Aqaba (العقبة al-ʿAqabah) is Jordan's only port city. It is on the Gulf of Aqaba in the extreme south of the country, adjacent to Eilat in Israel.
Understand
Aqaba is Jordan's window on the Red Sea. Historically the same city as Eilat on the Israeli side of the border, plans for a shared international airport and other forms of cooperation have cooled down in the past few years during a period of political tension. Aqaba has seen a lot of development. This has improved the infrastructure and facilities. Be prepared for road maps to be incorrect or out of date.
Get in
By bus
The Desert Highway terminates in Aqaba. The 1 bus station is about 300 m east of the mosque. There are frequent buses to Amman and other points along the highway. The fare is 7 JD each way.
By car
Amman to Aqaba is about 350 km using the Desert Highway. It will take about 4 hr to travel this distance at a reasonable speed. Service/fuel stops are not very frequent on this road.
By taxi
Minibus rental with driver from Petra costs 45 JD and it takes about 2 hr to get from Petra to Aqaba.
Coming from the Israeli border, you will probably want to take the border taxi into town and switch to another taxi to continue on, especially if your hotel is in the South Beach resort area. From Aqaba city, taxi prices are lower than from the border.
Also see the note on the Aqaba border taxi Mafia below.
By plane
- 2 King Hussein International Airport (AQJ IATA) (9 km (5.6 mi) north of Aqaba, about 20 min to drive). Royal Jordanian operates twice daily between Amman and Aqaba, one in the morning and one in the evening. Duration of the flight is approximately one hour and costs 37 JD tax one-way. Easyjet flies twice weekly to London and Berlin during the winter months, whilst Ryanair operates twice weekly to Cologne, Athens and Sofia, also on a winter schedule. Turkish Airlines flies year-round to Istanbul Airport. Various smaller European airlines operate seasonal holiday charter flights as well.
Most larger hotels and dive operators can arrange airport transfers, and hire-cars and taxis are available. Note there is no public transport to and from the airport. An Israeli company offers a so-called "Aqaba airport shuttle" service through its website, which appears to be a scam, according to numerous online reviews on a number of different websites.
Given the relatively painless (for the area at least) border crossing process and the closeness of Eilat, it is also feasible to fly into Ramon Airport ETM IATA, which is served by the likes of Ryanair. The former Ovda and Eilat city airports have both closed.
From other countries
- See also: Jordan#Get in for details on getting in from other countries and the associated visa requirements.
Israel
If you are coming from Eilat, Israel, you will cross through the Yitzhak Rabin Terminal. It is open Sunday-Thursday from 06:30–20:00 and Friday-Saturday from 08:00–20:00, except for Yom Kippur and the Muslim New Year. Taxi from Eilat centre to the border is ₪35 (Feb 2014). The fee to exit Israel is ₪102 plus a processing fee of ₪5 – you can pay with credit card.
If you are planning to come to Aqaba directly from northern Israel (e.g. from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Be'er Sheva) by catching an Egged bus to Eilat, or from Eilat by hopping on any intercity bus going up north, or on any of the buses going to Ramon airport, you should ask the driver to let you off at "Rabin Border Crossing / Road 90 junction", which is the second last stop before the bus station in Eilat, and then walk east to the border checkpoint (less than 1 km on auto route 109).
After crossing the border, take a taxi from the taxi cartel (see below) for 11 JD, or just walk out. If the bird observatory to the right is open, walk straight through until the road with the fence and continue through the treatment plant further on another deserted road until you reach the housing area. From here, taxis are very cheap. If the bird observatory is closed, go through the sandy desert area to the right after it around the treatment plant until the road north of the new golf course, resort and oasis. It is best to have a map or GPS. If you get bothered by the taxi mafia, just keep walking, don't talk. The other way around is easier: either you walk through the treatment plant or cross through the sandy desert area straight north just before the treatment plant. If you get a taxi from the city for 5 JD, it is fine. 13 JD is way too much. In any case, if you feel you have been bothered, complain to the Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities.
