Where to stay · Amman · Jordan
Where to stay in Amman
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: miiika, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street. Stone villas, café terraces and boutique hotels above downtown. Best alternatives — families: Abdali; budget: Downtown (Al-Balad).
Key facts
- First visit
- Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street
- Families
- Abdali
- Budget
- Downtown (Al-Balad)
- Nightlife
- Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street | Stone villas, café terraces and boutique hotels above downtown |
| Families | Abdali | New towers, a pedestrian boulevard and international hotels |
| Couples | Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street | Stone villas, café terraces and boutique hotels above downtown |
| Budget | Downtown (Al-Balad) | Souqs, Roman ruins and budget hotels in the valley at the city's core |
| Luxury | Abdoun | Upmarket villas, embassies, restaurants and bars in the west |
| Nightlife | Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street | Stone villas, café terraces and boutique hotels above downtown |
| Food lovers | Downtown (Al-Balad) | Souqs, Roman ruins and budget hotels in the valley at the city's core |
| Solo travellers | Downtown (Al-Balad) | Souqs, Roman ruins and budget hotels in the valley at the city's core |
| Shopping | Abdali | New towers, a pedestrian boulevard and international hotels |
| Quiet stays | Jabal al-Weibdeh | Leafy lanes, art galleries and neighbourhood cafés around Paris Circle |
Amman neighbourhoods in detail
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers, culture and food lovers
Downtown (Al-Balad)
Al-Balad is the old commercial centre in the valley between the jabals, around the Grand Husseini Mosque, the gold souq and the Roman Theatre. It has many of the city's lowest-priced hotels, famous falafel and sweet shops, and the Citadel is a steep 15-minute climb away. It is noisy and busy by day and quiet late at night.
- Good
- Walk to the main ancient sites; Cheap, excellent street food; Strong local atmosphere
- Watch out
- Basic hotels; Traffic noise and fumes; Steep climbs to the hills above
- Nearby
- Roman Theatre, Amman Citadel, Grand Husseini Mosque, Gold souq
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, food lovers and nightlife
Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street
Jabal Amman is one of the city's oldest residential hills, with 1920s–1950s stone villas around the First and Second Circles and Rainbow Street's cafés, restaurants and rooftop bars. Steps lead down to downtown in about 15 minutes, and the area is lively in the evenings, especially on Thursdays and Fridays.
- Good
- Walkable to downtown; Good restaurants and cafés; Views over the old city
- Watch out
- Heavy traffic on weekend evenings; Steep streets
- Nearby
- Rainbow Street, First Circle, Wild Jordan Center, Downtown
$$ · Best for culture, solo travellers, quiet stays and couples
Jabal al-Weibdeh
Weibdeh is a calm, artsy hill of old stone houses, churches and mosques, home to Darat al Funun and the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts. Small guesthouses, cafés and bars around Paris Circle give it a local feel, and downtown is a downhill walk of about 15 minutes.
- Good
- Quiet but central; Art spaces and good cafés; Walk to downtown
- Watch out
- Few large hotels; Hilly streets
- Nearby
- Darat al Funun, Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Paris Circle, Downtown
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and shopping
Abdali
Abdali is a newly built district of glass towers, malls and the pedestrian Abdali Boulevard, with several large international hotels. It sits between Weibdeh and Shmeisani, a short taxi ride from downtown, and suits travellers who want modern rooms and easy parking.
- Good
- Modern hotels and malls; Central for taxis; Easy parking
- Watch out
- Little historic character; Construction in places
- Nearby
- Abdali Boulevard, Jabal al-Weibdeh, King Abdullah I Mosque
$$$ · Best for families and first-timers
Shmeisani
Shmeisani is a commercial district with long-established business hotels, restaurants and cafés, close to Abdali and about 10–15 minutes by taxi from downtown. Hotel prices are often lower than in Abdoun for a similar standard.
- Good
- Wide choice of mid-range and upscale hotels; Plenty of restaurants; Central for taxis
- Watch out
- Not walkable to the ancient sites; Busy roads
- Nearby
- Abdali, Jabal al-Weibdeh
$$$$ · Best for luxury, nightlife and quiet stays
Abdoun
Abdoun is one of Amman's most affluent districts, with embassies, upscale restaurants, bars and cafés and a handful of boutique hotels. It is quiet, well kept and around 20 minutes by taxi from downtown.
- Good
- Calm and upscale; Good restaurants and bars; Close to western shopping areas
- Watch out
- Far from the historic sights; Taxi needed for almost everything
- Nearby
- Abdoun Bridge, Sweifieh
$$ · Best for shopping, families and budget
Sweifieh
Sweifieh is a shopping district around Wakalat Street, a pedestrian strip of fashion shops and cafés, with malls, supermarkets and mid-range hotels and apartments nearby. It suits longer stays and self-catering families.
- Good
- Good-value apartments; Shops and supermarkets; Quieter than downtown
- Watch out
- Far from the ancient sites; Car-oriented streets
- Nearby
- Wakalat Street, Abdoun
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown (Al-Balad) | $ | Roman Theatre, Amman Citadel, Grand Husseini Mosque, Gold souq |
| Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street | $$$ | Rainbow Street, First Circle, Wild Jordan Center, Downtown |
| Jabal al-Weibdeh | $$ | Darat al Funun, Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Paris Circle, Downtown |
| Abdali | $$$ | Abdali Boulevard, Jabal al-Weibdeh, King Abdullah I Mosque |
| Shmeisani | $$$ | Abdali, Jabal al-Weibdeh |
| Abdoun | $$$$ | Abdoun Bridge, Sweifieh |
| Sweifieh | $$ | Wakalat Street, Abdoun |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Amman for first-time visitors?
Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street. Jabal Amman is one of the city's oldest residential hills, with 1920s–1950s stone villas around the First and Second Circles and Rainbow Street's cafés, restaurants and rooftop bars.
+Where should families stay in Amman?
Abdali: Modern hotels and malls.
+Which area of Amman is best for a budget stay?
Downtown (Al-Balad) ($): Souqs, Roman ruins and budget hotels in the valley at the city's core.