By air
King Hussein International, Aqaba (AQJ), ~10 km
Middle East · Jordan
Aqaba, Jordan
Red Sea reefs by the desert
Getting there
Best time to visit
October to April — warm, not scorching
Don't miss
The Aqaba Marine Park
The Aqaba Fort
South Beach
Things to do
Snorkelling and diving
Glass-bottom boats
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Sana Janakat · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Snorkel gear
A quieter corner
The Japanese Garden reef
Questions travellers ask
When is Aqaba at its best?
October to April, when it's warm but not scorching. Bring your snorkel gear.
What is there to do in Aqaba?
Snorkel and dive in the Aqaba Marine Park, ride a glass-bottom boat, relax on South Beach and see the Aqaba Fort.
Which reef is Aqaba's hidden gem?
The Japanese Garden reef — save some of your snorkelling time for it.
How do I get to Aqaba?
Fly into King Hussein International, Aqaba (AQJ), about 10 km away. Your first meal: sayadieh, spiced fish and rice.
About Aqaba
- Coastal
Where it is
Aqaba is Jordan's only coastal city and port, at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, within sight of Eilat in Israel and Taba in Egypt, with the Saudi border just to the south and desert mountains behind.
History
Aqaba has been a port since antiquity, known to the Romans as Aila, and archaeologists have uncovered an early Islamic walled town here and one of the oldest known purpose-built churches. The Mamluks built its fort in the early 16th century, and during the Arab Revolt Arab forces with T. E. Lawrence took the town from the Ottomans in 1917. It is now Jordan's gateway to the sea and a special economic zone.
People
Aqaba's people speak Arabic and include old port families, Bedouin from the surrounding desert and many Jordanians who moved here to work at the port, the hotels and the industries. Seafood is a local speciality, above all sayadieh, fish cooked with spiced rice and caramelised onions.
Known for
- Coral reefs and diving in the Red Sea
- The Aqaba Marine Park
- Aqaba Fort
- Glass-bottom boat trips
- A gateway to Wadi Rum and Petra
Did you know?
The Aqaba Flagpole, raised in 2004 and among the tallest flagpoles in the world, flies the flag of the Arab Revolt and can be seen from Egypt, Israel and Saudi Arabia.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.