One popular destination for winter tourists looking for an inexpensive holiday is Jordan. Aqaba is the country's only seaside resort. The city is famous for its centuries-old history, numerous attractions, unique climate, beaches and coral reefs. What kind of holiday should you expect in Aqaba? You will learn this from our article.

This resort is located in the very north of the Gulf of Aqaba of the Red Sea. Three hundred thirty-five kilometers separate it. Aqaba has a border position on the political map of the world. The Israeli resort of Eilat is very close by. And across the waters of the bay you can see the Egyptian Taba. But a holiday in Aqaba is not like a holiday in Israel. There is no seal-like relaxation there, as in hotels in Egypt with their “all inclusive”. Aqaba attracts young and active people who prefer active recreation. Since there are so many attractions around, it’s simply a sin to spend all your days on the beach.

How to get to Aqaba

The easiest way to reach the resort is from Amman (Jordan) to avoid any misunderstandings at the border. Aqaba is located more than three hundred kilometers south of it. You can cover this distance on state-owned JETT buses. They are very comfortable and arrive in Aqaba at the Movenpick Hotel on King Hussein Street. An alternative to the state carrier is the private company Trust International Transport. Its buses arrive at Annahda Street. Travel time (regardless of the carrier) is four hours. From Aqaba you can get to the city of Irbid, as well as to Nuweiba (Egypt). In total, eleven flights depart from Amman to the southern resort: five by a state company and six by a private company. You can get around Aqaba by taxi (they are yellow) or minibuses. Stops at the latter are at the request of the passenger, at any point along the route. The taxi fare should be negotiated with the driver in advance.

When to go to Aqaba

What makes the climate of this seaside resort unique? The mountains protect it from the north not only from cold winds, but also from the desert breeze. Therefore, the climate here is not similar to the arid weather full of temperature contrasts for which Jordan is famous. Aqaba is attractive because you can swim and sunbathe here all year round, even in winter. The water temperature in the bay never drops below +22 degrees, which allows the development of corals. But we'll talk about them later. In the meantime, it should be mentioned that in summer there are no temperature extremes in Aqaba. The heat begins to suffocate the city only in the afternoon hours. Of course, heart patients and hypertensive patients should prefer a winter holiday at a resort in Jordan. The peak season occurs twice a year: in spring and autumn. It is in the off-season that the weather is comfortable in all respects. If you are most attracted to swimming in the Red Sea, then choose autumn for your trip. The average water temperature fluctuates around + 27 degrees.

Where to stay

Aqaba hotels have their own specifics. It is rare to find an all-inclusive program in them. This is not Egypt, but Jordan. Aqaba Radisson Blu Tala Bay Resort 5, Intercontinental, Movenpick and other luxury resort hotels offer their guests only a buffet included in the price of their stay. Read below about where to have lunch, dinner or just a snack. There is no shortage of budget hotels in Aqaba. They do not amaze with oriental luxury and stucco in the rooms, but you are guaranteed a clean room and a hearty breakfast. For a sea view here, as at other resorts, you will have to pay extra. But there is one nuance that summer tourists should take into account. The sea in Aqaba is located in the south. Consequently, the sun will shine mercilessly on such expensive rooms all day long, and no air conditioning will save you from the heat.

Jordan, Aqaba: prices

A huge hotel base allows everyone to choose accommodation to suit their taste. The Kempinski Hotel is probably the most expensive. A night in a standard room in this hotel will cost eleven thousand rubles. On average, “five” companies (“Movenpick”, “Double Tree by Hilton”, “Marina Plaza Tala Bay” and others) offer housing for six to seven thousand rubles per day. An excellent option, where the price-quality ratio is ideal, are Aqaba hotels with four stars. These are Days Inn Hotel and Suites (from 4,660 rubles), Golden Tulip (3,700), Jaafko (3,600) and others. At the resort you can also stay in budget hotels, which, of course, are not located on the first line from the sea. As an example, you can indicate “Plaza Maswada” (2,800 rubles). Aqaba is a city in Jordan declared a duty-free zone. This feature of the resort allows you not only to make inexpensive purchases, but also to purchase cheap cigars and alcohol. The choice of these goods in the city is really wide.