Egypt
Ferries run regularly from Aqaba across to Nuweiba on Egypt's Sinai peninsula, bypassing Israel and the sometimes complicated border arrangements. Generally, there is no visa fee for entering Jordan through Aqaba since it is a part of the free trade zone. The line to Nuweiba is operated by ABMaritime, see their website for the timetable and current prices.
Also ferries from Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh are available. There is more information about the boat crossing in the itinerary Ferries in The Red Sea
Get around
By taxi
Taxis are easily available in the city. A ride within town should cost no more than 2 JD. A ride outside town (to a beach near by or to any border crossings) costs around 5 JD. However, if your hotel calls you a taxi, you may end up paying double for it as they receive a kickback (this is especially true if you are staying on the South Beach).
While taxis are yellow all around Jordan, Aqaba taxis have been painted green and blue: the logo colours of Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ).
When negotiating the price of a taxi, make sure to determine whether the final cost is the total or "per-person" price, as you may otherwise receive a surprise at the end of the ride.
By bus
Local minibuses connect residential areas with downtown. The fare is 17 piasters (0.17 JD) regardless of the length of the journey. Passengers can get on and off at any point of the route.
The central bus station is in front of the police station in King Talal street, less than 10 min walk from city centre (Ayla Square, Al-Hussein Bin Ali Mosque).
On foot
Most points of interest can be reached on foot, and that is really the best way to see the place and experience Aqaba.
See
As of December 2018, the staff at the information center near the castle claims that there is no place to use Jordan Pass in Aqaba, even though two museums are listed on the official website of Jordan Pass.
- 1 Aqaba Castle (قلعة العقبة) (at the southern end of the city beach, behind the flagpole and museum). under reconstruction as of December 2018. It dates to the 14th century, although the present structure was built by the Mamluke sultan Qansawh el-Ghawri (1501-1516) and has been revised many times since then. The archaeological museum which used to be here no longer exists. 3 JD.
- 2 Aqaba Heritage Museum (at the southern end of the city). A simple museum on local history and people.
- 3 Ayla (next to the Mövenpick resort). The old city that was established when Islam came to the area in 622 AD. 1 JD.
- 4 Fourth-century Roman church (behind the JETT bus station, which is just west of the Mövenpick Resort & Residences). The oldest purpose-built Christian church in history. A posted sign (viewed in the right angle) gives a little bit of information on the church and its age.
- 5 Aqaba Flagpole (at the southern end of the city beach). The sixth tallest freestanding flagpole sits at a height of 130 metres high. It carries the flag of the Arab Revolt.
- 6 Sheik Zayed Mosque. This mosque in the east beyond the highway gives a great overview of the area and Aqaba.
- 7 Marine Science Center Aquarium (5 km south of Aqaba). Small aquarium with a few local and exotic fish. Very small aquarium with limited information, not worth the high price for foreigners, but Jordanians (1 JD) might want to take their kids. 7 JD.
Do
Except the sea and diving, Aqaba doesn't have a lot of things to offer. The following can be of interest but are easily done in one day.
- Aqaba Castle
- Aqaba museum
- Fourth century Roman church
There is a public beach between the city and the fort, although it can be very dirty. There are several public beaches south of Aqaba, which also can be dirty. Beaches generally have eating and showering facilities and sometimes watersports.
- 1 Mount Um al Nusaylah (try hiking up near Domina Aquamarina III Hotel, 1 km east of the bus station). Hike this mountain for a great view of the Aqaba area, Eilat on the other side of the Red Sea and the valley behind the mount.
- 2 Zara Spa, Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay Aqaba, South Beach Road - Tala Bay Area, ☏ 962 3 209 0300, fax: 962 3 209 0301, ✉[email protected]. 09:00-21:00. As well as a sauna, steam room and a hydro pool with skylight, Zara Spa Tala Bay offers the latest in spa facilities. Included is an "ice fountain" designed to stimulate circulation and tighten the skin. A variety of fragrances and coloured lighting effects are available for showers and also supposedly designed to increase blood circulation. A hair salon, a nail studio and a shop with a variety of beauty care products are also on premises.
