When planning a family vacation, the Middle East might not be the first region that springs to mind, but Jordan is rapidly becoming a top-tier destination for adventurous parents. The blend of ancient history, sweeping desert landscapes, and incredibly warm hospitality makes it an unforgettable experience. Jordanians deeply revere family, and you will find that traveling with children opens doors and hearts everywhere you go, from bustling city markets to remote desert camps. If you are wondering about the best things to do in amman & petra with kids, this guide breaks down exactly how to navigate the ancient ruins, vast deserts, and modern cityscapes without exhausting your family.
The Reality of Traveling in Jordan with Children
Taking children to a country famous for desert heat and massive archaeological sites requires a shift in your usual travel mindset. This is not a relaxing beach resort vacation; it is an active, immersive expedition. The terrain is often uneven, the sun can be relentless, and the walking distances at major sites are significant. However, the payoff is unparalleled. Watching your child’s eyes widen as they walk through a towering sandstone canyon to discover a massive, carved facade is a core memory in the making.
The local culture is arguably your biggest asset. Jordanians are famously hospitable, and this warmth multiplies when you have children in tow. Expect restaurant owners to offer your kids complimentary sweets, locals to happily help you navigate a stroller over a curb, and guides to go out of their way to make the history engaging. Safety is another common concern for parents, but Jordan is widely considered one of the safest and most stable countries in the region, with highly secure tourist zones and a culture that looks out for visitors. The key to a successful trip lies entirely in pacing, hydration, and knowing exactly which attractions are actually family-friendly.
Top Things to Do in Amman & Petra With Kids: Unmissable Highlights
Building an itinerary that balances historical education with pure, unadulterated fun is the secret to a great Jordanian family trip. Here are the experiences that truly deliver for families.
The Unforgettable Petra Experience
Nothing quite prepares you for the sheer scale of the Petra Archaeological Park - The Treasury. The journey begins with the Petra Siq (The Canyon Walk). This 1.2-kilometer walk through a narrow, towering sandstone gorge is completely shaded and mostly flat, making it an excellent, awe-inspiring trek for kids. The changing colors of the rock and the ancient water channels carved into the walls provide plenty of talking points along the way.
The Siq culminates in the iconic reveal of Al-Khazneh (The Treasury). It is a massive, first-century facade carved directly into the cliffside that never fails to impress. Beyond the Treasury, the valley opens up significantly. You can explore the Street of Facades (Petra), a dramatic row of Nabatean tombs, and The Theatre (Petra), an 8,000-seat amphitheater carved directly into the rose-red mountainside. The open spaces here allow kids a bit more freedom to wander compared to the narrow confines of the Siq.
🎟️ Find family-friendly tours & activities →
Desert Adventures in Wadi Rum
Just a couple of hours south of Petra lies the breathtaking desert of Wadi Rum. This is where your family can live out their space explorer fantasies. Booking a Wadi Rum Jeep Tour (2-hour family tour) is an absolute must. Riding in the open back of a 4x4 across the red, Martian-like sand dunes is thrilling for kids of all ages. Drivers know exactly where to stop for kids to climb on massive rock bridges or run down giant sand dunes.
For a slower pace, Camel Rides at Wadi Rum offer a quintessential desert experience, allowing children to see the dramatic landscape from a new vantage point. To truly maximize the magic, spend a night at the Wadi Rum Night Luxury Camp. These remote camps feature transparent 'bubble' tents that allow your family to sleep under an incredibly clear, star-filled sky without sacrificing comfort or safety.
🎟️ Book family tickets & skip-the-line tours →
Engaging Amman and Beyond
Amman itself is a sprawling, hilly city that can be overwhelming, but it holds some fantastic indoor reprieves. The Royal Tank Museum is a massive hit. It features a world-class, indoor collection of over 140 tanks and armored vehicles. The sheer size of the machines and the dramatic staging in a modern, air-conditioned facility make it a perfect midday escape from the heat. For older children experiencing "ruin fatigue," the VR Station Amman offers a high-tech escape with immersive multiplayer virtual reality games.
