Getting around · Amman · Jordan
Getting around Amman
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Freedom's Falcon, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
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. Not for the city itself — use taxis and walk.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- AMM
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- Jordan Pass
Ways to get around
Walking
Downtown, Jabal Amman and Jabal al-Weibdeh are connected by public stairways; the Citadel to the Roman Theatre is about 15 minutes on foot, downhill.
Taxi
Yellow metered taxis are plentiful and inexpensive for short rides; make sure the meter is running or agree a price before setting off.
Have your destination written in Arabic or shown on a map, as street addresses are rarely used.
Ride-hailing
Ride-hailing apps operate in Amman and avoid meter disputes, with fares shown in advance.
Bus
Shared white service taxis follow fixed routes, and a bus rapid transit network runs on some main corridors; useful mainly for longer stays.
Car
A rental car is useful for day trips to Jerash, the Dead Sea and the desert castles, but city driving is hectic and parking is hard downtown.
Tickets and passes
Jordan Pass
A pre-purchased bundle covering entry to many sites, including Petra, Jerash, the Amman Citadel and the Roman Theatre; check the official Jordan Pass site for current inclusions.
From the airport
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.
Do you need a car?
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.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Jerash | About 50 minutes by car | Car, private driver or bus from Tabarbour (North) bus station |
| Dead Sea | About 1 hour by car | Car, taxi or private driver |
| Madaba and Mount Nebo | About 45 minutes by car | Car, private driver or minibus to Madaba |
| Bethany Beyond the Jordan | About 1 hour by car | Car or private driver; often combined with the Dead Sea |
| Desert castles | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car or private driver |
| Ajloun Castle | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car | Car or private driver; combine with Jerash |
| Petra | About 3–3.5 hours each way by car | Private driver, rental car or the JETT tourist bus |
Questions travellers ask
+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.
+How do you get from the airport to Amman?
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.
+What is the best way to get around Amman?
Walking: Downtown, Jabal Amman and Jabal al-Weibdeh are connected by public stairways; the Citadel to the Roman Theatre is about 15 minutes on foot, downhill.