Jordan Travel Guide

Browse the Jordan Photo Gallery

Shopping

Every town has a souk (market) selling everything from meat and live chickens, to clothes and jewelry. The gold is usually 18kt or above and there is no charge added for the craftsmanship of items like bangles, chains and earrings.

Tourist-oriented towns offer many handicrafts, including mosaic; mosaic schools train young people to work with the colorful, locally hewn stone.

Another distinctive local craft is ostrich-egg painting: the paint is applied with needle pricks and designs can take weeks to complete.

Other hand-crafted items include sand jars, hand-blown glass and embroidered clothing. Bottled Holy Water from the river Jordan can also be purchased, as can skin-care products made of Dead Sea mud.

Shopping hours: Sat-Thurs 0930-1330 and 1530-1800; some open as early as 0800 and close at 2000. Shops are closed on Friday except for the souks which usually open from 1600.

Currency

Dinar (JOD; symbol JD) = 100 piastres or 1,000 fils. Notes are in denominations of JD50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and 500 fils. Coins are in denominations of JD1, 1/2 and 1/4; 10, 5, 2 and 1/2 piastres; and 1 and 1/2 qirsh.

Currency Exchange

Foreign currencies can be exchanged easily in banks and bureau de change. Most hotels also provide exchange facilities. The daily exchange rates are published in local newspapers.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

American Express, Visa, Diners Club and MasterCard are accepted in hotels, restaurants and larger shops. ATMs can be found in most of the larger towns and throughout Amman.

Travelers Checks

Those issued by UK banks are accepted by licensed banks and bureau de change. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveler's checks in US Dollars.

Currency Restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency.

Banking Hours

Sat-Thurs 0830-1500. Hours during Ramadan are 0830-1000, although some banks open in the afternoon.

Exchange Rate