Like many middle east countries Jordan's tourist economy has suffered in recent years.

The main entry point is Amman International Airport. There are no direct flights into Jordan from Australia. Emirates (via Dubai), Qatar (via Doha) and Royal Jordanian/ Thai (via Bangkok) offer the most popular indirect flights.

The currency is the Jordanian Dinar (Approximately 0.56 JOD to 1 Australian Dollar)

Amman is often referred to as the 'white city', features remains from the Roman, Greek and Ottoman Turk occupations. The Roman amphitheatre from the second century AD in the centre of the city and the Jebel el Qalat (citadel) are the most popular sights.

From Amman to Aqaba, the King's Highway is dotted with places of interest. Madaba and nearby Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have struck the rock being the most famous. Off the Highway is Mukawir,Machaerus of Herod Antipas and Qasr al-Meshneque, where St John was beheaded. Zarqa Main, known for it’s hot springs and Karak, known for it’s crusader castles are the other main places of interest.

Jerash is justly famous for the Triumphal Arch, the Hippodrome, the great elliptical forum, the theatres, baths and gateways, the Roman bridge and the wide street of columns that lead to the Temple of Artemis.

In the far north of the country, Umm Qais, the Biblical 'Gadara', dominates the area around Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee. In the east are the desert Umayyad castles (Qasr) of Al-Kharanah and Amra. The northwest border from Umm Qais to Jerash displays the lush scenery of the Jordan River Valley. Al Himma, Pella and Qalaat al-Rabadh being the main sights of the valley.

Petra, one of the wonders of the Middle-Eastern world and now a UNESCO world heritage site: a gigantic natural amphitheatre hidden in the rocks out of which a delicately coloured city with immense facades has been carved; it was lost for hundreds of years and only rediscovered in 1812.

Australian passport holders can obtain a 30 day visa upon arrival for 10 JOD $25).

if you need a visa for more than 30 days or just prefer to get it in advance then you can print the application form from this site.

Visa applications should be sent to:

Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
20 Roebuck Street
Red Hill
ACT 2603

if you need consular help whilst in Jordan then contact:

Australian Embassy,

3 Youssef Abu Shahhout,

Deir Ghbar, AMMAN

Tel: (+962) 6 580 7000 Fax: (+962) 6 580 7001

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