Amman
Temperature
9°
Time
5:58 PM
Amman
Amman was first mentioned as Rabbath Ammon in the Hebrew Bible around the 10th century BCE. Although the Jordanian capital has its fair share of ancient remnants, it is the way Amman experiences modernity that fascinates the most. Often listed among the most progressive cities in the Middle East, Amman is a flourishing capital growing by the hour, inhabited by a culturally diverse and rather liberal populace.Find your trip
The capital's most important historic landmark is an entire area known as the Citadel, perched on top of Amman's highest elevation — the Jabal al-Qal'a hill. Its story dates back to as early as the Bronze Age, with various epochs bringing cultures and peoples who have all left their mark here. The Citadel's two primary attractions are the ancient Temple of Hercules (162-166 AD) and the Ummayad Palace dating back to the 8th century.
An art centre and architectural landmark in its own right, Darat Al Funun contains a frequently updated selection of exhibitions. Its serene setting making for a pleasant excursion, and hillside location affording panoramic city views. Archaeological remains of a 6th century Byzantine church can be observed at the entry.
One of Amman's most entertaining attractions is the Royal Automobile Museum, mostly containing (nearly a hundred!) vehicles from the collection of late King Hussein of Jordan. Models spanning the second half of the 20th century make for an interesting look around, the latest hit addition being the very vehicle used in the filming of acclaimed "The Martian".
The spectacular Roman Theatre, although restored in the late 20th century, remains largely true to the way it was once conceptualised in as early as 2nd century AD. It's a highlight for most visitors to Amman, used as a venue to house open-air concerts and shows in the summer.
The iconic blue-domed mosque is one of the country's most recognisable attractions, a place of worship as much as a national landmark and even somewhat of a museum: a few archaeological finds and personal items of King Abdullah, who inaugurated the mosque, are also displayed here. Unlike at most other mosques, non-Muslim visitors are welcome inside, provided they follow the rules of attendance.
Amman's Children's Museum is surprisingly delightful. There are plenty of interactive exhibits allowing the young ones to get a hands-on approach to learning about the world, from the inner workings of the human digestive system to the mechanics of a car. Adults will enjoy continuing on to the Royal Automobile Museum next door.
As opposed to the omnipresent in Jordan remains of Roman and Umayyad structures, Qasr al-Abd is a rare example of architecture pre-dating the Roman era. Its exact origins remain unknown, which only adds to the fascination. Qasr al-Abd is usually described as a large Hellenistic palace from the first quarter of the second century BCE. Not too far from here are the ancient caves dating back to roughly the same time period.
The country's largest museum containing some of its most important archaeological artefacts is certainly worth a visit. Exhibits are accompanied by both English- and Arabic-language explanations, making for an informative excursion into the country's ancient and recent past.
The capital's most important historic landmark is an entire area known as the Citadel, perched on top of Amman's highest elevation — the Jabal al-Qal'a hill. Its story dates back to as early as the Bronze Age, with various epochs bringing cultures and peoples who have all left their mark here. The Citadel's two primary attractions are the ancient Temple of Hercules (162-166 AD) and the Ummayad Palace dating back to the 8th century.
An art centre and architectural landmark in its own right, Darat Al Funun contains a frequently updated selection of exhibitions. Its serene setting making for a pleasant excursion, and hillside location affording panoramic city views. Archaeological remains of a 6th century Byzantine church can be observed at the entry.
The downtown, or Al Balad, is one's best bet for finding great bargains in Amman. The area is abundantly dotted with all manner of shops and stores, selling clothing, accessories, intricate jewellery, herbs, and various edibles. Haggling is expected — count on bringing the original price down by at least half, unless the specific locale has a fixed-price policy.
The Centre sets out to support communities of Jordan's 8 natural reserves, protected areas inhabited by families who produce the merchandise sold at the on-site shop. Profits from crafts, jewellery, herbs, and jams (and all other pieces) constitute the communities' incomes. Wild Jordan Centre also houses an esteemed cafe with splendid city panoramas.
The Jordan River Foundatiun Design showroom stocks exquisite home decor pieces, rugs, accessories and Dead Sea cosmetics, along with a plethora of other pieces, all of the highest quality. Prices here are steep for good reason: the foundation supports women and youths from local communities, and all profits made are put towards development projects.
