🇯🇴 Jordan

10 best places in Amman

Amman spreads across seven hills: below sits a Roman theatre and the old souk, above it the trendy cafés of Rainbow Street and white-stone villas looking out over the whole city.

Sight

Amman Citadel (Jabal al-Qal'a)

A hilltop site with the ruins of a Roman Temple of Hercules and an Umayyad palace, offering the city's best panorama.

Sight

Roman Theatre

A remarkably intact 2nd-century amphitheatre seating 6,000, sitting right in the heart of modern downtown.

Museum

The Jordan Museum

The country's flagship museum, home to finds from Petra, Jerash and copies of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Sight

King Abdullah I Mosque

A mosque with a striking blue mosaic dome, one of the few in Amman open to non-Muslim visitors.

District

Rainbow Street

A bohemian street of galleries, rooftop bars and the city's best spot for an evening stroll.

Market

Souk Jara

A summer Saturday market for crafts, antiques and street food along Rainbow Street.

District

Downtown Amman (Al Balad)

The old commercial core, packed with spice shops, gold souks and Habibah, the famed knafeh bakery.

Café

Wild Jordan Center

A terraced café built into the hillside above Downtown with one of the best sunset views in the city.

Restaurant

Sufra

A Jordanian restaurant in a historic Rainbow Street mansion, known for its classic mansaf.

Museum

Darat al Funun

A contemporary Arab art centre set in a cluster of old villas with gardens and Roman ruins tucked inside.

FAQ

How many days do you need in Amman?

Two days cover the Citadel, the Roman Theatre, the Jordan Museum, King Abdullah I Mosque and an evening on Rainbow Street. After that the city works as a base: Jerash, the Dead Sea and the desert castles are all day trips. Petra and Wadi Rum deserve days of their own.

When is the best time to visit Amman?

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are ideal: warm days, cool evenings. Summer is hot but dry, which is easier than the coast. Winter can genuinely be cold and it does snow, since the city sits on hills at around 800 metres.

Is Jordan expensive?

More than most people expect. Hotels, car hire and entrance fees add up, and Petra is one of the priciest sites in the world. Street food, falafel and local transport, on the other hand, cost very little. The Jordan Pass, bought before you travel, usually pays for itself and covers the visa fee if you meet its conditions.

Can you move to Jordan?

The usual routes are employer-sponsored work, running a business or investing, and there is an investor citizenship scheme with demanding conditions. The country is stable, English is common in business, and healthcare is strong by regional standards. Decent housing in Amman is expensive, and immigration rules do change, so confirm current terms before making plans.