Aqaba Travelers Recommend

Planning two days in Aqaba? An ideal jumping-off point for day trips to Petra and Wadi Rum, Jordan’s only port city also serves up a bustling Old Town and the beaches, cruises, and water sports of the Red Sea. Here’s how to get the best from 48 hours in Aqaba. 

Day 1: Petra or Wadi Rum

**Morning:**Make full use of today by booking a private or group tour to one of Jordan’s nearby UNESCO World Heritage Sites or even farther afield. Most visitors head for the ancient rock city of Petra or the Wadi Rum desert of orange-hued mountains, but other options include the Dead Sea and even Jerusalem.

**Afternoon:**If you’ve picked Petra, spend the best part of the day admiring its relics and facades—hand-cut by the ancient Nabataeans. Walk through the Siq canyon to the Treasury, Amphitheater, and Roman ruins—all ethereally beautiful—and hear their backstories. If you’ve chosen Wadi Rum, meanwhile, rumble through its gorges by 4WD before hikes to see its rock bridges, ancient carvings, and springs. 

**Evening:**Wadi Rum takes on a special beauty at dusk and after dark, and some tours are timed to catch the sunset or include an overnight stay in a tented desert camp. If you’re back in Aqaba tonight, however, slow the tempo with supper in the Old Town and an amble along the starlit corniche.

Day 2: Another Day Trip or Beach Time

**Morning:**Devote your second day to Petra or Wadi Rum—visiting the sight you didn’t cover yesterday—or focus on Aqaba’s attractions. Visit 16th-century Aqaba Fort, also called Mamluk Castle, from which Lawrence of Arabia ousted the Turks in 1917, and see the huge seafront Aqaba Flagpole, one of the world’s tallest.

**Afternoon:**Lounge on one of Aqaba’s beaches this afternoon, or crank up the fun with a snorkel cruise to Pharaoh Island, a glass-bottom boat ride, or a scuba dive in the reefs of Aqaba Marine Park. 

**Evening:**Tonight, hit Aqaba corniche to watch the sun disappear behind Egypt’s Sinai Mountains across the water. Then, hunt for last-minute gifts such as ceramics and spices in the Old Town before dinner at a traditional restaurant.

From the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Petra and Wadi Rum to golden beaches and crystal-clear seas, Aqaba makes a great base for exploring Jordan’s treasures and experiencing the Red Sea’s waters and marine life. Here’s how to get the best from three days in this conveniently located city.

Day 1: Visit UNESCO-Listed Sites

Set on the Red Sea’s northern tip, Aqaba is ideal for accessing two of Jordan’s biggest highlights—Petra and Wadi Rum. Book a day trip to either, or combine them into one long but unforgettable day. History aficionados should opt for a group or private tour to Petra: the rose-red rock city carved by the long-ago Nabataeans. View its 2,000-year-old Treasury, Roman Amphitheater, and tombs with a guide for historical perspective. If scenery tempts you more, choose a half-day or day trip or overnight camping excursion to Wadi Rum: a desert mountain wilderness with ancient inscriptions, rock formations, Bedouin settlements, and sites associated with Lawrence of Arabia. Tours typically include a 4WD safari around the gorges and dunes for a touch of adventure.

Day 2: Relax in Aqaba

Catch your breath today and enjoy Aqaba. Blessed with long beaches and reef-rich waters, it’s tailor-made for sunbathing and water sports. Admire exotic fish and corals on a snorkel or scuba dive at Aqaba Marine Park, join a snorkel cruise to coral-fringed Pharaoh Island, or take a glass-bottom boat to see the underwater world from above. Alternatively, explore Aqaba Fort (aka Mamluk Castle), the medieval fort captured by Lawrence of Arabia and his Bedouin army in 1917. Other nearby draws include the towering Aqaba Flagpole and Aqaba Archaeological Museum. Later, hit the Old Town for shopping and dinner, snapping up souvenirs before savoring the day’s catch at one of the popular fish restaurants.

Day 3: Explore Farther

Use today to visit Petra or Wadi Rum, whichever you didn’t see the first day. Alternatively, head to the Dead Sea to float in its salty waters, indulge in a mud bath, and bask in its famous mineral spa treatments, or seize the opportunity to visit neighboring Israel on a private day trip. Pass the Dead Sea en route to Jerusalem to see the Western Wall and Church of the Holy Sepulchre, before potentially adding a visit to Bethlehem. Lastly, if time allows, while away the evening in Aqaba with dinner, shopping, and a seafront stroll. On Fridays, don’t miss the Souk by the Sea: a mini food-and-music festival staged on the corniche.

Cupping the Gulf of Aqaba at the northern corner of the Red Sea, Aqaba offers more than sands and sea. In between lazing on its beaches and taking snorkel and scuba trips over coral reefs, visitors can explore historical ruins and bustling souks or the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra. Here are some ways to spend a day in Aqaba. 

Morning: Historical Highlights

Dedicate this morning to Aqaba’s most prominent historical landmark: the corniche-set Aqaba Fortress, aka Mamluk Castle. Admire this 16th-century Ottoman fortification, and reflect on its role in one of World War I’s key battles—when Lawrence of Arabia and his Bedouin forces seized it from the Turks in 1917. Roam the courtyard and then the ramparts for stellar views of the Red Sea. Afterward, head for the nearby Archaeological Museum to check out its prehistoric and Roman exhibits.

Alternatively, if this is your only stop in the region, take the opportunity to visit UNESCO-listed Petra on a day trip to this rose-red city, carved from rock 2,000 years ago.

Afternoon: Beaches and Boat Trips

If you didn’t strike out to Petra earlier, kick back on Aqaba’s beaches. Hit the public Palm Beach or a private beach club and enjoy the warm sun and cool waters. Perhaps catch a glass-bottom boat to see the underwater world without getting wet, or join a snorkel-stop cruise to Pharaoh Island—a barren islet ringed by fish-filled corals. For your own snorkeling trip, head to the Aqaba Marine Park, where protected reefs await. Drift above the brilliant corals or try scuba diving on an introductory course. Qualified divers also have lots of options, with numerous dive trips available to outlying coral gardens.

Evening: Sunset, Shopping, and Supper

As dusk falls, join locals on a stroll along Aqaba’s corniche to drink in the sunset-and-sea views. Then, head into the bustling Old Town to scour the market stalls and shops for souvenirs such as glass lamps, pottery, jewelry, and spices—remembering to haggle to avoid overpaying. Finally, if it’s a Friday, return to the seafront for Souk by the Sea, a pop-up event featuring craft stands, food stalls, and live music.