Amman is the capital and largest city of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with a population of more than four million.
Amman is the capital and largest city of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with a population of more than four million.
Amman forms a great base for exploring not just Jordan, but the wider region as well and does, despite popular belief, offer much that is of interest to the traveller. The city is generally reasonably well-organized, enjoys great weather for much of the year and the people are very friendly.
Although Amman can be difficult to penetrate at first sight, the city holds many surprises for the visitor. Visit Amman's Roman Amphitheatre, its many art galleries or the newly opened Jordan Museum, while an afternoon away on a chic cafe terrace, take a course in the University of Jordan or stay in luxurious hotels and dine on the region's varied and delicious cuisine. Modern shopping malls are increasingly abundant in Jordan but open air souqs are what many travellers will remember most.
Amman is experiencing a massive change from a quiet sleepy village to a bustling metropolis, some of whose neighbourhoods seem hell-bent on wanting to imitate Dubai. Amman's roads have a reputation of being very steep and narrow in some of parts of the city but the city has state of the art highways and paved avenues. The steep terrain and heavy traffic remains challenging for pedestrians and for the rare cyclist. New resorts and hotels dot the city and there are many things for the traveller to see and do in and around Amman.
10:00am-10:30am : Artisana Jordan Arts and Crafts Center
Artisana is the house of traditional and modernized Jordanian handcrafts. The real "Made in Jordan" masterpieces that promote the beautiful heritage of this Holy Land. Welcomed into a cradle of art, Gallery 14 promotes modern and contemporary Jordanian artists who have emerged to reflect their love of painting and drawing in various artistic styles.
11:00am-12:00pm : Rainbow Street
A vibrant thoroughfare running through the historic district of the city, Rainbow Street lets you eat, drink, and shop at your own pace. Known for its slow-moving traffic, this area is ideal for leisurely tours on foot. During the day, indulge in souvenir shopping at numerous stores and the occasional artisan market. At night, find bars and upscale music venues in which to while away the hours.
12:30pm-2:30pm : The Citadel
Dating back to the Neolithic period, The Citadel shows archaeological evidence of use and occupation by numerous fallen empires. Roman, Byzantine, and Umayyad ruins dot the site, located in the middle of downtown Amman. Highlights include a temple to Hercules, with remains of a massive statue of the god and a domed Umayyad palace. Visit the museum on premises to learn more about the site's history, and take photos to your heart's content among the varied and imposing ruins.
3:00pm-5:30pm : Al Balad – Downtown Amman
10:30am-1:00pm : The Church of Saint George
1:00pm-2:00pm : Madaba Mosaic Map
The oldest known depiction of the Holy Land, Madaba Mosaic Map lets you see sacred lands from Egypt to Lebanon from a centuries-old perspective. Housed within an early Byzantine church, the map dates back to the 6th century and provides the earliest accurate depiction of the Middle East, focusing on Jerusalem. Look over this carefully excavated mosaic, with millions of colorful stones depicting an ancient landscape of Biblical locations, events, and regions that predate modern cartography. Drop by the gift shop to pick up a few mementos of your visit.
2:30pm-3:30pm : Mount Nebo
Join thousands of religious pilgrims and curious visitors at Mount Nebo, a 1,000 m (3,300 ft) ascent from which many believe the prophet Moses first saw the "Promised Land." Because of its mention in the Hebrew Bible, a chapel was built there in the 4th century CE and later expanded into a basilica. Today, the Franciscan order oversees the mountain, where they operate a monastery and archaeological center. While there, tour the memorial church devoted to Moses and the ancient Byzantine mosaics unearthed and preserved there.
