Aqaba travel guide
Coral reefs, a Mamluk fort and the road to Wadi Rum
Aqaba is Jordan's Red Sea port and its warm-water escape, with reefs close to shore and easy links to Wadi Rum and Petra. October to April is the time to go; two or three days covers the sea and the town. Prices are lower than in Amman thanks to the tax-free zone.
Aqaba is Jordan's only seaport, at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea. From its beaches you can see Eilat in Israel and the hills of Egypt across the water, with Saudi Arabia a short drive south. Coral reefs begin just offshore, which makes the town the country's centre for diving and snorkelling.
Since 2000 the city has been run as the Aqaba Special Economic Zone, which keeps taxes low and goods cheaper than elsewhere in Jordan. Resorts line the coast towards Tala Bay, while the centre keeps a working port-town feel, with fish restaurants, spice shops and families picnicking on the public beach.
History runs deep for a small town. The early Islamic city of Ayla lies in ruins by the corniche, and the Mamluk fort near the sea dates from the early 16th century. In 1917 Arab forces took Aqaba during the Arab Revolt, an episode later made famous by the film Lawrence of Arabia.
Many travellers use Aqaba to round off a trip through Wadi Rum and Petra, both reachable in a few hours by road. In winter, when Amman is cold and grey, Aqaba stays warm and sunny enough for a swim.
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Top things to do in Aqaba
Reefs, beaches and a compact old centre, with the desert a short drive inland.
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Best time to visit Aqaba
Month by month, so you can pick the weather and the crowds you want.
Sunny, warm days and a sea that stays swimmable all winter.
Hot by May, but calm, clear water for diving.
Fierce heat; time on the water early or late only.
Winter weekends and Jordanian holidays fill the town with visitors from Amman, so book hotels ahead for those dates.
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Getting there
By road from Amman, air or sea
Most visitors arrive by road from Amman along the Desert Highway or the slower King's Highway, often after Petra and Wadi Rum. JETT coaches connect the two cities. King Hussein International Airport handles flights from Amman and seasonal routes from Europe.
- King Hussein International (AQJ)
- North of the city, about 20 minutes by taxi
- JETT coaches
- Direct from Amman
- Ferries
- To Nuweiba and Taba in Egypt
- Wadi Araba crossing
- Land border with Eilat; check current status
- Book JETT seats a day ahead in the busy winter months.
- Taxis do not always use meters; agree the fare first.
Where to stay
City centre or the south coast
The centre puts restaurants, the fort and the public beach within walking distance, with good mid-range hotels. Most of the reefs lie along the south coast, where dive resorts and beach clubs face the water. Further along, Tala Bay and newer developments offer large resort hotels with private beaches.
- City centre
- Walkable, lively and closest to cafes and the old fort
- South Beach
- Dive camps and simple resorts by the best reefs
- Tala Bay
- Gated resort area with private beaches
- Ayla
- Marina development north of the centre
- Stay south if diving or snorkelling is the main reason for your trip.
- Check whether beach access is included in the room rate.
Getting around
Taxis along the coast
The centre is compact enough to walk, but the reefs and resorts stretch for many kilometres south along the coast. Taxis are the usual way to cover that distance, and dive centres often collect guests from their hotels. Glass-bottom boats run from the main marina.
- On foot
- Corniche, fort and Ayla ruins
- Taxi
- City to South Beach in about 15 minutes
- Glass-bottom boats
- From the city marina
- Day tours
- Wadi Rum and Petra with pick-up
- Ask your hotel for a standard taxi fare to South Beach.
- Carry water and sun cover everywhere.
Know before you go
What makes Aqaba worth a stop, and what is worth knowing first.
Why travelers love it
- Snorkelling straight off the beach in the Marine Park, with reef fish a few strokes from the sand.
- The Cedar Pride wreck, covered in soft coral and easy for new divers.
- Sayadieh at a fish restaurant, spiced fish on rice browned with onions.
- The giant flagpole by the fort, flying the flag of the Arab Revolt over the bay.
- A night under the stars in Wadi Rum, an hour inland.
Good to know
- The sun is strong all year. Use reef-safe sunscreen and cover up.
- Do not touch or stand on coral; the reefs are protected.
- Public beaches are family spaces. Swimwear suits resorts and beach clubs better.
- Summer afternoons are extreme. Plan around the heat from June to September.
Trip fit
BookingMentor editorial ratings out of 5, based on a first-time visitor's experience.