When it comes to dining in Amman, head to Tawaheen Al-Hawa. This massive, high-energy traditional Jordanian restaurant feels like a festive village square. The atmosphere is loud, welcoming, and entirely forgiving of noisy children, making it a stress-free environment for parents to enjoy incredible local cuisine.
For families seeking a deeper connection to nature, the Feynan Ecolodge provides a remarkable off-grid experience. Located on the edge of the Dana Biosphere Reserve, this candlelit, solar-powered retreat offers guided nature walks and a chance to disconnect completely.
What to Skip: Tourist Traps and Exhausting Treks in Amman & Petra
Not every famous site in Jordan translates to a good family experience. Protecting your family’s energy levels means knowing what to avoid.
- Petra High Place of Sacrifice Trail: While the views are spectacular, this hike involves over 800 steep, uneven rock-cut stairs with zero safety railings. It is a grueling ascent that is highly dangerous for toddlers and exhausting for older kids. Skip it and preserve your energy for the main valley floor.
- Petra Donkey and Horse Rides (Entrance to Siq): Your Petra entrance ticket technically includes a short horse ride from the visitor center to the start of the Siq. However, it covers a mere 800-meter flat walk, the handlers aggressively demand large tips, and the animal welfare standards are frequently a concern. It is much easier to just walk this short, flat distance.
- Al-Balad (Downtown Amman) on Friday Midday: Historic downtown Amman is charming, but hitting it on a Friday afternoon right after midday prayers is a recipe for sensory overload. The combination of intense crowds, loud street vendors, and narrow sidewalks makes navigating with children incredibly stressful.
- Wadi Musa Town (Petra Visitor Centre Area Shops): The stretch of shops immediately outside the Petra entrance is a classic tourist gauntlet. The items here are mass-produced and heavily overpriced. Save your souvenir shopping for specialized artisan cooperatives in Amman or authentic Bedouin camps.
- Qasr al-Kharanah (Desert Castle): While this desert fortress looks striking from the highway, the interior consists of empty, repetitive stone rooms. Without interactive exhibits or furniture, kids lose interest within minutes of walking inside.
- Amman National Park: Though billed as a forested escape near the city, the reality is that the park is frequently marred by significant litter issues, making it a disappointing spot for a family picnic.
- Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts: This is a hushed, sophisticated contemporary art space. With zero interactive elements or kid-centric programming, it is a stressful environment for parents trying to keep young children quiet and hands-off.
- Cantaloupe Gastro Pub: Highly recommended in adult guidebooks for its views, this sophisticated rooftop bar doesn't even open until 5:00 PM and caters strictly to a nightlife crowd.
Age-by-Age Guide: Things to Do in Amman & Petra With Kids
Tailoring your expectations and itinerary to your children's specific developmental stages is crucial in a destination as physically demanding as Jordan.
Toddlers (Ages 2-3)
Traveling with toddlers here requires robust physical stamina from the parents. Strollers are useful for the very beginning of Petra (down to the Treasury) and the modern malls of Amman, but they become entirely useless in the sand of Wadi Rum and the rocky paths deeper inside Petra. A high-quality, structured hiking carrier (like an Osprey or Deuter) is non-negotiable. Toddlers will love the sensory experience of the red sand in Wadi Rum and the echoing canyon of the Siq. Keep your days incredibly short and plan to be back at your hotel by early afternoon to escape the peak heat.
Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)
Preschoolers are capable of walking the Siq, but they will likely hit a wall shortly after reaching the Treasury. Hydration is your biggest battle with this age group, as they often don't realize how much fluid they are losing in the dry desert air. Bring electrolyte packets from home. Inside Petra, The Basin Restaurant (Petra) will be your sanctuary. Located deep within the archaeological park, it is the only full-service, air-conditioned restaurant available. It provides a vital, cool environment for preschoolers to rest, eat a familiar buffet meal, and recharge before the long walk back.
School-Age (Ages 6-10)
This is arguably the sweet spot for visiting Jordan. Kids in this age bracket are old enough to grasp the "Indiana Jones" sense of adventure and have the physical stamina to walk several miles a day. They will be utterly captivated by the Wadi Rum Jeep Tour (2-hour family tour) and the sheer scale of the Royal Tank Museum. You can stretch your Petra exploration further with this age group, venturing out to the Royal Tombs where they can climb the ancient steps and explore the cavernous interiors.