Scuba diving
Have a look at an online map south of Aqaba, many dive centers can be found there, and diving is extremely popular. A two dive single day package typically costs around JD50, but booking multi-dive packages in advance will can save a lot. Almost all dives are shore based. A small number of sites are better accessed by boat, though the journey is never more than 45min and is typically in the 20min range. Though dive packages tend to be more expensive than nearby Egypt, the quality of operators is much more consistent, and the fact virtually all dives are done as shore dives save both money and time with day-boats. Diving here is also good for beginners, as there are no tides, and currents and swells this far up the gulf of Aqaba are minimal, which also means diving any given site is all but guaranteed, regardless of what the weather is up to.
- 3 Arab Divers, South Beach Road (South Of Aqaba), ☏ 962 7964 120 32, ✉[email protected]. 24/7. Established and well known dive centre, with air conditioned bungalow accommodation on site (40/50/65 JD for Single/Double/Triple, good discounts on offer when taking a dive package as well). Breakfast included, free wifi in public areas, on site pool and shuttle bus down to the beach (5 min). Many dives on offer, including technical dives to the Taiyong and some deeper reefs, as well as beginner-friendly coral garden dives. Also run an active litter clean up programme on the reefs. PADI training available from Open Water to Divemaster and technical courses. Dive packages include air fills, tanks and weights. Nitrox and Trimix available. Full kit hire and boat dives available, though almost all dives can be done from shore. 1/2 day shore (1 dive) 30 JD; 1 day shore (2 dives) 40 JD; 2 days shore (4 dives) 76 JD; 3 days shore (6 dives) 108 JD; 4 days shore (8 dives) 136 JD; 5 days shore (10 dives) 160 JD.
- 4 Ahlan Aqaba Scuba Diving Center, Al Nahda St., Hotel area in the heart of the city (The road behind the Mövenpick Hotel), ☏ 962 3 2062242, fax: 962 (3) 206 2243, ✉[email protected]. 24/7. Adventurous diving trips in the Red Sea area. Highly committed to the conservation of the local reef. Perform weekly surveys of the rubbish on particular dive sites for the PADI Dive Against Debris project. Snorkeling, try dives, fun dives for certified divers, shore and boat dives and beginners courses through to Dive masters. Digital Underwater Photography (which only 4% of instructors can teach!)
- 5 Red Sea Dive Center, South Beach Road (south of Aqaba), ☏ 962 3 2022323, fax: 962 (3) 202 2323, ✉[email protected]. 24. 40 JD for introduction dive, 50 JD for 2 dives.
Buy
Aqaba is a tax-free zone so prices for expensive consumer items tend to be lower than elsewhere in Jordan. Hence, the high number of shops specialized in nuts and sweets, catering for Jordanian tourists.
Beware however should you depart by plane from Aqaba: the Aqaba airport security check mafia will confiscate many types of goods on departure. See the note on the Aqaba airport security check mafia below.
Eat
In the centre of the city you can find very good hummus, falafel and shawarma (lamb meat in pita bread) places in many local restaurants. Prices start from 0.20 JD for stuffed pies (fatayer), 0.50 JD for a falafel sandwich, 1 JD for ful, baba ganous or hummus and pita, 1.50 JD for pizza-like snacks and 1.50 JD for a shawarma dish. Walk around to find the hole-in-the-wall eateries.
- 1 Arabic Moon Restaurant (in the northern corner of Raghadan street). Delicious falafel and hummus. 1-2 JD per dish.
- 2 Syrian Palace Rest(aurant), Raghadan St, Hayl al madina, Al Awsat (at the right side of Al Shuala Hotel when you are looking to the hotel), fax: 962 3 331-4788.
- 3 [dead link]The Royal Yacht Club, ☏ 962 3 2012900, ✉[email protected]. One of the finest places to eat is situated next to the water in an upmarket neighbourhood. They serve exquisite fare (mostly seafood fresh from the sea) for prices that are reasonable by Western standards. Service is fast and courteous. They are closed all afternoon and reopen for dinner, thus unavailable for a mid-afternoon snack after coming from the beach.
