In our experiences, exploring the capital of a country can be underwhelming, compared to other tourist attractions the country has to offer. But that’s not the case for the capital of Jordan! Although Jordan has plenty of stunning things to do, we also loved our time in the capital very much. After exploring the Wadi Rum desert, the Dead Sea and the breathtaking archeological site Petra, we found out there are also plenty of things to do in Amman. In this travel blog, we wrote all the information you need for your visit to Amman: what to do in Amman, where to sleep, where to eat and much more. Continue reading and start planning your trip to Amman in Jordan.
Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase, we receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. The affiliate links concern only products and services we appreciated highly and trust. This means the views and opinions expressed in this post are purely our own. For more information, read our privacy and cookie policy.
Table of Contents
In the map below, we give an overview of all the locations in Amman that are described in this post.
Some general information
Currency – Like in the rest of the country, the currency in Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar (JOD). When we wrote this post, one Jordanian Dinar corresponds to 1.29 EUR (1.41 USD). It’s always good to have some cash with you when traveling in Amman. You can find plenty of ATM’s in the streets of Amman, but keep in mind you always have to pay a fee every time you withdraw cash.
Language – The official language in Amman is Arabic. But as the local people are used to see tourists, you’ll experience no problems to communicate with the locals in English.
Getting around – In our opinion, the traffic in Amman is very busy, so driving with a car is not always the best solution. If you like to walk, most of the touristic attractions are perfectly doable on foot. But keep in mind that Amman is full of hills and it sometimes can take a while to get to and from one place to another. Other transportation options are taxi, bus, and app-based services like Uber and Careem. Taking the bus is generally the cheapest.
Holidays – Friday is the start of the weekend and it is an important day in Islam. So make sure to check opening times if you visit specific attractions on a Friday.
Dress code – Although we saw that the dress code in Amman is quite different from more conservative regions in Jordan, we do suggest to keep shoulders, arms, and legs covered as much as possible. Men do have some more flexibility, but women should not wear revealing clothing. Not only does it shows that you care about Jordanian culture, you also protect your skin from sunburn.
Read more: 10 things to know before visiting Jordan.
Where is Amman, the capital of Jordan located?
Amman is the largest city in Jordan and is located in the North of Jordan. The city is built on the rolling hills that form the eastern border of the ʿAjlūn Mountains’. It is said to be one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.
Driving distances from Amman to …
- Jerash – 50 kilometers
- The Dead Sea – 55 kilometers
- Wadi Musa (Petra) – 250 kilometers
- Wadi Rum village – 320 kilometers
- Akaba – 330 kilometers
How to get to Amman?
Most tourists arrive in Jordan by plane. There is a wide variability of flights from major cities across Europe, Asia and North-America to Amman. The main airport of Jordan is the Queen Alia International Airport, located 32 kilometers south of Amman. Many rental car companies are located at the international airport. To discover the main highlights of Jordan, we highly recommend renting a car. So picking up your car immediately upon arrival at the international airport is the most convenient.
Another option is to take an official airport taxi to get from the airport to Amman center. Taxi prices are fixed by law and displayed at the airport (around 22.5 JOD). There is also a bus running once or twice an hour. A bus ticket to Amman costs 3.3 JOD.
How much time do you need to visit Amman?
Amman is definitely a good starting or ending point for your travels in Jordan. Unfortunately, many visitors don’t spend much time in Amman or even skip it entirely. We think you should spend at least one day in Amman. Although it is not the main highlight of the country, it really is an interesting city!
Check this guided tour in Amman to see all the highlights.
Entrance fees and the Jordan Pass
The Jordan Pass is a ticket that includes the entrance fee to more than 40 attractions in Jordan. Attraction in Amman that are included in the fee are the entrance to the Roman theater and the Citadel. As soon as you stay a minimum of three nights in Jordan, it also waives your visum fee. Buying a Jordan pass is not only cost effective, it also gives you the comfort of just buying one ticket. So we highly recommend it.
Top things to do in Amman
Here you can find our list of best things to do in Amman. According to us, these activities are doable in one day, if you start early. These attractions are indicated in purple on our map.
The Roman Theater
If you also visit Jerash in Jordan, you will realize that a lot of Roman remains can be found in Jordan. One of these remains is he stunning Roman Theater in Amman, nestled in the center of the capital. It is the perfect starting point for your exploration of the capital. This semi-circular building is still in an excellent shape, even if it is more than two millennia old.
Make sure to climb up the steps to the top to see the panoramic views over the site. The theater was built to host around 6,000 spectators. Visiting the Roman Theater brings you back 2,000 years in time. We also enjoyed our visit to the Jordan Folklore Museum and the Jordanian Museum of Popular Traditions, that are lying next to the Roman Theater. Although relatively small, these museums give a nice impression on how people used to live in Jordan.
The entrance to the Roman Theater as well as the two small museums next to it are included in the Jordan Pass. Without the pass, you’ll pay 2 JOD to enter the theater. Opening hours are between 8 am and 5 pm in winter times and between 8 am and 8 pm in summer times.
Go back in time at the Amman Citadel
The Amman Citadel is another must-do when visiting the capital. The first reason is because the site is situated at one of the highest hills of Amman. From here, you get wonderful views over the city. Especially during sunset, this place becomes magical.
Another reason why the Amman Citadel should be on your travel planning is because it is a stunning open-air museum with archeological remnants dating back to 1800 B.C. We found the blue-domed gateway, that forms the entrance to the Umayyad Palace the most impressive building of the site.
