Which means of transport to use Jordan?

From the airport to the city centre Jordan

Queen Alia International Airport is about 30 km south of the capital, Amman.

Cabs. The cab fare is fixed at 22.50 JD. You'll find the station in front of the arrivals terminal. It takes between 40 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Amman, depending on your arrival time and the location of your hotel.

Bus. The Sariyah Shuttle runs between the airport and Abdali bus station, via the^4th,^5th,^6th and^7th Circles. The stop is in front of Terminal 2 and the arrivals terminal. It runs every 30 minutes between 6.30 a.m. and 5 p.m., then every hour. Minimum journey time 50 minutes. Fare: 3.50 JD.

Car rental. Larger agencies have a counter in the arrivals hall. For the others, a representative will be waiting for you at the exit or at a pre-arranged meeting point to hand over the keys and papers.

Arrival by train Jordan

There is only one passenger train line in Jordan, linking Amman to Damascus along the old caravan route. The war in Syria has brought the operation of this line to a halt.

Arrival by boat Jordan

Ferries cross the Red Sea from Nuweiba in Egypt. The crossing takes 3 hours and costs US$80. The company in charge of the crossing is Arab Bridge Maritime(www.abmaritime.com.jo).

A speedboat service also operates from the Egyptian seaside resort of Taba, taking 1 hour and costing US$60. Ask at the port.

The passenger ferry terminal is some ten kilometers south of Aqaba. Cabs to the city cost 10 DJ.

Public transport Jordan

Transport services are provided by private companies or owners of vans and minibuses operating from bus stations. At the point of departure, it's not uncommon for the driver to turn on the ignition only when his bus is full, rather than respecting a timetable. This is always the case with shared cabs. Fares are very cheap, but it's difficult to predict how long it will take to get from one city to another.

The private bus company JETT provides connections in comfortable air-conditioned coaches between the major cities (Irbid, Aqaba, Amman) and the main tourist sites (Amman, Petra, Aqaba, Wadi Rum). These buses operate to a timetable, and tickets can be booked in advance, but only from Jordan (www.jett.com.jo).

Bike, scooters & co Jordan

You won't see anyone riding a bike in Jordan, and rarely on two wheels. Jordanians own a car in town or a big pick-up truck in the countryside. Otherwise, they travel on foot with their herds of goats in the mountains. And they are among the last nomadic Bedouins in the country.

With a driver Jordan

In Amman, cabs are the best way to get around. It costs next to nothing (provided the driver has set his meter correctly, which is usually the case) and the drivers know their way around traffic jams and know all the hotels in town.

For longer journeys and in the country's other cities, you'll need to negotiate the fare. As far as possible, we've given you an idea of the price for an intramural or city-to-city journey. Please note, however, that this is not a fixed price and may vary considerably according to the price of petrol or your negotiating skills.

By car Jordan

Amman is renowned for its endless traffic jams, which start at around 8am in the morning and finish at around 7pm. The topography, tunnels, expressways and huge traffic circles make it difficult to navigate between the different districts.

Parking is also operationally impossible in downtown Amman. Elsewhere, hotels generally have underground parking facilities. In the cities, it's not uncommon for someone to knock on your door and ask for a few dinars for parking. In exchange, the person is responsible for your vehicle in your absence. This practice is common in Arab countries and should not offend you.

The speed limit is 50 km/h in town, 70 km/h on roads and 110 km/h on freeways. Beware: identity and speed checks are very common on Jordanian roads.

Accessibility Jordan

The streets of Jordan's major cities have sidewalks. As long as you look where you're going, you can get around without a hitch. In Amman's suburbs and new districts, it's not uncommon to have to slalom between missing sections of sidewalk, parked cars and shopfronts.

Tourist traps Jordan

Jordan is an extremely safe and honest country. You won't be exposed to many potential scams. On the other hand, Arabs have a culture of tipping, which you'll have to sacrifice, even for a service you didn't ask for. This applies as early as the airport, with a young man rushing to push your cart and put your suitcase in the trunk, then in the street when parking your car on a public or private road, etc.