Excluding the United Arab Emirates, which have nothing in common with the other countries in the region, Jordan is the first country in the Middle East I visited. To be honest, I didn’t have particularly high expectations, so as not to be disappointed, but after a week spent there I can safely say that it exceeded my expectations and I was impressed not only by the beautiful places I managed to visit, but also by the hospitality of the locals and the high level of service.

Undoubtedly, when someone hears “Jordan”, the first association they make is the ancient rock city of Petra or the beautiful desert landscapes of Wadi Rum, which have been used as a real-life set for dozens of films with space-themed plots. A far less popular destination, at least among foreign tourists, is the southern resort town of Aqaba, where reddish-brown rocky mountains plunge into the astonishing blue waters of the sea. As well as being the southernmost city in the country, it is also the only coastal city in Jordan. It lies on the shores of the Red Sea between two continents – Africa and Asia – and is a particularly popular tourist destination, both among the local population and among residents of the neighbouring countries. In fact, an interesting fact is that the Aqaba area has the status of a special economic zone precisely because of its strategic location. On one side is the border with Israel, on the other with Saudi Arabia, and by sea the country borders Egypt.

Aqaba is home to one of the three international airports in Jordan, and the availability of a direct flight from Sofia, as well as from other European cities, contributes a great deal to the development of tourism in the city. The distance from Aqaba to Petra is about 2 hours, and to the Wadi Rum desert less than an hour, which is why quite a few tourists use the seaside resort town as a base from which to set off to the other not-so-distant destinations. I personally hadn’t planned for us to stay in Aqaba, but we had to extend our trip by a day and decided to explore it after all. Bear in mind that to get round the interesting sights in the city you need no more than half a day. If the weather is good, you can happily spend the rest of the day on the beach.

Sights in Aqaba

The Old Town

Just a few minutes’ walk from the beach strip of Aqaba lies the old town, where you can be transported straight to long-gone times. At its heart is the market – a labyrinth of covered stalls, craft shops and traditional cafés. Here you will also find the remains of the 14th-century Mamluk Castle, where restoration work is still under way, but it is nevertheless open to visitors and entry is completely free. You can go in and look round, and by clambering up the high fortress walls you will be able to see not only the beautiful bay but also a large part of the city. You can also look round the prison cells, which have been completely restored, as well as the execution hall.

In the old town is the Aqaba Archaeological Museum, which has artefacts dating from around 4000 BC, and you will have the chance to learn more about the history of the castle and see how the city developed over the centuries and its various periods of rule.

The remains of the ancient city of Ayla

A rather interesting fact that I can’t leave out is that Aqaba was founded by the Islamic Prophet Muhammad around 650 AD and is the first Muslim city outside the Arabian Peninsula. At that time the city was called Ayla and was a very important stop for Islamic pilgrims on their way to Mecca. The remains of the ancient city are still being uncovered and conserved, but they can be visited. They are located right next to the central part of the city and also close to the beach.

After several attacks by the Crusaders in the late Middle Ages, the settlement was completely destroyed and abandoned, and its remains stayed buried beneath the sand. Archaeological research here began in the mid-1980s, and today, although it is open to visitors, there is unfortunately not much to see. Entry is completely free.

The Central Mosque

In the centre of the city, quite logically, is the central mosque of Aqaba – Sharif Hussein bin Ali. It is also the biggest sight for tourists in the city. There are only two mosques in the country open to tourists and this is one of them, and it is also one of the most beautiful in Jordan. The gleaming white stone, the exquisite arches and the tall minarets can be seen from afar. The mosque bears the name of the leader of the Arab Revolt, which led to Jordan winning its independence from the Ottoman Empire and its formation as an independent state. The mosque is considered a symbol of the freedom and strength of the Jordanian people.

Bearing in mind how conservative Muslims are, you should also dress accordingly. Right in the mosque courtyard there is a special place for women with shawls to cover their heads and shoulders. Shorts, skirts and vest tops are also strictly forbidden.

A boat trip on the waters of the Red Sea

One of the most popular services among tourists in Aqaba is a trip on the waters of the Red Sea in a glass-bottomed boat. This experience gives you the chance not only to explore the depths of the sea, but also to enjoy from afar the scenic views of the city and the rocky mountains around it. After walking to the remains of Mamluk Castle in the old part of Aqaba, we headed to the beach near the fortress. There are lots of local boatmen there who will offer you the service themselves. The trip around the bay usually lasts about 30 minutes and the price varies, but most often you could haggle it down to 5 JOD per person.

Sailing around the bay of Aqaba you will be able to see the marine diversity on the seabed – corals, sea urchins and various species of fish. One of the most interesting things you could see is the sunken tank, which lies just 6 metres below sea level and is quite well preserved.

Diving on the coral reef

Diving is among the most interesting and exciting experiences for visitors to the seaside city of Aqaba. Undoubtedly, many tourists come here just to swim among the beautiful coral reefs of the Red Sea. This is the place to mention that the seabed of the Red Sea is one of the most impressive to explore. As well as the beautiful coral reefs, you will be able to see various colourful sea creatures, as well as the ghostly remains of sunken ships. Besides diving, local tour operators also offer other water sports, suitable for beginners and advanced alike.

Try the local cuisine

Although it belongs to typical Arab cuisine, Jordanian food has its own distinctive features and is considered one of the tastiest in the world. Contrary to expectations, it is not as spicy as, for example, Iranian or Moroccan cuisine. In Aqaba there are plenty of nice little restaurants where you could try a bit of everything, and at quite reasonable prices, unlike Petra, for example. You simply have to start with hummus. Hummus is a typical Arab starter made from ground chickpeas, tahini, garlic, olive oil and a lemon dressing, and every Arab country makes it differently, adding something characteristic of its own region. My definite favourites among the hummus I have tried are the Lebanese and the Jordanian. In Aqaba I tried hummus with pieces of beef and it was, to put it mildly, divine. It is usually served with Arabic flatbreads. Other typical Arab dishes you must try are shawarma (shawarma), Jordanian mansaf, falafel, and for dessert the famous local knafeh.