Aqaba: What to Do on the Red Sea (Beaches, Diving, Boat) and How to Get There
Aqaba is Jordan's only port and its seaside resort on the Red Sea, about 330 km from Amman (around 4 hours by road) and one hour from Wadi Rum. People come to swim, dive or snorkel and as a stop after the desert, not for a long visit: a day and a half is enough. The prices below come from listings checked in October 2026; they are not official. For diving, see diving and snorkelling in Aqaba; for the sea, the boat trip.
Highlights
The beach and the seafront
Al-Hafayer public beach is free, with chairs and umbrellas according to one guide, but several guides find it poorly kept; the best beaches are at Tala Bay or in the paid clubs.
Aqaba Fort
A 16th-century Mamluk fort, in the same complex as Sharif Hussein's house and the archaeological museum.
Ayla marina
Promenade, shops and restaurants on the water, lively in the evening; it is also the departure point for several boat trips.
The Red Sea underwater
Aqaba's reefs, the Cedar Pride wreck and the Japanese Garden are visited by snorkelling or diving; see diving.
Practical info
Tips
- Berenice Beach Club, a paid beach club, offers days from 23 USD according to one platform; a glass-bottom boat with snorkelling and club access costs about 33 USD for 2 hours. A sunset boat starts at about 24 USD, a private boat for 6 people at about 336 USD.
- A typical day: boat or diving in the morning, beach in the afternoon, marina in the evening. Many travellers arrive after Wadi Rum and leave the next day for Amman or Petra: see Petra from Aqaba.
- Dress on the public beaches is more modest than in the clubs; a woman in a bikini may attract attention according to one guide. Clubs and hotels along the coast suit foreign swimmers better.
- Summer is very hot; prefer seafront hotels or morning excursions. To sleep, see where to stay in Jordan.
- Ferries connect Aqaba with Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt (Petra excursions using this crossing are offered from 248 USD); times and prices change, check them before booking.
How to get there
About 4 hours from Amman by the Desert Highway (330 km); 1 hour from Wadi Rum. A small airport serves Aqaba, but check flights before booking. By car, see car rental. Also from Wadi Rum and Petra. If you prefer to drive, you can rent a car for the day.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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