Jordan, Aqaba: sea

To be honest, most people go to the resort to sunbathe and swim. The beaches of Aqaba are sandy and pebble-rocky. The former are located in the northern part of the city, and the latter in the southern part. The lion's share of the beaches is fully owned by hotels on the first line. There are quite convenient coastlines owned by the municipality. Entrance there is free, and equipment (umbrellas, sun loungers and sun loungers) can be rented. Aqaba is a city in Jordan where the municipal beaches are well equipped. There is a shower, a toilet, lifeguards are on duty, there is a cafe, sometimes right on the shore. If you are not an Islamophobe and you don’t dislike the company of local residents, you will have a good time on this beach. If not, for a small bribe you will be allowed on the coast owned by a hotel. You won't find anything particularly chic there. It’s just that in cafes and bars on the shore the prices will be much higher. The Red Sea is wonderful here. The water is very clean, with excellent visibility. The tides are not too pronounced. In the south, coral reefs come close to the shore.

Diving in the Gulf of Aqaba

The resort has six scuba diving training centers, and they issue BS-AC, SSI or PADI diplomas. There are about thirty dive sites located in the immediate vicinity of the coast. And this makes Jordan (Aqaba) attractive for lovers of scuba diving.

What kind of sea is off the coast of the resort? During the period from April to May, when plankton blooms, visibility under water decreases to twelve meters. But if you come to Aqaba in the summer months, the transparency of the sea reaches 50 m. Many coral reefs in the south of the city come so close to the shore that there is no need to hire a boat. You can admire it lightly - only with a snorkel and mask. But if you want to get serious about diving, there's nothing better than coming to The Royal Diving Center. This center also has its own sandy beach. Beginners will be brought up to speed at the Sea Star Dive Center. This school is located in the Al-Kazar Hotel.

What to see in Aqaba

Mysterious Petra, the Wadi Rum desert, the place of the baptism of Jesus Christ - all this is the country of Jordan. Aqaba is a young resort. But it developed from a very ancient settlement, which is at least six thousand years old. At first the Edomites and Nabataeans lived there. Then the city became part of the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, the route of pilgrims to Mecca passed through it. The Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, Ottoman Turks - all left behind a cultural mark. Here are the ruins of the oldest Christian church in the world. The ancient city stood on a rocky promontory, which is now called Tell al-Khalifa Hill. There you can see artifacts recovered from archaeological excavations. During the Crusades, a military fort was built by European knights. It was maintained in “working condition” for centuries, and therefore the Mamluk Fortress has survived to this day. Next to this citadel there is a historical museum.

In the vicinity of the resort there is Lot's Cave. According to biblical legend, it was from here that the righteous man and his daughters watched the death. In Lot's cave you can see a Byzantine church decorated with mosaics and several ancient tombs. Reviews also recommend visiting Wadi Mujib, a gorge declared a national park. The extreme southern position of the resort will not prevent you from getting to know the country called Jordan. Excursions from Aqaba to Petra ($170 per group), Amman ($50), to hot springs, the Wadi Rum desert or to the holy places where Christ revealed himself to the people last only one daylight hours. The border position of the resort makes possible forays into the near abroad - to Israel (Eilat, Jerusalem), to the island of the Pharaohs (Egypt).

The most popular activity at the resort is diving. The special microclimate here has created simply ideal conditions for the formation of numerous coral reefs and the residence of a huge amount of marine life. The coastal waters have a rich underwater world, which attracts divers from all over the world. For beginners, there are simply ideal conditions for learning, and for more experienced divers, the seabed hides a lot of interesting things.

