Crossing the border between Jordan and Israel
Ingrid
One of the things I was most stressed about on our last trip to Jordan, Egypt and Israel was the border crossing between Jordan and Israel. It seemed like no matter how much I researched, I didn't find the info I needed. So I decided to make a separate post just about the border crossing for everyone else who is curious and who likes to have these things in control before travelling.
We traveled with public transport, so if you have you own car some of the parts might be different.
Here is a step by step guide to crossing the border from Jordan to Israel.
- First of all you need transport from Amman or another location in Jordan to the border. You can book a bus ticket from Jet. We didn't know this until it was to late and it was sold out for the day we were travelling. So make sure to book in advance.
- If you like us don't have a ticket you can hire a driver specifically for this, just ask at you Hotel. This cost us 45 JOD.
- When the driver drops you of at the Jordan side of the border there are lots of helpful people telling you where to go and what to do.
- Once you enter the customs building you first have to register your departure and pay an exit fee of 10 JOD per person (2023)
- At this point they also keep your Passport and tell you to go to a bus. This feels a little bit weird, I am not usually comfortable with leaving my Passport behind, but it all works out well and it's very organized.
- When you exit the customs house (still without your passport) you are escorted to a bus which will take you to the Israel/ Palestine side. The drive was further than I thought, approx. 10 min drive, and everyone has to take this bus. The price for the bus is 7 JOD per person + 1,5 JOD per bag.
- Most people didn't seem to know that you had to pay money when exiting Jordan so there were a lot of stressed people on the bus, but they could pay in US Dollar or Euros also. However, I don't think they got the best exchange rate so make sure to bring money or take out at the ATM on the border before boarding the bus.
- Even though there is an ATM at the border, I'm not sure this works at all times, so make sure to not spend all your JODs before leaving.
- When the bus fills up, the people from border control walks around and gives everyone their Passports back as well as some paper notes you need to keep when entering the other side.
- They make sure everyone has their Passport before the bus leaves.
- When you disembark the bus you and your luggage need to enter security and Passport control just like at the airport before entering Israel/ Palestine.
- Once on the outside you have two options. There is one company operating to Jericho and one company operating to Jerusalem.
- We were going to Jerusalem and the options for transport were a private taxi, which was crazy expensive(!) or a van. We chose the van and paid 32 JOD for two people, which is a lot better than the 110 US Dollar they wanted for a private taxi.
- However, they did not offer the van unless you asked specifically about it, so there were a lot of tourists in front of us who thought they had to take a taxi. It was first when I asked if there was a cheaper alternative to get to the city they told us and some other tourists about the van.
- The van drops you of in The heart of Jerusalem, so from here you can either walk or catch a taxi to your Hotel depending on where you are staying.
This is in my opinion everything you need to know to cross the border. It was a much smoother experience than I had thought.
Hope this was helpful!