hilltop ruins, and you have a compact, deeply rewarding 5-day trip.

Practical notes: Many travelers buy the Jordan Pass, which covers your tourist visa (for eligible nationalities) and key sites like Petra and Jerash. Dress modestly, carry cash in Jordanian dinars (JOD), and expect Fridays to follow a slower weekend rhythm. Spring and fall bring ideal temperatures; summers are hot and dry, winters cool with occasional rain.

Amman

Amman sprawls over a necklace of hills, its white-stone buildings catching the afternoon sun. Downtown’s Roman Theater anchors the old city, while Jabal Amman and Jabal Al-Weibdeh brim with galleries, bakeries, and lively cafés. It’s the place to ease into Jordan—history at the Citadel, then falafel, mansaf, and knafeh downtown.

• Top sights: The Amman Citadel (Temple of Hercules, Umayyad Palace), Roman Theater, Rainbow Street’s boutiques, the Jordan Museum, and the street art and cafés of Jabal Al-Weibdeh.
• Eat & drink: Grab a falafel platter at Hashem Restaurant; try mansaf (lamb in fermented yogurt) at Sufra; pick up shawarma at Reem; finish with molten kanafeh at Habibah Sweets. For coffee, Rumi Café and Dimitri’s are local favorites; for a classic downtown vibe, Jafra serves mint tea and shisha.
• Where to stay (Amman):
  • The St. Regis Amman — refined service, polished rooms, excellent dining.
  • Amman Marriott Hotel — reliable comfort, pool, and spa; good for families and business travelers.
  • Nomads Hotel — stylish budget choice near Rainbow Street with social common areas.
  • More stays: VRBO Amman | Hotels.com Amman
• Getting to Amman: Fly into Queen Alia International Airport (AMM). Compare fares on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com. If you’re departing from Europe, you can also check Omio flights. Typical nonstop times: 4–5 hours from Central Europe, 2–3 hours from the Gulf, 11–13 hours from the U.S. East Coast (1 stop).

Petra (Wadi Musa)

Petra is Jordan’s showstopper: an ancient Nabataean capital hewn from rose and ochre sandstone. Enter through the shadowed Siq, and the Treasury reveals itself like a stage set—then the city unfolds to tombs, temples, and terraces that reward a full day’s exploration.

Stay in Wadi Musa at the park entrance to maximize time at dawn and late afternoon, when the light is soft and crowds thin. Don’t miss Little Petra, once a caravan waystation, and the Monastery, whose monumental façade crowns a panoramic plateau.

• Eat & drink: My Mom’s Recipe (home-style Jordanian classics), Al-Wadi Restaurant (grills and mezze), Al Qantarah (mansaf and Arabic dips), and the atmospheric Cave Bar near the Petra gate for a post-hike refresh. Bedouin tea with sage is the desert’s welcome ritual.
• Where to stay (Petra):
  • Mövenpick Resort Petra — unbeatable location at the entrance, rooftop views.
  • Petra Moon Hotel — excellent value with a rooftop pool and spacious rooms.
  • Petra Guest House Hotel — onsite Cave Bar and minutes from the Siq.
  • More stays: VRBO Petra | Hotels.com Petra
• Getting from Amman to Petra (Wadi Musa):
  • Self-drive via Desert Highway (Hwy 15): ~3 hours, fuel + tolls minimal; rental cars typically $35–60/day.
  • Scenic King’s Highway with stops (Madaba, Mount Nebo, Wadi Mujib overlooks): 4–6 hours with sightseeing.
  • JETT bus: ~4 hours, about 13–15 JOD one-way, early morning departures.
  • Private transfer/driver: ~3 hours, commonly 100–150 JOD per car each way.
• Optional Wadi Rum overnight: If you’d like to add a starry desert night, consider Sun City Camp (famed for its Martian-style domes), Captain's Desert Camp, or the cozy Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp. Petra–Wadi Rum is ~1.5–2 hours by road.

Day 1: Arrive in Amman | Roman antiquity and downtown flavors

Afternoon: Land at AMM and transfer to your hotel (40–50 minutes to central Amman). Stretch your legs at the Amman Citadel for sweeping views and a primer on Jordan’s layers of history—Bronze Age, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad. Pop down to the Roman Theater to understand how this 2nd-century amphitheater still frames city life.

Evening: Dive straight into Jordanian cuisine with a guided tasting walk.

Book: Amman Food Tours: 3-Hours Guided Walking Food Tour in Amman — downtown bites, juices, and local stories. View on Viator

Prefer a sit-down meal? Try Sufra for mansaf and lemony tabbouleh, then queue at Habibah Sweets for hot kanafeh. Cap the night with mint tea at Jafra or an espresso at Rumi Café in Jabal Al-Weibdeh.