Weather in Aqaba, month by month
Aqaba is dry all year and very hot in summer; the panel lists monthly averages.
Climate figures are long-term averages for Aqaba, 1991 to 2020 (Jordan Meteorological Department, via Wikipedia).
Reefs and wrecks along the south coast
The best of Aqaba is underwater. Fringing reefs run along the coast south of the city towards the Saudi border, and most dive sites are reached from the shore rather than by boat.
The Japanese Garden is a coral slope known for its hard and soft corals, good for snorkellers and new divers. The Cedar Pride wreck lies on its side between two reefs and can be explored at modest depth. Near it, a sunken tank and, further along, a decommissioned aircraft were placed on the seabed as artificial reefs.
Dive centres along South Beach rent equipment, run courses and organise guided shore dives. The water stays warm enough to dive all year, and visibility is usually good.
Ayla, the fort and the old town
Aqaba's history can be seen in a morning's walk along the corniche. Start at the Ayla ruins, the walled early Islamic town whose gates and towers were excavated from the 1980s onward.
Walk south to the Aqaba fort, built by the Mamluk sultan al-Ghuri in the early 16th century, perhaps on the site of an earlier Crusader fort. Beside it, the small museum in the former house of Sharif Hussein bin Ali shows finds from the region.
Close by, the remains of an early church have been dated to the years around AD 300. Then head into the souk for spices, dates and sweets, and finish with fish and mint tea near the seafront.
Wadi Rum and Petra from the coast
Aqaba is the closest city to two of Jordan's great sights, and both work as long day trips or overnight stays.
Wadi Rum, about an hour inland, is a protected desert of red sand and sandstone mountains. Bedouin-run camps offer jeep tours, camel rides and nights under the stars. The landscape has stood in for Mars in several films.
Petra, about two hours north, is the rock-cut Nabataean city reached through the narrow Siq. A day trip is possible, but the site rewards a full day or more, so most people stay in Wadi Musa and return to the coast afterwards.
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How we research our Aqaba travel guide
Dive sites, transport and border details are checked against the Jordan Tourism Board and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority. Climate data comes from the Jordan Meteorological Department.
Last updated . Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Checked against trusted sources:
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Answers to the questions travellers ask most before a trip to Aqaba.
General
Yes. Reefs start a few metres off the beaches south of the city, in the Aqaba Marine Park, so you can swim straight in with a mask.
A cargo ship sunk deliberately off the south coast in 1985 to form an artificial reef. It is one of the most popular dives in Aqaba.
Yes. The drive takes about two hours each way, so you can make a long day trip, though a night in Wadi Musa is better.
Yes, it is part of a special economic zone with lower taxes, so goods such as alcohol and electronics cost less than in Amman.
Swimwear is fine at resorts and private beach clubs. On the public city beaches, local families swim clothed, so cover up there.
The remains of a church dated to around AD 300, often described as one of the oldest purpose-built churches in the world.
The centre is compact enough to walk, but the reefs and resorts stretch for many kilometres south along the coast. Taxis are the usual way to cover that distance, and dive centres often collect guests from their hotels. Glass-bottom boats run from the main marina.
Getting there
About an hour by road. Many camps collect guests from Aqaba, and a day tour combined with a night in the desert is common.
Ferries cross to Nuweiba and Taba in Sinai. Timetables change often, so confirm schedules and visa rules before you travel.
King Hussein International Airport, north of the city, with domestic flights from Amman and seasonal international routes.
Most visitors arrive by road from Amman along the Desert Highway or the slower King's Highway, often after Petra and Wadi Rum. JETT coaches connect the two cities. King Hussein International Airport handles flights from Amman and seasonal routes from Europe.
Timing & weather
June to September, when daytime highs pass 40°C. Mornings by the sea are bearable; afternoons are not for sightseeing.
The best time to visit Aqaba is Oct to Apr. Warm sea and sunshine without the summer heat.
- Best overall: October - April (Sunny, warm days and a sea that stays swimmable all winter)
- Spring: March - May (Hot by May, but calm, clear water for diving)
- Summer: June - September (Fierce heat; time on the water early or late only)
Visa & documents
Most visitors need a visa, which many nationalities can get on arrival or online. Buying a Jordan Pass before arrival waives the visa fee for stays of at least three nights and covers entry to Petra and around 40 other sites.
Health & safety
Jordan is generally safe and stable, though regional tensions can affect it. Governments advise against travel within 3 km of the Syrian border.