The entire coastal area is the Aqaba marine park. The park was created in 1997 to preserve the marine population of the coastal zone. This reserve has a length of 7 kilometers along the coast.
There are several coral reefs here, among which the Seven Sisters, Japanese Gardens, Eel Garden and Oliver Canyon are especially popular. It will also be interesting to look at the sunken Lebanese ship Cedar Pride, the American tank Walker Bulldog, which was specially submerged under water to attract more divers, and numerous other dive spots.
For those who do not want to dive to the seabed, but want to see all the beauties of the Red Sea, excursions are organized on boats with a transparent glass bottom.
The Marine Science Center is also located here, where there is a huge aquarium with exotic fish and other representatives of marine fauna.
The largest diving center is The Royal Diving Center. This center teaches diving even to children. One dive costs 15 dinars.

In addition to great beach holidays and exciting diving, Aqaba also offers a huge number of unique historical monuments.

The territory of the Old Town is the ruins of the ancient settlement of Ayla, which was once part of the Roman Empire. Ayla is often mentioned as the main resting place on the way to Mecca.
Ruins of a church, a mosque, city walls and gates were discovered here. Archaeological excavations are still ongoing here.

Of particular interest to tourists is the ancient Mamluk fortress. It was built by the Crusaders at the beginning of the 16th century. Unique inscriptions from the Middle Ages have been preserved on the walls of the fortress.

The museum is located near the fortress. Here is a collection of ancient coins, ceramics, jewelry and other artifacts found during excavations in the city and its environs.
The museum building was in the past the home of the famous politician Sharif Hussein bin Ali.

This reserve is home to the migration of more than a million birds. It unites the birds of three continents (Europe, Africa and Asia).

There is a Royal Aero Club in the city. This club offers you to take a flight in a hot air balloon or airplane and see all the beauty of this area from a bird's eye view. Also, anyone has the opportunity to jump with a parachute.

There are many shops in Aqaba with a huge range of goods at affordable prices. The entire city can be called a continuous Duty Free zone, since only this city in Jordan has duty-free rules. People from all over the country often come here specifically for shopping.

At the Southern Market, which is located on Ragadan Street, you will find the freshest vegetables, fruits and herbs. There is also the largest selection of aromatic spices and oriental sweets. Here you can fully experience all the local flavor.

People settled the territory of what is now Jordan several thousand years ago, and monuments from all major historical periods have survived to this day. In its vastness you can see both rock paintings and ancient cities of the Greeks, Romans, and Arabs. The castles-fortresses from the times of the Crusades are perfectly preserved.

The desert is a real attraction of Jordan. Many monuments are located in its spaces and allow you to examine cultural artifacts, while at the same time studying the life of the Bedouins and admiring the local landscapes. Many places in the kingdom are associated with Christian religious culture and are mentioned in biblical tales. They attract many pilgrims.

Beach holidays are possible in the country all year round. The Red Sea coast is lined with hotels and offers excellent opportunities for diving, snorkeling, sea bathing and water sports. One of the major trends in tourism is visiting spa resorts using the water and mud of the Dead Sea. Many hotels on the coast are equipped with swimming pools with local sea water, which are actively used by vacationers for health and beauty treatments. The best time for a tourist trip to Jordan is spring or autumn.

The best hotels and inns at affordable prices.

from 500 rubles/day

What to see in Jordan?

The most interesting and beautiful places, photographs and brief descriptions.

The largest city in Jordan, the capital. It has a centuries-old history and many of its monuments, some of which are within the walls of the archaeological museum. Located in close proximity to the Dead and Mediterranean Seas. It is of great economic importance for the country and is an industrial center.

A unique ancient structure - a city in the rocks. Ancient Petra was the capital of a rich kingdom that collected tribute from caravans carrying spices. It gradually went bankrupt when trade routes became sea routes. An example of unique architecture, full of all kinds of mysteries. The unique landscape and buildings have been featured in films many times. This is Jordan's most popular attraction.

