Jordan Transport

Air
Queen Alia International Airport is located 35kms southeast of Amman and is Jordan’s main airport. Regular flights arrive daily from regional destinations such as Beirut, Cairo and Damascus, as well as a limited number of cities farther afield. The national airline is Royal Jordanian Airlines and they handle the majority of flights in and out of the country. The flight from London to Amman takes five hours.

The airport’s terminal has all the basic facilities a traveller needs, such as ATMs, a bank, currency exchange bureaux, restaurants and duty-free shops. An information desk is located in the Arrivals area to help with any questions you may have.

The airport is connected to Amman by a good highway and the trip into the capital takes around 40 minutes. Airport Express buses run regularly to downtown Amman’s Abdali Station. These buses depart from outside the Arrivals hall every 30 minutes from 06:00 until 22:00 and every two hours between 23:00 and 05:00. Taxis are also available into the city. There is no additional charge for baggage, and drivers do not expect to be tipped unless they have carried your heavy bags a long distance.

Rail
The classic Hejaz Railway runs twice a week on the old Ottoman track between Damascus and Amman. The somewhat arduous, but nostalgic, journey takes about nine hours. This is a great transportation option if you are a big fan of old railway lines.

Bus
There is road access to Jordan from Syria via Ramtha or Jaber, with a driving time of around four hours from Damascus to Amman. JETT is one of the main coach companies running regular buses from Damascus to Amman or Irbid. There is also a kind of share-taxi service which runs regularly from Damascus to Amman. The truly adventurous traveller can take a public bus from cities such as Baghdad, Cairo, Istanbul, Saudi Arabia and even Palestinian territories, but these services are often interrupted by war. From Israel, you can enter Jordan at Sheikh Hussein Bridge, which crosses the Jordan River. All visitors should have visas prepared beforehand to avoid hassles, but due to the volatile nature of the region, bus availability changes frequently.

Car
There are plenty of road crossings into Jordan, but due to the tenuous nature of the surrounding countries, border checkpoints are often closed at short notice. From Syria, you can drive into Jordan via Jaber or Ramtha. From Israel, you can enter Jordan at Sheikh Hussein Bridge, which crosses the Jordan River. Any car that wants to cross these borders will be subject to serious inspection, rules and regulations.

Sea
The only port in Jordan is at Aqaba, on the coast of the Red Sea. There is a daily car and passenger ferry which departs from Nuweiba, Egypt, as well as a high-speed hydrofoil service.

Air
The only domestic air route runs between Amman and Aqaba. Royal Wings operates these regular flights and it is also possible to hire private helicopters and executive jets.

Bus
JETT, Alpha and Trust International Transport are the main coach operators between cities in Jordan. Modern, air-conditioned buses run regularly between Amman and Aqaba, the King Hussein Bridge, Petra and Hammamat Ma’in. You can also take a private bus from Amman to Irbid and Aqaba and minibuses travel between the smaller towns in Jordan, but with very irregular service, meaning they only leave when they’re full.

To get around in the cities such as Amman, there are conventional buses and extensive fixed-route share-taxis, which hold up to seven passengers. These servis, as they’re known, are licensed by the state and use a standard fare scale, but there are no fixed pick-up or destination sites. These vehicles usually fill up at central or outer terminal points and then leave for their destinations.

Car
Jordan’s main roads are actually quite good, but the desert tracks should be avoided unless you are driving a high clearance four-wheel drive vehicle. Major international car hire companies, as well as a few local ones, operate in the main towns. Drivers are available for hire if you want to be taken around. There are frequent passport checkpoints along the Red Sea, so travellers should always keep their papers handy.

Taxi
All taxis in Jordan use a meter for their fares and can also be hired out for the entire day. More common are the yellow shared taxis, called servis. These minibuses operate along regular routes and the taxis bear the numbers of their particular route. Your hotel can help you sort out this kind of transport. Jordanian taxi drivers are generally very helpful to visitors, as are fellow passengers. Tips are not expected, but a 10 per cent gratuity is always appreciated.

Sea and Lake
The only ferry service runs between Aqaba and Nuweiba in Sinai. You can also catch a ferry/bus combo from Aqaba to Cairo.