Tweens & Teens (Ages 11-14)
Older kids need engagement and autonomy. To prevent them from retreating into their phones, lean into the high-adrenaline activities. The Wadi Mujib Siq Trail (Mujib Biosphere Reserve) is an absolute triumph for teens. It is a thrilling "wet hike" through a stunning sandstone canyon where they will wade, swim, and climb up small waterfalls using fixed ropes. Back in Petra, challenge them with the Ad-Deir (The Monastery) Trail in Petra. It is a demanding 850-step climb, but the massive, rock-cut Nabataean monument at the top rivals the Treasury in scale and comes with immense bragging rights.
A quick note on dress code for this age group: While Jordan is quite liberal for the region, dressing tweens and teens in clothing that covers their shoulders and knees (like lightweight linen pants and t-shirts) shows respect for local customs and helps them avoid unwanted attention.
Essential Practical Details for Your Family Adventure
Understanding the Costs:
Jordan is not a budget destination. The entrance fee to Petra is steep—50 JOD (approximately $70 USD) for a single day, though children under 12 enter for free, which is a significant saving for families. Meals at sit-down tourist restaurants will cost roughly the same as they do in North America or Western Europe.
Feeding the Family:
Finding food that appeals to children is generally quite easy. Jordanian cuisine features plenty of grilled meats, flatbreads, hummus, and rice. For the safest and most authentic street food experience, choose legendary, high-volume spots like Al Quds or Hashem in Amman. The constant line of locals out the door ensures that the food is incredibly fresh and the oil is clean, minimizing the risk of stomach bugs.
Getting Around:
Do not attempt to hail taxis off the street in Amman. You will inevitably end up haggling over unmetered fares. Instead, download the Careem app (the Middle East's equivalent of Uber) before you arrive. It allows you to book rides, track your driver, and pay via credit card automatically, completely eliminating language barriers and fare negotiations.
Accessibility:
As mentioned in the toddler section, leave the double-wide strollers at home. If you must bring a stroller, bring a rugged, compact travel stroller for airports and modern city sidewalks. For all historical sites and deserts, a baby carrier is the only practical way to transport infants and young toddlers.
Pro Tips from Parents for Conquering Jordan
To make your trip as smooth as possible, keep these hard-learned lessons from other traveling parents in mind:
- Master the Timing at Petra: Beat the intense midday heat and the massive influx of cruise ship tour groups by arriving at the Petra visitor center right when it opens (usually 6:00 AM). The morning light in the Siq is beautiful, and you will have the Treasury largely to yourselves for those crucial family photos.
- Beware the Local Weekend: In Jordan, the weekend falls on Friday and Saturday. Fridays, in particular, mean Petra becomes exceptionally crowded with domestic tourists and large school groups. If your itinerary allows, plan your Petra visit for a Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Ignore the 'Secret' Paths: As you stand in front of the Treasury, local guides will persistently offer to take you up a "secret" cliffside path for a bird's-eye view. Decline politely but firmly. These routes are completely unregulated, involve scrambling up steep, slippery rocks without safety equipment, and are entirely unsafe for children.
- Seek Out Stroller-Friendly Zones: If you are spending a few days in Amman and just want a relaxed evening walk with a stroller, skip the historic downtown. Head to the modern Abdali district instead. It offers wide, paved sidewalks, pedestrian-friendly boulevards, and the peace of mind of not dodging traffic.
- Stock Up on Snacks: Supermarkets in Amman are well-stocked with familiar international brands. Buy your non-perishable snacks (crackers, fruit pouches, granola bars) in the city before heading south to Petra and Wadi Rum, where the selection drops dramatically and prices spike.
Exploring the Middle East with children is an incredibly rewarding endeavor that builds resilience and broadens their worldview. By planning your days carefully, prioritizing shade and hydration, and mixing ancient history with active adventures, you will find that the things to do in amman & petra with kids offer the perfect recipe for an extraordinary family vacation. Explore more in our full City Guide: /city/amman-petra.