Jordan is a destination that can be visited year-round. It has a varied landscape from desert, to mountains, to beaches which mean that the climate differs with the terrain. Generally, the best time to travel to Jordan is between March and September as the weather is pleasant, the temperatures are warm and there is little rainfall so all activities such as swimming in the Dead Sea can occur. During the summer months of July and August, temperatures can reach in the high 30’s, so be prepared for the scorching heat. The winter months from November to February are characterized with cooler temperatures and rain. The desert, Wadi Rum is especially cold in the evenings over this period, so pack accordingly.
The culture of Jordan is grounded on Arabic and Islamic foundations with a considerable Western influence, especially in cities such as Amman where alongside traditional culture, Jordan’s younger generation are creating new forms of music and theatre. Besides this the arrival of cultural hotspots such as cafes, galleries and bookshops are increasing too. Jordan has a melting-pot of ethnic groups with a large Iraqi and Palestinian population however, it is also home to the Bedouins or “desert dwellers” who tolerate the desert, live off the land and survive its severe temperatures. Jordanians are known to be respectful, friendly and well-mannered people and as a Muslim country, the people also tend to be conservative.
Jordanian food shares a lot of similarities with Middle Eastern cuisine. Featuring foods such as falafel, hummus, lamb, mezze, kebabs along with plenty of herbs and spices, Jordanian food is delicious and pleasing. Within the cities there a plenty of coffee houses, which is where friends and family meet up. Tea and coffee are widely drunk and even though Jordan is a Muslim country, alcohol is commonly available with the local beer Amstel the predominant beer of choice. There’s also a great range of wine as the quality has improved considerably over the years, notably the cabernets, merlots, sauvignon blanks and chardonnays.
As tap water is not safe to drink in Jordan, only drink bottled mineral water which is readily available from hotels, shops and restaurants
Jordan offers plenty of exciting shopping encounters. The country is home to vibrant markets, bustling souks, contemporary malls and boutique shops. You’ll find interesting items such as handcrafts, handmade products, Bedouin artistries, clothing and much more
Jordan is a vastly more expensive than neighbouring Egypt and in many cases is similar in costs to Western countries. An inexpensive meal from a cheap restaurant or street food vendor will usually cost around USD $5-10 while a three course meal with drinks at a fancy eatery could set you back up to about USD $50. It is quite hard to get around Jordan by public transport so car hire is recommended. Daily living could cost anything from USD $50-150 per day, according to your budget.
Currency in Jordan
The currency of Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar.
Pound Sterling, US Dollars, Euro and other major currencies can be exchanged in Jordan. Exchange facilities are available at various bureau de changes, and banks in major towns have ATMs. It’s advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities.
Time zone is Jordan
Jordan is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime (GMT). From the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October Jordan observes Daylight Saving and is 3 hours ahead of GMT.
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