Drink
You can ask for fresh fruit juices in most restaurants, and they are a treat! Many also serve the lemon juice with fresh mint in it, which is very delicious.
Not many restaurants outside of the resorts serve alcohol (Ali Baba does and they charge a lot for it) but there are many wine shops, e.g. along An-Nahdah Street, selling alcohol much cheaper than elsewhere in Jordan.
Sleep
Budget
- 1 Dweik Hotel 1 (between Zahran St. and Raghadan St.). Small rooms, but bathrooms are in good condition. Some rooms have TV, with access to satellite channels, but you do have to get the front desk to tune the satellite for you. 20 JD.
- 2 Beach Hotel. 12/20 JD single/double.
- 3 Amer hotel, Raghadan Street, Hayl al madina, Al Awsat (just east of the mosque), ☏ 962 3 2014821, 962 77 5616802. Clean, satellite tv, no breakfast, no internet, fan/ac, bathroom, very very noisy (near mosque, shops, restaurants, some strange phone calls). 15/25 JD single/double.
- 4 Amer Hotel 2 (Former Belal Hotel) (Behind ALI Baba Restaurant), ☏ 962 3 2019284. Same owner as Amer 1, but the interior seems to be a little newer and nicer. Sat, tel, fridge, bathroom, WiFi. 20/25 JD single/double.
- 5 Ahla Talla Hotel, K. Hussein St. / Corniche St., ☏ 962 79 5168821, 962 78 0478755. Looks very decent. 20 JD single/double.
- 6 Amira Hotel (behind Ali Baba Restaurant), ☏ 962 3 2018840. Only doubles available here. 25 JD double.
- 7 Al-Safa Tourist Hotel, Al-Tuniseah St., ☏ 962 79 2967505. Looks fine from the outside. 20/25 JD single/double.
- 8 Nairoukh Hotel. 10/15/20 JD single/double/triple.
- 9 J Plaza Hotel, ☏ 962 79 2688671, 962 3 20314444. 25 JD single/double, single may be bargained down to 20 JD.
- Dune Village (12km east of Aqaba's centre), ☏ 962 78 837-8914. Offers singles, double, and shared rooms with breakfast included. The places also offers scuba diving equipment and guided dives. The place organizes transportation for guests to/from airport and border crossings. 7.5-17 JD pp.
The quality of the following budget hotels is not confirmed. Leave a description or delete them if not relevant ir passable.
- 10 Hospitality Palace Hotel, Ar-Razi St., ☏ 962 78 8265694. 20 JD single.
- 11 Sea View Hotel, Kuwait St., ☏ 962 78 8630229. 25 JD triple.
- 12 Al-Naher Al-Khaled Hotel, Ar-Razi St., ☏ 962 3 2012456, 962 78 6719050, 962 79 9591519, ✉[email protected]. 20/27 JD single/double.
Mid-range
- 13 Golden Rose Hotel, Al Reem Street, ☏ 962 3 203 9880, ✉[email protected]. Looks very decent, clean and modern. 25/30 JD single/double.
- 14 Arab Divers Bed & Breakfast (11 km from Aqaba city centre along South Beach), ☏ 962 3 203 1808, fax: 962 3 203 1808, ✉[email protected]. Check-in: 14:00-22:00, check-out: 08:00-12:00. TVs in rooms, free Wi-Fi, deep and shallow pool, full diving equipment available including PADI courses. Extremely relaxed, chill out spaces and loungers by pool, 800 m from the beach and chilled atmosphere. Extremely good value for money, but expect basic room provisions. It is a drive out of town, really quiet, great escape from bustle of Aqaba city. Shipwreck to dive at and corals.
