Amman
Amman, the vibrant capital of Jordan, seamlessly blends ancient history with modern life. Explore Roman ruins like the Citadel and Amphitheater, then wander through bustling markets and local cafes. Known for its warm hospitality, Amman offers a rich cultural experience, making it an essential stop on any Jordanian journey.
The international airport is located in Amman, so this will probably be the start of your journey.
Here are some travel times of the highlights in Jordan:
Amman → Wadi Mujib/Death Sea = 1 hour, 80 km
Amman → Wadi Rum = 4 hours, 320 km
Amman → Petra = 3 hours, 232 km
Amman → Aqaba = 4 hour, 335 km
If it is your first time in the Middle East, Amman is the perfect place to start. The mix of the Middle East and the West is unique here!
Amman Citdal
Amman Citadel is located in the center of the city and is situated at one one of the many hills around. The site dates back to the Bronze Age and houses a 1700 meter long wall and the iconic Temple of Hercules.
The views are amazing, especially the time around sunset! The farther the sun goes down, the more pink the city becomes.
The Entrance to the citadel is 2 JD or when you have a Jordan Pass, it’s free.
Hashemite Plaza with the Roman Theatre
In the shadow of the Citadel of Amman lies Hashemite Plaza with the Roman Theatre, located at Hashemite Plaza.
The Roman Theatre was built between 138CE and 161CE, during the reign of Roman emperor Antoninus Pius. The centrepiece of the city, it was designed to be northerly oriented, to keep the sun off spectators, and could seat up to 6,000 people.
Restoration started in 1957 and the arena has become a popular place to keep concerts, festivals and local events.
Income is free with the Jordan Pass, 2 JD without.
Here is some more info about the different shopping streets and neighbourhoods in the city center:
Prince Mohammad Street
In the heart of the city lies the Prince Mohammad Street. At both sides you will see small allays with stairs, connecting streets with a short cut! On one side you can go up to Paris Square, located in the Jabal Al Lweibdeh neighbourhood. I call it the Paris Square area, a little bit easier to remember!
This area is nothing like the rest of Amman. You will see many trendy bars, restaurants and coffee bars. Italian food, Chinese, Japanese, luxury restaurants but also fries and Kebab. It’s all there! There are many cosy places to have good food. Perfect place to wander around for dinner.
The best coffee / breakfast place in Amman is at Rumi Cafe. Oliva is one of the restaurants I can highly recommend for a good pizza or pasta.
Rainbow Street
Located on the other side of the Prince Muhammad Street, Rainbow Street is a similar neigbourhood as Jabal Al Lweibdeh, definitely worth a visit. The streets have a lot of street art and many partas of the street are decorated!
Places I can recommend are Old View and Books@Cafe. Old view didn’t steal its name and has one of the prettiest views over the city! Enjoy some food and the view over Amman!
A little bit farther down you can go have a beer at Books@Cafe, one of the few places where you can find alcohol in the city.
Quraysh Street
Quraysh Street is one of the busiest streets in the old city center (traffic wise) with shops on both sides of the street. The shops, called soeks, are recognisable with their pointy arches. It is the perfect place to wander around during the day and check out some local shops and buy some local dishes.
Make sure to check out the little food market, located in the little streets between the Roman Nymphaeum Amman and the Grand Husseini Mosque.
Prince Muhammad Street
Main street full of shops, restaurants and bars.
Hashem Restaurant
You will find this restaurant in every travelbook, blog or cityguide. You haven’t tried falafel until you’ve eaten here. This restaurant is more than 50 years old and is super popular with locals and tourists. The alley is part of the restaurant, making it a spacious indoor and ‘outdoor’ seating. No need to order, they will just bring you a lot of food, not costing more than 3 JD per person!
Where to stay?
Carob Hostel
Brand new, very good beds and an amazing outdoor sitting area. Plenty of room to hang out, great view over the city and great breakfast!
Walking distance to the center is 5 minutes.
