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The Top Things to See and Do in Aqaba, Jordan

Morning aerial view on cities of Aqaba (Jordan) and Eilat (Israel), mountains, water surface of Aqaba gulf and sunrise with beautiful sunbeams, the photo was taken from surrounding hills of Eilat
Morning aerial view on cities of Aqaba (Jordan) and Eilat (Israel), mountains, water surface of Aqaba gulf and sunrise with beautiful sunbeams, the photo was taken from surrounding hills of Eilat | Sergei25 / Shutterstock

Aqaba, the only coastal city in Jordan, is a base for diving the coral reefs of the Red Sea or heading to the Star Wars-esque landscape of the rocky Wadi Rum. The city landmarks – from ancient ruins to a showstopping mosque – illuminate fascinating elements of Islamic culture and Middle Eastern history. Here’s what to do in Aqaba.

Seek out Arab history at Mamluk Castle

A few blocks inland from the Gulf of Aqaba, Mamluk Castle is the site of one of the most famous battles of World War I – a victory for the Arab Revolt. This uprising, which swept through Aqaba in 1916, is immortalised in a memorable scene from the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. The 16th-century castle was built by the Mamluk sultanate and was used for centuries as a khan, or travellers’ inn, hosting pilgrims on their journey to Mecca.

>> Visit all of the castles and fortresses on this tour from Amman.

Main entrance gate of Aqaba Fortress, Mamluk Castle located in Aqaba city, Jordan

Relax at Palm Beach

The free public beach of Al-Hafayer, also known as Palm Beach, is on the southern coast, 10 minutes from downtown. This beautiful palm tree-specked stretch is lapped by the Red Sea. This is the perfect place to watch the sunset with a pot of tea, and soak up the atmosphere as Aqaba locals enjoy their leisure time.

Aqaba beach view, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

Venture into the Wadi Rum

Aqaba is the gateway to the Wadi Rum, south Jordan’s mystical-looking valley of sandstone and granite. Also known as the Valley of the Moon, this natural wonder of remarkable rock formations was made by millions of years of changing weather conditions and erosion. Sunsets here are especially colourful and best enjoyed during a night as guests of nomadic Bedouins.

>> Catch a private tour, or the minibuses that leave from the main station in Aqaba.

The wind raises the dust in Wadi Rum, Sahara or Arabian desert

Visit the Aqaba Archaeological Museum

Adjacent to the castle and near the 130m (427ft) high Aqaba Flagpole, the Aqaba Archaeological Museum gives you the best introduction to the rich history of the city. Originally a palace for Hashemite dynasty founder Hussein bin Ali, it houses a collection of Bronze Age artefacts dating to 4000BCE. Among the best-known treasures are Medieval Fatimid coins and an inscription of a Quranic verse that once hung above the eastern gate in Aqaba.

Go diving in the Red Sea

One of Aqaba’s greatest assets lies beneath the surface – the coral reefs of the Red Sea. The gulf’s mild weather makes it a perfect place for a first trial dive, while certified divers can choose from a plethora of sites. Go looking for turtles at the Seven Sisters coral, or swim down to Cedar Pride, a Lebanese freighter wreck that’s accessible from the shore.

>> Ahlan Aqaba Scuba Diving Centre offers adventurous diving trips and snorkelling in the Aqaba Marine Park.

A fabulously beautiful coral reef and its inhabitants in the Red Sea

See the Sherif al-Hussein bin Ali Mosque

Named after the leader of the 1916 Arab Revolt, the Sharif al-Hussein bin Ali Mosque is the most remarkable place of worship in Aqaba. It was built in 1975 and enlarged in 2011, the white stone still gleaming on its vast dome, intricate minaret and elegant arches. Wander through the main entrance to explore the mosaic interior, which is adorned with fountains, columns and chandeliers. Come back at night to see the soaring tower illuminated in bright white light.

Live it up at Berenice Beach Club

Upgrade your day at the beach with a spot at Berenice Beach Club. A short bus ride from the city centre, this private club is spread across 500m (1,640ft) of the Red Sea coast, a spot that lays claim to the cleanest waters of the Aqaba Marine Park. It has three swimming pools, showers and shaded sunbeds. Services range from diving and snorkelling at an in-house diving centre to yacht cruises and jet-skis.

Berenice beach at sunset near Aqaba, Jordan, human silhouettes on the pier at sunset by the red sea

Explore the early Islamic city of Ayla

Northwest of the city centre, ancient ruins mark the spot of the first Islamic city to be founded outside the Arabian Peninsula. You can see the ruins of an ancient church, arguably the oldest purposely built church anywhere in the world, and sections of the city wall. The site is located right in front of the Mövenpick and Aqaba Gulf hotels, a short walk from the waterfall, and entrance is free.

Take a stroll around the Aqaba Bird Observatory

The Aqaba Bird Observatory is at the northern tip of the Red Sea, close to the Eilat border, and receives flocks of birds from Europe, Asia and Africa every migration season. The forest and wetlands cultivated here create a stark contrast to the surrounding desert and are no less beautiful for being artificially managed. Any given season attracts more than 70 different bird species passing through this bottleneck of global migration routes.

Panorama to Cape Ras Mohammed and seagulls flying to the sea. National Reserve on the Red Sea in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.

Go on a glass-bottom boat tour

Should you not fancy getting into the water for snorkelling or diving, glass-bottomed boats are a fantastic way to see the Red Sea. Boats pull up on a beach near the Mövenpick hotel, or at a jetty in front of Aqaba Castle. Tours last from 30 minutes to an hour, the latter rounding most of the harbour and going close to the Israeli border and the city of Eilat.

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