The Jordan Wanders blog
Stories, guides & honest advice
Everything we've learned exploring Jordan — practical itineraries, the food worth crossing town for, what the desert is really like, and the straight answers on safety and logistics.
Explore our complete museums guide →82 articles
Beit Sitti cooking class: planning an Amman food experience
Plan a Beit Sitti cooking experience in Amman with background on the family concept, questions about menus and practical advice for cooking and dining.
Beekeeping in Umm Qais: planning a honey experience
Plan an Umm Qais beekeeping visit with the difference between hive tours and honey harvesting, weather checks and practical booking questions.
Hadab making in Umm Qais: a guide to the tassel workshop
Discover hadab making in Umm Qais with the keffiyeh tasselling tradition, published workshop details and questions to ask before booking a craft session.
Ajloun Archaeological Museum: the collection inside the castle
Make time for Ajloun Castle’s archaeological museum, with regional collection highlights, a short viewing route and practical advice on access.
Al Hakaya Museum: a guide to Jordan’s stories and cultural displays
Plan a visit to Al Hakaya Museum in the Madaba area, with context for its storytelling exhibits, family pacing and practical visitor checks.
Arar’s Cultural House in Irbid: poetry, place and a visitor guide
Visit the Irbid house associated with poet Mustafa Wahbi Al Tal, with a suggested approach to manuscripts, photographs and the courtyard setting.
As-Salt Archaeological Museum: a guide to the Balqa collection
Explore the archaeology of the Balqa region in As-Salt, with advice on reading the collection, locating the museum and planning a city visit.
Central Bank of Jordan Currency Museum: coins, banknotes and a visit
Explore Jordan’s monetary history at the Central Bank’s Currency Museum, including free admission, weekday hours and a suggested way to read the displays.
Dar Al-Anda in Amman: planning a gallery appointment
Plan a Dar Al-Anda gallery visit in Amman with its historic-villa setting, appointment requirement and ideas for an attentive contemporary-art outing.
Dar As Saraya Museum in Irbid: courtyard, collections and visiting guide
Explore Dar As Saraya’s Ottoman building and northern Jordan collection, with a suggested visit, seasonal-hours cautions and practical Irbid advice.
Dead Sea Panorama Museum: geology, ecology and visiting advice
Explore the Dead Sea’s landscape and environmental story at the Panorama Museum, with a suggested route, practical details and advice for combining the visit.
Finan Heritage Museum: a visitor guide to the Feynan region
Explore the Finan Heritage Museum’s landscape model, stone tools and regional interpretation, with practical advice for a Wadi Araba visit.
Jerash Archaeological Museum: a guide beyond the monumental ruins
Add the Jerash museum to your archaeological-site visit, with collection highlights, a focused viewing plan and practical checks for tickets and access.
Jordan Archaeological Museum at Amman Citadel: a visitor guide
Add the Citadel’s archaeological museum to your Amman visit, with collection context, a short viewing route and advice on tickets and access.
Jordan’s Traditional Costumes and Jewelry Museum: a visitor guide
Discover dress, ornament and craft at the Roman Theatre’s eastern-side museum, with tips for looking closely and planning a downtown Amman visit.
Al Karak Archaeology Museum: a guide to the As Saraya collection
Explore Karak’s archaeology museum and historic-city model, with clear location advice, a focused viewing plan and practical visitor information.
Ma’an Heritage Museum: the Ottoman citadel and the city’s story
Explore Ma’an’s heritage museum in its Ottoman citadel setting, with context for pilgrimage, trade and a practical plan for visiting the collection.
Madaba Archaeological Museum: mosaics, objects and local heritage
Explore Madaba’s archaeological and folklore collections, with a suggested museum visit, practical access advice and links for a wider mosaic walk.
Martyrs’ Memorial Museum in Amman: history and visiting advice
Plan a respectful visit to Amman’s Martyrs’ Memorial Museum, with collection context, suggested pacing and practical checks for its published timetable.