The most impressive building in Petra. Mausoleum, completely carved into the rock. It is perfectly preserved, although the façade has the greatest artistic value and expressiveness. Spielberg filmed one of the Indiana Jones films here.

A huge salt lake, water and silt deposits create a healing effect. On the Jordanian coast there are many resorts that use sea water for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. A popular holiday destination for locals and tourists.

Pompeii of the East is a well-preserved remnant of an ancient city. All architectural buildings date back to the times of the Roman Empire. There is an archaeological museum, almost every day there is a theatrical performance based on Roman military scenes, and throughout July the city is the site of an arts festival. A landmark in Jordan, the second most important after Petra.

An ancient city built to repel military attacks. For about five thousand years, there are traces of civilization at this place. He became famous under the Greeks and thanks to the Greeks. Destroyed by earthquake. The ruins are varied: a church, amphitheaters, a forum, some of the buildings have been restored. There is a functioning archaeological museum. From the hill there is a beautiful view of the surrounding area.

Remains of buildings of the Greco-Roman city. It is called the Black Pearl of the Desert, as the buildings are made of black basalt - a rarity in ancient architecture. The buildings are well preserved for their age; among them there are two and three-story buildings. A basalt desert begins near the city.

The only seaport and resort in Jordan. Located on the Red Sea coast, the length of the coastline is almost 30 km. Sandy, clean beaches and a rich underwater world make Aqaba a popular resort and diving center. Developed tourist infrastructure, many hotels of different price categories.

The remains of an ancient settlement, which was primarily defensive in nature. Located on a hill above the city, on the Jebel al-Qalaa hill. Nearby are the ruins of an ancient basilica and the Umayyad palace park.

The most significant monument of Roman civilization in the world, one of the most valuable historical monuments in Jordan. A huge, perfectly preserved amphitheater carved into the rock. It still regularly hosts city cultural events (concerts, festivals). Capacity 6000 people.

Located on a hill, next to the Citadel. The collection is significant, represented by monuments from all eras of civilization, starting with the Neolithic. Particularly good are individual collections of sculptures and decorations.

The desert is grandiose in area and expressiveness of landscapes. The landscape is uneven: there are mountains, dips, and crevices. The reddish sand and other rocks created a bizarre landscape that has been used many times in cinema. "The Martian" was filmed here. The place is famous for the preserved rock paintings of ancient people. Now the Bedouins live in the desert.

The famous biblical mountain, the place of the supposed death of the prophet Moses. In memory of this event, a memorial complex was built on the top of the mountain, restored by archaeologists. Now there are memorial signs, a Byzantine church with fragments of an ancient mosaic. Popular with pilgrims and tourists.

It flows into the Dead Sea, dividing Jordan and Israel. The main waterway of the country. Mentioned many times in the Bible. It was in the waters of this river that Jesus was baptized. Place of active pilgrimage. Along the banks and in the immediate vicinity there are many historical monuments from different time periods.

Built in 1184, on top of a mountain, to protect local mines. A powerful military structure, a real fortress. There are forests around the castle; from the upper observation platforms you can see Jerusalem. There is an archaeological museum attached to the castle.

The Crusader castle is located near Petra. Their last stronghold in the Holy Land. After the expulsion of the knights, it fell into decay and gradually collapsed. Many buildings are in ruins; ancient inscriptions can be seen on some of the buildings. A unique location allowing you to enjoy the incredible surrounding panorama.

A legendary defensive building at an altitude of about 1000 meters. Multi-storey, inside there is a real labyrinth. It is of historical value; in addition, an archaeological museum is open on the territory. A city of the same name grew up around the fortress, attractive to tourists.

About 30 well-preserved buildings for various purposes in the desert. Caravanserais, baths, hunting lodges of the nobility - each of the palaces served its purpose and had the appropriate architecture. In the palace, a former bathhouse, there are frescoes unique to Muslim culture, partially restored.

