A Complete Guide to Amman in Jordan
Amman, the capital city of Jordan, is worth a visit. The place has so many must-see attractions, and things to do, that you can easily spend here a pleasant day or two. Read our travel guide on the best things to do in Amman, including tips on day trips, what to pack, when to visit, where to stay, and how to get there.
For many, Amman, the capital city of the Hashemite Kingdom, is either first or the last stop on the Jordan itinerary. But we were quite surprised when we found out that actually quite many people decide to skip Amman entirely in favor of other country's highlights.
From Roman architecture, sweeping hills around, bustling streets, nourishing and tasty food, to lively markets, mosques, and modern skyscrapers, Amman is exactly the place you need to visit to understand today's Jordan.
Even when we were on a plane to Jordan, we could not overhear a discussion between a group of tourists sitting behind us, who were just reassuring themselves that their decision not to visit Amman was the right one as the guy argued that there is nothing to see and do in Amman anyways.
Well, how wrong they were. We know how tempting can it be to head straight out from the airport for the famous King's Highway, the Dead Sea, or the main reason why people travel to Jordan, the Lost City of Petra, but wait a moment.
You can for sure do it this way, just make sure you will get back to Amman before your flight back home.
Amman is a city absolutely different from the rest of the country.
And even though it is true that Jordan's must-visit places lie off the city limits, the capital of Jordan certainly deserves at least one or two days of your time.
Because the country's main airport Queen Alia International Airport is located only about 30 kilometers from Amman, we think it does not make much sense not to visit Amman as well.
AMMAN
First of all, the city will be most likely your start or the ending point of your trip, and secondly, there are quite many top attractions and best things to do, which show the visitors to Amman the city's colorful history.
If you are a slow traveler and do not like moving from one place to another every day, Amman can be your base for a couple of days, and except for the sightseeing, you can also make day trips, for example, to Madaba, the Dead Sea, Roman ruins of Jerash, or to Desert Castles.
It is only up to you what options suites the best your travel plans and itinerary.
In this travel guide, we would like to share with you the best things to see and do in Amman, and we will show you the photos of the top attractions.
We've also included practical tips on where to stay, how to get to the city, how to get around, what is the best time to visit, and much more useful information.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN AMMAN
Before you start exploring the best things in Amman, you should make sure that you have Jordan Pass in your pocket.
Jordan Pass is a very useful thing, which will save you money and waive visa fees.
Most of the attractions you are going to visit in Amman are already included in this ticket, but you will also use it in other places that are for sure on your list, such as the famous desert Wadi Rum, or Crusader’s Castle of Karak.
Exploring Amman will give you an insight into the country's history, you will admire the wonderful architecture, walk inside the chaotic markets, taste the authentic food, and in the evening, you can relax in one of the modern bars, sit on cushions and smoke shisha.
That and more has Amman in its sleeve, so let's dive into it.
This is the list of the best things we visited, and think are worth visiting in Amman.
AMMAN CITADEL
You cannot visit Amman and not to see the Citadel. The Citadel of Amman is the top attraction in the city and the reason which should persuade you to travel to this place.
The citadel itself is perched on the top of one jabals (one of the seven hills that originally made up Amman), and it is only a short walk from the Amman's city center.
The site is towering above the city on the 850 meters high hill, the highest one in Amman, so be prepared for an ascend to the Citadel (it’s not that bad as it sounds), or hire a taxi for about 1 JD.
The site is not that large as, for example, Jerash Ruins, but there are many wonderful and interesting remnants, that the visit will take you two hours minimum.
The hill has been inhabited since Bronze Age around 1800 BC, and since then this place was significant to all various empires and civilizations that during the centuries took rule over Jordan.
Yes, the Citadel is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited places. That's why you can see here structures from the Roman period, but also from Byzantine or Ummayad times.
The most notable structures in the Citadel are Temple of Hercules and Ummayad Palace, but you will see relics from all over the place. Included in the ticket (3 JD or the Jordan Pass) is a small museum, which you should not skip.
Also, we should not forget to mention that the views from the top of Jebel al-Qala'a are amazing, and you have all the city literally below or around you.
You can hire a guide by the entrance, but there were quite many information boards in English and Arabic, that we did not feel it was necessary.
ROMAN THEATRE
When you will be walking to the Citadel on foot, you will pass several viewpoints overlooking the center, from where you will also have a great view of the Roman Theatre down below. But you need to see this impressive sight up close.
The Roman Theatre has a seating capacity of 6000 people, and it is the biggest theatre from the Roman Philadelphia period in Jordan.
Even though the theatre has been restored with unoriginal materials, this fact does not decrease the beauty.