The Petra Museum: a complete guide before or after the Siq
Meet the people behind Petra through its museum: Nabataean objects, a suggested gallery route, free admission and practical visiting details.
Qasr Burqu: planning an eastern Jordan heritage trip
Research a Qasr Burqu visit with context for its water-related setting, archaeological study and questions to resolve before an eastern Jordan journey.
Salt Historical Museum and Abu Jaber House: planning a visit
Visit Abu Jaber House in As-Salt for a closer look at the historic building and local heritage, with guidance on museum names, access and city walks.
Sharif Hussein bin Ali’s House: a guide to Aqaba’s museum
Explore the historic house associated with Aqaba’s Antiquities Museum, with collection context, castle-area planning and advice on conflicting opening hours.
At-Tafilah Museum: archaeology and local history in Tafila
Discover At-Tafilah Museum’s regional archaeology and former school building, with collection themes, weekday hours and practical advice for a southern itinerary.
Umm Al Jimal Museum: an introduction to the basalt settlement
Use Umm Al Jimal’s museum to frame a visit to the archaeological site, with advice on interpretation, short films, access and realistic pacing.
Umm Qais Archaeological Museum: visiting Bayt Al Rusan
Explore Umm Qais’s archaeological museum in its historic house setting, with advice on reading inscriptions, planning the site visit and checking access.
University of Jordan Archaeological Museum: a campus visitor guide
Discover the University of Jordan’s archaeological collection and its educational purpose, with weekday visiting advice and questions to ask before arrival.
Wasfi and Saadia Al Tal Museum: a guide to the house and collection
Explore the personal setting of Wasfi and Saadia Al Tal’s house museum in Balqa, with context for the library, belongings and practical visiting advice.
Hammam al-Sar’h: a bathhouse stop in eastern Jordan
Discover Hammam al-Sar’h with context for its Umayyad bathhouse history, an approach to reading the remains and practical questions before a visit.
Museum of Parliamentary Life: visiting Jordan’s former parliament
Explore the building associated with Jordan’s independence and parliamentary history, with a focused museum route and practical visitor information.
Cheese making in Pella: planning a food experience
Plan a cheese-making experience in Pella with questions about seasonal availability, workshop inclusions and combining local food with an archaeology visit.
Jordan Folklore Museum: everyday heritage at Amman’s Roman Theatre
Look closely at clothing, household objects and crafts in the Jordan Folklore Museum, with a suggested route and practical downtown visiting advice.
Museum of the Lowest Place on Earth: a complete visitor guide
Discover the southern Jordan Valley through the Museum of the Lowest Place on Earth, with collection highlights, Lot’s Cave context and practical planning advice.
Safi Crafts: planning a textile-focused visit in Jordan
Discover Safi Crafts in Ghor Al Safi with background on the women’s craft initiative, questions for a visit and practical advice for buying textiles.
Ajloun’s Soap House: planning a local craft visit
Plan an Ajloun Soap House visit with background on olive-oil soap, questions about demonstrations and advice on confirming the current meeting location.
Amman Stamp Museum: Jordan’s history in miniature
Explore stamps, postal equipment and public imagery at Amman’s Stamp Museum, with a focused viewing approach and practical weekday visiting advice.
Our Lady of the Mountain in Anjara: planning a visit
Visit Our Lady of the Mountain in Anjara with context for its pilgrimage tradition, respectful visiting advice and ideas for a northern Jordan itinerary.
Arabic coffee in the Jordan Valley: planning a workshop
Plan an Arabic-coffee experience in the Jordan Valley, with questions about roasting, grinding and brewing, booking inclusions and visiting respectfully.
Royal Tank Museum in Amman: halls, tickets and a suggested route
Explore the Royal Tank Museum’s military history and engineering displays, with current operator hours, ticket categories and a focused visiting plan.
Tell Mar Elias near Ajloun: a pilgrimage-site visit
Discover Tell Mar Elias near Ajloun, with context for its Elijah tradition, Byzantine churches and practical planning for a northern Jordan history trip.
