Is Jordan Pass Worth It? Guide to Everything You Need to Know

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Is Jordan Pass worth it?
Should you buy Jordan Pass? Is it just another travel scam?

If you are planning a trip to Jordan, you might have these questions.

I know I had them when I was planning my 8-day Jordan itinerary in May 2023. Below you will find my Jordan Pass review and everything you need to know about Jordan tourist Pass; prices, types, what it covers, if it makes sense to buy it, and situations when you shouldn’t.

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The Jordan Pass is a travel pass combining the most popular attractions under a single ticket and making the most of your trip in the Hashemite Kingdom. If you are staying here for more than 4 days or 3 nights, it also includes your Jordan visa fees.

I bought my Jordan pass and was using it basically every day during my Jordan trip. That is why I have a pretty good idea, if you should have it or not.

While it did save me a lot of money, that might not be the case for every traveler in Jordan. In this Jordan Pass guide, I will share who should buy it, and when and where to buy it. (PS: there are scams online). I will showcase (my) savings and highlight in which situations you should NOT buy Jordan Pass.

Let’s dive into the Jordan Pass faq guide, which will help you make an informed decision if buying a Jordan Pass will be worth it for you.

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1. Quick ‘Do You Need’ Jordan Pass Guide

In this section of Jordan Pass Guide, you will get quick answers if Jordan Pass will be worth it for you. Which depends on many factors. Like, do you need a visa, how long are you staying, where are you coming into the country, and what attractions are you planning to visit?

The easiest way to find out is by answering the questions below.

• DO YOU NEED A VISA TO ENTER JORDAN?
  ∘ YES
  Jordan Pass might be a good fit for you.
  
  You might want to check a list of restricted and non-restricted nationalities and to see if you need a visa. Most nationalities can get visa on arrival and some must apply before arrival so that their visa can get pre-approved.
  
  Passport holders of South Africa, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, and Vatican City are exempt from paying the visa fees.
  
  ∘ NO
  Jordan Pass might not be worth it for you.
  
  Visa for Jordan is not required for around 10 nationalities. Like people holding passports from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE or other Arabic countries. They also pay lower entry fees to most of the Jordan attractions.
  
  *NOTE: The list and mentioned nationalities are used as a useful tool and the data within it is subject to change without prior notice. I do recommend that you check the latest requirements for your nationality prior to travel to ensure that you have all the necessary paperwork for travel.
  

• ARE YOU OF ARABIC NATIONALITY OR HOLD AN ARABIC PASSPORT?
  ∘ YES
  Jordan Pass is not worth it for you and you should not buy it.
  
  You probably don’t need a visa and you will pay the same attraction fees as Jordanians (Jerash 0.5 JD, Petra 1 JD or 10 JD, Wadi rum 1 JD). You will get into attractions much cheaper so you would actually be paying more by buying Jordan Pass. Don’t forget you will need to identify yourself with a valid ID at each attraction.
  
  ∘ NO
  Jordan Pass might be a good fit for you.
  
  

• IS YOUR NATIONALITY ON THIS LIST?
  ∘ YES
  Jordan Pass is not available for you at the time being.
  
  ∘ NO
  Jordan Pass might be a good fit for you.
  
  

• ARE YOU STAYING IN JORDAN FOR AT LEAST 4 CONSECUTIVE DAYS / 3 NIGHTS?
  ∘ YES
  Jordan Pass might be a good fit for you.
  
  If you are staying for more than 4 days, your visa fees will be waived. 
  
  ∘ NO
  Jordan Pass might still work out for you.
  
  If you stay in Jordan for less than 3 days, Jordan Pass might still be a good fit for you. It depends on the sites you plan to visit and how many days you plan to spend in Petra. Do make a calculation to see what is the best option for you.
  

• ARE YOU ENTERING JORDAN IN AQABA?
  ∘ YES
  Jordan Pass might still work out for you.
  
  If you arrive to Jordan at Aqaba, either through the port, the airport or land except for the South Wadi Araba crossing border, you might be granted a FREE visa to Jordan. Certain nationalities will still require an entry visa to be obtained prior to travel. Find the list here.
  
