As a former Shawarma lover, I can’t lie and say that wasn’t the main reason I was excited to visit Jordan. Of course Jordan has so much more to offer than just shawarmas, you go to Jordan to relive history dated millions of years ago, be able to read while floating in the dead sea, visit the 7th world wonder and more. Jordan was the first country I visited in the Middle East and it sure did leave the absolute best first impression. From the beautiful sights in Jordan, to the amazing people and service, of all my travels Jordan is in my top 3 best destinations to visit!

If this will be your first time in Jordan I recommend reading my Ultimate Jordan Travel Guide first. In this post, you can find all the essential information you need to know before planning your trip!

If you planned your stay for 5 days and feel like it’s not enough time, don’t you worry! Since Jordan is quite small, (as small as being able to go back and forth in just 6 hours!!), it is just the right size to see all the magical main sites in just 5 days, it was enough time for me to see it, bask in its beautiful presence then leave. However, if you do plan on staying longer it's even better because Jordan has tons of hidden gems you can visit, like Jerash and Aqaba (the red sea).

We flew from Bucharest directly to Amman in late August, and the plan was to go from Jordan to Israel right after. Now, let's dive into the 5 day Jordan itinerary.

Day 1-2: Amman

1st night

Land in Queen Alia National Airport, which is located 25 km outside of Amman so not too far. As you drive to your hotel you get the views of the modern limestone homes looking like white Lego blocks scattered on the hills.

How to get around in Jordan

To get around you can either rent a car at the airport, uber, hop on a bus or hire a private driver. Usually if you like the first driver you meet you can arrange and negotiate for him to take you everywhere you need to go for the duration of your trip. He will give you recommendations, tips and wait for you while you explore these places.

Where to Stay

Amman is known for its beautiful 5 star hotels, I highly recommend splurging on a good hotel in Jordan. Highly recommend Fairmont Amman. This is where we stayed for the duration of the trip. Once you get to your hotel, if you’re tired, take it easy the first night, unwind and prepare your adventurous side for the upcoming exciting trips!

Where To Eat

Ask a local where the best shawarma is and make your first night, shawarma night! Eat outside and enjoy the cool Jordanian air, and soak it all in!

Day 2

After you get the best sleep ever, explore your hotel. Check out the pool, spa, restaurant and other services.

Head to Rainbow Street (10 minute drive from the hotel) it’s a place to explore local shops, Middle Eastern cuisine, and receive excellent service. Head to Jafra restaurant and eat all the hummus, tabbouleh, and baba ganoush on the deck while looking down on the busy streets of Amman.

After your delicious meal, walk to Hashemite Plaza (5-10 minute walk), home to the well-preserved Roman amphitheater. You could accidently walk past this if you didn’t know it was there! This is usually the place for Jordanian families to sit and unwind, kids to run around and play and for the people to admire the overall historic aura this square brings.

Day 3: Day Trip to Petra and Wadi Rum

How to get from Amman to Petra

Wake up early and get to Petra in 3 hours if driven through route 15- desert highway, which is a much faster route. The other route is route 35-kings highway, which is the more scenic route, where you can make cool stops such as Mujib Dam and Kerak Castle.

If you have a private driver, leaving Petra as early as possible is crucial to not only avoid peak crowds, but so that it leaves you enough time to get to Wadi Rum, if that is your plan, before dark and to catch the sunset.

Exploring the ancient city of Petra

Want to be mesmerized by the mystery and vastness of a vibrant rose-colored city? You most likely came to Jordan to check the New Seven World Wonders off your bucket list. You can see with your own eyes the ancient culture that was created by the Nabateans as they (mind blowingly and intricately!!) hand carved massive rock into a hidden city for themselves.

Be sure to check out my Petra Guide for all things to do with cost, what to avoid and more. When you arrive, you will walk about 2 km through the abstract, mars-like gorge called the Siq, before being rewarded with the view of the famous Treasury, looking as if heaven's light is purposely shining only on it.

You can take multiple hikes around Petra to see different sights but if you don’t have enough time it’s worth taking a hike up to see the treasury from above. It can be a quite difficult hike especially with the heat and the 1000 steps you have to climb. It can take around 1.5 hours depending on your fitness level, but the view is breathtaking and great for Instagram pictures.

After your time here, you will get hungry so head to a local restaurant called Sandstone and order the Mansaf, thank me later!!

Wadi Rum

Takes about 2 hours from Petra to Wadi Rum. Link to full depth blog of my experience in here: Wadi Rum. Wadi Rum, also known as Valley of the Moon, will definitely be a top highlight of your Jordan trip. This desert will make you feel like you’re an alien on another planet. With many famous films being filmed here such as Transformers, Star Wars, The Martian, Aladdin, Lawrence of Arabia there’s no doubt that this location is popular, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One of the best ways to explore the massive landscape is with a jeep tour with a local guide which you can book through Expedia or arrange with your driver. From 4pm-8pm, you can drive to top attractions like a massive ship rock, Um Fruth Arch, the Lawrence Springs, 7 pillars of wisdom and more.

You will end your night having Bedouin Tea with your Bedouin guide while watching the Sunset, a truly unforgettable experience and one to cherish forever.

Then drove back to Amman which was around 4 hours, which is not bad if you're sleeping the entire time. If you don't like the idea of the long trip back, it would make sense stay in Wadi Rum or somewhere close by like Wadi Musa if you want to still explore more of Petra the next day.

Day 4: A Chill Day

You can save some money, since Jordan can get quite expensive, by deciding to spend most the day relaxing at your hotel. There is so much relaxing to do at the Fairmont Amman hotel you almost don’t want to leave.

However, if you don’t want to sit in your hotel most of the day, I recommend visiting the historical site of the Citadel, located on top of a pretty steep hill. Here you will find the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace and the Byzantine church. You could also take a day trip to explore Aqaba, for scuba diving and the red sea or visit the ancient city of Jerash.

For dinner head to Tamouz for a relaxing vibe with high quality Jordanian food, so delicious!

Day 5: Madaba, Mount Nebo & Dead Sea

Madaba

You can stop at Madaba for a quick 30 minutes to visit the St George Greek Orthodox Basilica and see the 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land.

Mount Nebo

On your way to the coast, you can stop by Mount Nebo, an important location for religious Christian history. It is where Moses stood and for the first time saw the Promised land in Israel, and the site to which many believed God buried Moses. It is a great view to not only go back in biblical times but see Israel and on some days Jerusalem.

Dead Sea

The drive from Mount Nebo to Dead Sea takes about 40 minutes. You can only access the dead sea through hotels, since there’s no free open entry point. You can get your driver to arrange an entry ticket just for the dead sea through a hotel.

I’m sure you’ve seen those videos of people floating effortlessly in the water and having a whole mud spa session in the water. This is at the Dead sea, which is actually at the lowest point on Earth. The mud has a lot of benefits for your skin and a lot of retailers will have it as a main ingredient in their skincare products. The water is extremely dense due to the large amounts of salt in the water, which makes it impossible for you to sink and forces your body upright, which is super fun and crazy to experience.

Conclusion

I really hope this 5 day Jordan itinerary was helpful and gave you tips and insights on what you can do on your trip. If you’re planning your trip to Jordan, I am really excited for you and am positive you will have an unforgettable time.

Overall, despite what some have said about the Middle East, I felt extremely safe here and the people were extremely nice and welcoming. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email, I would love nothing more than interacting with you guys and helping in any way!

Plan on going to Jordan? Went already, how did you like it? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time, adios! <3