Things to see and do in Amman

Amman is not simply the capital of Jordan, but at the same time a magical and modern city for every traveller. The city is a perfect blend of past and present, with ancient ruins and a cosmopolitan feel to its streets. You’re probably wondering what to see in Amman, and the answer is easy: everything! This city will keep you busy all day and you’ll never stop visiting monuments while you enjoy those long-awaited days of relaxation.

In this post we’re going to explain all the things to do and places to see in Amman, so if you’re thinking of travelling to the Jordanian capital, read on. Follow all our recommendations and when you travel to the vibrant city of Amman you’ll only have to worry about taking lots of photos and enjoying all the gems it has to offer to tourists who visit it.

What are the best places to see in Amman?

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

1. The Citadel

The imposing Citadel is one of the seven citadels that once made up the city and is definitely one of the must-see sights in Amman. This important monument is located on the hill of Jebel al-Qala’a. It is a hill where many civilisations have passed through: Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and finally Muslims, and has been inhabited for more than 7000 years! It is worth mentioning that from the Citadel you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Amman, as well as taking some beautiful pictures.

When you visit the Amman Citadel we recommend that you take some time to see the unique Temple of Hercules, which was built in the 2nd century BC. You should also visit the Roman theatre, the remains of the Umayyad Palace and the Byzantine Church. Within the citadel itself is the Jordan Archaeological Museum, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls.

When visiting the Amman Citadel, please note that it is open from 08:30h to 17:00h from Monday to Sunday. On Fridays and public holidays it is open from 09:00h to 16:00h. The entrance fee is just 3 Jordanian dinars per person (about €3.50). This ticket allows you to visit both the entire building and the Jordan Archaeological Museum.

2. The Mosque of King Abdullah I

The impressive King Abdullah I Mosque is not only the most spectacular mosque in the city, it’s also the only mosque you’ll be able to see inside Amman if you’re not a Muslim. This impressive place of worship was completed in 1989 and was built in honour of Jordan’s King Abdullah I. Without a doubt, one of the most incredible parts of the mosque is its sky-blue dome. The interior of the mosque is also worth a visit, with an octagonal nave that can hold more than 3,000 people. Admission is 2 Jordanian dinars (€2.60).

3. The Nymphaeum

The Nymphaeum was built in the 2nd century and consists of an ancient Roman public fountain. It is particularly convenient to visit, as it is located in the historic centre of the city. The fountain once had a 600 square metre pool three metres deep – it was huge! It is worth mentioning that the Nymphaeum is not in very good condition at present, although restoration work is underway to recover all the charm it once undoubtedly had.

4. Historic centre

To get the real essence of the city when you go to see Amman, we recommend a tour of the historic centre. You’ll love wandering the streets of the historic centre. You should start around the Al-Husseiny Mosque. As you stroll around, you will see how the modern buildings mix with the classic Arab souks filled with the smell of spices and colours. In particular, you should visit a shop called Habibah. There you can sample some delicious Jordanian sweets while you soak up the charm of Amman.

5. The Al-Hussein Mosque

The Al-Hussein Mosque is located in the historic centre of Amman. It is one of the must-see sights in Amman even from the outside, as the entrance is reserved for Muslims only. This beautiful building was built by King Abdullah I in 1932. It’s well worth a visit just to look at its gleaming pink and white stone façade.

6. The Roman Theatre and the Odeon

The Roman Theatre is one of the places to see in Amman that will surprise you the most. It was built in the 2nd century with a capacity of up to 6,000 people. It is also one of the oldest and best preserved monuments in Amman. The theatre is divided into three levels and has multiple entrances on the sides, and the photos on the top are beautiful! With its excellent acoustics, this ancient monument is still used for concerts or award ceremonies.

Just next to the theatre is the Odeon, which is a much smaller theatre. It seats 500 people and is older, dating from the 2nd century B.C. What are you waiting for? Entry costs 2 Jordanian dinars and includes the theatre, the Odeon and the museum.

7. Rainbow Street

This is one of the most popular streets you will see in Amman. It is one of the main arteries of the Jabal Amman neighbourhood, a district world-renowned for its multicultural and entertainment scene. There you will find many art galleries and beautiful houses. Rainbow Street is undoubtedly very trendy and is a popular place for tourists to enjoy all its shops, restaurants and venues – don’t miss it!

8. The National Gallery of Fine Arts of Jordan

The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts is without doubt the most important museum of contemporary art in Jordan. The museum has a collection of more than 2,800 works by some 1,000 artists, mainly from Asia and Africa. The collection is spread over two buildings which are interconnected by a sculpture-filled park. Admission is 5 Jordanian dinars, so come and see for yourself!

What to visit around Amman?

1. Jerash

Jerash is considered the Pompeii of Asia and is only 40 kilometres from the Jordanian capital, taking less than an hour, making it one of the must-see places near Amman! You can get there by taxi or bus.

This jewel of a city that was one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire was curiously hidden under the desert sand until the 1920s. That’s why it is so well preserved. You will be very impressed to see Jerash. The tour usually lasts two or three hours, and allows you to visit several monuments, such as Hadrian’s Arch, the Oval Square, the Hippodrome, the South and North Theatres, the Cardo Maximus, the Nymphaeum or the Temple of Artemis. Entry to Jerash is completely free if you have a Jordan Pass, if you don’t the price is 10 Jordanian Dinars (€12.7).

