Where to Go in Jordan on National Day
May 25 marks Jordan National Day, a time of national pride, celebration, and cultural appreciation. If you happen to be in Jordan during this holiday, there's no better way to honor the occasion than by exploring the country's rich heritage, natural wonders, and vibrant urban scenes.
Celebrating Jordan National Day: Where to Go If You're Visiting
From ancient ruins to majestic landscapes and modern boulevards, Jordan National Day is the perfect opportunity to experience the country's diverse offerings. Here are the must-visit places that capture Jordan's soul and spirit.
1. Petra
One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Petra is a historic city carved into rose-red cliffs. Walk through the Siq, marvel at the Treasury, and explore tombs, temples, and trails that tell stories from 2,000 years ago.
2. Wadi Rum
Also known as the Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum's red dunes, sandstone mountains, and starry skies offer an unforgettable desert adventure. Take a jeep tour, camp overnight, or simply soak in the silence of this surreal landscape.
3. The Dead Sea
Float effortlessly in the world's saltiest body of water. The Dead Sea is famous for its healing minerals, mud treatments, and stunning views—perfect for relaxation and a rejuvenating escape from the city.
4. Downtown Amman
Experience authentic Jordanian life in the heart of the capital. From spice markets and falafel joints to gold shops and Roman ruins, Downtown Amman blends the old and new in vibrant, unforgettable ways.
5. Abdali Boulevard
For a modern contrast, visit Abdali Boulevard. This chic development features high-end shopping, outdoor cafés, and entertainment hubs—a symbol of Amman's rapid urban evolution.
6. Amman Citadel
Perched atop one of the city's seven hills, the Citadel offers panoramic views and ancient ruins, including the Temple of Hercules and the Umayyad Palace. A must-see for history lovers.
7. Mount Nebo
According to tradition, Mount Nebo is where Moses viewed the Promised Land. Today, it offers breathtaking views over the Jordan Valley, plus ancient mosaics and a spiritual atmosphere.
8. Karak Castle
This impressive Crusader castle in southern Jordan showcases medieval architecture and a dramatic history. Explore its tunnels, chambers, and sweeping hilltop views.
9. Aqaba
Jordan's only coastal city, Aqaba is ideal for beach lovers. Enjoy snorkeling, diving, or relaxing by the Red Sea, where the water is warm and coral reefs are vibrant.
10. Ajloun Forest Reserve
Nature lovers will appreciate this lush escape in northern Jordan. Hike trails, spot wildlife, and stay in eco-lodges surrounded by rolling green hills and olive groves.
11. Azraq Wetland Reserve
A hidden gem in eastern Jordan, this oasis is rich in biodiversity. Boardwalk trails take you through reed beds and lagoons—great for bird watching and peaceful walks.
12. Rainbow Street
A lively stretch in Amman filled with cafés, galleries, street vendors, and rooftop views. Perfect for evening strolls and people-watching during the National Day buzz.
13. Umm Qais
Home to the ancient city of Gadara, Umm Qais boasts Greco-Roman ruins and stunning views of the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. A blend of history and natural beauty.
14. Jerash
Step back in time at one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. Jerash features grand colonnaded streets, amphitheaters, temples, and triumphal arches that still echo with history.
In conclusion, spending Jordan National Day in the country gives you the unique chance to celebrate not just a national holiday, but a civilization steeped in culture, nature, and hospitality. Whether you're exploring ancient ruins, relaxing by the sea, or strolling vibrant streets, Jordan's treasures await.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
10 hours ago
- The National
‘Akhtaboot': The Arabic word for octopus spread its semantic tentacles from Greece
Seafood is popular in the UAE. Fish, shrimp, squid and more are consumed daily and cooked in a plethora of ways. One seafood delicacy that has recently become popular despite not being abundant in UAE waters is octopus. Our Arabic word of the week is a Latinised form of the Greek word oktopous. There are many other examples of Arabic words with Greek origins. Qartas, the word for paper, comes from khartes; isfinj, the word for sponge, comes from spongos; and tiryaq, the word for antidote, comes from theriake. The word akhtaboot can also be used to describe someone who is able to complete many tasks with ease. The octopus is a cephalopod mollusc with eight sucker-bearing arms, a soft body, strong beaklike jaws and no internal shell. It can be found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. The largest species, the giant Pacific, can weigh up to 50kg and spans six metres. The smallest, the wolfi, also known as the star-sucker pygmy, weighs less than a gram. Octopus is eaten in countries like Japan, China, South Korea, Spain, Greece and Mexico. Some of the most famous octopus dishes are the Galician pulpo a la gallega, Japanese Takoyaki and Portuguese octopus ceviche. The akhtaboot is a relatively new addition to Arabic cuisine and is usually grilled or fried and served with rice.