Located on the slopes of the mountains, it includes several geographical zones, with corresponding vegetation in each. The territory is huge, the flora and fauna are extremely diverse. A great place for hiking, especially in spring. Travel by mountain bike is possible. There are several trails in the reserve; it is better to go through them with guides. Accommodation options in the reserve are varied (hotels, camping, guest houses).

Created in the Wadi Mujib gorge, near the Dead Sea. A unique landscape - mountain ranges, gorges, between which a river flows. The reserve creates its own microclimate and is home to many birds and a variety of vegetation (more than 400 species). There are routes for tourists and there are campsites.

Opportunity to dive with experienced instructors in several diving centers to choose from. One of the main attractions for tourists in the city. The Red Sea is rich in inhabitants and picturesque reefs. Turtles, octopuses, exotic fish - everyone can be seen and observed in their natural environment.

Aqaba is a young resort on the Red Sea coast, in the northernmost part of the Gulf of Aqaba.

The tourism infrastructure of Aqaba is aimed primarily at people who lead a healthy lifestyle and prefer a truly healthy vacation to all other types of recreation, combining the reasonable use of nature’s gifts for health purposes with elements of eco-tourism.

101 thousand people (2000) - about 2% of the population of Jordan.

Video from Aqaba

Architectural and historical monuments: temples/monasteries: museums: Anyone can get acquainted with the history of this region in a small museum near the Mamluk fort. The fort itself is one of the main attractions of the city - surrounded by palm trees and standing on the seashore, it is a picturesque backdrop for...

Aqaba: tours and activities

Excursion to Petra (full day). In the morning, an exciting excursion to the ancient city of the Nabateans - Petra, a real fairy tale of the Middle East, begins. The unique city is located in the mountains, which, depending on the time of day, turn pink, dark red or purple. The El Khazneh Palace, the Roman fortress of Urdru, the settlement of Beida, the Amphitheater carved from stone, hundreds of majestic temples carved into the rocks, royal tombs, water canals and religious buildings will not leave anyone indifferent and will be remembered for a lifetime. No wonder Petra is called the “eighth wonder of the world”! Return to the hotel.

Excursion to the Dead Sea (full day). An excursion to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth (400 m below sea level), begins early in the morning. The Dead Sea is the saltiest lake in the world, the composition of its salts is unique. Relax on the gently lapping waves, treat yourself to a soothing massage at the finest Spa, or try
the world-famous healing properties of minerals from mud from the bottom of the Dead Sea. Return to the hotel.

Excursion to Wadi Rum (half day with jeep safari). During this unforgettable excursion you will see Wadi Rum - one of the most romantic places in the Arabian Desert, where slender chains of mountains dissolve in reddish sand. With its wind-carved cliffs rising from the pink and white sands, Wadi Rum resembles a lunar landscape. Stunning in its natural beauty, it is the essence of desert romance. Wadi Rum has been inhabited since ancient times, and today a number of Bedouin tribes live on its territory. You can take a jeep ride or, if you prefer, a camel ride. You will also see the sunset, which makes an unforgettable impression.

Excursion to the island of the Pharaohs with lunch. A boat trip to the Egyptian island of the Pharaohs provides an opportunity to directly come into contact with the life of the marine world and enjoy the diversity and colors of underwater flora and fauna. During the walk, stops will be made in the most beautiful and coral-rich places. Tourists are provided with masks, snorkels, and fins for rent. Directly on the island you will have the opportunity to visit an ancient Egyptian castle. Lunch and drinks are provided during the walk. It is recommended to take sun cream with you.
For excursions, you will need comfortable shoes and sports clothing (otherwise it will be difficult for you to climb to the top row of the amphitheater in Jerash or take a horseback ride in Petra). Not all hotels offer quick ironing of clothes, and this service is not very cheap, so preference should be given to clothes made from wrinkle-resistant materials. Don’t forget good sunglasses, the medications you need (in Jordan there may only be analogues with names unknown to you), films for your camera or video camera.