  If you are entering through Aqaba, and are granted a free visa for Jordan, Jordan Pass might still be a good fit for you. It depends on the sites you plan to visit and how many days you plan to spend in Petra. Do make a calculation to see what is the best option for you.
  
  *NOTE: The list and mentioned nationalities are used as a useful tool and the data within it is subject to change without prior notice. I do recommend that you check the latest requirements for your nationality prior to travel to ensure that you have all the necessary paperwork for travel.
  
  ∘ NO
  Jordan Pass might be a good fit for you.
  

• ARE YOU TRAVELING TO JORDAN WITH CHILDREN UNDER 12 YEARS?
  ∘ YES
  Jordan Pass is not required for children under 12 years.
  
  Children under 12 years can enter all the Jordan Pass sites for free when accompanied by their parents. Meaning that they DO NOT need a Jordan Pass. However, children still need to obtain a Jordan tourist visa.

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2. What is Jordan Pass?

Jordan Pass in a Jordan government official tourist pass. It is all in one travel pass since it includes entry to more than 40 attractions, museums and castles all around the Hashemite Kingdom under one, single ticket.

The main benefit and money-saving tip that comes with Jordan Pass, is that if you buy it BEFORE your arrival to Jordan, and stay in the country for at least 4 days/3 nights, you can benefit from the entry visa fees exemption.

Jordan Pass covers most of the top tourist attractions. Those are Amman Citadel and Amman Roman Theatre, Jerash, castles Ajloun and Karak, Petra and Wadi Rum. It also includes other, less visited attractions like Aqaba Castle and Museum of the lowest place on Earth. However, it does not include ALL the attractions, like Mount Nebo or tours you might go to in Wadi Rum.

IMPORTANT: Jordan Pass is NOT a visa! Jordan Pass only exempts visa fees if you stay in Jordan for a minimum of 3 whole nights or 4 consecutive days.

3. How Does Jordan Pass Work?

Traveling and purchasing a Jordan pass is no different than buying other things online.

I do recommend that you buy Jordan Pass BEFORE entering Jordan at official Jordan Pass sellers. I bought mine on Jordan Pass official website and the whole process was really smooth.

First, you have to decide on your Jordan Pass package. There are three available options and I will get more on those later. Just keep in mind that you can not change the package option after the purchase.

After payment, a pdf version of the Jordan Pass will be sent to your email. It will have your name on it and a QR code. Inside the email, there will also be a link to different brochures about Jordan.

Print that pdf file and bring it with you to Jordan and show it to the officer at the border. You will also need to show it at every attraction ticket office, UNESCO World Heritage site and castle. There they will scan the code and press on the date of your visit.

Once you buy Jordan Pass, you have 12 months to use it. Which is great if your travel plans change. But Jordan Pass will automatically expire 2 weeks after first use/first scan in a tourist attraction.

4. Jordan Pass included attractions

Below you will find the Jordan Pass attractions. It is made up of more than 40 UNESCO World Heritage sites, museums, castles, ruins and attractions all around Jordan.

You can also have a look at Jordan Pass attractions Map, on the official Jordan Pass website, where you will find all the attractions included in Jordan travel pass.

5. Attractions and Tickets NOT included in Jordan Pass

Although Jordan Pass includes a lot of attractions, it does not include all the things you might want to do as a first-time visitor to Jordan. While the most popular Petra, Jerash, and Wadi Rum are included, Jordan Pass also includes sites that are not on the popular tourist route. Meaning, that even if spending two weeks in Jordan, you will have to do some work to visit all of them. I was in Jordan for 8-days and visited 8 from the list.

On the other side, Jordan Pass skips on the attractions and sites that most of tourists do want to visit but have to pay extra. One reason for this is that some of the attractions are private so the government has no say on the price of tours.

Below you will find a list of the attractions I visited in my 8-day Jordan itinerary that were not covered by the Jordan Pass; 
◦ Amman Blue mosque | 3 JD
◦ Shrine of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist Patron of Madaba and Jordan | 3 JD
◦ The Madaba Map at St George’s Greek Orthodox Church | 3 JD
◦ Mount Nebo | 3 JD
◦ Bethany Beyond the Jordan | 8-12 JD *
◦ Dead Sea Pass – optional and from | 20 JD up **
◦ Wadi Mujib | 21 JD
◦ Petra by Night | 17 JD
◦ Wadi Rum tours | from 15 JD ( sunset/sunrise), 20 JD (stargazing), 4h tour 35 JD and up

* Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al-Maghtas), the Baptismal Site of Jesus Christ, is not included in any original Jordan Pass. It can be added to your selected Jordan Pass Package at the time of purchase for a discounted price 8 JD. If you decide to pay the entrance fee on-site, it will cost you 12 JD.

