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In this article, we will share the 3 best day trips from Amman in 2025. If you are visiting Jordan, we highly recommend that you plan to spend some time in Amman. This city is brimming with culture, amazing scenery, and excellent local food. We were also very impressed with the prices in Amman. This lovely city also makes the perfect base for day trips.
There are several attractions that are located an hour or two from Amman. They are well worth seeing. But it’s not necessarily easy or worth staying by the attractions. Instead you can use Amman as an excellent convenient base – and explore these attractions as a day trip.
Day trips from Amman may be epic – but they’re not necessarily straightforward. In this article we will share the best and cheapest ways to do the day trips, so you can plan your own independent adventures. We have included prices, locations, transport options and everything you need to know.
We love travel AND we love equipping you to plan and enjoy your own adventures. Before you visit Amman check out these Amazing things to do in Amman
Find a great place to stay in Amman
LOOK FOR SOMEWHERE CHEAP TO STAY? – Here are the BEST budget hotels in Amman
Map of the best day trips from Amman
Day Trip Combinations that Work from Amman
If you are considering a multi-destination day trip from Amman the following combinations would work well:
- Dead Sea and Bethany Beyond the Jordan
- Dead Sea and Mount Nebo
- Bethany Beyond the Jordan and Mount Nebo
- Madaba and Mount Nebo
- Ajloun Castle and Jerash
Different Ways to Get Around in Jordan
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE to find out everything you need to know about travelling around in Jordan.
There are three main ways to get around in Jordan. The best method of transport depends on your budget and your specific needs and requirements.
1 Bus travel
In Jordan, there is one bus company that operates between these attractions. The company is called Jett. It is possible to book affordable day trips with Jett. Most day trips from Amman cost 15JOD – 30JOD per person with Jett (this is roughly £15 – £30 or $18 – $35)
Find out everything you need to know about booking a bus in Jordan
2 Taxis (long and short journeys)
FIND OUT MORE – Taxis in Jordan – FULL Guide
Alternatively, you can arrange a taxi. The best way to do this is to make a deal with a local driver. If you’re planning a day trip, we recommend agreeing on the price and details with your driver the day before your trip. Expect to pay in the region of 40JOD – 80JOD (£40 – £80 or $45 – $100). The price depends on how far you want to travel, how many destinations you want to visit, and your waiting times. Make sure that the driver is happy with all the details before you finalize a price. We recommend exchanging phone numbers with your driver. Many drivers in Amman use WhatsApp to communicate.
You can use Uber to arrange taxis in Jordan. However, the Uber app is not very good for arranging day trips. So if you want to arrange a day trip with a taxi, we recommend speaking to a local driver. Most of the drivers in the Amman old town have a reasonably good level of English. They are often very keen to offer day trips.
3 Car rental
Another way to get around in Jordan is to use car rental. Car rental in Amman starts at around 35JOD per day (around £35 or $40). You will need an international license to drive in Jordan. We only recommend this if you have a reasonable level of confidence and experience.
You can also arrange tours through your hotel or book tours online in advance. This can be a relatively expensive way of getting around. However, a good tour will allow you to learn and connect with the history and culture and also meet new people.
1 The Dead Sea
One of the best day trips you can do from Amman is to visit the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on the surface of the Earth. It is also a remarkable and unique destination. Best of all, it is possible to visit the Dead Sea as a day trip from Amman. We recommend allowing a full day for this trip.
If you’re planning to visit the Dead Sea, you need to decide whether to visit a free beach or whether to spend your time at a Dead Sea Resort. If you wish to visit a Dead Sea Resort, you will need to purchase a day pass. The advantage of visiting the Dead Sea at one of the resorts is the facilities. Most importantly, when you get out of the Dead Sea, you will want to shower in freshwater. Visiting the Dead Sea at one of the resorts enables you to do this. The resorts also allow access to facilities such as swimming pools, lockers, changing rooms, and you may even be able to arrange a day pass that includes lunch.
The cheapest Dead Sea Resort for day passes is the O Beach Dead Sea Resort. Passes cost 20JOD for adults and are free for kids (around £20 or $25). You can also visit the Museum at the Lowest Place on Earth (this is included with the Jordan Pass). This is to the south of the Dead Sea, so this will add some time and distance to your day trip.
If you are visiting the Dead Sea from Amman, we recommend that you prepare well for your trip. Pack a bag with swimming stuff, a towel, snacks, and don’t forget sun protection. The Dead Sea is a very exposed location.
Getting from Amman to the Dead Sea
There are two ways to get to the Dead Sea from Amman. You can either book a Jett Bus, which costs 15JOD for the return journey (around £15 or $18). Alternatively, you can arrange a private taxi in Amman. It is possible to arrange a day trip with a local driver for around 40JOD – 60JOD (£40 – £60 or $50 – $80) depending on waiting time and other destinations. It is also important to be aware that some drivers will try and charge a lot more than this, so you do need to shop around and barter to get the best prices. Read more about travelling from Amman to the Dead Sea in Jordan.
