Quick answer: A Jordan trip means staying in several places: Amman as the capital hub, Wadi Musa (the town beside Petra) for an early start at the ruins, a Wadi Rum desert camp under the stars, and the Dead Sea or Aqaba to relax. A classic route spends a night or two in each.
Where to stay in Jordan: best areas
| Area | Best for | The vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Amman | A city base | Capital, the hub |
| Petra (Wadi Musa) | The rose city | Bucket-list |
| Wadi Rum | Desert camps | Mars-like, magical |
| Dead Sea | Spa & float | Resorts |
Best places to stay in Jordan
| Base | Best for |
|---|---|
| Amman | Arrival hub, city life, restaurants |
| Wadi Musa (Petra) | Early Petra entry — essential |
| Wadi Rum | Bedouin desert camps, stargazing |
| Dead Sea | Spa resorts, floating, sunsets |
| Aqaba | Red Sea diving and beaches |
Amman — your arrival base
Most trips start in Amman, a sprawling, hilly capital with Roman ruins, great restaurants and lively neighbourhoods like Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street. Stay one or two nights to adjust and day-trip to Jerash before heading south.
Wadi Musa — sleep next to Petra
Wadi Musa is the town at Petra’s gate. Staying here is essential so you can be at the Treasury early, before the crowds and midday heat. Options run from hostels to comfortable hotels; pick one within walking distance of the visitor centre.
Wadi Rum — a desert-camp night
Don’t just day-trip Wadi Rum — spend a night at a Bedouin camp (from simple tents to bubble domes) for the silence, the sunset over the dunes and some of the clearest stargazing on earth. One night is plenty for most.
Dead Sea & Aqaba
End on the coast: the Dead Sea resort strip offers spas and the famous float, an easy add-on from Amman or Petra, while Aqaba on the Red Sea has diving, beaches and a relaxed finish (and its own airport).
Getting around
Most travellers rent a car (the Desert Highway and scenic King’s Highway link the sites) or use the JETT bus and private drivers. Distances are manageable — Amman to Petra is about three hours.
Which Amman Neighbourhood to Pick by Traveller Type
Since almost every Jordan trip routes through Amman, the base you choose there matters more than the hotel itself. The city sprawls across steep hills, so picking the right district saves you a lot of stair-climbing and taxi fares.
- First-timers: Jabal Amman around Rainbow Street near 1st Circle. You can walk downhill to the Roman Theatre and Citadel, and the converted villas house cafes and galleries. Mid-range doubles run around 60 to 90 JOD a night.
- Budget and culture: Jabal Al-Weibdeh, the art district above downtown. Dorm beds at hostels like Cliff Hotel or Jordan Tower start around 8 to 15 JOD, and it stays walkable to the museums.
- Nightlife and shopping: Sweifieh, west of centre around Wakalat Street and its malls, where the young crowd fills bars and restaurants after dark.
- Families and quiet comfort: Abdoun, Amman’s most affluent area, with wide calm streets, strong dining, and upscale hotels usually from about 120 JOD.
I would skip basing yourself deep in Al-Balad (downtown) despite its low rates. It is noisy near the old bus station from early morning, and reaching Rainbow Street means long flights of steep stairs that wear thin fast with luggage or young kids.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you stay to visit Petra?
Is one night enough in Wadi Rum?
How many days for Jordan?
Plan with our 7 Wonders guide (Petra) and travel itineraries.
Best time to visit Jordan (real climate data)
Best months: April, May, October, November.
Jordan’s warmest month is August (avg 34°C / 93°F), the coolest is January (low 4°C / 40°F). The wettest is February (45 mm) and the driest is June.
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 climate normals (2019–2023). See the full month-by-month weather →
You Might Also Love
Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.