** There are a few places where you can enjoy the Dead Sea for free. The area is unstable and sharp and salty so I do not recommend going into the ocean just anywhere. But if you do want to experience it for free, follow the locals. Popular local spot is Herodus (Zara) Spring. Do not forget that Jordan is a Muslim country, and being uncovered as a woman will be frowned upon. Just something to think about. Plus, you will want to have a shower after. If you want to have some facilities, you will be asked to buy beach access or get a Dead Sea Pass in one of the resorts starting from 20 JD and up. 

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6. Jordan Pass Price and Jordan Pass Packages

How much is a Jordan Pass?
Jordan Pass price varies based on the Jordan Pass type you select.

There are three Jordan Pass types available. 

They all include visa fees, Jordan brochures, and an entry ticket to more than 40 attractions throughout the Kingdom of Jordan. The main difference between packages is in the number of days the Pass grants you the visit to Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site;

• Jordan WANDERER | 1 day in Petra + 40 attractions + visa fee
  (70 JD / 99 USD / 92 EUR)
  
• Jordan EXPLORER | 2 days in Petra + 40 attractions + visa fee
  (75 JD / 106 USD / 98 EUR)
  
• Jordan EXPERT | 3 days in Petra + 40 attractions + visa fee
  (80 JD / 113 USD / 103 EUR)

So far we know the Jordan Pass package prices and what is included in Jordan Pass. We also know what attractions are not part of this tourist pass. Let’s look at the cost breakdown and possible savings you can have when getting one.

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7. Is Jordan Pass worth it?

How much money will Jordan Pass save me?
Is Jordan Pass actually cheaper than buying all the individual entrance fees separately?

Based on my travel and research, my honest answer is, it all depends on many factors. It will depend on your nationality, entry point to Jordan and planned itinerary. I absolutely loved using my Jordan Explorer pass and it DID SAVE me a lot of money!

In short, if you need a Jordan visa and are planning to visit Petra, the answer is YES. Jordan Pass is worth it. Many travelers who need a visa save money with Jordan Pass, even when only visiting Petra.

If you enter Jordan through Aqaba or don’t need a visa you might break even or benefit a little. It will depend on the number of sites you will want to visit.

If you are an Arab nationality, Jordan pass will NOT BE worth it for you.

7.1. Is Jordan Pass worth it? Cost breakdown & Price comparison

• TOURIST VISA

Jordan tourist visa costs 40 JD (56 USD / 52 EUR).

The single-entry visa is valid for 1 month. Most tourists need one, including children, and for most countries, it can be purchased on arrival. It can be easily extended from any police station by paying extra fees.

There are some nationalities who need a pre-approved visa, some who do not need a visa and then there are nationalities that are exempt from paying the visa fees.

For safety, check the latest requirements prior to travel to ensure that you have all the necessary paperwork for travel to Jordan here.

If you are entering Jordan through Aqaba, except for South Wadi Araba crossing border, you might be granted a FREE visa to Jordan. Certain nationalities will still require an entry visa to be obtained prior to travel. If your nationality is on the non-restricted list, you do not need to get a visa to enter Jordan at Aqaba. Find the list here.   

Jordan Pass will waive your tourist visa fee if bought before entering Jordan and staying in Jordan for 4 days/3 nights.

• PETRA ENTRY FEE

Visiting Petra, UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the 7 wonders of the world, is not cheap. But it is worth it! With or without Jordan Pass. Rose rock carved Nabatean city has its charm.

Same as with Jordan Pass types, the Petra ticket price progresses based on the number of consecutive days you want to visit this Nabatean site.