Day 2: Jerash day trip | Rome in the Middle East

Morning: Set out north (45–60 minutes) to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities anywhere. Walk the Hadrian’s Arch gateway, the hippodrome, the Oval Plaza ringed with columns, and the Cardo with its original paving stones. The acoustic trick at the South Theater’s “sweet spot” is always a hit.

Afternoon: Continue to Ajloun Castle (Qal’at Ar-Rabad), a 12th-century fortress with views over olive groves and the Jordan Valley. Lunch nearby at Lebanese House (grilled meats, mezze) or Green Valley (simple, fresh). Return to Amman by late afternoon.

Book: Jerash, Ajloun, Umm Qais Day Trip — convenient transport plus time at northern highlights. View on Viator

Evening: Graze your way along Rainbow Street: shawarma from Reem, Jordanian small plates at Shams El Balad (terrace views), and a relaxed nightcap at Books@Cafe—an Amman institution with a rooftop and inclusive vibe.

Day 3: Amman to Petra via the King’s Highway | Madaba and Mount Nebo

Morning: Depart Amman after breakfast. Take the scenic King’s Highway: stop in Madaba to admire the 6th-century Holy Land mosaic map at St. George’s Church, then continue to Mount Nebo, where tradition holds Moses viewed the Promised Land. Allow time for Wadi Mujib canyon viewpoints on the way south.

Afternoon: Arrive in Wadi Musa (Petra) and check into your hotel near the gate for next-day convenience. If energy allows, head to Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) for a quieter prelude and sunset hues over the plateau.

Evening: Dinner at My Mom’s Recipe (slow-cooked lamb, makloubeh) or Al-Wadi (mixed grill, mutabbal). If your visit falls on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday, consider Petra by Night (candles in the Siq and at the Treasury; ticket required; schedule subject to change)—a magical but popular experience.

Day 4: Petra immersion | Siq to Treasury, Monastery, and panoramic trails

Morning: Enter Petra early for soft light in the Siq. A guided introduction adds rich context to the Treasury and the city’s rock-cut architecture.

Book: 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up — tailored pacing and insider trails. View on Viator

Afternoon: Tackle the 800 steps to the Monastery (Ad-Deir) for lunch and tea at the viewpoint cafés, then loop back via Wadi al-Farasa or climb toward the High Place of Sacrifice for sweeping vistas. Pace yourself; Petra is vast—water, hat, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes are essential.

Evening: Celebrate with dinner at Al Qantarah (order mansaf or oven-baked lamb). Toast the day at the Cave Bar near the gate, set inside a historic Nabataean chamber—one of the world’s more unusual places for a nightcap.

Day 5: Dead Sea detour and departure

Morning: Drive back toward Amman (about 3 hours from Petra). If time allows, detour to the Dead Sea for a buoyant float and a mineral mud slather—an only-in-Jordan spa ritual. Day passes are often available at resorts; call ahead if visiting on weekends.

• Resort options for day access or a last-night splurge: Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, Dead Sea Spa Hotel, Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea.

Alternatively book (if you overnighted in Amman): Half Day Tour to Dead Sea From Amman — efficient transfer and time to float. View on Viator

Afternoon: Head to AMM for your flight. For outbound options, check Trip.com, Kiwi.com, and if returning to Europe, Omio flights. From the Dead Sea, allow ~1 hour to the airport; from central Amman, 35–50 minutes depending on traffic.

Optional swap: Madaba, Mount Nebo, Baptism Site, and Dead Sea loop from Amman

If Roman ruins aren’t your priority, replace Day 2 with a culture-and-nature loop south of Amman: Madaba’s mosaics, Mount Nebo’s panorama, the Baptism Site (Bethany Beyond the Jordan), and a Dead Sea float.

Book: Private or Group tour to Dead Sea, baptism site, Nebo and Madaba. View on Viator

Logistics at a glance

• Transit times: Amman–Jerash 45–60 min; Amman–Petra 3–4 hours; Petra–Wadi Rum 1.5–2 hours; Petra–Dead Sea ~3 hours; Dead Sea–AMM ~1 hour.
• Approximate costs: Private driver for a day 100–200 JOD; JETT bus Amman–Petra ~13–15 JOD; site tickets vary (Jordan Pass often best value).
• What to pack: Sturdy shoes, hat, light layers, sunscreen, electrolytes; conservative attire for religious sites; swimsuit for Dead Sea.
• Dining tips: Portions are generous; share mezze. Ask for fresh-baked shrak bread. Try Arabic coffee (qahwa) with cardamom and Bedouin tea with sage.

In five days, you’ll sample Jordan’s essence: Amman’s lived-in history, Petra’s world wonder, and the restorative calm of the Dead Sea—with optional detours to Jerash’s Roman streets or Wadi Rum’s otherworldly sands. Expect generous hospitality, unforgettable flavors, and landscapes that linger long after you’ve flown home.