Splurge
- 15 Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay Aqaba, South Beach Road - Tala Bay Area, ☏ 962 3 209 0300, fax: 962 3 209 0301, ✉[email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. On the southern shores of the Red Sea. 302 rooms, including 145 family rooms, various suites and two Grand Suites all share a modern design and light-coloured furnishings. All rooms have air-conditioning, TV, coffee and tea making facilities, direct dial phone/voice-mail, wireless LAN throughout the resort as well as hairdryer, 24-hour room service, in-room safe box. Superior rooms and suites allow for added comfort. Non-smoking rooms and rooms for the physically challenged are also available upon request. A special benefit is the free minibar, available in all rooms. In addition, Casalingo, an Italian restaurant, is on premises and open 18:30-23:30 every day. It has a contemporary Mediterranean decoration, with a live cooking counter and wood-fired pizza oven. Casalingo serves authentic Italian dishes, seasonal specialities and pizza, plus a selection of fine wines. Guests can dine on the terrace or in the air- conditioned restaurant. From 99 JD.
- 16 Mövenpick Resort & Residence Aqaba, King Hussein Street, P. Box 678 (Centre of Aqaba, overlooking the Red Sea), ☏ 962 3 203-4020, ✉[email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. High-quality resort hotel, featuring a mix of European and Arabesque designs. All 296 rooms, suites and apartments include self-controlled air conditioning and heating, satellite TV, direct-dial phone with voice mail, public Wi-Fi throughout the resort, coffee and tea-making facilities, hairdryer, complimentary minibar, and a safe. Suites include additional amenities and a balcony or terrace from which you can enjoy remarkable views of the country's world-renowned archaeological sites, the Gulf of Aqaba and neighbouring countries. Guests staying at the residence also enjoy access to all facilities of the resort without limitations. Connecting rooms, non-smoking rooms, and rooms for the physically challenged are also available on request. In addition, the Red Sea Grill is on premises, open 19:00-23:59 during the summer months. It specialises in seafood, including grilled fresh fish and shellfish dishes combined with an Afro-Arab cooking twist, with a magnificent panoramic view of the Gulf of Aqaba from the terrace on the hotel's private beach. From 88 JD.
Stay safe
Aqaba border taxi cartel
Taxis at the border from Eilat belong to one company, which has a monopoly, and is therefore much more expensive than a typical Jordanian taxi: 11 JD (Feb 2014) for a 15-minute ride to the Aqaba bus station. This is no matter how many people go in the car, be insistent if you are told that sharing a taxi is not allowed. Also as of October 2014, there is a sign listing fixed prices to various destinations (8 JD to the airport, 11 JD to Aqaba, 55 JD to Petra, etc.) Once you get in to Aqaba, however, taxis to Petra are 35 JD, and the Wadi Musa taxi drivers will offer the same price back. Going the other way from Aqaba city centre to the border can be done for 8-10 JD (6-8 JD if you're lucky, Feb 2014).
The taxi company, just outside the customs gate, might stop other drivers and have them turn back to Aqaba. To try to avoid this, call your hotel or private car while still in the customs area.
You can try walking the 500 m to the main road (east), but the military personnel may have you brought back. Or you take a turn right directly after the border and follow the small sideroads to Aqaba—check Openstreetmap.org or GoogleMaps for the situation.
You can ride right past if you have a bicycle, but you'll have to cross the border by foot. Even though bicycles are vehicles in the eyes of the road laws, they will force you to dismount and pass the border as if you were a pedestrian.
It is possible to bargain them down, but you will need to be persistent and enlist the help of the border police to mediate. Don't try and set the price too low. 5 JD to the airport is about as low as they'll go - 10 JD to Aqaba is most likely. Stay polite, but be firm and explain to the border police that it is not a good first impression for tourists to have and that you will write to the Ministry of Tourism. This threat normally sees the taxi cartel back down, but there are no guarantees.
Riding back to the border from city center can be a problem. Should they have to wait, they'll try to switch on the taximeter and ask for 25-30 JD instead of the arranged 10 JD. Don't get intimidated, insist on the agreed pricing and perhaps offer 2 JD on top of the 10 to quiet things.
Aqaba Airport security check
Beware of the security check scams, which have been reported as of late 2019: excuses will be made to confiscate locally-purchased luxuries for resale on the black market. Among items that seem to be systematically seized are purchases of Dead Sea beauty products, honey, molasses, and alcohol. Nothing including any sort of liquid can be considered safe, even in signed-in bags.
