Aqaba
Jordanie · 29.53°, 35.01°
Jordan's only coastal city and Red Sea gem. World-class coral reefs, year-round warm diving waters, duty-free shopping, and the closest beach town to Petra and Wadi Rum. Desert meets sea at the crossroads of four countries.
Red Sea Coral Reef Diving & Snorkelling
World-class coral reefs right off Aqaba's shore. Warm 25°C water year-round. Visibility 30m+. Coral gardens, shipwrecks, sea turtles, rays. Easier access than Egypt side. Beginner and advanced sites.
Aqaba Fort (Mamluk Castle)
16th-century fort in city center. Arab Revolt history (Lawrence of Arabia captured it). Small museum inside. FREE to walk around exterior. Hashemite coat of arms original gateway. Interesting history.
Arab Revolt Flagpole & Promenade
One of the world's tallest flagpoles at 132m. Marks Arab Revolt against Ottomans 1917. Waterfront corniche promenade. Sea views to Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia from same spot. FREE. Stunning at sunset.
Cedar Pride Shipwreck Dive
Famous intentionally-sunk Lebanese cargo ship in 1985. 30m depth, covered in coral. Huge fish schools, moray eels, lionfish. Best wreck dive in Red Sea. Advanced certification recommended.
Aqaba Marine Park Beaches
Protected marine reserve with public beach access. Good snorkelling from shore, no boat needed. Coral visible from surface. Beach facilities. Best free beach near city. Clean and well-managed.
Wadi Rum Desert Day Trip
Only 60km north. Better access point than Amman. Jeep tours, camel rides, Bedouin camps, incredible stargazing. Mars-like pink desert. Overnight stays highly recommended. Multiple tour operators in Aqaba.
Glass-Bottom Boat Tours
Perfect for non-swimmers. See incredible coral and fish without getting wet. 2h tours along reef. Coral city visible below. Operators at main beach. Cheap and cheerful. Family perfect.
Aqaba Old Souk & Duty-Free
Aqaba is Jordan's duty-free zone. Spices, gold, electronics, alcohol all cheaper. Old souk near fort for traditional shopping. Haggle always. Great for last-minute Jordan souvenirs.
Le musée d’Aqaba
Dans la maison du chérif Hussein ben Ali, arrière-grand-père du roi actuel, à côté du fort.
Ayla, la ville islamique
Les fondations de la première ville islamique construite hors d’Arabie, fondée vers 650, dégagées en centre-ville.
Le musée militaire du chérif Hussein
La mémoire de la révolte arabe de 1916-1918 et de la prise d’Aqaba.
Le parc archéologique de Tall Hujayrat al-Ghuzlan
Un village de l’âge du cuivre, il y a six mille ans, avec ses ateliers de métallurgie.
- Kempinski Hotel Aqaba
Luxury beachfront. Private beach, multiple pools, spa, water sports. Best luxury hotel in Aqaba. Sea views. Excellent diving packages. Worth the splurge for Red Sea experience.
- Mövenpick Tala Bay Aqaba
Large well-run resort at the Tala Bay development, 12km south of Aqaba city center. Directly on the beach with excellent snorkelling from shore, multiple pools, a dive centre, and family amenities. Quieter and more resort-like than the city-center hotels.
- Mövenpick Resort Aqaba
Popular resort hotel with beach access, pools, restaurants. Good value luxury. Dive centre on-site. Family friendly. Well organised. Buffet breakfast excellent.
- DoubleTree by Hilton Aqaba
Comfortable Hilton property in central Aqaba with a large outdoor pool, fitness center, and multiple dining options. Walking distance to the corniche, fort, and city center. Excellent value for the quality and brand reliability. Good for business and families.
- Coral Bay Resort
Popular mid-range beachfront resort. Private beach area, pool, snorkelling equipment. Diving packages. Directly on Red Sea. Family friendly. Excellent reef access.