Zawya
19 hours ago
- Zawya
Inviting the World to Explore Hainan, Overseas Tour Operators Hainan Tour 2025 Will Kick Off Soon
SANYA, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 6 June 2025 - At this pivotal moment when Hainan steadily advances its special customs operations and turns itself into an international tourism and consumption destination, the Overseas Tour Operators Hainan Tour 2025, jointly organized by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province, the People's Government of Sanya City, and China Tourism Group Travel Service Co., Ltd., will grandly open in the picturesque city of Sanya from June 7th to 10th, 2025. The successful hosting of the inaugural Overseas Tour Operators Hainan Tour 2024 garnered high recognition and widespread acclaim from both domestic and international tourism sectors. Now, the second edition, themed Travel to Meet the World, is set to begin. We sincerely invite tour operators from around the globe to join us in charting the future of Hainan's tourism development. Elite Gathering: Welcoming Global Guests to Hainan This event not only aims to showcase Hainan's scenic landscapes, rich cultural heritages, and high-quality tourism services but also deepen international tourism cooperation and enhance its global reputation as a premier travel destination. A total of 450 distinguished tour operators from around the world have been invited, along with prominent figures from international tourism organizations and domestic industry associations, as well as representatives from airlines, hotel groups, cruise companies, and media outlets—making this an event of unprecedented scale. Together, they will witness Hainan's transformation into an international tourism and consumption destination, explore new opportunities for inbound tourism development, and drive Hainan's tourism industry toward greater internationalization. Splendid Activities: Experienc ing Hainan's Cultural Heritage s The Night of Hainan Tourism Promotional Event to be held on the evening of June 7th, will feature an immersive themed performance and a promotional banquet, offering guests the chance to savor Hainan's cuisine while experiencing its cultural charm. There will be a dazzling array of artistic and intangible cultural heritage performances on site, showcasing Hainan's profound cultural legacy. The event will also introduce key information about Hainan's direct inbound flight routes and the 59-country visa-free entry policy, providing global travelers with more convenient travel options and demonstrating Hainan's openness and inclusiveness. In-Depth Dialogues: Co-charting the Future of Tourism Development On the opening day, June 8, the organizers will bring together guests from the tourism and cultural sectors through a series of promotional activities and parallel dialogues focused on Hainan tourism. These sessions will offer industry professionals in Hainan the latest policy updates and market insights, helping tour operators better understand how Hainan compares to other world-famous island destinations and explore the province's new measures for boosting inbound tourism. More than just an exchange of ideas, the event is set to spark new thinking and fresh perspectives for the global tourism industry—demonstrating Hainan's strategic vision and forward-thinking approach to tourism development. Networking Event s: Facilitating In-Depth Industry Cooperation During the event, a one-on-one negotiation area will be set up to facilitate face-to-face exchanges and cooperation between overseas tour operators and Hainan's various cities and counties, along with their scenic spots, hotels, travel agencies, and other tourism-related enterprises. This session will promote and showcase local tourism cultures, intangible cultural heritages, tourism products, specialties, and cultural and creative products. It aims to foster deeper cooperation between Chinese and international tour operators, expedite the internationalization of Hainan's tourism industry, and contribute to the further expansion and upgrading of Hainan's tourism market. Omnimedia Promotion: Showcasing Hainan's International Charm To maximize the event's visibility and impact, the organizers will conduct omnimedia coverage, including traditional mainstream media, new media, and OTA platforms, during the pre-heating, ongoing, and extension periods. Through thoughtfully curated site visits, the event's highlights and key features will be shared with global audiences, further enhancing Hainan's international reputation and influence and showcasing its appeal as a world-class Free Trade Port. The Overseas Tour Operators Hainan Tour 2025 is not just a major event for the tourism industry—it's also a chance for Hainan to engage in in-depth dialogue with the world. Let's look forward to this grand occasion and start witnessing the new chapter in Hainan's tourism landscape today! Hashtag: #HAINAN The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province
The National
a day ago
- The National
Abu Dhabi's Fahid Island plans give us another peek at the city's extraordinary future
