When Is The Best Time To Visit Jordan? Climate & Seasons Explained

Unlike many other parts of the Middle East, Jordan experiences four distinct seasons, and has many sub-climates that visitors need to be aware of when planning a trip to Jordan.

On this page we will cover:

• Jordan’s climate – broken down by season and popular tourist destinations
• Public holidays & School holidays observed in Jordan
• Festivals and events in Jordan

This post is part of our Jordan with Kids series

---

Jordan Climate

We are going to look at the country based on the major tourist destinations, as each has pros and cons of visiting at different times of year.

There’s no one size fits all best time for Jordan, but GENERALLY SPEAKING, Jordan is at its best during the Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November) when day time temperatures in the mid-’20s should be experienced in most of the country.

Jordan does experience four distinct seasons, but the summers are long hot and dry, while winters are relatively short and mild.  Amman and the north can be considerably colder in the winter than the coastal and mountainous areas.

The prettiest time to visit Jordan is the spring when much of the country becomes blanketed in wildflowers.

Best time to visit Petra

Petra is best visited in the Spring and Autumn months when it is not too hot or too cold so that trekking is comfortable.

That said, it’s also when crowds are at their peak.  If you want crowd-free photos, always set off early in the day and consider mid-summer when crowds are thinned and headed to beach resorts instead! Petra’s average daytime temperature in peak summer is 33°C/91°F.

You can also visit Petra mid-winter, rug up in layers that you can strip down as you warm up (Day time temperatures will still climb to around 20°C/68°F). But be prepared for cool nights in winter that can drop as low as 2°C/36°F. Dressing appropriately, these winter temperatures are still quite pleasant for this active destination, and a much lower likelihood you’ll have crowds to tackle.

Note that if you want to experience “Petra by Night” this only occurs on Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays.

Best time to visit Wadi Rum

Despite being a desert, Wadi Rum does like to promote itself as still being a year-round destination.

Summer is not as hot as you may expect in the coastal resort towns. Mid-July sees daytime highs in Wadi Rum around 34°C/93°F, though it can exceed 40°C/104°F. The nighttime temperature will drop around 10c below the daytime max.

Winters, on the other hand, are much colder. You can expect daytime temperatures in the desert of only 10 to 15°C, and overnight temperatures down to zero/32°F.

Things start to re-emerge from winter in March; however, some may still find this quite cold. Plenty of blankets will be provided year-round by your Bedouin hosts to keep you toasty warm, no matter the weather. March to May and September to November are ideal.

You may be interested in timing your Wadi Rum trip for the Perseids Meteor Shower, in approximately July / August. The amazingly clear desert skies here make this the perfect place to witness this natural phenomenon.

Best time to visit the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea, being the lowest point on earth, sits in its own microclimate. You can expect almost year-round sunny skies and very hot summers – in excess of 40°C/104°F and water temperatures as high as 37°C/98°F – not entirely a refreshing dip! Throughout the year, humidity is low.

You may experience some rain from late November through to March, but this is unpredictable and very minimal, normally less than 50mm falls per year. Do note that when it does rain, the nearby mountains can experience flash flooding.

Due to the drop in water temperature in winter (down as low as 20°C/68°F), this is considered the low season, but on the plus side, you may get slightly better resort prices! Winter air temperatures rarely drop lower than 10°C/50°F overnight, and daytime temperatures are around 20°C/68°F in winter.

Learn exactly how to get from Amman to the Dead Sea here | Travel onwards from the Dead Sea to Petra

Best time to visit Aqaba and the Red Sea

Aqaba is best known as Jordan’s resort town on the Red Sea, with perfect diving opportunities so you need to be mindful of both air and sea temperatures planning a trip to Aqaba, Jordan.

Water temperatures in Aqaba range from 21°C/70°F in the middle of winter to a very pleasant 27°C/80°F in the peak of summer. Air temperature ranges from highs of only 20°C/68°F in the middle of winter to 40°C/104°F in the peak of summer. Aqaba does not suffer much from humidity, on average below 24%.

