Official language: Arabic
Time zone: UTC+3
(summer),
UTC+2
(winter)
Currency: Jordanian dinar (JOD)
About 2 hours by car north of Aqaba is Petra – the ruins of the ancient city of Nabataeans. In this unusual rock valley, the film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" was placed.
In Aqaba, there is a Marine Park with fabulous beaches and diving sites, as well as a restaurant, a shop, an auditorium and a research center, where scientific and educational projects are carried out.
In Aqaba, we can find several companies renting yachts for a romantic cruise or a small party. During the trip, delicious food is served, and in the background romantic music is played.
Aqaba is the only port city in Jordan. It is located in the south of the country on the Red Sea and is a great base for trips to Egypt and Israel. An ideal place for lovers of surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling. At the edge of the Bay of Aqaba you can admire the underwater world of plants and animals. This is a great opportunity to look at the colourful coral reef, which the Red Sea is famous for. It is worth taking an unforgettable cruise by submarine or rent a jet ski and explore the seaside area yourself. On a sunny day (which are not lacking there) we can go on a trip to the famous Wadi Rum valley, where the Bedouin village is located.
Aqaba has beautiful beaches and unique monuments of historical importance. We find there the ruins of the medieval Islamic city of Ayla and the mosque of Sharif Hussein Bin Ali. The surroundings of Aqaba can be explored on foot, by bike, off-road car or... on a camel. The desert-mountain nature of the region favours hiking, and the golden beaches are the perfect place to relax with a book and a fruity cocktail.
Aqaba is alive at nights. In the evenings, residents and tourists who are hungry for a good time go out to the Hammamet Al-Tunisieh boulevard. In the centre and by the beach you will find numerous pubs (for e.g. Sea View Bar), where after dusk you can relax with a drink and admire the view of the ruby sea. The local marketplace sells original souvenirs, colourful scarves and handicrafts. Particularly noteworthy is the local street food. In the roadside stalls you can buy regional delicacies as well as refreshing fruit juices.
The Jordanian cuisine is dominated by Turkish and Arab influences. You'll get traditional falafel, Arab harissa and original kebab almost everywhere. A very popular dish is roasted chicken served with spicy rice and a bouquet of fresh vegetables. Aqaba is famous for great restaurants. Fish and seafood dishes are worth visiting at Floka Seafood. We will also try traditional Jordanian dishes at Papaya or Hashem Son's. In Pistachio Sweets & Cafe, sweet pistachio delicacies await us, and for exquisite ice cream, it's worth visiting Gelato Uno.