Free things to do · Amman · Jordan
7 free things to do in Amman
Amman without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dan Palraz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Amman without paying an entry fee: Downtown souqs and Grand Husseini Mosque, Rainbow Street, Jabal al-Weibdeh and Darat al Funun are all free. Street food in downtown is excellent and very cheap; a full breakfast can cost less than a café coffee in west Amman.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 7
- Low-cost extras
- 9
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- December–February
Free sights and experiences
Market · Downtown (Al-Balad)
1.Downtown souqs and Grand Husseini Mosque
Follow the smell of roasting coffee and cardamom to the spice shops behind the mosque, and buy a bag of freshly ground Arabic coffee.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- History
Street · Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street
2.Rainbow Street
Come at dusk for the views from a rooftop café, and wander the side streets towards the Wild Jordan Center.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Couples
- Shopping
Neighbourhood · Jabal al-Weibdeh
3.Jabal al-Weibdeh
Walk down from Paris Circle to downtown via the stairways, stopping at Darat al Funun on the way.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Gallery · Jabal al-Weibdeh
4.Darat al Funun
Sit in the garden by the church ruins, which look across the valley to the Citadel.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Views
Religious site · Jabal al-Ashrafieh
5.Abu Darwish Mosque
Take a taxi up and view it from outside; the surrounding streets give a glimpse of everyday east Amman.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Views
Historic site · Downtown (Al-Balad)
6.Nymphaeum
Look at it on your way between the Roman Theatre and the downtown souqs.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
Viewpoint · Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street
7.Citadel-view sunset from Jabal Amman
Walk the stairs down from Jabal Amman to downtown at dusk, stopping at the terraces along the way.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- Photo spot
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown (Al-Balad) | Downtown souqs and Grand Husseini Mosque and Nymphaeum | 1–2 hours + 15 minutes |
| Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street | Rainbow Street and Citadel-view sunset from Jabal Amman | 1–2 hours + 1 hour |
| Jabal al-Weibdeh | Jabal al-Weibdeh and Darat al Funun | 2 hours + 1 hour |
| Jabal al-Ashrafieh | Abu Darwish Mosque | 30 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Historic site · Jabal al-Qal'a
Amman Citadel
Go in the late afternoon for golden light on the columns, and stay to hear the call to prayer echo across the hills at sunset.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
Historic site · Downtown (Al-Balad)
Roman Theatre and Odeon
Climb to the top row of seats for a view over the plaza and up to the Citadel.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Photo spot
Experience · Downtown (Al-Balad)
Downtown street-food trail
Eat hummus and falafel at a busy counter, then queue for knafeh in the lane off King Hussein Street.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Iconic
- After dark
Museum · Ras al-Ain
Jordan Museum
Visit early in your trip; the Nabataean galleries make Petra much easier to understand.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Art
Religious site · Abdali
King Abdullah I Mosque
Robes and headscarves are provided for women at the entrance; avoid Friday midday prayers.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Gallery · Jabal al-Weibdeh
Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts
Pair it with Darat al Funun, a 10-minute walk away, for an afternoon of art.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · King Hussein Park
Royal Automobile Museum
Combine it with the Children's Museum Jordan in the same park.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · King Hussein Park
Children's Museum Jordan
Weekday mornings can be busy with school groups; afternoons are calmer.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
Viewpoint · Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street
Wild Jordan Center
Come for sunset drinks on the terrace, when the Citadel lights come on across the valley.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- Shopping
- Food
More ways to save
- Street food in downtown is excellent and very cheap; a full breakfast can cost less than a café coffee in west Amman.
- Compare the Jordan Pass with individual tickets if you plan to visit Petra and several other paid sites.
- Alcohol is heavily taxed; drinks in bars cost more than food.
- Use ride-hailing apps or metered taxis rather than accepting unmetered offers.
- Share a driver with other travellers for day trips to Jerash and the Dead Sea to split the cost.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Amman expensive to visit?
Amman is moderately priced for most visitors, but 7 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Amman?
Downtown souqs and Grand Husseini Mosque: Follow the smell of roasting coffee and cardamom to the spice shops behind the mosque, and buy a bag of freshly ground Arabic coffee.