2 Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al Maghtas)
Don’t miss our complete visitors guide to Bethany Beyond the Jordan
Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al Maghtas) is the baptism site of Jesus. This is a particularly significant site for Christians, and many pilgrims visit Bethany Beyond the Jordan every day. It is possible to visit Bethany Beyond the Jordan in a single morning or afternoon from Amman. The trip is likely to take around 3 – 4 hours in total.
When you arrive at the visitors center, you will either need to purchase a ticket or present a pre-booked ticket with your Jordan pass. Entry tickets cost 12JOD on arrival (around £12 or $15). Find out more about the Jordan Pass.
However, if you buy your ticket in advance when you purchase your Jordan pass, it only costs 8JOD (£8 or $10). Once you have your ticket, you will then need to wait for a minibus. The price of the Minibus is included in the tour, and tours start every 30 minutes.
The tour takes around 1 hour. It is not possible to explore this area independently. You do need to take a tour, and the price is fully included in the entrance ticket. The tour of the baptism site includes a visit to a gift shop, a walk along the River Jordan. Then there is a visit to the actual baptism site and a stop at a section of the River Jordan where you are allowed to enter the water. From here you visit St John the Baptist’s Orthodox monastery and a visit to the Bethany Beyond the Jordan Museum.
Getting to the Baptism Site
If you are only planning to visit the baptism site, you should be able to arrange a taxi for around 40JOD, including a couple of hours of waiting time (around £40 or $50).
3 Visit Petra
If you haven’t visited Petra, you haven’t visited Jordan. Petra is one of the most significant and important attractions in Jordan. What’s more, it is possible to visit Petra as a single day trip from Amman. If you have enough time, we actually recommend taking 2 days to see Petra. This allows you more time to explore the archaeological site, and you can also visit early in the morning at the calmest and quietest time. However, if you are limited on time, then it is possible to see Petra in a single day.
If you are planning to visit Petra, we recommend using the Jordan pass. This allows you visa-free entry to Jordan and also covers your entry to Petra. Without the Jordan pass, this would cost 90JOD in total (this is around £90 or $110). With the Jordan pass, this costs 70JOD (around £70 or $90).
If you are planning to visit Petra in a single day from Amman, we recommend walking to the Treasury. This iconic attraction is one of the wonders of the world, and we can see why. If you do choose to visit Petra as a day trip, it is very important to be well-planned and organized. We recommend packing a bag with drinks and snacks. Consider suitable clothing for the time of year. If you’re visiting in the summer (June – August), we recommend loose, light clothing and remember to bring sun protection (including SPF50 sun cream). You will be arriving at Petra during the hottest part of the day, and some areas are quite exposed. If you have visited during the winter, remember to bring warm clothing (November – February).
Getting to Petra
The journey between Amman and Petra is likely to take around 4 hours each way. The Jett bus service departs at 6:30 am in the morning and aims to arrive at 9:30 am (although it is often later than this). The Jett bus then returns to Amman at 5:00 p.m., which is late enough to allow you time to explore Petra in a single day. The return trip with Jett costs 20JOD – 24JOD (around £20 – £24 or $25 – $30). Find out more about how to travel from Amman to Petra.
A few other day trips from Jordan
Ajloun Castle
Ajloun Castle (also known as Qal’at Ar-Rabad) is a medieval fortress approximately an hour’s drive from Jordan’s capital, Amman. This 12th-century castle was built by the nephew of the great Islamic military commander Salah ad-Din (Saladin) and played a crucial role in defending the region against Crusader invasions.
Jerash
Explore one of the most well-preserved Roman cities in the world. Jerash (also known as Gerasa) is located just about an hour’s drive from Jordan’s capital city, Amman. This ancient city boasts a rich history dating back over 6,500 years and was a significant city in the Roman Empire, offering a window into the past for visitors.
Jett offer a day tour to Ajloun and Jerash on Thursdays and Saturdays for 15JOD (around £15 or $18). You can book Jett day tours through their official tour website.
Madaba
Madaba is known for its rich history, religious significance, and intricate mosaic artistry. This historic town is conveniently located just about 30 minutes away from Jordan’s capital, Amman, making it an easily accessible destination for a day of exploration. The main attraction in Madaba is the famous St. George’s Church, where you can witness one of the most remarkable mosaic maps in the world, often referred to as the Madaba Mosaic Map (pictured above). This ancient mosaic, dating back to the 6th century, is a floor mosaic that depicts a detailed map of the Holy Land, with Jerusalem at its center.
Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo is situated around 30 kilometers southwest of Amman, is a prominent biblical site. It is most famous for its association with the prophet Moses, who is believed to have gazed upon the Promised Land from this vantage point. The highlight of a visit to Mount Nebo is the panoramic view it provides. As you stand at the summit, you can look out over the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and on clear days, even catch a glimpse of Jerusalem in the distance. The natural beauty of the area is awe-inspiring and makes for some stunning photo opportunities.
