Travel guide · Jordan
Amman travel guide
Roman ruins, hillside cafés and the gateway to Petra and the Dead Sea
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Bjorgen, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Jordan's capital spreads across a series of hills, or jabals, around a compact downtown (Al-Balad) where a 6,000-seat Roman theatre faces the Citadel and its Umayyad palace. Above downtown, Rainbow Street on Jabal Amman and the leafy lanes of Jabal al-Weibdeh hold cafés, galleries and restaurants, while the Jordan Museum tells the country's story from prehistory onwards. Most visitors use Amman as a base for Jerash, the Dead Sea, Madaba and Mount Nebo, all within about an hour, before heading south to Petra and Wadi Rum. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are March–May and October–November.
Key facts
- Country
- Jordan
- Best time to visit
- March–May and October–November
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- AMM
- Mid-range daily budget
- $110–$200 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre, Rainbow Street and Falafel and knafeh
Why visit Amman
- The Citadel, the Roman Theatre and the Odeon are a 15-minute walk apart in the city centre, with views across the white hillsides.
- Downtown's falafel counters, knafeh shops and spice souqs make Amman one of the best-value food cities in the region.
- The Jordan Museum displays the Ain Ghazal statues, among the oldest large human figures ever found, and fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
- Jerash, the Dead Sea, Madaba's mosaic map and Mount Nebo are all easy day trips of about an hour.
- Jabal al-Weibdeh and Jabal Amman combine 1920s stone villas, art spaces and café terraces with views over downtown.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 16 things to do.
Historic site · Jabal al-Qal'a
Amman Citadel
The Citadel hill has been occupied for thousands of years and holds the columns of the Roman Temple of Hercules, a Byzantine church and the Umayyad Palace with its restored domed audience hall and cistern.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Historic site · Downtown (Al-Balad)
Roman Theatre and Odeon
Built in the 2nd century AD and cut into the hillside, the Roman Theatre seats about 6,000 and still hosts occasional concerts.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Photo spot
Experience · Downtown (Al-Balad)
Downtown street-food trail
Downtown's long-established counters serve falafel, hummus and ful in steel bowls with mint, onions and bread, and its sweet shops cut warm knafeh from huge trays.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Iconic
- After dark
Museum · Ras al-Ain
Jordan Museum
The national museum traces Jordan's history from the Stone Age to the modern era, with the plaster Ain Ghazal statues, about 9,000 years old, fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls and well-presented sections on the Nabataeans of Petra.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Art
Market · Downtown (Al-Balad)
Downtown souqs and Grand Husseini Mosque
The streets around the Grand Husseini Mosque, built in its current form in 1924 on an older site, are the city's traditional market: the gold souq, spice and coffee shops, the covered vegetable market and stalls selling everything from shoes to cardamom.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- History
Religious site · Abdali
King Abdullah I Mosque
Completed in 1989, this mosque has a blue mosaic dome over an octagonal prayer hall and is one of the few in Amman open to non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Where to stay
Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers, culture and food lovers
Downtown (Al-Balad)
Souqs, Roman ruins and budget hotels in the valley at the city's core
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, food lovers and nightlife
Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street
Stone villas, café terraces and boutique hotels above downtown
$$ · Best for culture, solo travellers, quiet stays and couples
Jabal al-Weibdeh
Leafy lanes, art galleries and neighbourhood cafés around Paris Circle
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and shopping
Abdali
New towers, a pedestrian boulevard and international hotels
What to eat
- Mansaf — Jordan's national dish: lamb cooked in jameed, a sauce of rehydrated fermented dried yogurt, served over rice on thin shrak bread and scattered with toasted almonds and pine nuts.
- Falafel — Crisp chickpea fritters spiced with coriander and cumin, eaten in bread with tomato, mint and tahini or on a plate with hummus.
- Hummus and ful breakfast — Bowls of hummus and ful (stewed fava beans with garlic, lemon and olive oil), with raw onion, pickles, mint and flatbread; the classic Jordanian breakfast.
- Knafeh — Melted white Nabulsi cheese under a layer of orange semolina or shredded pastry, soaked in syrup and topped with pistachios, eaten hot from the tray.
- Maqluba — Rice, chicken or lamb and fried vegetables such as aubergine and cauliflower, cooked in a pot and flipped onto a platter at the table.
- Musakhan — Roast chicken on taboon flatbread soaked in olive oil and piled with onions cooked with sumac, a Palestinian dish widely eaten in Jordan.
When to go
The best times to visit Amman are March to May and September to November, when days are warm and sunny and nights are cool — ideal for combining the city with Jerash, the Dead Sea and Petra. Summer is hot but bearable in Amman thanks to the altitude, while winter is chilly and wet with occasional snow. Check Ramadan dates, which move about 11 days earlier each year and change opening hours.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Green hills, wildflowers and warm days; the busiest touring season for Jordan, so book Petra hotels ahead. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, dry days and cool evenings in Amman, but extreme heat at the Dead Sea, Petra and Wadi Rum. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm and clear, with comfortable touring weather across the country and the first rains in November. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold, wet and sometimes snowy in Amman, though the Dead Sea and Aqaba stay mild; few tourists and lower prices. |
Getting there and around
Queen Alia International Airport is about 35 km south of the city. Taxis from the official rank take about 40–50 minutes to central Amman, and an airport express bus runs to the city's bus stations.
Amman is spread over many steep hills with heavy traffic and no metro, so most visitors combine walking in downtown, Jabal Amman and Weibdeh with taxis or ride-hailing apps for longer hops. Day trips are easiest with a hired driver or rental car.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Citadel, the Roman Theatre, downtown's souqs, the Jordan Museum and an evening on Rainbow Street. A third day adds Jerash, and a fourth or fifth lets you visit the Dead Sea and Madaba with Mount Nebo before continuing to Petra.
Practical information
- Currency
- JOD
- Language
- Arabic and English
- Plugs
- Types C, D, F, G and J are all found; 230 V, 50 Hz — a universal adapter is useful
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated, but most visitors and many locals drink bottled or filtered water.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
- Tipping
- In restaurants, about 10% is usual if service is not already included; round up taxi fares and tip guides and drivers at the end of a tour.
Amman is generally calm for visitors, but check your own government's travel advice before and during your trip given wider regional tensions. Traffic is the main everyday risk: crossings are few, so take care on busy roads, and agree on the meter or use an app for taxis.
Flights to Amman
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Amman?
Two days covers the Citadel, the Roman Theatre, downtown's souqs, the Jordan Museum and an evening on Rainbow Street. A third day adds Jerash, and a fourth or fifth lets you visit the Dead Sea and Madaba with Mount Nebo before continuing to Petra. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Amman?
The best times to visit Amman are March to May and September to November, when days are warm and sunny and nights are cool — ideal for combining the city with Jerash, the Dead Sea and Petra. Summer is hot but bearable in Amman thanks to the altitude, while winter is chilly and wet with occasional snow. Check Ramadan dates, which move about 11 days earlier each year and change opening hours.
+What is Amman known for?
Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre, Rainbow Street, Falafel and knafeh, Gateway to Petra, Dead Sea day trips and Jordanian hospitality. The Citadel, the Roman Theatre and the Odeon are a 15-minute walk apart in the city centre, with views across the white hillsides.
+Is Amman expensive?
Amman is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $110–$200 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Amman?
Not for the city itself — use taxis and walk. A car or private driver is worthwhile for day trips and for continuing to Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.