Amman is an ideal base for day trips to Jordan's top attractions, since most major sites are just a few hours away by car. Here are five trips we can confidently recommend.

1. The Dead Sea: only about 45 minutes from Amman, perfect for a day of relaxation and floating.
2. Jerash: about an hour north, a must for fans of Roman ruins.
3. Petra: a longer trip (around 3 hours), but worth every minute.
4. Ajloun: a short, comfortable trip combining a historical castle with a green nature reserve.
5. Madaba and Karak: along the historic King's Highway, for those seeking a mix of religious history and scenery.

You can easily combine two of these destinations into one trip if they're close to each other, like Jerash and Ajloun, thanks to the short distance between them.