BUS SERVICE AMMAN-JERUSALEM (NOT VIA KING HUSSEIN)

Hello,

We are so excited and counting down to our pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Mar2013. We are starting at Amman, going to Petra and Jordan (baptismal site). We are not going with a group.

My question is can we catch a bus from Amman directly to Jerusalem? We do not want to fly, we would like to see the countryside.

Other pilgrims from my parish advised not to enter Israel via the King Hussein Bridge because of visa issues.

There is no direct transport from Amman to Jerusalem. You need to get yourself across the bridge, and then take a bus or shared taxi on the other side.

If you are going to be in Petra as your last stop in Jordan, it makes sense to cross into Israel via Aqaba/Eilat. There are buses from Eilat to Jerusalem.

Visa issues depend on your nationality, which you haven't stated. Most Western nationalities don't need a visa for a stay in Israel of no more than three months. It could be that your friends are confusing this with the issue of entering Jordan from Israel. If you cross into Jordan via the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge you need a Jordanian visa in advance. Visas for Jordan are issued on the spot at the Eilat/Aqaba crossing.

Thank you for your quick response and options. I think taking a bus from Petra to Eilat and bus/shared taxi to Jerusalem will be the best way

We are both Australian citizens.

We want to come back into Amman and then fly home to Brisbane from there. My other concern is once we leave Amman and enter Israel will the entry stamp prohibit me from re-entering Jordan or is it prohibited only for certain other Arab countries.

Edited by: LOLACOLLINS

Edited by: LOLACOLLINS

Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1994. Hundreds of people - including Israelis - cross in both directions every day and there is absolutely no problem in entering Jordan with an Israeli stamp.

As Australians you don't need a visa for Israel.

There's no shared taxi from Eilat to Jerusalem, only bus. Just be aware that there are no buses on Friday afternoon/evening or Saturday. You don't say when in March, but note that Tuesday March 26, 2013, is the first day of Passover and as far as public transport is concerned it will be like a Saturday, meaning no buses from Eilat to Jerusalem the previous Monday afternoon until Wednesday March 27.

Allenby / King Hussein bridge is the easiest way from Amman to Jerusalem. You can obtain a visa for Israel at the border. You will need to arrange a car with a driver at your hotel in Amman to take you to the border (Amman taxis are not allowed to drive to the border), it should cost about 30 JOD (About 45 USD). You cross the border with a special bus (fee of 4 JOD). Once on the Israeli side, you can take a sherut (10-seat mini bus) to Jerusalem's Old City's Damascus Gate, it costs about 40 shekels (about 10 dollars). There are taxis as well but they charge obscene prices so better take the sherut, which departs as soon as it is full.

Amman - King Hussein/Allenby bridge is a 50 minute drive. Allenby bridge - Jerusalem is a 30 minute drive. Crossing the border can take between one to three hours.

Please note that the border is called "Allenby bridge" in Israel/Palestine but "KIng Hussein bridge" in Jordan.