There aren’t all that many borders between countries in the Middle East open for travellers to cross easily. Fortunately however, the border between Israel and Jordan is one of the few. I am going to detail how to make the Allenby Bridge crossing from Jerusalem to Amman.
And, I’m going to tell you about the most terrifying noise you will ever hear at a Middle Eastern border checkpoint…
Coming from New Zealand we don’t experience many overland border crossings(!) and we were travelling full-time with our kids. Thus any that we did do we were thorough in planning ahead to make the crossing went as smoothly as possible.
Here is our review of making the Israel Jordan border crossing at Allenby Bridge – with kids – and some tips to make it easy for your trip too.
We crossed the border overland between Jerusalem to Amman in September 2019.
- Israel / Jordan border crossings
- About Allenby Bridge crossing
- Getting to the border from Jerusalem
- Crossing the border
- Getting to Amman from the border
- Things to know
- Where to stay
Border crossings between Israel and Jordan
There are three overland border crossing points between Israel and Jordan.
- Allenby / King Hussein Bridge: This is the central border crossing between Israel and Jordan, and the closest to both Jerusalem in Israel and Amman in Jordan. The Allenby Bridge crossing is the most common border crossing.
- Beit She’an / Sheikh Hussein: This is the northernmost border crossing located near Beit She’an in Israel and Irbid in Jordan.
- Wadi Araba / Yitzhak Rabin border: This is the southernmost border crossing between the Israeli city of Eilat and the Jordanian city of Aqaba. This is also the closest crossing to Petra (130km).
We crossed the Israel Jordan border from Jerusalem to Amman via the Allenby Bridge. This was the handiest crossing to Jerusalem and the most straightforward place on the Jordan side to pick up our pre-booked rental car was the Amman International Airport. The following details how to make the central crossing.
About Allenby Bridge
The Allenby Bridge is known officially in Jordan as the King Hussein Bridge. It is confusing when starting research about the different Israel – Jordan border crossings, as the northernmost crossing is called the ‘Sheikh Hussein’ crossing. The Allenby Bridge crosses the Jordan River near the city of Jericho, thus connecting the West Bank with Jordan.
On the Jordan side, Allenby Bridge is 57km away from Amman, is located in the southern Jordan Valley.
Getting to the border from Jerusalem
Options for getting from Jerusalem to the border on the Israel side are either by taxi or local bus. A taxi will be charged by distance for the approximately a 30 KM drive.
Bus #961 departs from outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. From Jerusalem Bus Station, you can also take buses 961, 966, or 967. We took bus number 967 which passes directly by the Allenby Bridge stop. It will drop you almost at the border, outside the first checkpoint with is approximately 2km from the border terminal. A bus ticket is 21.50ISL.
From the checkpoint you will need to take a taxi to the Israel border and immigration.
Note: You are not allowed to walk the 2km distance. We were informed it was an ex-military area and unsafe to walk. It sounds like sometimes there are taxis waiting at the end of route 90 by the checkpoint, however there were none when we arrived. It is literally an armed control checkpoint and carpark in the middle of nowhere. Guards checked our passports and then called a taxi for us.
The worst noise ever
Firstly, this is not a usual part of the tips for making the crossing, but this is where we then experienced the worst noise you could hope to hear at a Middle Eastern checkpoint…
While we were waiting by the guard house at the checkpoint (in the literal middle of nowhere) we heard the worst noise ever. There was the almighty sound of an explosion – BANG – that resonated around the valley.
I leapt (also literally) up in the air. Guards stood up immediately as we grabbed the kids and ducked behind the planter box and shrubs in front of us. (I am not sure what I hoped the shrubs would protect us from, but that’s all well in hindsight).
The guards edged around the entrance, clutching their guns ready. A second later, the driver door of the lone truck parked in the carpark opened and the driver climbed down.
Smoke started to rise up from the back of the truck and he shouted to the guards.
It was a back truck tyre. It had exploded in the heat.
