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Voykit pocket guide · Jordan
Salt
السلط
Salt is a half-day stop from Amman: see the UNESCO old town, the museum and the castle, then return. One night only if you want a slow evening in the old streets.
Salt was the Ottoman capital of the region before Amman took over, leaving a dense old town of yellow stone buildings and narrow streets. In 2021 UNESCO listed it. The core is walkable in a few hours: a restored house-museum, a small archaeological museum, a castle ruin and a bazaar street. Most visitors come from Amman for the morning or afternoon and leave.
- Country
- Jordan
- Local name
- السلط
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot), Dec–Feb (cold and wet)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JOD
- Money
- Jordanian dinar (JOD) is divided into 1,000 fils (or 100 piastres); one dinar is a high-value note.
- Daily spend
- Budget JD 15–25 excl. bed · Mid JD 25–40 excl. bed · High JD 40+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Zain, Orange and Umniah sell tourist SIMs at Queen Alia arrivals; passport registration is required.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Fire and ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types C, D, F, G, J · 230 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin plugs fit most sockets; UK three-pin (G) is common in newer hotels. Bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge; many mid-range places add 10%.; Taxi / Careem: Round up to the next half or whole dinar.; Guide, half day: JOD 5–10 per person.; Driver, full day: JOD 10–20.; Wadi Rum camp staff and jeep driver: JOD 5–10 per group, per day.; Hotel porter: JOD 1 per bag.
- Water
- Treated at source but stored in rooftop tanks; drink bottled or filtered. Water is scarce — short showers help.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; squat toilets at some bus stations. A hose replaces paper in many places. Petra has toilet blocks along the main trail.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Minibus Amman–Salt, one way | JD 1–2 |
| Full meal at a local chicken shop | JD 3.5 |
| Coffee at a café | JD 1–2 |
| Bottle of water | JD 0.5 |
| Taxi within town | JD 2–5 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AMM · Queen Alia International Airport
- About 45–60 min by taxi; minibuses from Amman to Salt
Typical fares
- Minibus Amman → Salt
- about JD 1–2, about 40 min (check)
- Taxi from Salt to Amman
- JD 15–25 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The historical core is small and walkable. For the castle, a 10–15 min uphill walk from the main square. Parking is tight if you drive; use the car park near the bus station at the south edge of the old town.
See and do
Known for
- UNESCO World Heritage old town (2021)
- Abu Jabar House museum
- Hamman Street bazaar
- Ottoman-era yellow stone architecture
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Amman | Minibus from the bus station, about 40 min | About 1 h |
| Jerash | Minibus via Amman, about 1.5 h total | About 2 h |
| Ajlun | Minibus via Amman or direct from Salt (check) | About 1.5 h |
| Dead Sea | Taxi or car, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Old town centre
- Near the main square and museum; walking distance to everything.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | مرحباmarhaba |
| Thank you | شكراshukran |
| How much? | كم؟kam? |
| Where is the bus station? | أين محطة الباص؟ayna mahattat al-bas? |
| Goodbye | مع السلامةma'a as-salama |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Salam alaykum or marhaba; handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Kissing or hugging someone of the other sex in greeting
- Hospitality: Accept tea or coffee; eat a little when invited; avoid: Refusing all food and drink outright
- Right hand: Eat, pass things and pay with the right hand; avoid: Using the left hand to offer food
- Feet: Keep soles on the ground when sitting; avoid: Pointing the soles of your feet at people
- Mosques: Covered arms and legs, headscarf for women, shoes off; avoid: Entering during prayer times unless invited
- Dress in town: Long trousers or skirts, shirts with sleeves; avoid: Shorts and swimwear away from resorts
- Photography: Ask first, especially with women and Bedouin families; avoid: Photographing police, soldiers or checkpoints
- Politics: Listen; opinions on Palestine run deep; avoid: Joking about the King or the royal family
Scams and watch-outs
- Parking is very limited in the old town; use the car park near the bus station.
- The castle is a ruin with uneven ground; wear sturdy shoes.
- Friday and Saturday are the weekend; some shops and museums may have reduced hours.
Salt is safe for tourists. Usual precautions: watch your belongings in crowded areas, avoid walking alone late at night in quiet streets. The main risk is traffic on narrow roads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Salt yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- UNESCO World Heritage old town (2021)
- Abu Jabar House museum
- Hamman Street bazaar
- Ottoman-era yellow stone architecture
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Salt, revision 4266327 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4266327
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/salt). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.