Prices below are for the “accommodated visitor” or the ones who stay in Jordan for at least one night. Petra entrance ticket prices for adults ‘accommodated visitors’;
• one day Petra | 50 JD / 70 USD / 65 EUR
• two day Petra | 55 JD / 78 USD / 72 EUR
• three day Petra | 60 JD / 85 USD / 78 EUR

• PRICE COMPARISON AND POSSIBLE SAVINGS

The biggest savings offered with all Jordan Pass types are the ones for Petra entrance ticket and your waived visa fees.

◦ BOUGHT SEPARATELY:
Jordan Visa | 40 JD + one day Petra entrance fee | 50 JD = 40 JD + 50 JD = 90 JD (126 USD / 118 EUR)

◦ JORDAN PASS:
Jordan Wanderer | 1 day in Petra + 40 attractions + visa fee = 70 JD (99 USD / 92 EUR)

◦ PRICE DIFFERENCE:
Total price difference is (at least) 20 JD (28 USD / 26 EUR).

Based on the above, even if you are planning a Jordan itinerary as a first-time visitor, and will only visit Petra, Jordan Pass will save you money. If you plan to visit other attractions included in the Jordan Pass, savings will be bigger. 

Below you can see how much money I saved using Jordan Explorer, on my trip to Jordan.

7.2. Is Jordan Pass worth it? My saving using Jordan Explorer

As mentioned before, traveled in Jordan with Jordan Explorer. I bought a two day Petra and I also added a Baptism site to my Jordan Eyplorer Pass. It was worth it for me and it did save me a lot of money.  How much to be exact?

Below you will see how much money I would pay for all the attractions I visited and Jordan visa with and without Jordan Pass. Here I’m only including the attractions and castles included in Jordan Pass. I visited others – not included in the pass. How much was the total of all the tours, entrance fees and attractions you can find out in my Jordan budget breakdown.

◦ BOUGHT SEPARATELY:
Jordan visa | 40 JD + two days in Petra | 55 JD + Amman Citadel | 3 JD + Amman roman Theatre | 2 JD + Jerash | 10 JD + Ajlun castle | 3 JD + Bethany, The Baptism Site | 12 JD + Wadi Rum | 5 JD + Karak castle | 2 JD = 40 JD + 55 JD + 3 JD + 2 JD + 10 JD + 3 JD + 12 JD + 5 JD + 2 JD = 132 JD

◦ JORDAN PASS:
Jordan Explorer | 75 JD + Baptism site | 8 JD = 75 JD + 8 JD = 83 JD (117 USD / 107 EUR)

◦ PRICE DIFFERENCE:
Total price difference is 49 JD (69 USD / 63 EUR).

Traveling with Jordan Explorer, spending 2 days in Petra, getting visa fees viewed and visiting 8 attractions (out of 40) I saved me 49 JD (69 USD / 63 EUR) all together.

But what if you don’t need a visa?

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7.3. Is Jordan Pass worth it if you don’t need Jordan visa?

But what if I don’t need Jordan visa? What if I enter Jordan in Aqaba?
Is Jordan Pass still worth it in that case?

If you are entering Jordan in Aqaba and don’t need a visa, you have to visit ‘enough’ of Jordan Pass included attractions to make the pass be worth it for you. Many of the Jordan Pass included attractions entrance fees are minimal, and most range from 2 or 3 JD. You can find a whole list of places and their entrance fees, for Jordanians and foreigners, over here.

◦ TO BREAK EVEN you would have to visit:
Petra | 50 JD + Jerash | 10 JD + Wadi rum | 5 JD + Amman Citadel | 3 JD + Ajlun or Karak Castle | 2 JD (each) = 50 JD + 10 JD + 5 JD + 3 JD + 2 JD = 70 JD

Jordan Wanderer | 1 day in Petra + 40 attractions + visa fee = 70 JD (99 USD / 92 EUR)

If you look at my example and visited attractions mentioned above, and assume I would enter Jordan in Aqaba and take away my visa fee, I would still save 9 JD (12 USD / 11 EUR).

The biggest direct saving al mentioned are your waived visa fees and Petra visit. But depending on your Jordan travel itinerary and planned visited attractions, Jordan Pass might still be worth it even if without Jordan visa.

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8. Honest Jordan Pass Review: are savings worth the investment?

For most travelers, YES.

Jordan Pass will save you money and savings are worth the investment. If you need a Jordan visa and even if you only plan to visit Petra. If you visit more, all the other sites will be an added bonus.