We stood up shakily from our spot behind the bush as the guards shrugged it off and headed back to their positions.
I don’t care how many times I have to tell myself it was just a tyre exploding. A border crossing checkpoint is NOT the place the noise of a tyre exploding will EVER sound ok!
Our taxi arrived a few minutes later and we jumped in and headed on for the Israel border point.
Crossing the border at Allenby Bridge
Entering the Allenby Terminal on the Israel side looks like any airport-style immigration terminal. A visa is required for entry into Jordan and cannot be purchased at the border. Security to enter the terminal includes bag checks and x-rays.
You need to pay the departure fee of 175 NIS and proceed to immigration. NIS and USD are accepted on the Israeli side. I don’t remember seeing a cashpoint terminal so I would recommend you carry cash. There is a small restaurant in the passenger hall selling basic snacks and drinks.
Through immigration, there is a lineup of buses outside. You need to take a bus from the Israel side of the border to the Jordan immigration terminal. The bus ride is 15-20 minutes bus ride and costs 5 JD and 1.5 JD per bag.
Getting from the border to Amman
After exiting immigration and entering Jordan, there are taxis available outside.
We were approached by several drivers and negotiated the best price we could for a fare to Amman International Airport. (From there we had pre-booked a rental car with Avis to pick up for our stay in Jordan).
A taxi journey from the border terminal to Amman takes about an hour and costs 25-35JD. A taxi journey to the airport is just over an hour.
There are also mini buses available from the terminal to Abdali Station in Amman. This is the notably cheapest option if you have time to wait. Buses will wait for enough passengers before departing.
Things to know before you cross Allenby Bridge
- Jordanian visa is not available on arrival at Allenby Bridge: You need to pre arrange your Jordanian visa online if crossing at this point.
- The departure fee is expensive: The departure fee of 176 ISL at Allenby Bridge is the most expensive of the three crossing options. (It is 105 ISL at the other land crossings).
- Carry cash for immigration: NIS and USD are accepted on the Israeli side. JOD and USD are accepted on the Jordanian side.
- Israeli passport stamps: Israel doesn’t stamp your passport on arrival into the country anymore. However, if you are entering Jordan via an overland border crossing, the stamp in your passport will say that you came from Israel.
- Days of operation: The Allenby Terminal border crossing is open 7 days a week. It is only closed on Yom Kippur and the first day of the Feast of the Sacrifice, Eid al-Adha.
- Opening hours: The hours of operation for the Allenby Bridge crossing are Sunday – Thursday from 08:00-22:00. Friday and Saturday the border is open from 08:00-13:30. Note: On Jewish Holidays and the evening of the holiday the border is only open 08:00-13:30. Check updated open hours on the Tourist Israel website here. Check updated hours on the Visit Jordan website here.
- Departing Jordan overland: If you are crossing back the other way, note that Jordan has a departure tax of 8 JDs ($13 USD) to be paid at any border crossings except the airports.
Where we stayed
- Jerusalem: Citadel Youth Hostel [great location inside Old City; hard to find. Basic room with four single beds; rooftop terrace and great shared spaces. Friendly staff; bathrooms and kitchen not perfectly clean].
- Amman: Arabian Suites [apartment block with 2 and 3 bedroom apartments. Close to supermarket].
Useful links for your travels in Middle East and beyond…
These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally. (We love the flexible cancellation policy!).
- Hostelworld– The largest inventory of hostel accommodation in the world.
- Skyscanner – This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home).
Read more about travel in the Middle East
- Saudi Arabia Travel Guide: Everything you need to know about visiting KSA.
- Jordan Travel Guide: Read all about magical Jordan.
- Visiting Umm Qais in Jordan
- Crossing overland from Israel to Jordan (and the worst noise ever).
- UAE with kids: Three Emirates in three days.
- Oman with kids: Road-tripping and wadi-jumping…
- Quick tips for visiting the Sheik Al Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi with kids.
