Article Tour around Aqaba

Aqaba is strategically lying at the crossroad. Just 11 km from the center to the west there is a border with Israel, 22 km to the south with Saudi Arabia and from the port sets out a ferry to Egypt. A very good highway leads from here to Amman and through the valley of Wadi Araba leads a road to the Dead Sea.

If you go here from Israel, just behind the border are waiting overpriced taxis proclaiming that must comply with the high prices set by the government. If you do not have agreed other transportation to Aqaba (or to Petra, if you are going from Israel just for a short trip), there is not any other opportunity left than accept these exorbitant prices. It is pretty far away for a walk, about 10 km.

 

The most beautiful building in Aqaba is snow-white mosque, which was built in the year 1975.

The mosque is beautiful from all sides.

Aqaba public beach stretches about six hundred meters and is more popular with locals than with tourists. Especially for women in bikini is swimming here annoying, because local women swim completely veiled or dressed. Local men in this area often stare on western woman tourists (interesting is that in other locations of Jordan this was not the case), so only few women have the courage to swim here in a bathing suit. The bathing is therefore better further in the south in the direction of Tala Bay, where are already a couple of women in bikini.

If you run along the beach you will see a lot of small boats with a glass bottom, which will take you, if you want, to the coral reefs. In truth, you won't see much from the small window at the bottom of the boat. The basic price is around 20JOD for half an hour. A huge flag pole can be seen from the beach. with its 130 meters, it is the sixth tallest flagpole in the world. The port and the industrial part of the city are completely on the horizon.

Through the haze you can see the opposite bank of the Gulf, where is significantly larger twin of Aqaba – Eilat in Israel.

There is not much left from the 16th century fort in Aqaba – just nice entrance gate.

The beach begins to live with time. There is a very pleasant atmosphere in the evening, so it's worth to come here. There is also a nice view of the desert mountains outside the city.

The city has a really nice mountain scenery, especially in the evening when they are shown in nice light.

There is no problem to buy vegetables or fruits in Aqaba as there are a lot of people making a living by selling radishes here.
 

The cheapest fruits and vegetables can be bought directly from parked pick-ups standing directly on the street

Bakeries here offer an excellent range of pastries and sweets, just to choose. Locals often buy full bags of it, so they may find a tourist buying just one or two pieces ridiculous.