History of Aqaba

The first settlements existed here already 5,500 years ago. During the spread of Islam, to facilitate the journey of pilgrims to Mecca, a passage was made through the rocks, which was called “akabat Ayla”. Later, a new city appeared here. In the 30-40s of the 19th century, the Egyptians built across the Sinai...

Aqaba: entertainment and active recreation

Aqaba is famous for its facilities for divers, including the organization of day and night dives, training and education through numerous clubs, including the well-known Royal Diving Club. In addition, you can try yourself in other water sports; and simply take part in a wide variety of water activities, for example, sailing, fishing, swimming without scuba gear, but with a mask and snorkel, or, without diving into the sea at all, nevertheless freely observe the underwater life through the transparent bottom of a special boat.

Transport features of Aqaba

Taxi: For trips within the same city, you can use regular taxis. In Jordan they are colored yellow. Taxi services are quite cheap.

buses: To travel around the country, you can use regular buses. If you are going to travel from Aqaba to Amman and do not plan any stops along the way, then your choice is a comfortable bus from JETT or TRUST. The cost of the trip is about 10 dollars.

car rental: airports: Aqaba International Airport is located just 20 minutes from the city center.

Posted By website on 02/24/2017

Trip to Aqaba Jordan – our reviews.

The largest resort port city of Jordan on the Red Sea.

According to the schedule: those who go at 13-00 get a lunch break, and many of their establishments are not open at this time. And those who go at 17, are already going in complete darkness. , it is better to take a warm windbreaker with you. Getting around Aqaba is quite easy; from the bus station we go down the pedestrian crossing to the embankment. Attention! In Jordan, cars are not inferior to pedestrians, even if the pedestrian has already started moving and reached the middle of the road. You have to cross the roadway, dodging cars. No one will let you pass or slow down. During the entire evening, only one driver let us through, most likely it was a tourist who had rented a car.

The second feature of Aqaba, and, in general, Jordanian cities, is that when you walk along the sidewalk, green cars constantly honk at you - these are taxis. At first, especially girls, they fall into a stupor from such attention. Every 5-7 meters beep, beep, because... taxis in the city make up 50 percent of the total traffic flow. Then, over time, you realize that they honk at everyone you meet, especially with bags in their hands, and you stop paying attention to it. Aqaba - Aqaba has been a tourist city for quite a long time and, although there is plenty of garbage everywhere, the town is quite interesting, a typical urban seaside Arab town. It feels especially colorful when you are standing near one of the largest national flags, on the highest flagpole, and then the call to prayer is heard from a nearby mosque.

Gulf of Aqaba

In the bay there are a lot of ocean liners, cargo ships and pleasure boats, it becomes impossible to get rid of the impression that you are on the set of the famous movie about James Bond. In general, if you have never been to an Arab city before, you will have a lot of impressions, especially at sunset.

Regarding harassment

There were several girls on the bus with us who were walking alone in the city. Yes, they were wearing appropriate clothing in the form of a long dress, but still, a lonely blonde in an Arab city looks unreasonable. But everything turned out to be not so scary, everyone returned safely to the hotel.
One of the disadvantages of Arabic stores is that the prices of goods are written in Arabic script rather than in numbers. It is not clear why they were not pleased with their own Arabic numerals. After all, their writing is 2-3 times shorter. Because The city, one might say, is a tourist one, but there are no problems with shopping and spending time. About 40 percent of the sellers know the basic Russian words quite well: buy, price, tea, coffee. If you know the basic nouns in English, then there will be no problems at all.

Upon arrival at the bus stop, on the right in the tourist center, in the form of a pavilion, you can pick up free tourist brochures in Russian about famous places and objects of Jordan and Aqaba, in particular. Including a map of Aqaba. The layout of Aqaba is simple, it is difficult to get lost. As a last resort, you can always ask any taxi driver to take you to McDonald's, located across the street opposite the place where the hotel bus drops off and picks up. And getting to the hotel by taxi is relatively inexpensive, 5 dinars.
The main tourist streets are located like this: a two-lane road along the bay, past the beach, will lead you to the famous Jordanian flag, on the way to it you can exchange dollars for dinars, having previously assessed your expenses, because It is not profitable to buy in dollars.