Developer Aldar Properties this week announced its plans for Fahid Island, the sliver of land that sits between Abu Dhabi's Yas and Jubail islands and connects via the road-and-bridge network with Saadiyat. By doing so, we now have a more complete picture of the plan for this quartet of isles that cluster from the mainland near Zayed International Airport to the top of Abu Dhabi city and the Mina Zayed district – and a better sense of the city's present and its prospective future. The developer said at the launch of its Fahid master plan that it will deliver a range of luxury apartments, townhouses and villas to the island, as well as a range of other amenities. Aldar described the project as being designed to draw people from around the city to use its leisure facilities and it was expecting international interest in the scheme. Next door, development of Jubail Island carries on at pace as regular users of the Saadiyat highway will testify. JIIC, the investment company at the heart of the island's development, has previously said the project will combine six residential village estates. Jubail will also be home to a branch of Gordonstoun school, via a licensing agreement that will use the storied Scottish institution's expertise and curriculum. The plan also allows for the majority of the island to remain as a salt marsh and mangrove sanctuary. The natural beauty of Jubail's Mangrove Walking Park is already a fixture of the city's ever-expanding visitor experience. With each passing year, both Saadiyat and Yas, which bookend Jubail and Fahid, become more impressive environments. On Saadiyat, the multi-sensory experience that is TeamLab Phenomena opened in the cultural district earlier this spring. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum are rapidly moving from architectural dream to built reality. So too the Natural History Museum, which promises to be a time capsule that takes visitors back to millions of years ago. Louvre Abu Dhabi has been a much-loved fixture of Saadiyat since it opened in late 2017. Banks of housing stock are fast emerging from the ground, which also hosts prominent education establishments, restaurants, hotels and a long ribbon of luxury housing at its far boundary, known as Hidd. With each passing year, both Saadiyat and Yas, which bookend Jubail and Fahid, become more impressive environments Yas, the buffer before the mainland, rightly stakes its claim as a world-class entertainment destination with its concert arena, F1 track, multiple theme parks - Warner Bros, Yas Waterworld, Ferrari World and Seaworld - as well as hotels, offices, several hues of residential stock and a full suite of leisure pursuits. The latest announcement, delivered last month, is arguably the biggest headliner of them all: the arrival of Disneyland within a decade. Experts say the Disney effect is already in motion, with the announcement instantly creating more interest in the residential property market in the city. That may provide mixed news for those seeking to move to the island, with prices likely to increase, but the overall impact of Disney's arrival is largely positive. Certainly, its presence will also accelerate growth in some sectors of the job market, too. If the Disney effect is at work at one end of that chain of islands, the Bilbao or Guggenheim effect has also been long talked about at the other end, in the context of the cultural district. The introduction of the Guggenheim to the Spanish port city, now almost 30 years ago, helped kickstart economic development and urban regeneration. Its impact will be felt differently in Abu Dhabi, however, sitting as it will do within Saadiyat's constellation of cultural stars, but there is also little doubt the Guggenheim will have an effect in Abu Dhabi, too. It is easy to forget now that Saadiyat and Yas were only connected to the city in 2009, with the opening of the Sheikh Khalifa Bridge and associated motorway that linked these islands with the mainland and the city and the complete offering we see now. The opening of that infrastructure was the moment that the exquisitely detailed scale models of what the future might look like began their journey towards the present. Around the same late aughts period, famed architect and urbanist Rem Koolhaas remarked 'the Gulf is not just reconfiguring itself, it's reconfiguring the world', in reference not just to the plans that were emerging across in the region. Perhaps people also took it to mean that the spectacular was possible in a way that had once been impossible, such as the world's tallest building opening in Dubai in 2009. It also used to be traditional to frame pieces about Abu Dhabi internationally with the idea of something extraordinary happening in the desert environment. With hindsight, those portrayals only told a fragment of the whole story, being overly focused on the possibility of structures emerging from barren ground rather than what was supporting that development in the first place. What they missed were the intangible assets of the city and the country, such as the safety of society – UAE cities are consistently ranked the safest in the world – and the certainty and confidence that means those visions were always destined to become reality. As much as the renderings and sketches are there to entice – in Fahid today, just as they were for yesteryear Saadiyat – it is that certainty about today that makes the possibility of tomorrow so exciting.
