Getting Around Jordan | The Jordan Guide

Jordan is a compact country on the map — roughly 430 kilometres from north to south — but getting between its major sites requires planning. Public transport covers the main arteries but leaves gaps. A rental car unlocks the country fully. Understanding the options before you arrive saves both money and frustration.

JETT Buses: The Backbone of Long-Distance Travel

JETT (Jordan Express Tourist Transport) is Jordan’s main inter-city bus company. The buses are air-conditioned, comfortable, and run on fixed schedules between Amman and the country’s major destinations.

Key JETT routes and approximate fares as of 2026:

Route	Approx. Fare	Approx. Journey Time
Amman → Petra (Wadi Musa)	JOD 10	3–3.5 hours
Amman → Aqaba	JOD 9	3.5–4 hours
Amman → Dead Sea (limited service)	JOD 8	1.5 hours
Amman → King Hussein Bridge (for Israel)	JOD 7	1 hour

The Abdali bus station in central Amman is where most JETT routes originate. It is not the same as the South Bus Station (Wihdat) used by local minibuses. Know which station you need before you set off.

Booking JETT: You can buy tickets at the JETT station in Abdali on the day, but the popular Amman–Petra morning departure (typically around 6:30am) can sell out during peak season. Book in person the day before or check the JETT website (jett.com.jo) for online booking, which works intermittently.

Limitations: JETT only serves major destinations on fixed schedules. There is no JETT service to Wadi Rum, Jerash, Madaba, or smaller towns along the Kings Highway. For these, you need minibuses, serveeces, or taxis.

Local Minibuses: Cheaper but Slower

Jordan has an extensive network of local minibuses serving routes that JETT does not cover. They are significantly cheaper but have no fixed departure schedules — buses leave when full.

Wihdat Bus Station (also called South Bus Station) in Amman handles routes to most domestic destinations not covered by JETT, including:

Amman → Madaba (approximately JOD 0.5, 45 minutes)
Amman → Jerash (approximately JOD 1, 1–1.5 hours)
Amman → Irbid (approximately JOD 1.5, 1.5 hours)
Amman → Karak (approximately JOD 2.5–3, 2 hours)

Tabarbour Bus Station (North Bus Station) handles routes toward the north of the country including Jerash and Ajloun.

The waiting time for minibuses varies widely — 20 minutes in the morning for popular routes, potentially over an hour for less popular destinations in the afternoon. Bring a book and patience.

Serveeces (Shared Taxis): The Middle Ground

Serveeces are shared taxis — typically 7-seater minivans — that operate fixed routes between cities. They are faster than minibuses (they do not stop as frequently), cheaper than private taxis, and more flexible than JETT buses on timing. They fill up like minibuses and leave when full.

How they work: Find the serveece stand for your destination at the relevant bus station. Tell the driver where you are going. Pay the fixed rate per seat. You can pay for two seats if you want more space or do not want to wait for the van to fill up.

Approximate serveece fares as of 2026:

Amman → Madaba: JOD 1–1.5 per person
Amman → Jerash: JOD 1.5 per person
Amman → Karak: JOD 3–4 per person
Aqaba → Wadi Rum: JOD 5–7 per person (though this route is irregular — confirm at Aqaba bus station)

Serveeces are the standard transport for Jordanians making inter-city trips. For travellers comfortable with the informal system, they are a good value option.

Private Taxis: Flexibility at a Price

Private taxis in Amman use meters (look for the yellow meter on the dashboard). Always insist the driver uses the meter — drivers sometimes try to negotiate a fixed fare in tourist areas that is higher than the metered rate would be.

Approximate metered fares in Amman as of 2026:

Queen Alia Airport to city centre: JOD 20–25 (metered, or agree a fixed fare in advance)
Most within-city journeys: JOD 3–8

Intercity private taxis: For trips between cities, taxis do not use meters — negotiate the fare before getting in. As a rough guide:

Amman → Petra (private taxi, one-way): JOD 60–80
Amman → Dead Sea (one-way): JOD 25–35
Wadi Musa → Wadi Rum: JOD 40–55
Wadi Rum → Aqaba: JOD 20–30

Uber and Careem both operate in Amman and are useful for airport transfers and city travel. The apps give you a fare estimate before booking, removing the negotiation step. They do not currently operate for intercity journeys.

For a pre-booked, fixed-price airport pickup with an English-speaking driver, Welcome Pickups is worth considering — particularly useful for late-night arrivals or first-time visitors who want a confirmed price and a named driver waiting in arrivals.

Airport Transfers from Queen Alia International Airport

Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) is 35 kilometres south of central Amman.

Airport Express Bus (Line 702): This air-conditioned public bus runs every 30 minutes between the airport and the 7th Circle (Abdoun) area in central Amman. Cost approximately JOD 3.5 as of 2026. Journey time 45–60 minutes depending on traffic. Tickets from the machine inside the arrivals hall. This is by far the cheapest option.

Taxi from airport: Approximately JOD 20–25 for a metered taxi to central Amman. Use the airport’s official taxi desk in arrivals (more reliable rates than the drivers outside). Alternatively, book an Uber or Careem from the arrivals hall with mobile data.

