Comparison · Amman vs Jerusalem · Jordan / Israel
Amman vs Jerusalem
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 lower day-to-day costs; choose Jerusalem for Old City, Western Wall and free sights. Amman is generally less expensive, and the two are about 70 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 70 km
- Less expensive
- Amman
- Best time for Amman
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Jerusalem
- April–June and September–November
Side by side
| Amman | Jerusalem | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Jordan | Israel |
| Known for | Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and Rainbow Street | Old City, Western Wall and Church of the Holy Sepulchre |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | April–June and September–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $110–$200 | $180–$320 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | August, 33°C (91°F) | July, 29°C (84°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 12°C (54°F) | January, 12°C (54°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 12 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | AMM | TLV |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Amman for…
Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and lower day-to-day costs. 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…
_(cropped).jpg){kind=link}
Choose Jerusalem for…
Old City, Western Wall and free sights. Jerusalem is sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and its walled Old City — under one square kilometre, divided into the Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Armenian quarters — holds the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Temple Mount /…
Top sights compared
| # | Amman | Jerusalem |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amman Citadel | Western Wall |
| 2 | Roman Theatre and Odeon | Western Wall Tunnels |
| 3 | Jordan Museum | Church of the Holy Sepulchre |
| 4 | Downtown souqs and Grand Husseini Mosque | Temple Mount / Haram al-Sharif and the Dome of the Rock |
| 5 | King Abdullah I Mosque | Old City walls and Ramparts Walk |
Food compared
| Amman | Jerusalem |
|---|---|
| Mansaf | Hummus |
| Falafel | Jerusalem mixed grill |
| Hummus and ful breakfast | Ka'ak al-Quds |
| Knafeh | Knafeh |
Which is cheaper?
Amman is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $110–$200 per person there, against $180–$320 in Jerusalem (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Amman on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Amman and Jerusalem are about 70 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Amman and 4 in Jerusalem.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Amman or Jerusalem cheaper?
Amman is usually less expensive: about $110–$200 a day mid-range against $180–$320 (estimates).
+Is Amman or Jerusalem better for a first trip?
Pick Amman for Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and lower day-to-day costs, or Jerusalem for Old City, Western Wall and free sights.
+How far is Amman from Jerusalem?
About 70 km in a straight line.