We loved that we could walk the stairs to the highest row of the theatre for the better views, and could sit there and just imagine how it must have been to attend the original plays back in the 2nd century when the amphitheater was built.
Also, when you stand on the very top of the theatre, you should more closely examine the large open space you most likely walked through to the entrance.
It is Forum, at least what was left from it, now only recognizable thanks to a few columns on the side close to the theatre.
If you are in Amman in summer, check out in your hotel the possibility of visiting a concert or a play as during this time the Roman Theatre is still alive with culture.
With Jordan Pass, you can also visit small museums on the side of the theatre, Folklore Museum (this one we liked better) and the Museum of Popular Traditions.
ODEON
Right next to the Roman Theatre, on the eastern side, is another landmark that deserves your attention.
It is Odeon, a much smaller theatre, which seats about 500 people. It is possible, that the theatre hosted the major plays while Odeon was a scene where most of the musical performances took place.
NYMPHAEUM
When we arrived at Amman's Nymphaeum, the gate was closed, but meanwhile we were deciding where to go next, a caretaker, which was obviously interrupted from having a chat with his friends came from one of the stalls, and opened the site for us.
It seems that Romans were quite obsessed with building water fountains, and this is another fine example of what Nymphaeum really is.
You can find a similar structure, although larger and in better shape in Jerash, but we were grateful we could wander around remnants of what once used to be a two-story complex, preserved from the 2nd century.
MARKETS
We visited a lovely market in the city of Salt in Jordan, but it was nothing compared to Amman's Souq.
Souq alias market is a place where you can get lost for hours, and you will most likely not want to leave, it is very entertaining.
We entered the market right from the street in front of the Nymphaeum and within a second we appeared in a place beyond our imagination.
It is hard to describe the smell, the colors, the noise, and the chaos in a few words. You need to see it with your own eyes.
Have your camera ready, because this place is a real photographer's dream. Be polite though and ask for permission first before taking photos.
Even though the market is like a maze, and there are many other sections such as the hardware section, clothes stalls, electronics, shoes, or medicine section, the food part of the market was our favorite and it was also where we spent the majority of our time.
Locals are very friendly, they were not too pushy to sell us stuff, so we had enough time to explore the place ourselves.
AL-HUSSEINY MOSQUE
Built on the top of the mosque from the 7th century, al-Husseiny Mosque is in the true center of Amman, and it is an important place for locals who often meet here.
The mosque is close to the markets and the theatre as well, so you do not need to plan your visit somehow carefully, you will most likely walk around without even knowing it.
Even though it is not the most wonderful mosque we've ever seen, it is worth noticing.
The first night we were in Amman, we came to this mosque via K. Faysal Street, which is a lively road lined with shops and restaurants - to be honest, we found this street to be much more interesting than the better known Rainbow Street.
AL BALAD
Amman's downtown is also known as Al Balad, and it is basically the flat area between seven hills.
If you are looking for an authentic place, where you can do souvenir shopping and mingle with locals, this is the place. This is the pulsing heart of the city.
KING ABDULLAH MOSQUE
Easily recognizable by its blue dome, King Abdullah Mosque cannot be overlooked. It is a bit away from the center, but you can even see it from the Citadel.
The mosque is huge, it can hold more than 7000 worshippers at a time. Unlike many other mosques in Jordan, even non-Muslims can enter the mosque.
The entrance fee is 2 JD, and this site is not included in the Jordan Pass.
You have to strictly follow the dress code, women need to cover their heads, but it is possible to borrow a hooded gown by the entrance for free. Take your shoes off before entering the mosque.
To get there, you need to walk approximately three kilometers out of the center (one way), but most of the travelers usually take a taxi.
JORDAN MUSEUM
If you want to know more about Jordan history, Jordan Museum is a place to go.
The exhibitions are located in a modern building, but unfortunately, we could only admire the museum from the outside. Because it started to rain in the afternoon, we wanted to hide in the museum, but apparently that day it was closed, because of the bad weather.
We do not know if they have a hole in the roof or what, but that's what the official website said. Maybe next time.
EAT LOCAL FOOD
Amman is one of the best places in the country, where you can try local food. There are many restaurants, so you can find here your favorite restaurant in your price range.
The most popular restaurant among both locals and tourists is Hashem Restaurant.
At first, we did not plan on eating in this restaurant, but we arrived in Amman late in the afternoon, it was raining, and we found out that Hashem Restaurant was only 300 meters from our hotel. We hadn't been in such a touristy restaurant for a while, but the food was great, and we ate all our meals here eventually.
The specialty in Hashem Restaurant is falafel, but we recommend you to order also hummus and baba ganoush.