3:30pm-5:00pm : Memorial Church of Moses
10:00am-12:00pm : The Jordan Museum
Discover the country’s rich history and heritage at The Jordan Museum, which boasts an extensive collection of artifacts and relics. The spacious building was completed in 2014, replacing the old archaeological museum. As you wander the galleries, you can admire chronologically sorted displays from Jordan’s past, from bones of animals more than a million years old, to exhibits on the country’s history in the last few centuries. See some of the oldest statues in the world, dating back more than 9,000 years, and admire one of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
12:30pm-1:00pm : TIRAZ Widad Kawar Home for Arab Dress
1:30pm-3:00pm : Royal Automobile Museum
Reflecting on the life and times of the late King Hussein, Royal Automobile Museum houses his personal collection of cars and motorcycles, along with numerous historical vehicles. The museum preserves the king's vast collection of over 70 20th-century vehicles, including some of the first royal motor cars used in the Middle East. Presenting Jordanian history through the lens of its vehicles, the gallery displays Cadillacs, Buicks, Harley-Davidsons, and replicas of some of the world's first car models. As of 2015, the museum also houses a model of the Mars rover, gifted to them by the makers of the film "The Martian," filmed largely in Jordan. Check the website for the museum's opening days and hours.
3:30pm-6:00pm : King Hussein Bin Talal Mosque
10:00am-10:30am : Abu Jaber Museum
11:30am-3:30pm : Dead Sea
One of the world's more unusual bodies of water, Dead Sea sits at one of the lowest elevations on Earth. Rich in salt and in history, the lake is nearly ten times saltier than any ocean. Feel the peculiar sensation of floating in water some 428 m (1,404 ft) below sea level, just as Queen Cleopatra did in the 1st century BCE. Surrounded by dozens of resorts with both private and public beaches, the sea remains a favorite destination for taking dips in the mineral-rich waters, framed by the Judean desert and mountains.
4:30pm-5:30pm : St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church
Visit St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, a Catholic church built in the early 20th century on an ancient archaeological site. Admire the facade of the church, made from antique stones from a local house, adorned with Corinthian and Roman columns. If you descend down to the church’s vault, you can admire a functioning Moab-era well, more than 3,000 years old. Step into the chapel to see the visitor center and its display of art and relics, or climb to the top of the bell tower for extensive views over Madaba.
10:30am-1:00pm : The Archeological Park
1:30pm-4:30pm : Jerash Ruins
Continuously occupied for more than 6,500 years, Jerash Ruins presents one of the best examples of ancient Roman provincial town planning. Neolithic remains found on site indicate millennia of inhabitants even before General Pompey captured the city in 63 BCE and initiated the development of a Roman city. The ruins are well-preserved because the city was buried under sand for centuries before their rediscovery in 1806. Be prepared with water and comfortable shoes to spend a lot of time walking in order to see the ruins of the theater, forum, temples, and bathhouses, among many other structures.
5:00pm-5:30pm : Hippodrome
10:00am-2:30pm : Walking tours
3:00pm-5:30pm : King Abdullah Mosque
Pay a visit to King Abdullah Mosque, a landmark of Amman hailed for its grandiose blue dome. Open since 1989, the mosque was built by King Hussein, who dedicated and named it after his grandfather, the first King of Jordan. Non-Muslims are welcome to enter the mosque, admire its lavishly decorated interior, or visit the museum within to see King Abdullah’s collection of personal items, as well as a display of ancient pottery and coins.
10:00am-2:00pm : Black Iris Adventure's
2:30pm-4:30pm : Roman Amphitheater
Dating back to the second century, Roman Amphitheater speaks to the period of Roman rule over Amman, when the city was known as Philadelphia. The construction of the 6,000-seat amphitheater into the hillside at a steep angle kept the sun off spectators and created excellent acoustics, which enabled audience members even at the top seat to hear people in the arena. Today the space, which is located in the heart of downtown, is open to the public and hosts large cultural festivals. Visit the small museum on premises for more information on the site's construction and history.
5:00pm-5:30pm : The Duke's Diwan
The Duke's Diwan is an arts and cultural center and historic house museum. Located on King Faisal Street in downtown Amman, it is housed in one of the city's oldest buildings. Built in 1924 as Amman's first post office, the building later became the Finance Ministry, and then the Haifa Hotel from 1948 to 1998. In 2001, it was rented by Mamdouh Bisharat, a Jordanian heritage conservationist and businessman, at double its price to prevent the building's owners from knocking it down. Bisharat turned the building into a Diwan, a gathering place for artists, thinkers, and poets. The rooms of the Diwan, filled with antiquities, pictures, and old furniture, are arranged to show visitors how Jordanians lived during the 20th century.
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