With kids · Amman · Jordan
Amman with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Bjorgen, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Amman is welcoming to children, and Jordanians are notably warm towards families. The Citadel and Roman Theatre suit children who like climbing, King Hussein Park has two museums aimed at kids, and day trips to Jerash and the Dead Sea work well with older children. Top picks: Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and Odeon and Jordan Museum. Families usually base themselves in Abdali.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 5
- Best area for families
- Abdali
- Rainy-day options
- 3
Best things to do with kids
Historic site · Jabal al-Qal'a
1.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. The small Jordan Archaeological Museum on site and the views down to the Roman Theatre make it the best first stop in the city.
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)
2.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. Small folklore and traditional-costume museums occupy rooms in its wings, and the smaller Odeon stands beside the Hashemite Plaza in front.
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
Museum · Ras al-Ain
3.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. It is air-conditioned and a good introduction before travelling around the country.
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
Museum · King Hussein Park
4.Royal Automobile Museum
The late King Hussein's collection of cars and motorcycles, from early 20th-century vehicles to royal limousines and rally cars, is displayed with photographs that tell Jordan's modern history. Children and car enthusiasts tend to enjoy it most.
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
5.Children's Museum Jordan
A hands-on science and discovery museum with interactive exhibits on the body, nature, technology and Jordanian heritage, plus outdoor play areas in King Hussein Park. It is aimed mainly at children up to about 12.
Weekday mornings can be busy with school groups; afternoons are calmer.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
Rainy-day ideas
- Jordan Museum — Visit early in your trip; the Nabataean galleries make Petra much easier to understand.
- Royal Automobile Museum — Combine it with the Children's Museum Jordan in the same park.
- Children's Museum Jordan — Weekday mornings can be busy with school groups; afternoons are calmer.
Where families should stay
$$$ · 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
Family travel tips
- Pavements are uneven and steep, so a baby carrier is easier than a stroller.
- Children are welcome in almost all restaurants, including late in the evening.
- Floating in the Dead Sea is fun for older children, but salt water stings eyes and cuts; keep faces dry.
- Carry water and sun protection on day trips to Jerash and the desert castles.
- Choose a hotel with a pool in summer for afternoon breaks.
Day trips for families
- Jerash (About 50 minutes by car) — One of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities anywhere, with Hadrian's Arch, an oval plaza, a colonnaded street, two theatres and the Temple of Artemis.
- Dead Sea (About 1 hour by car) — The Jordanian shore of the Dead Sea, more than 400 metres below sea level, has resort hotels at Sweimeh with beach access and a public beach where you can float in the salty water and cover yourself in mud.
- Ajloun Castle (About 1 hour 30 minutes by car) — A 12th-century Ayyubid hilltop castle built by a commander of Saladin, with views over the green Ajloun hills and the Jordan Valley; the nearby forest reserve has walking trails.
When to go with children
The best months overall are March–May and October–November. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Amman good for kids?
Amman is welcoming to children, and Jordanians are notably warm towards families. The Citadel and Roman Theatre suit children who like climbing, King Hussein Park has two museums aimed at kids, and day trips to Jerash and the Dead Sea work well with older children.
+What can kids do in Amman?
Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and Odeon, Jordan Museum, Royal Automobile Museum and Children's Museum Jordan.
+Where should families stay in Amman?
Abdali: New towers, a pedestrian boulevard and international hotels.