The food comes with herbs and bread, and after the whole day of sightseeing, it is also nice to drink hot tea with mint.
We are not saying this is the best food in Jordan, we had similarly tasty hummus in Wadi Musa or the desert, but we appreciated the quick service, food quality, and cheap rates.
The only downside is that the restaurant is really huge, a little bit impersonal, and the tables are covered by disposable plastic table cloth (cutlery is plastic as well), so it is not very eco-friendly.
Except for the restaurants, you can later stop by at small local shops selling the traditional sweets (we resisted as we try to live sugar-free lives, but it looked very tasty) or try a traditional pomegranate juice.
RAINBOW STREET
One of the most overrated places we visited in Amman, at least according to our opinion, was Rainbow Street.
This street has a reputation for the bars, restaurants, and the quirky atmosphere, but we were not that impressed.
We saw a few graffiti on the walls which were quite cool, colorful stairs, which were not that exceptional as the ones we could see in Rio de Janeiro, and a few hanging umbrellas as decoration were also not that impressive.
Maybe we would have a different experience had we visited the street later in the evening, when all the bars, cafes, and restaurants, open, but honestly, we liked the other parts of Amman better.
We are not saying you should not visit Rainbow Street, but if you do not have that much time, you won't make a mistake when you skip it.
Still, it seems that most of the visitors of Amman like wandering around, so you can let us know in the comment section if you've enjoyed your time in Rainbow Street, or if you've felt similarly as us.
BEST DAY TRIPS FROM AMMAN
Jordan is a small country, and you can base yourself conveniently in Amman, and do a few worthwhile one-day trips from the city.
We would recommend this option for those of you who prefer to have the tourist infrastructure all the time around, and who want to enjoy the comfort of one hotel without the necessity to move from one place to another every other day.
Amman is very close to the Dead Sea, and if you are not particularly a beach bum, we think it is absolutely enough to visit the lowest place on Earth only on a one-day trip.
The same goes for the Roman ruins of Jerash. Jerash is approximately 1-hour drive from Amman, and this place definitely deserves at least three to four hours of your time. If you have more time, it is possible also to visit another castle, Ajloun.
One of the most underrated day-trips, according to us, is a road trip to Desert Castles. We visited the three most famous castles on Desert Castles Loop, and although there are more of them, these are the true gems.
We are talking about Qasr Azraq, Qasr Kharana, and Qusayr Amra.
Last but not least easy one day-trip from Amman will take you to Madaba, the city of Mosaics featuring the famous Church of the Map, and the nearby Mount Nebo, from where you will get amazing views.
We visited all of these sites separately on our road trip around Jordan, but since the distances in the country are really small, we think some travelers might find it interesting that they can do only short day-trips from the capital.
It is possible to reach all those sites by rental car, some of them by public transport, and in case you just want to enjoy your holidays, book a tour from Amman.
HOW TO GET AROUND AMMAN
Amman was initially built on seven hills. It is enough to read this information, and it's quite clear that getting around the city will be challenging. But honestly, we did not find it that bad.
Yes, eventually, you will have to climb a hill, descend, and most likely to climb a hill again, to see all the best things Amman has to offer, but if you have all day as we did, we do not see a problem why you would not be able to get everywhere on foot.
So for us, walking was the best option on how to get around Amman. We stayed in the center, and we were able to get on foot to all the top attractions we wanted to see.
In case you are tired or short on time, we would then rely on taxi drivers.
Hiring a taxi is a common way how to get around the city. Even if you have a rental car, we would leave it parked in front of your hotel, and choose a different way of transport.
As we've said, the terrain in Amman is hilly, streets are narrow and often one-way, and the traffic can be madness.
It is definitely better to be driven by someone who knows the city by heart than to drive yourself.
Last but not least, there is public transport. Until recently there hadn't been a centralized public transport, but now there is, and getting around by busses never been easier.
Still, we think this option is more for the locals unless you are more patient than us to learn how the system works.
WHERE TO STAY IN AMMAN
Amman is a large city, but the city center is compact, and if you decide to stay there, most of the top attractions will be within walking distance.
The city is spread on the surrounding hills, but as tourists, you will not most likely want to spend a night in the neighborhood far away.
Therefore the best places to stay in Amman are either hotels in the city center and near the bustling markets, or in the newer part of the city, where are the modern skyscrapers and mostly new and more expensive hotels, but from here you will have to take a taxi to the best sights and back.
We've handpicked the best three hotels in Amman for every budget.
