Tips 👏
Aqaba is Jordan’s southern coastal city, right on the shores of the Red Sea, the perfect chill-out spot to end a busy trip.
- It’s the only seaside city in Jordan, famous for scuba diving, snorkeling, and relaxing beaches.
- The city is much hotter than the rest of Jordan, so expect full-on summer vibes even in spring.
- Hotels by the beach are the way to go, most have private access to the Red Sea.
- The view isn't exactly tropical, there are quite a few large boats and harbors around, so don't expect remote paradise vibes.
- Aqaba is a great spot to return your rental car if you’re flying out from there.
- Arrange your airport transfer with your hotel in advance, it’s smooth and stress-free.
🏠 Accommodation
We stayed at the InterContinental Aqaba, and it was exactly what we needed after a busy trip across the country. The hotel had everything: large comfy rooms, multiple pools, a private beach with direct Red Sea access, and plenty of spots to just lounge and relax. After days of hiking, canyoning, and dusty adventures, it was the perfect place to recharge and cool down.
That said, the view from the beach isn’t postcard-perfect, the Red Sea is beautiful, but it’s dotted with big boats, ports, and cargo ships. It’s still very chill, just set your expectations accordingly.
🚲 Getting there
After leaving Wadi Rum, we drove just under an hour south to Aqaba.
We dropped off our rental car in town (super easy) and headed straight to the hotel for full lazy mode.
⏱ Duration
We only stayed one night, using Aqaba as a buffer between Wadi Rum and our flight home. If you want to snorkel, dive, or explore town, two nights would be better, but for us, one was perfect just to chill.
A Slow Ending by the Red Sea 🌊
After dropping the car, we checked into the hotel, grabbed a late lunch, and spent the afternoon lounging by the pool and beach. The water was crystal clear, and even just paddling along the beach gave us a little taste of the famous Red Sea calm.
The vibe was pure relaxation, soft sunset over the Red Sea, warm evening air, and zero rush to do anything. We also arranged our airport transfer for the next morning directly with the hotel reception, super easy and well worth it for a smooth departure.
Aqaba was the perfect soft landing after an intense adventure-packed trip, highly recommend ending your Jordan itinerary here if you have the time. After days in the desert, give yourself a proper reward: a beachfront pool, a cold drink, and a slow sunset in Aqaba, even if the view includes a few cargo ships!
Hope this was helpful, you can ask us any questions on Instagram.