The weekly Souk Jara is an open-air market with food, live music, and an abundance of wares produced predominantly by local craftsmen. It's a weekly affair organised by the Jebal Amman Residents' Association, and profits go to support the community.
This long standing souvenir store's roots go back to late 19th century Palestine, where the owning family first established a shop. It's packed to capacity with ceramics, jewellery, lamps, and all manner of tinkles born to make excellent gifts; a trip out of downtown to come here is certainly in order.
Trinitae's cosmetics offering extends beyond soaps to include a few other skincare products, all made with organic local ingredients, from plants and oils to salts of the Dead Sea. It's a heaven of luxurious organic goods of the highest quality. Gift sets are available.
The downtown, or Al Balad, is one's best bet for finding great bargains in Amman. The area is abundantly dotted with all manner of shops and stores, selling clothing, accessories, intricate jewellery, herbs, and various edibles. Haggling is expected — count on bringing the original price down by at least half, unless the specific locale has a fixed-price policy.
The Centre sets out to support communities of Jordan's 8 natural reserves, protected areas inhabited by families who produce the merchandise sold at the on-site shop. Profits from crafts, jewellery, herbs, and jams (and all other pieces) constitute the communities' incomes. Wild Jordan Centre also houses an esteemed cafe with splendid city panoramas.
The Queen Alia International Airport is Jordan's primary international air hub. Passengers can take the Airport Express Bus connecting the airport to Tabarbour Bus Station via the Seventh Circle. These buses run every half hour from 6am to 6pm and every hour from 6pm to midnight. Journey time is normally somewhere between 45 and 60 minutes. Taxis operate on a 24/7 basis and may be easily hired at the airport. Fares are fixed and current prices displayed at the taxi park. Car hire is also available at the airport.
Nationals of most countries are eligible for a single-entry visa upon arrival. The visa process is normally quick and uncomplicated, with no paperwork involved. The upon-arrival visas are not issued at King Hussein Bridge or Wadi Araba land border crossing points. Having Israeli border crossing stamps can possibly complicate coming into or leaving Jordan. The Jordan Pass is recognised universally, and entitles the holder to a waiving of the visa fee. For multiple-entry visas, travellers will need to apply in advance prior to travel. Consult the link below to find out whether a visa is required for you.
The summer months of July and August tend to get quite hot and heavy, so if avoiding extreme heat is something you're interested in, we recommend planning your visit for some time during the spring (March to May) or autumn (October to November).
The public transportation system of Amman comprises buses, minibuses, and service taxis. The service taxis are the most efficient means of transportation of the three; they stick to fixed routes (and are therefore numbered) and only run within the city. There is a fixed ride price regardless of journey duration. There often aren't clear indications of stops, but these tend to be located at the bottoms of hills. Lines may form during rush hour.
There are plenty of yellow cabs circulating around the city. You can easily flag them down, and they are generally inexpensive. That said, it is important that you take note of the cab meter being reset and functioning when you get in. There have been reports of drivers trying to avoid turning the meter on for reasons of heavy traffic or bad weather, so do insist the meter be used regardless of any possible circumstance. Uber is widely used in Amman, and so is its Middle Eastern counterpart Careem.
Pharmacy One is a drug store chain with several branches across the city, which all operate on a round-the-clock basis. Drug Center Pharmacy is also well-reputed.
There are several post offices across the city, but stamps can be bought at most souvenir shops without the need to locate one. For shipping valuables, using a private postage service like DHL or FedEx is recommended.
Country code: +962 Area code: 6
The Queen Alia International Airport is Jordan's primary international air hub. Passengers can take the Airport Express Bus connecting the airport to Tabarbour Bus Station via the Seventh Circle. These buses run every half hour from 6am to 6pm and every hour from 6pm to midnight. Journey time is normally somewhere between 45 and 60 minutes. Taxis operate on a 24/7 basis and may be easily hired at the airport. Fares are fixed and current prices displayed at the taxi park. Car hire is also available at the airport.
Nationals of most countries are eligible for a single-entry visa upon arrival. The visa process is normally quick and uncomplicated, with no paperwork involved. The upon-arrival visas are not issued at King Hussein Bridge or Wadi Araba land border crossing points. Having Israeli border crossing stamps can possibly complicate coming into or leaving Jordan. The Jordan Pass is recognised universally, and entitles the holder to a waiving of the visa fee. For multiple-entry visas, travellers will need to apply in advance prior to travel. Consult the link below to find out whether a visa is required for you.
