Aqaba

City · 🇯🇴 Jordan

Population 140,000

Area 2,095 km²

Time zone Asia/Amman

Official website www.aqabazone.com

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Featured Lists

Luigi Rubagotti / CC-BY-SA

Al-Aqaba's Unmissable Treasures

Al-Aqaba serves as Jordan's gateway to both the Red Sea and the desert landscapes of Wadi Rum. This collection features the 16th-century Aqaba Castle and the early Islamic ruins of Ayla. The UNESCO-listed Wadi Rum Protected Area offers sandstone formations, the historical Lawrence House, and the petroglyphs of the Siq Trail. Along the coast, the Japanese Gardens and South Beach provide access to the Aqaba Marine Park’s coral reefs, home to hawksbill turtles and diverse marine life.

9 places

David Bjorgen / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Jordan's Desert Vistas

This collection highlights the geological wonders of southern Jordan, centered on the Wadi Rum Protected Area and the coastal city of Aqaba. It features natural sandstone arches like Burdah Bridge and Um Fruth, alongside Jordan's highest point, Jabal Um Ad-dami. The list encompasses dramatic granite massifs and desert valleys, providing specific locations for observing the region's distinct red sand dunes and the unique rock formations that define this UNESCO World Heritage site.

20 places

Top Diving Spots

Aqaba’s Red Sea coast features a unique combination of natural coral reefs and purposefully scuttled artificial reefs. This list includes the Cedar Pride, a Lebanese freighter sunk in 1985, and a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. Shallow sites like the M42 Duster tank and the Japanese Gardens provide visibility of Gorgonian fan corals and hawksbill turtles at depths accessible to both snorkelers and scuba divers.

8 places

Ancient Ruins and Heritage Sites

Discover millennia of history across the Aqaba and Wadi Rum regions, from prehistoric petroglyphs to early Islamic architecture. This collection features the world's oldest purpose-built Roman church, the 1st-century BC Nabataean Temple, and the Mamluk-era Aqaba Castle. Explore the ruins of Ayla, the first Islamic city established outside the Arabian Peninsula, alongside ancient desert irrigation systems and Iron Age fortifications that reveal the strategic importance of these trade routes.

13 places

Regional Culinary Delights

This selection highlights the diverse dining landscape across Aqaba and the Tala Bay resort area. The collection ranges from specialized Mexican cuisine at C4 Shots and fresh seafood at SeaBass Restaurant to traditional Arabic and Lebanese specialties at AL Shami and Rahamani Arabian Eatery. These establishments offer various amenities including outdoor seating, wheelchair accessibility, and non-smoking environments, reflecting the region's blend of international flavors and local culinary traditions.

11 places