Children’s Museum Jordan: a practical family visitor guide
Plan a relaxed family visit to Children’s Museum Jordan, with play-based exhibits, seasonal hours, admission information and advice for parents.
Qasr al-Mshatta: planning a palace visit near Amman
Explore Qasr al-Mshatta with an introduction to its Umayyad setting, an architecture-focused visiting approach and practical questions before departure.
Basket weaving in Umm Qais: planning a craft workshop
Discover a basket-weaving workshop in Umm Qais, with published age and duration details, booking questions and ideas for combining crafts with heritage.
Hejaz Railway Museum in Amman: history and practical visiting advice
Explore the history behind Amman’s Hejaz Railway Museum, with a focused approach to the visit and clear distinctions between museum entry and train services.
Olive-harvest experiences in Jordan: how to plan a visit
Plan an olive-harvest experience in Jordan with booking questions, expectations for farm activities and practical ideas for a respectful rural visit.
The Founding King’s Residence in Ma’an: a museum visitor guide
Visit the Ma’an railway building associated with Prince Abdullah’s headquarters, with historical context, a suggested museum route and practical planning advice.
Darat al Funun: art and historic houses in Amman
Plan a Darat al Funun visit in Amman with its historic buildings, contemporary art programme, entrance details and ideas for an unhurried cultural outing.
Dibeen Forest Reserve: planning a woodland visit in Jordan
Explore Dibeen Forest Reserve with context on its pine and oak habitat, practical questions for your visit and ideas for a nature-focused day near Jerash.
Qasr Kharana: a closer look at a Jordan desert castle
Plan a Qasr Kharana stop in eastern Jordan, with an architecture-focused approach, practical access questions and ideas for pairing it with Quseir Amra.
Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts: collections and a visitor guide
Discover modern and contemporary art in Amman’s National Gallery, with operator hours, ticket prices and a thoughtful way to explore the exhibitions.
Mukawir and Machaerus: a hilltop history visit in Jordan
Discover the history of Mukawir, also known as Machaerus, with practical planning ideas for a hilltop visit and a thoughtful Madaba-area itinerary.
Shaumari Wildlife Reserve: Arabian oryx and visit planning
Plan a Shaumari Wildlife Reserve visit with Arabian oryx conservation context, booking questions and ideas for combining nature stops in eastern Jordan.
Bethany Beyond the Jordan: planning a pilgrimage-site visit
Understand Bethany Beyond the Jordan's religious significance and archaeological remains, with practical questions for arranging a respectful visit to Al-Maghtas.
Qasr Al Hallabat Museum: a guide to the palace and its objects
Visit Qasr Al Hallabat’s site museum for inscriptions, mosaics and excavated objects, with a suggested sequence for the museum and surrounding ruins.
Royal Automobile Museum: Jordan’s history through cars and motorcycles
Plan a Royal Automobile Museum visit in Amman, with royal-history context, design details to notice, published hours and practical family advice.
Amman Citadel: a first-visit guide to the hilltop site
Plan an Amman Citadel visit around the Temple of Hercules, Byzantine Church and Umayyad Palace, with practical advice on timing and your onward route.
Historic Aqaba: planning visits to Ayla and the castle
Explore Aqaba's historical side with a plan for Islamic Ayla, Aqaba Castle and the Arab Revolt Plaza, plus tips for fitting heritage into a coastal stay.
Mount Nebo: planning a visit to the Moses memorial
Visit Mount Nebo with context for its Moses tradition, church and mosaics, plus practical advice on combining the memorial with a separate Madaba visit.
Azraq Wetland Reserve: planning a birdwatching visit
Plan an Azraq Wetland Reserve visit using RSCN's trail information, with advice on birdwatching, booking questions and arranging an eastern Jordan day trip.
Dana walks: how to choose the right route for your trip
Compare a Dana village walk, a campsite loop and a guided trail, with practical questions about seasonality, transport and choosing a suitable route.
The Jordan Museum in Amman: collections, context and visiting advice
Explore Jordan’s national museum through archaeology, the Ain Ghazal figures and the Dead Sea Scrolls, with a practical plan for your visit.
