Amman Citadel
The hilltop heart of ancient Amman, with the columns of the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace complex and a Byzantine church, plus the best free view over the city.
Jordan
Amman
Amman is Jordan’s capital, a hillside city of white limestone houses that climbs over a series of jabals, or hills, with Roman and Umayyad ruins at its heart.
The Citadel sits on the highest of them, with the columns of the Temple of Hercules and the domed Umayyad Palace looking down on the Roman Theatre, which still seats about six thousand. Below lies Downtown, or Al Balad, where souks, sweet shops and hummus counters have changed little in decades, and up the slope runs Rainbow Street, the city’s café and gallery strip. Newer Amman is on show at Abdali, where the blue-domed King Abdullah I Mosque stands beside glass towers, and at the Jordan Museum, home to some of the oldest human statues ever found. Amman is also the easiest base in the country for day trips: the Roman city of Jerash is under an hour north, the Dead Sea about an hour west, Madaba’s mosaics and Mount Nebo within an hour south, and Wadi Rum and Petra a long half day away. This guide shows you which sights to prioritize, how to eat your way through the city, which day trips are worth the time and where to stay, from a Four Seasons on the Fifth Circle to a simple, central hotel in Abdali.
Don't miss
Amman Citadel
The hilltop heart of ancient Amman, with the columns of the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace complex and a Byzantine church, plus the best free view over the city.
Amman Food Tour from Rainbow Street
A three-hour guided evening walk that starts on Rainbow Street and eats its way through Amman, with dinner included. The most efficient way to taste the city.
Jerash Roman City Half-Day Trip from Amman
A half-day guided trip from Amman to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities anywhere, with its colonnaded street, oval plaza and hippodrome.
Roman Theatre
A second-century Roman theatre carved into the hillside, seating about six thousand and still used for performances, with two small museums in its wings.
Things to do in Amman
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Roman Theatre
A second-century Roman theatre carved into the hillside, seating about six thousand and still used for performances, with two small museums in its wings.
The Jordan Museum
Jordan’s national museum, the best single place to see the country’s story from the Stone Age to the Islamic period, including the Ain Ghazal statues and Dead Sea Scrolls material.
FreeKing Abdullah I Mosque
Amman’s blue-domed landmark in the Abdali district, one of the few mosques in Jordan that welcomes non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times.
30 to 45 minutesDetails →
Downtown Amman Souks (Al Balad)
Amman’s old commercial heart: the Souq Al-Sukar produce market, spice and sweet shops, the Grand Husseini Mosque and the city’s most famous hummus counters, all on foot.
2 to 3 hoursDetails →
Amman Food Tour from Rainbow Street
A three-hour guided evening walk that starts on Rainbow Street and eats its way through Amman, with dinner included. The most efficient way to taste the city.
Jerash Roman City Half-Day Trip from Amman
A half-day guided trip from Amman to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman provincial cities anywhere, with its colonnaded street, oval plaza and hippodrome.
Dead Sea Half-Day Trip from Amman
A private half-day trip with hotel pickup to the lowest land on Earth for a float in the salt water, with the resort or beach of your choice.
Madaba and Mount Nebo Day Trip from Amman
Byzantine mosaics in Madaba, including the famous floor map of the Holy Land, and the hilltop where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land. An easy half day south of Amman.
Wadi Rum Desert Safari with Overnight Camp
A jeep safari through Wadi Rum’s red sands and rock arches, with a full meal, sandboarding and an overnight desert camp. A long way from Amman, but the one that people remember.
Little Petra and Petra Day Trip from Amman
A full-day small-group trip from Amman that covers the long drive south and combines Petra with Little Petra. The only realistic way to see Petra if you are based in the capital.
FreeRainbow Street
Amman’s café-and-gallery strip on Jabal Amman, a long, sloping street of old stone houses, rooftop terraces, a small art-house cinema and, in summer, a Friday market.
1 to 2 hoursDetails →
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Four Seasons Hotel Amman
Fifth Circle, Abdoun
The city’s top-end address, on the Fifth Circle in Abdoun, with a French brasserie, a Dead Sea-inspired spa, indoor and outdoor pools and suites with sweeping views.
Check rates →W Amman
Al Abdali
A design-forward hotel in Abdali, a minute from Abdali Boulevard and a short walk from the King Abdullah I Mosque, with a rooftop bar, a spa and pan-Asian dining.
Check rates →The House Boutique Suites
Jabal Amman
A boutique suite hotel in Jabal Amman, a short walk from Rainbow Street, with free breakfast, a seasonal rooftop pool and a minute-by-taxi hop to the Citadel.
Check rates →Le Royal Hotel Amman
Third Circle, Jabal Amman
A large, established five-star hotel at Zahran Street near the Third Circle, with indoor and seasonal outdoor pools, a spa, three restaurants and a rooftop terrace.
Check rates →Toledo Hotel
Abdali
A good-value hotel in Abdali with an indoor pool, free parking and a ten-minute walk to the King Abdullah I Mosque. The budget pick for central Amman.
Check rates →Fairmont Amman
Fifth Circle, Zahran
A large, polished five-star on the Fifth Circle with seven restaurants, a spa and health club, a seasonal outdoor pool and a well-reviewed, service-led reputation.
Check rates →Sheraton Amman Al Nabil Hotel
Fifth Circle
A white-stone landmark hotel on a hill at the Fifth Circle, with indoor and seasonal outdoor pools, a full spa with sauna and steam room, and several restaurants.
Check rates →Amman guides
First-Timer’s Guide to Amman: What to Book, How Long and Which Day Trips
How to plan a first trip to Amman: what to book ahead, how to get around, how many days to give the city and its day trips, and how the Citadel, souks and Jerash fit together.
Where to Stay in Amman: Abdoun, Abdali or Jabal Amman
How to choose your base in Amman, from a luxury hotel in Abdoun to a lively Abdali tower, a boutique near Rainbow Street and a value hotel with an indoor pool.
Amman in Three Days: A Practical Itinerary
A three-day plan for Amman that puts the Citadel, Roman Theatre and souks first, adds art, museums and Rainbow Street, and finishes with a Jerash or Dead Sea day trip.
Eating and Drinking in Amman: Dishes, Streets and Where to Start
A guide to eating in Amman: breakfast of hummus and fuul, falafel and kunafeh in Downtown, mansaf and other classics, coffee and tea, Rainbow Street and a food tour.
Day Trips from Amman: Jerash, the Dead Sea, Madaba, Petra and More
How to choose and plan day trips from Amman: Jerash, the Dead Sea, Madaba and Mount Nebo, the Baptism Site, Wadi Mujib, Petra and Wadi Rum, with timings and tips.
Best Time to Visit Amman: Seasons, Weather and Festivals
When to visit Amman: spring and autumn for comfort, summer for markets and the Dead Sea, winter for cool, quiet sightseeing, with notes on Ramadan, site hours and packing.