Be aware that to get to the Amman citadel, you have to climb the hill. We did enjoy the 20-minutes hike and spotted many beautiful sights along the way. If you don’t like to walk, you can take a taxi that can take you up the hill. The entrance fee to the Amman Citadel is included in the Jordan Pass. Without the pass, you’ll pay 3 JOD to enter the site. The site opens at 8 am (at 9 am during the Ramadan) and closes between 4 pm and 6 pm (dependent on the season). To plan your visit, check the opening times of the main sites in Jordan.
Discover the street art in Amman
The capital of Jordan is also the home of some colorful street art works. In our map, we included some famous street art in Amman, but we are sure that you’ll probably discover plenty more when wandering through the streets of Amman. The works are sometimes several stories high and they give a very modern feel to one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.
Discover street art and the stories behind it? Discover this street art tour in Amman.
Rainbow street
Rainbow Street is definitely the most famous street in Amman, with lots of bars and restaurants. If you are looking for a dinner in the perfect atmosphere, then Rainbow Street is the place to be. The official name is this street is Abu Bakr al Siddiq, but it is the cinema-theater in the street that gave the street its nickname. The nickname also inspired the many restaurants and cafes to decorate their buildings and the street lamps in the different colors of the rainbow.
Visit the Blue Mosque (King Abdullah Mosque)
The King Abdullah Mosque is a mosque that is open for tourists. It is a very beautiful mosque with blue and white colors and gives a good impression on how a mosque looks on the inside and how the local people practice their religion. If you want to visit the mosque, make sure you dress appropriately. Both men and women need to wear long trousers and sleeves. In the souvenir shop, women receive a covering dress for free that they’ll need to wear before entering.
Entrance to the King Abdullah Mosque is 2 JOD. Note that the mosque is closed for visitors on Fridays.
The Old Signs of Amman museum
Th Old Signs of Amman museum can be difficult to find, but is definitely worth a visit. Tucked away in a busy street in Amman, this museum houses a collection of old shop signs. There are more than 1000 vintage signs, some hand painted, hanging on the walls of this small museum. The museum is free to visit and open from Saturday until Thursday, from 10 am until 5 pm.
The Jordan museum
A great way to start or end your travels in Jordan is the Jordan Museum in Amman. In this museum, the history of Jordan is told, with many archaeological treasures from the Dead Sea and Petra. The museum is open from 9 am until 6 pm, every day except on Tuesdays. On Friday, the museums opens at 3 pm and remains open until 7 pm. Entrance to the museum costs 5 JOD.
Visit the souks
Whenever you are in a large city in the Middle-East, you need to visit its souks. In the souks of Amman, you can find local fruit stands next to one another, and different tasty smells enter your nose in the narrow alleys. Nothing compares to wandering through these busy alleyways, taking in all the colors, noises and smells.
Have a delicious desert at Habibah
Mieke has a sweet tooth and that’s maybe why she considered a visit do Habibah as one of the best things to do in Amman. Here they sell the famous Kunafa: it is a sweet pastry with cheese. Although it sounds a bit odd, it tastes delicious! So definitely worth a try. The lines at Habibah can be very long (especially in the evening) so best is to pick up your sweet during the day.
Visit the Duke’s Diwan
This museum is located in one of the oldest buildings in Amman. A ‘diwan’ is a gathering place for artists, thinkers and poets. The building is filled with old furniture, pictures and antiquities. The entrance to the museum is free. Opening times are however unclear. When we visited the Duke’s Diwan, the doors were closed. So we couldn’t see what was inside, but based on the pictures we saw, it is definitely worth a visit.
Where to stay in Amman
Beirut Hotel
During our stay in Amman, we had a room in the Beirut Hotel. It was a nice place, in the center of the city. The staff of this hotel is very attentive and welcoming and they offer an high qualitative breakfast. The room was clean and modern. Great about this hotel is that you can park your car nearby at a guarded parking for a little fee.
Nu Fifty Two
Another great option to stay at in Amman is the Nu Fifty Two. Its location is excellent as it is only a 6-minute walk from Rainbow Street. This apartment is very clean, offers very clean and modern rooms with all the luxury you need.
Medusa Home Stay
The Medusa Home Stay is located in the city center of Amman and has a very cozy interior and a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking Amman. The rooms are comfortable and the staff is super friendly.
Eating and drinking in Amman
We love the Middle-Eastern food, and the food in Jordan is no exception to that. Enjoy the tasteful fresh bread, delicious falafels, fresh baba ganoush (our favorite) or maqluba (rice with chicken and vegetables, served upside-down). Our favorite restaurants were Hashem Restaurant, the sweets at Habibah or Sufra in Rainbow Street.
Let’s hope that this travel blog did convince you not to skip Amman when you travel to Jordan. Jordan has plenty of highlights and we assure you that Amman will be one of them. If you have any questions or remarks, let us know via our social media channels.
Happy travels!
Matthias and Mieke
Quick start your holiday with the help of our trusted tools
These are the websites we highly recommend to plan your next trip. We use them all the time to save money and travel freely! Did you know that by purchasing through our links, you support us at no additional cost. Thank you for your support. ♥️
Find hotels: via booking.com
Find a rental car: via discovercars.com
Find cheap flights: via skyscanner.com
Book tours & attractions: via getyourguide.com
Book a bus / train / transfer: via omio.com—