As-Salt walking guide: historic streets and urban hospitality
Explore As-Salt's historic streets with a flexible walking plan, context for its yellow-stone architecture and advice for a thoughtful visit from Amman.
Iraq al-Amir: planning a day of crafts and archaeology
Plan an Iraq al-Amir visit around Qasr al-Abd and the women's cooperative, with practical questions for booking a craft experience and arranging transport.
Shobak Castle: a guide to its history and your visit
Explore Shobak Castle's changing history, from Crusader fortress to later settlement, with practical advice for planning a focused stop on a Jordan trip.
Karak Castle: planning a stop in Jordan's fortified town
Plan a Karak Castle visit with a focused approach to its vaulted halls, time for the town and practical advice for adding a stop to your Jordan route.
Pella, Jordan: a guide to exploring layers of ancient history
Explore Pella in northern Jordan with context for its archaeological remains, a flexible visit plan and advice for fitting it into a northern itinerary.
Umm al-Jimal: exploring Jordan's basalt-built heritage
Discover Umm al-Jimal's basalt architecture, courtyards and water systems, with practical advice for visiting this UNESCO World Heritage site in Jordan.
Jerash ruins: a walking route for your first visit
Explore the Jerash ruins with a flexible walking route, highlights around the Oval Plaza and practical advice for planning a day trip from Amman.
Quseir Amra: a visitor's guide to Jordan's desert murals
Discover Quseir Amra's Umayyad murals and bath complex, with a focused viewing plan and practical tips for adding this UNESCO site to a Jordan trip.
Umm ar-Rasas: a guide to mosaics and monastic history
Plan a visit to Umm ar-Rasas, Jordan's UNESCO archaeological site, with context for St Stephen's mosaics, the settlement and its monastic history.
Ajloun Castle: how to plan a northern Jordan day trip
Plan an Ajloun Castle day trip with historical context, a flexible visit plan and advice on choosing between a Jerash pairing and more time in Ajloun.
Madaba mosaics: a walking guide to Jordan's mosaic city
Explore Madaba's mosaic map, archaeological park and craft shops with a flexible walking plan, practical visit tips and an optional Mount Nebo extension.
Umm Qais travel guide: exploring ancient Gadara
Explore Umm Qais and ancient Gadara with a guide to the ruins, museum and viewpoints, plus practical advice for building a northern Jordan itinerary.
The perfect 7-day Jordan itinerary for first-timers
The classic first-timer's route — Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea — with exactly where to sleep each night and how long to spend at each stop.
Mansaf, knafeh & mint tea: a guide to Jordanian food
What to order, where to find the best of it, and how to eat mansaf — Jordan's national dish — the proper local way. Plus knafeh, falafel and mint tea.
Is Jordan safe to visit in 2026? An honest answer
What the headlines get wrong, what daily life is really like on the ground, and the sensible precautions every first-time visitor to Jordan should know.
Petra beyond the Treasury: the trails most people miss
Most visitors see the Treasury and turn back. The Monastery, the High Place of Sacrifice, and how to find the quieter trails that most people never reach.
A night in Wadi Rum: choosing the right desert camp
How to pick the right desert camp: the honest difference between bubble domes and Bedouin tents, what dinner is really like, and tips for stargazing in Wadi Rum.
The Jordan Pass, explained: is it actually worth it?
How the Jordan Pass works, what it covers, whether it's actually worth the cost — and the one easy rule that also saves you the visa fee on arrival.
What to wear in Jordan: a relaxed, respectful guide
Practical packing advice for Jordan: what to wear in the desert heat, in Amman's cafés and cities, and at religious sites like Petra — for both women and men.
Building a trip around your World Cup 2026 match days
Planning a World Cup 2026 trip around Jordan? Here's how to slot Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea into the gaps between match days without feeling rushed.
Getting around Jordan: rental car, driver or bus?
Renting a car, hiring a private driver or taking the bus? An honest cost-and-hassle breakdown to help you pick the right way to get around Jordan.