- Nairoukh Classic Hotel
Charming boutique hotel in a quiet residential area of Aqaba with personal service and a lovely garden. Comfortable rooms, good breakfast, and helpful staff who arrange diving, snorkelling, and Wadi Rum tours. A welcoming smaller alternative to the large beach resorts.
- Aqaba Gulf Hotel
Mid-range hotel with pool. Central location, walking distance to fort and corniche. Decent rooms, breakfast included. Good value. Basic but reliable. Business and leisure mixed.
- Bedouin Garden Village
Budget guesthouse/hostel with courtyard garden. Near city center. Clean dorms and private rooms. Helpful staff organise Wadi Rum and diving trips. Popular with backpackers.
- Al Manara, a Luxury Collection Hotel
Dans le quartier de Saraya, architecture d’inspiration hedjazienne.
- InterContinental Aqaba
Une grande maison de la corniche, avec lagon privé.
- Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla
Au bord de la marina artificielle d’Ayla.
- Berenice Beach Club Hotel
Au sud, près de la réserve marine.
- Captain’s Hotel
Une adresse familiale du centre, réputée pour son restaurant de poisson.
- Luxotel Aqaba
Des tentes de luxe sur la plage sud.
- Tala Bay Marina Restaurant
Upscale dining at the Tala Bay resort marina, south of Aqaba. Excellent seafood, grilled meats, and international dishes served on a terrace over the water. The most sophisticated dining experience in the Aqaba region with beautiful Red Sea views.
- Royal Yacht Club Restaurant
Upscale restaurant at the marina. International and Jordanian cuisine. Sea views, sunset terrace. Best for a special dinner. Grilled meats, fresh fish. Good wine list.
- Red Sea Grill
Excellent waterfront seafood restaurant near the Aqaba Marine Park. Daily fresh catch of hammour, snapper, and calamari grilled with spices. Terrace with views of the Red Sea and the four-country horizon. Affordable and consistently good quality.
- Captain's Fish Restaurant
Best seafood in Aqaba. Fresh Red Sea catch: hammour, sea bream, calamari. Choose your fish from the display. Grilled or fried. Outdoor terrace. Family friendly. Affordable. Local institution.
- Formosa Restaurant
Unique Aqaba institution serving both Jordanian and Chinese cuisine under one roof — an unexpected but beloved combination that reflects the city's diverse expat community. Generous portions, consistent quality, and a lively local atmosphere. Open late.
- Floka Restaurant
Popular local restaurant near corniche. Mezze, grilled fish, mansaf. Good value. Air-conditioned interior. Families and tourists mixed. Reliable quality. Good for group meals.
- Ali Baba Restaurant
Long-standing local favourite. Traditional Jordanian: musakhan, maqluba, grills. Cheap and filling. No frills. Popular with families. Great value for money. Open late.
- Sharif Coffee & Sweets
Popular local café. Arabic coffee, fresh juices, kunafa and baklava. Air-conditioned escape from heat. Watch local life. Cheap. Good for breakfast or afternoon break. Wi-Fi available.
- Formosa
Cuisine asiatique de bonne tenue, sur la corniche.
- Al Shami Restaurant
Mezze levantins et grillades, adresse locale du centre.
- Blue Bay Restaurant
Poisson grillé les pieds dans le sable, à la plage sud.
- Syrian Palace Restaurant
Cuisine syrienne dans le vieux centre, depuis les années 1980.
- Rovers Return
Une adresse simple pour le petit-déjeuner et les grillades.
- Aqaba Fish Market
On choisit son poisson à l’étal, on le fait griller sur place.
These addresses are surveyed one by one. The automatically generated lists — a “Grand Hotel” and a “Table de” in every city — have been removed: they did not exist.
77 out of 100 on the Nomad Score. 8 working hours shared with Western Europe.
The eight criteria in detailOctobre à avril pour la plongée ; l’été dépasse 40 °C au fond du golfe.
169 addresses in this city, 20 of them cafés.
Also surveyed: 8 shops and 7 means of transport.