La Aqaba city is an ancient city that dates back centuries in the history. It is a very important point in Jordan, as it has its only port, so it has always been a city of great importance for the economy. It is located in front of the Gulf of Aqaba which is an entrance to the Red Sea.
Although this city is not very touristy like Petra could be, it is also constitutes a place of visit in Jordan. Its ancient and extensive history make it a perfect place to visit and learn a little more about Jordan. In addition, nowadays, like other points that face the Red Sea, it is a place where you can carry out all kinds of activities.
Get to know Aqaba
This city was already known in pre-biblical times. It was always an important point in Jordan thanks to the trade that could be carried out through the Dead Sea, even during the time of Roman conquest. Today this place is one of the last visited on trips to Jordan after seeing places like Petra city and Wadi Rum. The last place we arrive at would be Aqaba, where you can enjoy the relaxation that this sea offers us, which has an excellent temperature all year round. Hence, it is a beach destination all season. Although it is not as touristy as Petra, it has many points that make it important, since it is the only one that has access to the sea and has an international airport, so many times we arrive at it or it is the last point to be. .
Activities in Aqaba
The city of Aqaba is a place where tourists come to rest and enjoy fun activities. At present this place has been organized to be a tourist point that offers above all leisure. There are boats with glass bottoms to see the interesting seabed, but you can also snorkeling, jet skiing or simply spend several days at the beach. The weather is usually always hot, making it a year-round beach destination. The city is a bustling place, where there are restaurants, casinos and all kinds of entertainment venues. It can be a great entertainment place to spend a few days.
Beaches outside the city
If what we are looking for is a bit of tranquility after the hustle and bustle of travel, it is always recommended to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, since the beaches there are very crowded. If we go to the border with Saudi Arabia we can find some quieter and more interesting beaches, such as South Beach and Tala Bay. In South Beach it is recommended to snorkel in order to see one of the most beautiful coral reefs known as the Japanese Garden. It is close to the beach and shallow, so you have to go carefully, but the experience is definitely worth it. In these beaches we can spend a much calmer day and enjoy the family atmosphere that they usually have. It must be remembered that the water is always warm and in the suburbs it is also possible to find good accommodations near the beaches nowadays.
Aqaba Castle
Aqaba, although today it is a city that has been modernized and is touristy, it also had a great history. We can see all this if we leave the modern part of the city to enter the old one. This castle is also known as the Mamluk Castle or Fort of Aqaba. It was built by a Mamluk sultan in the XNUMXth century. It is a castle that is interesting because it is part of the history of the city and it is also open daily. A castle that was even linked to the famous character of Lawrence of Arabia.
Aqaba Archaeological Museum
Another of the places that without a doubt we must see to know more about the history of the city is the Archaeological Museum. This space is located next to the castle, so everything can be easily visited in one morning. Everything is located in the old city area and the building in which the museum is located is the old palace that belonged to Sherif Husayn ibn Ali. In this museum you can find pieces dating back to the Bronze Age, found at an archaeological site near Aqaba. This indicates that this area was one of those that were first populated, perhaps due to its proximity to the sea. In addition, in the museum we can see a collection of all kinds of artifacts that date from different times, reaching the XNUMXth century. What this place tells us is that we are without a doubt a city in which there have been very early settlements.