Aqaba does benefit from a long shoulder season, so visit mid-March through to Mid-November (summer in July-August) to make the most of the pleasant coastal conditions. We’d still recommend finding a resort with a temperature-controlled pool though off the peak of summer!

In February, you can catch the Aqaba Traditional Arts Festival. This annual event promotes and preserves the culture of the Bedouin people in the region, showcasing handcrafted goods.

You can find our complete guide how to get between Amman and Aqaba over here.

Best time to visit Amman

Amman usually experiences temperatures around 10°C cooler than Aqaba.

Amman does experience more extremes in winter than the rest of the country. You can expect rainfall, even snow and bitterly cold winds. Day time temperatures average only 12°C/52°F in mid-January. You definitely need coats and woollies mid-winter – check out our complete guide what to wear in Jordan here.

The Spring and Autumn are comparatively long and pleasant. Mid Summer bringing with it exceptionally nice days, average day time highs around 32°C/90°F making it one of the Middle East’s most pleasant capitals in summer.

---

Public Holidays to be aware of in Jordan 2023

Jordan observes the following public holidays (Note that many dates will move each year depending on moon sightings under the Hijri (Islamic) Calendar). 

• New Years Day – 1 January 2023 (fixed date)
• Eid Al Fiseh Al Atheem (Easter – Christians only) – 21 to 22 April 2023
• Labour Day – 1 May 2023
• Eid al Fitr – 22 to 25 April 2023 (variable) 
• Jordan Independence Day – 25 May 2023 (fixed date)
• Eid Al-Adha – 28 June to 2 July 2023 (variable) 
• Hijri New Year – 19 July 2023 (variable)
• Birth of Prophet Mohammed  – 27 September 2023
• Christmas Day – 25 December 2023 (Nationally observed – fixed date)

Note that the Jordanian work week runs from Sunday to Thursday. The Holy Day is Friday. Generally, resorts and tourist destinations are at their busiest Thursday & Friday nights.

School Holidays in Jordan 2022/23

Whilst local school holidays should have minimal impact on tourists, here you can find the Ministry of Education calendar (Arabic).

Note private and international schools may have different dates on a three-term basis.

---

Festivals and events in Jordan

Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts

Held around June or July each year, the Jerash Festival is held in the ancient Roman city of Jerash, approximately 48 kms north of Amman has become an annual sensation. It brings together an assortment of singers, dancers and musicians, including an international lineup of artists who perform at the ancient amphitheatres of Jerash.

Dead Sea Ultra Marathon

Held in April each year, this endurance test sees runners compete from the heights of Amman and descend the lowest point on earth.

Ramadan in Jordan

The Holy Month of Ramadan is observed by Muslims in Jordan, who represent around 93% of the country’s population. The dates vary each year as it is based on the moon’s cycle, which varies by about 10 days per year. Ramadan is the 9th month of the Hijri calendar.

In 2023, Ramadan is due to fall on 23 March to 20 April, followed by Eid Al-Fitr celebrations.

Whilst smoking, eating and drinking in public is prohibited for Muslims who should be fasting during Ramadan (with a few exceptions), non-Muslims do not need to meet this requirement. That said, doing so would be considered rude and culturally out of place.

Our detailed family guide to Ramadan in the Middle East is coming soon!

You may find during Ramadan in Jordan a change in regular business hours as businesses open later and close earlier to deal with the daytime fasting aspect of Ramadan.

Restaurants that would normally be open serving tourists may also be closed during the day (however, you will find large hotels will still keep some dining facilities open). Everything re-opens again at sunset after Iftar – the breaking of the fast.

Hajj Pilgrimage

Although Hajj takes place in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, you will find that AMM in Jordan is a popular connecting airport. You should expect limited availability and expensive airfares in the weeks immediately preceding Eid Al-Adha.

---

If you have any further questions about the best time to visit Jordan, why not pop on over to our Family Travel in the Middle East Facebook community. Here you can ask fellow family travellers your detailed Jordan travel questions.

---

How do you fit it all in? Check out our Classic 5 Day Jordan Road Trip Itinerary along with our top tips how to drive in Jordan

---

Take me back to the Jordan with Kids homepage