Egypt or Jordan: Which Country for Your First Middle East Trip?

Egypt or Jordan for your first trip to the Middle East? This winter, Egypt is the easier choice: 20 to 24 °C in the afternoon in Cairo and Luxor, far cheaper entry fees and a more stable security situation. Jordan, more compact and more relaxing, is best kept for spring.

On paper the two countries look alike: a world-famous ancient site, desert, a warm sea in the south and a flight of four to five hours from Western Europe. On the ground they are very different trips. Egypt is a huge, crowded and sometimes exhausting country whose treasures stretch along the Nile. Jordan fits into a one-week loop by car, from Petra to Wadi Rum. Here is the comparison, point by point.

The sites: pharaohs on one side, Nabataeans and desert on the other

Egypt has one of the densest concentrations of ancient monuments in the world, from the Giza pyramids to the temples of Luxor. Jordan relies on one major site, Petra, and on landscapes: Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.

In Egypt, a first trip revolves around two hubs. In Cairo, there is the Giza plateau with its three great pyramids and the Sphinx, then the Grand Egyptian Museum, opened on 1 November 2025 about 2 km from the pyramids, which shows Tutankhamun's entire collection for the first time. In Luxor, you have the temples of Karnak and Luxor on the east bank, and the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Hatshepsut on the west bank. Our guide to Cairo, from the pyramids to Islamic Cairo covers the first stop in detail.

In Jordan, everything leads to Petra, the Nabataean city carved into pink sandstone. The Siq, the Treasury, the Royal Tombs, then the roughly 850 steps up to the Monastery: allow two full days. The rest of the trip is more about nature than old stones, with a night in a Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum and a float in the Dead Sea, 430 m below sea level. Jerash, north of Amman, adds a fine Roman city.

Winter weather: Egypt clearly wins

From December to February, Cairo sees about 19 to 20 °C in the afternoon and Luxor 22 to 24 °C. Amman tops out around 12 to 13 °C, and nights in Petra are cold. For a trip between December and February, Egypt is the more pleasant choice.

These averages, taken from the WeatherSpark climate model, show the trend. Winter is Egypt's high season for a good reason: in Upper Egypt you can walk the Valley of the Kings in a T-shirt, while it turns into a furnace from May onward.

Jordan sits on a high plateau. Amman and Petra, at around 1,000 m, get rain, mornings close to freezing and, in some years, snow that closes Amman's roads for a day or two. Only Aqaba, on the Red Sea, stays mild at around 18 to 20 °C. Jordan's best windows are March to May and October to November, when days hover between 20 and 25 °C. The Siq Trail in Wadi Mujib, the canyon you wade up, also closes in winter.

• December: Cairo 20 °C, Luxor 23 °C, Amman 12 °C.
• January: Cairo 19 °C, Luxor 22 °C, Amman 13 °C.
• February: Cairo 20 °C, Luxor 24 °C, Amman 13 °C.

Visas: simple paperwork in both countries

Both countries require a visa from most Western travellers, including French, British and US passport holders, and both are easy to get. Egypt issues one on arrival for 30 USD, or online. In Jordan, a Jordan Pass bought before you travel waives the 40 JOD visa fee, as long as you spend at least two nights in the country.

For Egypt, the single-entry visa issued at the airport rose from 25 to 30 USD on 1 March 2026. The e-visa is applied for before departure on the official portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg. Your passport must be valid for six months after your return date.

For Jordan, the visa costs 40 JOD (about €48 / $56) on arrival. The Jordan Pass (70 to 80 JOD depending on the number of days at Petra) includes that visa plus entry to more than 40 sites. The official condition, set out in the pass FAQ, is a stay of at least two full nights, meaning three days. Many websites wrongly say three nights.

Budget: Egypt's sites cost far less

Entry fees are much cheaper in Egypt. The Giza plateau costs 700 Egyptian pounds, about €12 ($14), while a day at Petra costs 50 JOD, about €60 ($70). In Jordan, plan on €45 to €90 per person per day, excluding flights.

The Egyptian pound has lost a lot of value: €1 bought about 60 pounds in early October 2026 (Trading Economics). Entry fees stay affordable. A ticket to the Giza plateau costs 700 EGP for a foreign adult, with the inside of the pyramids paid separately. The big costs are domestic flights, a Nile cruise if you take one, and guides.

The Jordanian dinar is pegged to the US dollar and worth about €1.20. A 20 JOD bill therefore comes to €24. At Petra, a ticket costs 50, 55 or 60 JOD for one, two or three days. The Jordan Pass, which includes it, almost always pays off: our article on the real cost of a Petra ticket runs the numbers. Our Jordan guide puts the daily budget at €45 on a shoestring, €90 mid-range and €190 at the top end, excluding flights. Dead Sea hotels often charge more than €200 a night.