2. The castle of Ajlun

When visiting Jerash from Amman, most tours include a stop at Ajlun Castle because it is only 15 kilometres away. This impressive building, a medieval Ayyubid fortress in an excellent state of preservation, is sure to amaze you. It’s also an amazing place to take some great photos with the excellent views that surround it, you’ll see!

3. Petra

Petra is located some 200 kilometres south of Amman, and enjoys very good connections from the Jordanian capital. It is the ancient capital of the Nabataeans and is undoubtedly the most impressive and most visited place to see in Jordan – in fact it is one of the seven wonders of the world! The city of Petra is over 2000 years old and it is impressive that it is built in the middle of the desert. It can only be reached via the Siq. A walk along the Siq also allows you to visit incredible sites such as the Treasury and the Monastery. Enjoy every minute of your excursion!

Petra can be reached from Amman by a number of buses and minibuses departing from the South Station (Mujemma Al-Janoob). These buses take about 4 hours to reach the village of Wadi Musa. Once there, it is a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute taxi ride to the entrance of the site. Entrance to Petra costs 50 euros and if you do it with a guide this price may vary.

What to see in Amman in a day?

If you only have one day and are wondering what to see in Amman we recommend:

• The Citadel
• The Mosque of King Abdullah I
• The Historic Centre
• The Roman theatre and the Odeon
• Jerash

Where and what to eat in Amman?

When you go to see Amman, you’ll find that one of the best things about Jordan is its cuisine. Generally in all Middle Eastern countries, the first thing you’ll be served is mezze, which consists of various cold snacks. Among these we recommend you try chickpea hummus or falafel. Also, while in Jordan you should try the Baba Ghanous (aubergine hummus), the Tabbouleh, or the Kibbe. We recommend the following restaurants in Amman:

• Jubran: This is an ideal restaurant for Middle Eastern food, but also offers several more international dishes. It is located in the heart of the city centre, specifically in the Boulevard area of Amman. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is very peaceful. The price range per diner is between €14 and €32.
• Eostrix Gastro Pub: This restaurant on Abu Salma Al-khelal Street is one of the most exclusive you’ll see in Amman. The raw material is excellent in all its products and the Eostrix Gastro Pub represents an ideal option to enjoy a great culinary experience. What are you waiting for to try it? The price range per diner is between €14 and €32.
• Bourj Al Hamam: The star food you’ll find in this restaurant is Lebanese cuisine. But the menu is super complete and the service is impeccable. It’s also a place with a great atmosphere, sometimes even with a DJ. The price range per diner is between €14 and €27.

Where to sleep in Amman

• Layaali Amman Hotel: Located just 700 metres from the Al Hussainy Mosque in the heart of Amman. All rooms at the Layaali Amman Hotel have a private bathroom with shower, flat-screen TV and air conditioning. You’ll be treated well and feel right at home. The average price for a double room for two people is 60 euros.
• New MerryLand Hotel: This 3-star hotel has a large shared lounge and air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi and private bathrooms. There is also a large restaurant serving international cuisine and free private parking within the hotel. The average price for a double room for two people is 75 euros.
• Zaman Ya Zaman Boutique Hotel: This hotel offers very competitive prices as well as a spectacular solarium and views of the Roman theatre. There is also a dining area inside the Zaman Ya Zaman Boutique Hotel, and it is only 600 metres from the Al Hussainy Mosque! The average price for a double room for two people is 30 euros.

Tips for your trip to Amman

• The official currency of Jordan is the Jordanian dinar and the current exchange rate is 1 Jordanian dinar=1.26 euros. We recommend that you use a credit card to pay and withdraw cash from ATMs when you arrive in Jordan.
• The best time to see Amman is in spring (between March and May) and autumn (September to November). These are the times of year with the most pleasant temperatures in Jordan and there will be virtually no risk of rain. So you can enjoy the best weather in Amman.
• A visa is required to enter Jordan in addition to a passport. This visa is issued on arrival in Jordan and costs 40 Jordanian dinars. It is valid for 30 days with a single entry.
• We recommend you get yourJordan Pass to get around Amman and the country in general.
• You could hire a car in Amman to get around the country easily. The Spanish driving license is valid for driving in Jordan. Jordan is also a very safe country that can be easily visited on your own.
• Buy travel insurancebecause health care in Jordan is private, you’ll have a lot more peace of mind.
• Although there are no mandatory vaccinations for travel to Jordan (Yellow Fever for passengers from endemic countries), we recommend that you visit the vaccination centre just in case.

How to organise what things to do on your trip to Amman?

You can use this post as a reference and combine it with the options suggested by the Passporter website. There you will find a wide variety of ideas and inspiration on what to see and what to do in Jordan. Thanks to Passporter you can sort your selection in order of preference and organise your routes around this beautiful country.

If you have any doubts about how to plan your trip before you leave home, don’t worry, Passporter can help. In our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter, we explain step by step how to create your ideal trip so that you don’t miss anything and get the most out of your stay.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Amman