Attractions of Aqaba - Jordan

The largest flag in the world is the 40-meter flag of Jordan at Uprising Square (also a small pier for pleasure boats).
From the pier of the Great Arab Revolt Plaza, where the famous 40-meter flag is located, there is an excellent view of the coastal part of Aqaba. One of the mosques is located nearby. All the colorful colors of the Arab city in one place. A huge banner of 20x40 meters with a height of 137 meters looks very interesting, at least you are unlikely to see something similar anywhere else. The 137 meter flagpole, not including the height of the supporting structure, is the tallest in the world.
The flag banner commemorates the great Arab revolt for independence of 1916, led by Sherif Hussein Bin Ali against the Ottoman Empire (Great Arab Revolt).

Salodin Aqaba Fortress

At the entrance to the pier to the flag, there is the Salodin fortress, when we were there it was under repair and they were not allowed inside.
Near the flag just above are the ruins of a Mamluk fortress. On the tablets (see photo) it is written in Arabic that the fortress was built by Sultan Kansur Al-Ghauri (1510-1517).
The Aqaba Mamluk fortress was used for a long time, including by pilgrims heading to Mecca. This Arab fortress was badly damaged during shelling in the First World War. Its restoration is now underway.

Nearby here, higher up, there should be a museum of Aqaba somewhere, but... We were late, he was no longer working. Near the flag, everyone takes pictures with views of the bay from the pier; I repeat, the place is picturesque.

Shopping in Aqaba - what to bring from Jordan

After the flag we go back, but we are already walking on the opposite side of the street. We cross the street at the pedestrian crossing, very carefully. 100-200 m from the flag, Arab trading shops begin, despite the fact that a lot of smaller streets branch off from the main embankment of the street, it is difficult to get lost in them, especially if you keep in mind where the sea is. And the famous flag located in the bay is visible, perhaps, from anywhere in Aqaba. It is better to buy coffee and tea in stores where there are many local buyers, especially if you are not well versed in Arabic varieties. It is easiest to take those varieties that are in greatest demand among Arabs, i.e. those which, in glass cases, have the least grains left. The most popular varieties are usually the most predictable. Of course, you can smell it, but aroma and taste are not the same thing.
In general, Aqaba is a small port city, yes, there are drawbacks, the same cigarette butts are almost everywhere, there is also garbage, but there is not so much of it.
And those who come to plunge into the atmosphere of an Arab city will be pleased. Even those who don't know English. No returns without purchases. For a small According to our statistics, in Aqaba, people mainly buy the following:

1. Arabic coffee in a branded package 6-8 dinars per kg,
2. Arabic tea 2-4 dinars per 100 g,
3. magnets – 1 dinar per piece,
4. Arabic halva and other sweets,
5. nuts,
6. mango 2 dinars per kg, one mango has 500 grams,
7. pomegranate 2.5 dinars per kg.

Real natural pomegranate and mango, much tastier than those sold in Russian supermarkets.

You also need to understand that life in Jordan is on average 2 times more expensive than in the Russian Federation, it’s not the Arabs who are wrong, it’s something wrong with our national currency - the ruble. The dinar exchange rate since 1984 has been fixed at $1 = 0.67 dinars. More
Regarding the behavior of the Arabs, I can say the following, mostly they pester with their services, only taxi drivers, but everything is quite civilized. Go wherever you want, no one cares about you. Yes, girls are constantly being looked at, but no problems with harassment have been noticed. Although, in my opinion, walks of lonely blond girls still look somewhat stupid, since even according to the guide, out of 300,000 thousand inhabitants there will still be a couple of fanatics or simply sick people, so it is more prudent to stay in groups, and it is better to walk with your other half.