Budget | Gallery Guest House - We stayed in this hotel for a couple of days, and really enjoyed clean, air-conditioned, and quiet rooms, lovely breakfast, and helpful staff. This hotel is located a walking distance to Amman Citadel, super popular Hashem Restaurant, or Rainbow Street. Great value for money. Free parking on the street in front of the hotel.
Mid-range | Nomads Hotel - One of the favorite hotels in the price category in Amman is located close to the famous Rainbow Street and within walking distance to the city center. Friendly staff, tasty breakfast, and clean room are the reasons to make a booking here.
Luxury | Amman Rotana - Super modern hotel in the new business center of Amman is really impressive. The rooms are comfortable, the views of the city superb, and the service is excellent. For sure this is a place to stay for customers looking for an exceptional hotel.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT AMMAN
Amman sees four seasons in a year, and we are sure you will enjoy your stay no matter the season, you only need to arrive well-prepared.
We've written a full post on when is the best time to travel to Jordan, but here are some tips in a nutshell.
Winter
First, you should consider that Amman can be really cold. The coldest three months are December, January, and February.
This is the winter in Jordan, and during this time it can rain often, it sometimes even snows, and days are short. This time of the year can be miserable, but not only you can luck out sunny days, but you will also enjoy the city without tourists and for lower prices.
Spring
We visited Amman in spring. The days were already warmer, but both afternoons were rainy, so we had a limited time to explore the top sights.
But in general, spring, especially April, is the most popular time to visit the city because of the pleasant temperatures.
Autumn
Autumn, from September to November, is very similar to spring.
Summer
Summer is very hot, it is actually so hot, that it can be very uncomfortable to walk around the city. But it is a dry heat, not humid, so if you are used to that, you should not have a problem.
As you can see, every season has its pros and cons. Even though our day in Amman was a bit influenced by the rain, we enjoyed it anyway, well, the storm at night was pretty scary but other than that we had a nice time.
That's why it is good to know there is not a wrong time to visit Amman, there are only wrong clothes.
WHAT TO PACK FOR AMMAN
For visiting Amman, you do not need anything special that you haven't already packed for your trip to Jordan.
Because of the hilly landscape, we recommend you to wear comfortable sneakers .
Also, because the hills often hold the clouds, and it can rain anytime, especially in the winter, have rain poncho , umbrella or waterproof jacket in your backpack.
It can get cold in the city when the sun goes down, so a fleece jacket is a must-have, we even used a down jackets one evening.
Because of the conservative Islamic culture, you should always have covered shoulders and knees, even when it is too hot.
This is particularly true in case you plan on visiting mosques in the city.
To visit some of them you will need to lend the appropriate clothes anyways. Loose linen pants or jeans and a t-shirt with long sleeves should be fine for sightseeing.
It is not compulsory to cover your head, but we recommend you to pack a bandana or scarf in your backpack.
Apply sunscreen before you go.
Camera , spare batteries and extra memory cards should go without saying.
HOW TO GET TO AMMAN
Amman lies in the northern part of Jordan and is well-connected with the rest of the country.
The best way how to get around Jordan is by rental car, but if you are planning on traveling in this country by public transport, Amman is the best place from where you can catch a bus to other touristy destinations.
From the airport, it is possible to get to Amman either by rental car, taxi or by shuttle bus.
For more detailed information, you can read our travel blog post on how to get from Queen Alia Airport to Amman.
Amman is also connected with other destinations by several highways.
Tourists usually use the Jordan Valley Highway (also nicknamed the Dead Sea Highway), the scenic King's Highway, or Desert Highway. If you need to get to Amman from the East part of Jordan, follow Baghdad International Highway.
As we've already mentioned, it is super easy to get to Amman by rental car - the country is perfect for a road trip.
Many travelers also decide to explore the country either on a tour - we would recommend this option only in case you want to explore strictly only the top attractions such as Petra, the Dead Sea or Wadi Rum.
It is also possible to reach Amman from the most touristy places, but you will not have that much flexibility.
You won't, for example, will be able to visit Mukawir or Umm ar-Rasas ruins in one day, and the journey will be less comfortable. On the other hand, this is for sure an option for travelers on a strict budget.
SAFETY IN AMMAN
We felt super-safe during the whole time in Jordan, and Amman was no exception.
Almost every local greeted us with words Welcome to Jordan, and we did not have a reason to feel uneasy in the city center, even after dark.
Use your common sense to prevent opportunistic crime, and watch your valuables as usual, especially in the most touristy places such as the market, which is crowded and chaotic, or Rainbow Street in the evening.
We were traveling as a couple, and I think thanks to it I (Lucie) did not receive any unwanted attention, but solo female travelers can occasionally be harassed vocally.
To avoid this unpleasant situation, dress respectfully, and if possible, travel with a friend.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
