Top Things to Do in the Aqaba | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Plan Your Travel To Aqaba

Places To Visit In Aqaba

Scuba Diving in Red Sea

Just beyond the shore lie cool, azure waters, beautiful coves, millions of fish, fantastic visibility and sheltered reefs. Jordan's Dead Sea is on the eastern coast. It is the lowest point in the world at 394.6 meters below sea level. Enjoy floating and diving in the sea as the buoyancy is quite high due to the high salt content. The coast is a three-hour drive from Aqaba.

Get a good scrub down and massage in a traditional Turkish bath. It is used in Western Europe as a method of cleansing and relaxation. The Turkish bath starts with relaxation in a room that is heated by a continuous flow of hot and dry air. Bathers may move to an even hotter room (known as the hot room) before they wash in cold water. After performing a full body wash and receiving a massage, bathers finally retire to the cooling-room for a period of relaxation. Read More

Arab Revolt Plaza is a spacious public square in Aqaba. It features the world's sixth tallest flagpole with a height of 130m. The pole stands as a symbol of the Great Arab Revolt of 1916. It has an added historical value of being the house of the revolt leader, Al Hussein Bin Ali, and is the site where the first bullet of the uprising was shot. This massive flagpole, erected in 2004, acts as a landmark from both land and sea. One can walk there easily from the town centre, either along the beachside walkway or along the dual-carriageway road. The plaza offers scenic views of the city centre with rows of palm trees in the background and a cobblestone boardwalk with benches facing the bay. There are several restaurants surrounding the area which serve Middle Eastern cuisine. Read More

Wadi Rum is a protected area of dramatic desert wilderness in the south of Jordan. There are many ways to enjoy the attractions of Rum, including jeep, camel and hiking tours and you can stay overnight in a Bedouin tent. Known as the "Valley of the Moon", this valley is carved into sandstone and granite rock. It is located in southern Jordan 60 kilometers east of Aqaba. In particular, trekkers and rock-climbers enjoy visiting the area. Camping under the stars is also a wonderful experience. Read More

Al-Ghandour Beach is a free public beach in Aqaba. It’s a great place to dip in the waters of the Red Sea and sunbathe while watching the stunning views of Eilat. There are canopies on the beachside for resting under the shade, a cafeteria, and other small food joints offering refreshments. Popular activities include swimming, boating and snorkelling. It is usually swamped and crowded on Thursdays and Fridays.

Al-Hafayer Park is a public park located in Aqaba, Jordan right next to the Al-Hafayer Beach. Close to many attractions of the city, it is one of the oldest places in Aqaba. It is the perfect place for having a relaxing day, walking along the beach, having a family picnic at the park, enjoying the sea view or heading to one of the public cafés and restaurants. There are many shisha bars nearby. The AlHafayer Park is not the most ideal location for going swimming or snorkelling. The park is close to many historical areas such as the Aqaba Castle and the city centre and various shopping complexes. Read More

Aqaba Museum is the official archaeological museum of Aqaba, situated in the former house of Sharif Hussein Bin Ali near the Aqaba Flagpole and Aqaba fort. It houses collections of artefacts dating from around 7000 BC to the 12th century AD. Few notable items found here include the Bronze Age objects from 4000 BC that were unearthed at the site of Tall Hujayrat Al-Ghuzlan, a large inscription of Quran verse, golden coins from the Fatimid dynasty and ceramic vessels discovered at Islamic Ayla City. The museum has ample information to familiarise visitors with Aqaba’s role in early copper production. It was constructed in 1989 and opened its doors to the public in 1990. Read More

Aqaba Bird Observatory, located in Al-Salam Forest, is home to many migratory birds. Up to 390 different species of birds can be spotted here, including some vulnerable and endangered species such as Madagascar Grebe, Great Snipe and Marbled Teal. The best time to visit is during the spring or autumn months. There are shallow and deep waters, herbal plants and trees at the Aqaba Bird Observatory. The area is divided into 2 zones: open water ponds and densely vegetated forests. There are five ponds, either with aquatic vegetation or cement-lined, covering two-thirds of the entire area. The forest has native and introduced tree species with a maximum height of 10 m. Read More

Aqaba Church or the Archaeological Church of Aqaba is the ruins of a 3rd-century church known to be the oldest purpose-built church in the world. It is older than the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, built in the late 320s. This mud-brick structure used to be a large building with three-aisled basilicas, but most of it is now in ruins. What remains is only walls measuring up to 4.5m. The ruins of a stairway indicate it had a second storey as well. Archaeologists unearthed coins, glass-made oil lamps, and pottery fragments, a few of which are displayed at the Aqaba Archaeological Museum. There is also a cemetery next to the church with around 24 skeletons. Read More

Aqaba Marine Park, located on the Gulf of Aqaba, is Jordan’s only marine park famous for diving. There are 19 diving sites here, like the Japanese Garden, with more than 127 types of coral reefs and 450 fish species. Other activities include snorkelling, sailing and glass-bottom boat rides. There are also small shopping centres along with the beach and food stalls with fantastic seafood.