Comparison · Amman vs Istanbul · Jordan / Turkey
Amman vs Istanbul
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Bjorgen, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Choose Amman for Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and a short break; choose Istanbul for Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus ferries and beaches. Amman is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,183 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,183 km
- Less expensive
- Amman
- Best time for Amman
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Istanbul
- April–June and September–October
Side by side
| Amman | Istanbul | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Jordan | Turkey |
| Known for | Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and Rainbow Street | Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus ferries and Grand Bazaar |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $110–$200 | $120–$230 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | August, 33°C (91°F) | July, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 12°C (54°F) | January, 9°C (48°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | Kilyos |
| Airports | AMM | IST, SAW |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Amman for…
Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and a short break. 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…
Choose Istanbul for…
Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus ferries and beaches. Istanbul spreads across both banks of the Bosphorus, the strait that divides Europe from Asia. The historic peninsula of Sultanahmet holds Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar within a 15-minute walk of each other, while Galata…
Top sights compared
| # | Amman | Istanbul |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amman Citadel | Hagia Sophia |
| 2 | Roman Theatre and Odeon | Topkapı Palace |
| 3 | Jordan Museum | Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) |
| 4 | Downtown souqs and Grand Husseini Mosque | Basilica Cistern |
| 5 | King Abdullah I Mosque | Grand Bazaar |
Food compared
| Amman | Istanbul |
|---|---|
| Mansaf | Simit |
| Falafel | Turkish breakfast |
| Hummus and ful breakfast | Fish sandwich |
| Knafeh | Meze and rakı |
Which is cheaper?
Amman is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $110–$200 per person there, against $120–$230 in Istanbul (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Amman on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,183 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Amman or Istanbul cheaper?
Amman is usually less expensive: about $110–$200 a day mid-range against $120–$230 (estimates).
+Is Amman or Istanbul better for a first trip?
Pick Amman for Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and a short break, or Istanbul for Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus ferries and beaches.
+How far is Amman from Istanbul?
About 1,183 km in a straight line.