Jerusalem is about 90km to Amman. It’s logical to plan Israel and Jordan in one big epic trip! The border between these two cities is called Allenby Bridge or King Hussein Bridge. 2 different names but same border.
VISA: You can only enter with Jordan Pass. As visa-on-arrival is not available in this border. Also if you leave Jordan from this border, you can actually return to Jordan using the same visa, if you come back using this border!
Allenby Bridge Crossing
The easiest gateway between Jerusalem and Amman. Since the border is in West Bank, which Jordan lost in 1967, this is the only border where you will NOT receive a Jordanian exit/entry stamp in your passport! And since this is the only border people from Palestinian Authority Territory can use, it is crowded and take you 1-4 hours to go through.
: 8AM-midnight (Sun-Thursday). 8AM-3PM (Fri,Sat) : $112 vs $441. From Jerusalem: Shuttle from Jerusalem roughly 10JD, shuttle bus 9JD between borders, hiring a taxi to Amman 25JOD ($35 for maximum 4 people). Israel Exit Tax roughly US$50. Altogether US$112.
2.From Amman: 11JD with JETT bus from downtown Amman at 7AM already includes shuttle between borders, Shuttle to Jerusalem 10 JD. Jordan Exit Tax 10JD. Altogether 31JD or US$44
Click Here for Details on The Guide to Israel-Jordan Border Crossing
Bus Station in Jerusalem
The fare is 42NIS plus 5NIS to Allenby Bridge border. It runs every day but probably till only 11AM on Fridays.
If you wish to enter Jordan from this border, note that visa-on-arrival is NOT available, and you will need to buy Jordan Pass.
This is the departure AND arrival bus stop from Allenby Bridge.
Bus Station in Amman: JETT BUS
You’ll only need to know about this bus station if you intend to go to the border taking this bus (and save 9JOD on shuttle bus).
There are several “JETT” bus stops, make sure you go to this one, the same bus station for Petra. It’s 10 minutes ride from downtown Amman. Taxi ride should cost 2-4JD to come to this JETT Bus station on King Hussein Street.
BUYING TICKET: I couldn’t buy ticket in advance as I was told that it never gets full. The bus leaves at 6:30AM so get there at 6AM (updated info in April 2018). Ticket is for 11JD and you don’t need to pay for the shuttle bus between borders (which is super expensive!! You save 9JD by taking this bus)….
If it doesn’t work with your schedule, then get yourself a taxi from downtown to border for 20-25JOD a taxi. But then you’ll have to pay 9JOD for shuttle bus between borders per person.
Always keep in mind, if you leave from this border and return to Jordan from this border, you DON’T need to pay for visa again. And this JETT bus is used as shuttle bus between borders, so if you are going to Amman from border, it’s either local bus (ask a local) if available or simply get yourself a taxi for 20-25JOD.
Amman- Between Borders – Jerusalem
1.Amman to the Border
My bus departed at 7 AM (2016), and arrived at 8AM. The schedule is 30 minutes earlier now. Entered the ‘Departure Hall” which is a kind of unorganized building. Luggage needs to go through X-ray examination as a formality.
It took roughly 50 minutes to do the following:
1.Get a slip for departure. Fill in your name, passport information. Hand it to window #1. Then the officer will hand it to window #2.
2. You will turn aroudn and pay 11JOD exit tax to window #3. You’ll receive a stamp, and hand this back to window #2. Your passport will not be returned yet.
3. Wait.
4.Put your luggage back to the bus. Or wait for the shuttle bus between borders to arrive if you aren’t taking the first bus (which you’ll have to pay 9JOD for this 5 minutes ride).
5.Grab a seat. An officer will return passports to all pasengers, and charge bus fare. Show your ticket if you came with this bus from Amman downtown, then you’re exempt from paying this 9JOD shuttle fee.
2.Between Borders (9JOD!)
Yeah. You have to take this shuttle bus, even though it’s just 5 minutes ride. But well, it’s affordable….
3.Border to Jerusalem……
It will take at least 1 hour here. Or sometimes 3-4 hours. Here you will
1.Line up. Be patient. There’s no toilet. Don’t take pictures. But there’s wifi.
2.Check-in your luggage.
3.Go to one of the windows to be ‘sorted’. Go one by one.
4.Enter the main building. There will be a proper X-ray examination for your personal belongings. This is thorough and not just for formality.
5.Then the immigration. Once you go through, you’ll get a a blue card.
6.There’s no real ATM. But there’s a money exchange (₪20 per transaction), the rate was not good. But you can pay 10JOD for sherut ride to Jerusalem. It leaves every 15 minutes.
It takes less than 1 hour to reach Damascus gate!
I’m not sure which side is faster. From personal experience, I felt it was quicker ‘returning’ to Jordan. But definitely it is considerably cheaper entering Israel from Jordan using this border, than doing it the other way round. Why? Exit tax is different. So if possible, I would try to avoid leaving Israel using land borders because of such reason. It’s not expensive to fly to Europe from Israel! 🙂
Summary on Tips
1. To avoid paying 9JOD shuttle bus fare between borders, take JETT bus from Amman downtown at 6:30AM.
2. Visit Jordan first, then Israel. (To avoid exit tax using land border)
3.If you have to return to Jordan, then keep in mind that you don’t need to purchase Jordanian visa again if you come in and out using this border.