Pre-booked private transfers: Hotels can arrange airport transfers for approximately JOD 25–35, which includes a meet-and-greet and a name board. Worth considering for late arrivals with heavy luggage. Airport transfers in Jordan can also be pre-booked through Kiwitaxi for a fixed price before you land. Alternatively, compare bids from local transfer operators via GetTransfer — useful if you want to weigh up vehicle options and driver ratings before booking.

Car Rental: The Best Way to See Jordan Fully

A rental car unlocks the parts of Jordan that public transport does not reach well — the Kings Highway, Wadi Rum approach, Azraq wetlands, the Black Desert in the northeast, Dana Biosphere Reserve, and smaller archaeological sites. If you are doing a 7-day circuit of the country, a car for at least part of the trip is worth serious consideration.

Where to rent: Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport has all major rental agencies including Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty, and local operators. Rates from the airport are broadly competitive. We recommend comparing prices before you arrive — booking in advance is usually cheaper than counter rates.

Approximate daily rates as of 2026: JOD 25–35 for a small car (Kia Picanto size), JOD 35–50 for a mid-size sedan, JOD 50–80 for an SUV (worth considering for unpaved desert tracks near Wadi Rum). Local Jordanian operators can undercut international chains by 20–30%; reliability is generally acceptable but the excess insurance terms are sometimes less clear — read carefully.

Insurance: Always take the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) plus any additional excess reduction the rental company offers. Jordanian driving conditions include unmarked speed bumps, sudden sand drifts on desert roads, and unpredictable driving habits in cities. The standard CDW usually still leaves you liable for JOD 100–300 in the event of damage — the excess reduction (typically JOD 5–10 per day) removes that liability.

International Driving Permit: Required. Obtain one from your national motoring organisation before travel. In practice, car rental agencies do not always check for it, but if stopped by police an IDP is legally required alongside your national licence.

Driving on the right. Speed limits are typically 90 km/h on highways, 50 km/h in urban areas. Police with speed cameras are common on the Desert Highway.

Road quality: Highways between major cities (Amman–Aqaba Desert Highway, the Kings Highway main road) are in good condition. Approach roads to Wadi Rum, Dana, and some archaeological sites involve unpaved tracks — check whether your rental includes permission to take the car on unpaved roads.

The Two Main Highways: Desert vs Kings Highway

Understanding Jordan’s two main north-south routes is essential for planning.

The Desert Highway (Route 15)

The Desert Highway is the fast, direct route from Amman to Aqaba, passing through the flat desert interior. It is approximately 330 kilometres and takes 3–3.5 hours with no stops. JETT buses and most trucks and freight use this route.

Good for: Getting somewhere quickly. Amman to Petra (turnoff at Ma’an), Amman to Aqaba directly.

Not good for: Scenery, intermediate sightseeing. The landscape is flat and monotonous — functional driving, not a pleasure road.

The Kings Highway (Route 35)

The Kings Highway is one of the oldest roads in the world, following a trade route that predates the Roman Empire. It runs along the highland ridge of central Jordan, passing through Madaba, Mount Nebo, the Mujib Gorge viewpoint, Karak, Dana, and eventually connecting to the Petra turnoff.

The road is slower — plan for 5–6 hours from Amman to Petra via the Kings Highway with stops — and involves dramatic changes in elevation and some narrow sections through canyon country. But the intermediate stops are some of Jordan’s best experiences.

Key Kings Highway stops:

Madaba (30 km south of Amman): The 6th-century Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land in St George’s Church
Mount Nebo (10 km from Madaba): The biblical site where Moses viewed the Promised Land; excellent mosaic floors and Dead Sea panorama
Wadi Mujib Gorge: Dramatic canyon viewpoint visible from the highway bridge
Karak (120 km south of Madaba): Crusader castle from 1142, one of the best-preserved in the Middle East
Dana Biosphere Reserve: The largest nature reserve in Jordan; the village of Dana itself is worth a stop

The recommendation: Take the Kings Highway southbound (Amman to Petra) to see the stops. Return north via the Desert Highway if you need to get back quickly.

Domestic Flights

Royal Jordanian operates a domestic service between Amman (Queen Alia International Airport) and Aqaba (King Hussein International Airport).

Flight time: approximately 45 minutes
Approximate fare as of 2026: JOD 35–80 one-way depending on timing and how far in advance you book
Frequency: a handful of flights daily

The domestic flight is rarely worth the price-to-time trade-off compared to the JETT bus (3.5–4 hours, JOD 9). It becomes worthwhile if you have a very tight schedule, if you are flying internationally from Aqaba, or if flights are heavily discounted.

Tips for Getting Around Efficiently

Book JETT buses the day before for the popular Amman–Petra morning departure, particularly from March to May and October to November.

Negotiate taxi fares before getting in for any intercity journey. Agree the total price, not a per-person rate, to avoid misunderstandings on arrival.

Use Uber or Careem in Amman to avoid meter disputes and inflated tourist rates. The app-based fare is what you pay.

Factor in border crossing time if your circuit includes the Israel or Egypt crossings. The King Hussein / Allenby Bridge crossing to the West Bank/Israel can take 2–6 hours depending on queue length.

Fuel stations are widely available on all major highways. Petrol (benzene) costs approximately JOD 0.8–1.0 per litre as of 2026. Credit cards accepted at most highway fuel stations; carry cash for remote areas.

Getting Around Jordan: Transport Guide