Astute negotiation will help save some items, but beware of fake helpers: the scam clearly does not implicate everyone in the airport but your allies will probably not be those who will insistently offer to "help" you.
In any case keep calm and avoid escalating the situation. Innocently destroying the commercial value of confiscated goods might be an option, and perhaps open the packaging of any products to show that they could not possibly be dangerous. This could probably also be done in advance of your flight (defacing the labels for instance). Please do your bit and also report any incident to the Jordan Tourism Board. It is so sad to see the good vibes of this pleasant destination squandered by a few corrupt elements only minutes before leaving the country!
Go next
It can difficult to get mini-bus on Friday which is prayers' day, and on Friday and Saturday when there is no school. Try to check it with tourist information, bus station, police and your hotel.
Many destinations that are not north of Amman can be reached on a day trip. You can set up your own flexible day trips by hiring a taxi for the day. However, some require more than one day, especially Petra and Wadi Rum. Make sure when you set up the trip that you have agreed on the destinations to be included in the trip (or you may need to discuss your price while on the road and do not have other options that your current driver). Alternatively, there are a lot of tour companies around town who would happily arrange excursions, in particular to Wadi Rum.
- Wadi Rum — barren, isolated and beautiful, granite cliffs contrasting with desert sand, 50 km north of Aqaba. A trip here is only really complete with an overnight stay at one of the numerous camps.
- Petra — Jordan's top attraction, 2.5 hr north of Aqaba. An ancient city carved out of sandstone and one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. Can be done in a day if you are good on foot, but most people spend two days.
- Dana Nature Reserve — Stay in a local village within the Nature Reserve, and enjoy unforgettable hiking in an offshoot of the Great Rift.
- Kerak — site of a once-mighty Crusader castle.
- Madaba — known as the 'City of Mosaics' for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, especially a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of Palestine and the Nile delta at St. George Church.
- Dead Sea — The lowest point on earth and the most saline sea, letting you float on top.
To Israel (Eilat)
The Israeli border at Arava (for Eilat) is only a short hop away. As of December 2018, no exit fee is charged to people with Visa on Arrival from other parts of the country or ASEZA visa. According to some people from the city, the situation changes very often, so it is possible that the 10 JD exit fee will be introduced again. Your accommodation might have the correct information about the situation, so ask them to be sure. You can also just take an extra 10 JD banknote to the border, in case no exit fee is collected, you can exchange it at numerous money exchange machines in Eilat. Note, you have to pay a fee if you stayed less than 4 days—see Jordan#Visa.
Basically, there might be another counter after the passport control, which collects the fees, both for paying the exit fee or stayed less than 4 days. There is a white page with big writing in English stating something like this. But no one really seems to care, just walking by without looking at it, might save you some money.
Getting to the border is not as expensive or thrilling as getting from the border (see #Stay safe). Any green taxi in the city will be willing to take you there. The price they offer first is 7 JD or 10 JD, you can haggle it down to 5 JD if you haggling skills are good. Or you just walk from the edge of the city.
The border itself is rather quiet, given the fact it is a border between an Arabic country and Israel. Just follow the marks and you might get to the other side in under 30 minutes, depending on the size of the queue and Israeli border procedures. Nevertheless, note that it can easily take up to 2 hr if the Israeli side does apply a more thorough screening to you.
To Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabian checkpoint is visible on a clear day, but visitors without a visa can only look.
To Egypt (Nuweiba)
Ferries to Egypt are operated by AB Maritime. The schedule changes rapidly with cancellations common, so its recommended to check it when you arrive in Aqaba. As of November 20, 2011
- The fast ferry is not operating
- There is a slow ferry departing Aqaba at 13:00
- There is a slow ferry departing Aqaba at 01:00
This will change based on seasonal loadings. The approximate cost for foreigners is US$65 5 JD departure fee. Pay the departure fee on the ground floor of the terminal building, then take the coupon upstairs for immigration purposes. After copious amounts of stamping, you can go and wait outside.
It is also recommended that you ring the AB Maritime ferry office to confirm the departure time for that day. Delays of several hours are common and sometimes known in advance.
Also ferries to Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh are available from Aqaba.