But as it does sound like a great time and money-saving pass, with more than 40 attractions included, do know that you won’t visit all the attractions. I was in Jordan for 8 days and visited 8 attractions included in Jordan Pass. Realistically could visit 1 more in Aqaba. So possible 9 out of 40.

In your 4 day Jordan itinerary you might only visit 2 or 3 main ones, Petra and Wadi Rum, and include 5 or 6 attractions in a possible 7 day Jordan itinerary.

That would mean that your savings will be from 20 to 49 JD.

If you are entering Jordan in Aqaba you might want to recalculate what attraction will you be visiting and if the cost of Jordan Pass will make sense for you.

If you are Jordanian or Arab nationality, Jordan Pass will not make sense for you. Firstly you don’t need a visa and you already get discounted rates for attractions.

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9. When and Where to buy Jordan Pass

Traveling and purchasing a Jordan pass is no different than buying other things online.

You have to buy Jordan Pass BEFORE entering Jordan at official Jordan Pass sellers and you have to buy it ONLINE.

I bought my Jordan Explorer on the official Jordan Pass website and the whole process was really smooth. This is the only official place to buy Jordan Pass. It is run by Jordan’s Ministry Tourism and Antiquities. All other ‘official’ sites are either a scam or will charge you more.

OFFICIAL JORDAN PASS website “Jordan Pass” has an URL: https://www.jordanpass.jo/. And the logo is black letters JO.
One of the SCAM SITES is “Jordan Pass | Jordan Pass Official Application” with an URL: jordan-pass.com. It is usually on one of the top spot when searching for ‘buy Jordan Pass online’.

You can buy Jordan Pass 12 months in advance. You can. But I recommend buying it a week or a couple of days before you enter Jordan. Jordan Pass will automatically expire 2 weeks after first use/first scan in a tourist attraction.

Buying process is really easy to follow and straight forward. As with any booking online, make sure to double check you details before payment.

Now, unless you are short on time and will only visit Petra for 1-day, I highly recommend on buying Jordan Explorer. you will spend 5 Jd more but will get an extra day in Petra, in case you will want to visit this UNESCO World Heritage attraction in the morning of the next day.

If you plan to visit Baptism Site – Bethany Beyond the Jordan, add it to your Jordan Pass package at the discounted rate of 8 JD.

After payment, a pdf version of the Jordan Pass will be sent to your email. It will have your name on it and a QR code. Inside the email, there will also be a link to different brochures about Jordan.

Print that pdf file and bring it with you to Jordan and show it to the officer at the border. You will also need to show it at every attraction ticket office. That is it! Happy travels!

10. Is Jordan Pass worth it, in a nutshell

I hope this Jordan Pass review, details, and information gathered in the post, helped you to find an answer if Jordan Pass is worth it for you.

The Jordan Pass includes entrance to more than 40 attractions around Jordan, viewed Jordan visa fee if you stay in the country longer than 4 days/3nights, and grants entrance to UNESCO World Heritage Site Petra. The biggest savings are visa fees and Petra visit.

However, before purchasing your Jordan Pass, it is important to consider your Jordan itinerary, interests, duration of your stay, entry point to Jordan (Amman or Aqaba), and your nationality.

If you plan to visit multiple popular sites and enter in Amman, the pass will likely provide significant value. If you enter in Aqaba and have limited time or your focus is primarily on specific locations, it might be more cost-effective to pay for individual tickets. For Arab nationalities purchasing Jordan Pass would not make sense.

Remember to review the Jordan pass options available and compare entrance fees to calculate the potential savings based on your planned activities. Jordan Explorer saved me 49 JD.

May your Jordanian adventure be nothing short of extraordinary!

Safe travels and shine on,
Anja

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Anja On Adventure is a travel blog, a collection of insider tips and information on destinations, that I visited as a solo female traveler, tour guide, teacher, yacht stewardess, and Survivor challenge tester.

Anja, is a thirty-something adventure-seeking, sun chasing, beach hopping, gin-loving, tropics enthusiast with a creative mind and sarcastic spirit, who loves coconut and mango but doesn’t like chocolate and sweets. I am passionate about all things travel, maps, and puzzles. Click here to learn more About me.