The capital
The capital of Jordan is Amman.
Time
Behind Moscow time by 2 hours, in winter by 1 hour. Language The official language of the country is Arabic. English is also widely spoken.
Currency
The national currency of Jordan is the dinar (JD).
Banks in cities operate from 8:30 to 12:30, from 15:30 to 17:30 (Saturday – Thursday). Ticket offices usually close at 12:30.
Currency exchange is carried out at specialized exchange offices, hotels and the airport. Payment for the purchase of goods, as well as services in the country, is made in the national currency.
Payment by credit (Visa, American Express) cards and traveler’s checks is accepted in hotels, large travel companies, large shops and ticket offices. Paying by credit card in the interior of Jordan is almost impossible. Cashing travelers checks incurs a fee of JD 5, regardless of the amount.
Connection
cellular
When calling from a mobile phone outside the country, it is recommended to purchase a local SIM card, which will provide incoming calls to a mobile phone free of charge, and a minute of conversation with Moscow will be 0.7 JD, for local calls – 0.1 JD.
There are two mobile operators in the country – MobilCom and FastLink.
Internet
Internet access can be obtained not only in the capital, but also in other major cities of Jordan. Numerous Internet cafes are located throughout. Access can also be obtained in large hotels.
Telephone communications
The telephone code for Jordan is 962.
Telephone communication in the country is quite modern. Calls abroad and within Jordan are made from a cell phone or from hotels.
To call from Moscow to Jordan, you need to dial: 8 – 10 – (telephone code of the country) – the number of the called subscriber.
When calling within the country, you must dial “0” before the code (during a call from abroad, you do not need to dial “0” before the city code).
Telephone codes of cities in Jordan: Irbid, Jerash, Ajlun – 02, Al-Karak, Petra, Aqaba – 03, Madaba, Es-Salt – 05, Naur, Amman – 06.
Transport
Intercity bus service connects almost all settlements of the country. JETT buses are quite comfortable and have air conditioning. Tickets are recommended to be booked in advance, by phone or at the ticket office a few hours before departure.
There are also other less comfortable buses in the country, most often overcrowded and without air conditioning. Such buses, as a rule, run without a schedule. The fare is paid directly to the driver of the vehicle.
Public transport runs in the cities of Amman, Zarqa, Aqaba and Irbid. The cities run as ordinary buses with numbers, as well as fixed-route taxis and mini-buses. In small towns, public transport is presented in the form of mini-buses. There is no clear schedule as such. Shuttle buses begin departure only after the passenger compartment is full. Most of the route numbers are in Arabic, which causes inconvenience for tourists.
Taxi is the most convenient way to travel in cities. There are two types of taxis in the country – ordinary (yellow cars) and fixed-route (white cars).
As a rule, ordinary taxis have meters, but the price should be negotiated with the driver in advance. To travel to another city, the passenger must pay for a special permit. The average fare per kilometer is 0.3 JD.
Rent a Car
Renting a car in Jordan is not difficult. In major cities, there are many rental companies, both small local and international brands. It is easier and cheaper to rent a car through large on-line agencies.
When renting a car, in addition to an international driver’s license, you must provide a credit card on which a certain amount is blocked for the entire rental period to ensure the safety of the car. When you return the car, the amount will be refunded.
Export of a car outside the country is prohibited.
Traffic and road rules
Movement in the country is right-handed. The speed limit in cities is 60 km/h, on roads 80 km/h, and on motorways 110 km/h.
Road signs are in English and Arabic, so they are easy to read. There are also tourist road signs, they are easy to identify by their brown color. Such signs, as a rule, indicate directions to the most popular attractions, which is very convenient.
During the daytime in Irbid and Amman, the city centers are often congested and traffic signs are mostly non-existent, so driving in these areas is not recommended.
Tips
Tipping is customary to encourage hotel staff, in the amount of 0.5-1 JD, a guide – 1-2 JD, a driver – 1.5 JD, voluntary guides and drivers – 2 JD.
Clothing and rules of conduct
Women should dress more modestly and not defiantly in the country. Casual comfortable clothes and sturdy light shoes are ideal for excursions. See liuxers for Jordan customs and traditions.
Open arms and short skirts can cause negative emotions among the locals, even shorts worn by men in public places are considered indecent.
Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter some mosques.
For women, sitting in the front seat of a car is considered the height of indecency.
It is not recommended for a woman to touch another man, even during a greeting.
In coffee and restaurants for women, there are specially designated rooms.
Tourist safety
Jordan is the most stable and secure country in the Middle East. There is almost no crime, and police patrols can often be found on city streets. There are also no interfaith conflicts.
Almost all food products are considered safe for health, but it is recommended to drink only bottled and boiled water. It is not recommended to eat uncooked fish or meat, as well as fruits and vegetables from the trays, without first washing them, drinking unpasteurized milk.
