As-Salt, Jordan: Things to Do & Travel Guide
As-Salt or simply Salt is an undiscovered highlight of Jordan. Travel with us off the beaten path and visit the city of Salt, read more about the best things to do, and we also share with you practical information on where to stay and how to get there.
As-Salt is quite a large city only 35 kilometers north of Amman. You might think that the proximity to the capital city of Jordan and the picturesque location is quite a compelling argument to include Salt in the Jordan itinerary.
But surprisingly this destination still hasn't been discovered.
Jordan is simply too diverse, and there are so many wonderful things to see and do in the country, especially when you take into account that the majority of foreign travelers spend in the country on average, seven to ten days.
Because of that, Salt is still overlooked by international travelers, but maybe thanks to it the center of the city still keeps its charm and authenticity.
But after a few hours we spent in Salt, we had a feeling that this might change soon as we saw many new restaurants and coffee houses which were about to open, and the limestone buildings from the Ottoman period seemed all repaired, and window frames newly painted.
Even though we think As-Salt deserves the attention of visitors traveling to Jordan, we sincerely hope the city will maintain its soul.
Our road trip to Jordan was quite well-planned, but we are always open to new possibilities and do not mind to change our itinerary a bit on the go. That was the case of the day we visited Salt.
That day we left Wadi Rum desert in the morning, and traveled all the way along the shores of the Dead Sea, where we also swam,
And then we were facing a pleasant decision if we wanted to visit the place where Jesus was baptized, or if we visit the city of Salt instead on the way to Jerash and the Roman Ruins, where we wanted to spend the night.
In the end, we decided in favor of Salt, and we never regretted it.
AS-SALT
First, the Jordan Valley in spring is simply wonderful. Flowers are in bloom, and the road which led us to Salt was incredibly scenic.
Second, we really enjoyed the unexpected lively local market, and third, we loved the untouristy feel in the city.
Although the proximity to the Dead Sea (which is known for its hyper-salinity) would suggest where the city of Salt got its name, it is not that simple.
The word Salt either comes from the Greek saltus, which means valley of trees or thick forest or from the word sultana, which means grapes, that were once abundant in the area.
In this travel guide, we would like to share with you our tips for visiting the city of As-Salt in Jordan, so you will be able to explore it on own.
BEST THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN AS-SALT
Salt is not a typical city with many top attractions, and the sightseeing won't take you that long, but still, there are a few things which will keep you occupied for a while.
Salt has a rich history. It was once a prosperous city set amidst three hills, between Jordan Valley and the Eastern Desert.
During the centuries the city saw Romans, Byzantines, Mameluks and the Ottoman rule, and every period left traces here.
Nowadays, the majority of the buildings you can see in the city was rebuilt during the Ottoman rule.
The houses are significant because of the traditional material - yellow stone, arched windows, interior courtyards, and domed-roofs. The 19th and 20th century saw the rise of Salt, and it was also established as a regional administrative center.
But not long after Amman was elected as the country's new capital and Salt's decline began. Even though it must have been tough for the city and its inhabitants from day-to-day lose the importance, we think only thanks to this fact, the city still keeps its magic.
And we are not the only ones who think that because the city has been recently nominated as UNESCO site. It is often a long process, but hopefully Salt will be soon the fifth Jordan cultural site (sixth in total) listed in this program.
And what can you see and do in Salt?
To be honest, we did not have any plans, and it turned out to be for us the best way how to explore the city.
We arrived late in the afternoon, the traffic was quite heavy, but we managed to park our rental car right next to the market. Martin was a bit reluctant to leave the car there, but it was getting late, and I was not in the mood to search for a better parking spot.
Al Ain Plaza
And because we saw the market, we could not wait to get lost in its busy streets. We started on Al Ain Plaza, which immediately led us to Hammam Street, which is the center of the market.
Hammam Street
It was the first local market we visited in Jordan, and wandering around was real fun.
The street was bustling with people, the stalls were overflowing with vegetables, fruits, clothes, shoes, spices. It was a mess but in a good sense.
We love exploring local markets, and the one in Salt was one of the most authentic ones we've ever been too.
As we've already mentioned, unlike Madaba, Salt is not yet a typical tourist city.
Therefore it was often not us who were taking photos of locals, but the sellers often asked Martin if they can take a picture with him. It was actually quite a refreshing experience.
Salt Grand Mosque
Then we took a side street, which led us around St. George's Church, Church of the Good Shepherd to Salt Grand Mosque. We sat for a while in a small park in front of the mosque, and then decided it is time to get some views.
We randomly picked one street behind the mosque and climbed up. The stairs were quite dirty, and we were not sure if this is the tourist path, well, we were sure it was not, but we continued anyways.
Viewpoints
When we reached the landing, we got the wonderful view of Salt and could admire the unusual setting.
It would have been a quiet experience, but we were spotted by a group of kids playing football, who wanted to be friends with us.
After approximately five minutes we decided that it is time to continue, and left those friendly guys behind.
Then we walked through a street where all the doors and arched windows were painted in blue.
Trails
Here we noticed that we are actually on a trail which shows visitors the best houses in the city.
We followed it, and thanks to it we saw some of the best architecture from the Ottoman period in the city.
There are actually three trails you can follow in Salt.
One of them will take you through Hammam Street, the other one is the one we followed, and the last one is on the opposite side of the hill. You can find out more about the trails on the official site.
Then we got back to the market, we crossed a street and followed the pedestrian zone for a while, while searching for other wonderful examples of Ottoman architecture.
Museums
Salt is also famous for its museums. We were in the city late, and museums were already closed, but if you have more time, feel free to visit the Historical Old Salt Museum or the Archeological Museum.
We spent a few hours in Salt, and even though we were far from seeing everything, we think we got a nice introduction to the city's highlights.
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!
HOW TO GET TO SALT
We traveled to Salt from Jordan Valley in our rental car, and we recommend you to do the same.
Make sure to read our guide on driving in Jordan before you go.
The drive was spectacular, and one of the highlights of our time in Jordan. Basically, we followed the road 65 and then turned right onto a local road which led us to the city.
After visiting Salt we needed to get to Jerash, so we joined King's Highway number 35.
If you do not have a car, Salt is one of those destinations, where you can get easily by public transport from Amman.
Frequent minibusses leave when full from Amman's North Terminal, and the ride takes approximately 45 minutes.
The bus station in Salt is close to the city center, so you can easily explore the city on foot. Alternatively, when in the hurry, you can hire a taxi, you should not pay more than 10 - 15 JD per one way.
If you do not want to drive yourself and public transport is not your cup of tea, or if you simply want to learn more about Salt's history, and require a guide, this well-rated Salt Tour from Amman is a great option.
WHERE TO STAY
What we could see, the city of Salt is still not ready to welcome many visitors and the lodging options are scarce, but we believe this will change soon.
In case you do not want to stay in Salt - there are not many options anyways - (many travelers visit the place on a one-day trip), it is possible to spend a night either in nearby Jerash, Amman or in one of the resorts by the Dead Sea.
We've handpicked the best accommodation in each location, so you can choose what suits the best your budget and plans.
Amman | 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.
Jerash | Full Panorama To Archaeological Site Jerash - Family guesthouse located in a quiet residential area with nice modern rooms, welcoming host, and great location next to Jerash Ruins. Parking is available on the street in front of the hotel.
Dead Sea | Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea - A luxurious resort offering top services on the shore of the Dead Sea is a top pick for travelers looking for a peaceful retreat.
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.