Safety in 2026: check the news before you book

Both countries see plenty of travellers, but in 2026 Jordan faces a tense regional situation. Since 9 July 2026, its territory has been overflown, and at times targeted, by Iranian missiles and drones, according to France's foreign ministry. Its Egypt advice does not mention these strikes.

The Jordan page of France Diplomatie, updated on 10 September 2026, strongly advises against the Azraq and Mafraq regions in the north-east because of falling interception debris. It calls for particular vigilance in the Aqaba region and advises taking shelter in a windowless room if sirens sound. Jordanian airspace remains open and operating normally. Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea are not among the areas advised against, but Wadi Rum lies in the Aqaba region, where extra vigilance applies. Outside this context, Jordan has low street crime and a well-known welcome. Check your own government's advice too (the US State Department, the UK FCDO or Smartraveller in Australia).

For Egypt, the France Diplomatie page puts the border with Israel in its red zone and notes that North Sinai is off-limits to foreigners. Our Cairo guide, based on the same page, also lists the desert areas toward Libya and the Sudanese borderlands. The classic Cairo, Luxor and Aswan circuit calls for normal to heightened vigilance. The real day-to-day challenge lies elsewhere: touts and vendors pressing around the major sites.

Either way, reread the travel advice a few days before you leave, not when you book. A page from the previous month is not enough in this region.

Pace of travel: Jordan is easier to organise

Jordan can be covered in a week with a rental car, from Amman to Petra and then Wadi Rum. Egypt takes more logistics: a domestic flight or night train between Cairo and Luxor, and drivers and guides rather than a car.

A first trip to Egypt fits well into ten days: three in Cairo, three or four in Luxor, and Aswan or a Nile cruise if time allows. Don't rent a car on a first visit. Cairo traffic is draining, and driving outside towns at night should be avoided. To reach the pyramids on your own, our article Cairo to Giza without a taxi explains the metro and buses.

Jordan is smaller and calmer. You land in Amman, pick up a rental car, then head south along the King's Highway to Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea. Just keep your documents handy for military checkpoints and avoid driving at night. Our Jordan travel guide sets out the itinerary day by day.

The verdict for your travel style

For a trip this winter, pick Egypt. For a relaxed first trip by car in spring or autumn, pick Jordan. Beyond that, it comes down to your season, your budget and how you handle crowds.

• Ancient history buff: Egypt, no contest. Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Luxor offer more major monuments than the rest of the region combined.
• Travelling between December and February: Egypt, for its 20 to 24 °C. Jordanian nights are cold at that time of year.
• Hiking and desert lover: Jordan, between Petra's trails and a night in Wadi Rum.
• First trip outside Europe or North America, looking for calm: Jordan, more compact and with less hassle.
• Tight budget: Egypt, where site entry fees cost much less.
• Independent road trip: Jordan, made for a rental car.

For Jordan, one extra precaution applies in 2026: follow the official travel advice right up to departure, and favour bookings you can cancel.

Frequently asked questions

Is Egypt or Jordan cheaper?

Egypt, at least for sightseeing. Entry to the Giza plateau costs 700 Egyptian pounds, about €12 ($14), against 50 JOD, about €60 ($70), for a day at Petra. In Jordan, plan on at least €45 per person per day, excluding flights.

Is Jordan cold in winter?

Yes, in the highlands. Amman tops out around 12 to 13 °C from December to February, nights are cold in Petra and snow falls in some years. Only Aqaba, on the Red Sea, stays mild.

Do I need a visa for Egypt and Jordan?

Yes, for both. Egypt has issued visas on arrival for 30 USD since March 2026, or you can get an e-visa online. In Jordan the visa costs 40 JOD, but it is included in the Jordan Pass if you stay at least two full nights.

Can you combine Egypt and Jordan in one trip?

Yes, with a flight between Cairo and Amman, but two weeks is the minimum to avoid rushing. For a first trip, one country seen properly beats two seen in a hurry.

Activities to book

Four outings, two per country, each with a GetYourGuide offer we selected and checked (partner links, free cancellation up to 24 hours before). Site entry fees are not included unless stated.

Before you go

Three bookings make arriving in either country easier. An eSIM installed before your flight saves you hunting for a SIM card at the airport. Travel insurance covers medical costs, which neither Egypt nor Jordan will pick up for you. In Jordan, rental cars are collected at Amman airport. In Cairo, a transfer booked in advance spares you the taxi haggling outside the terminal.