Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a fascinating city of contrasts – a unique blend of old and new, situated on a hilly area between the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley. In the commercial heart of the city, ultra-modern buildings, hotels, restaurants, art galleries and boutiques rub shoulders comfortably with traditional coffee shops and tiny artisan workshops. Amman’s neighborhoods are diverse and range in cultural and historical context from the hustle and bustle of the downtown markets, to the art galleries of Jabal Al Lweibdeh and the modern shopping district of Abdali.

The Citadel

If a journey through history is what you’re looking for then the best place to start would be the Citadel. Located on a hill it gives visitors a glimpse into the evolution of Amman and provides stunning views of downtown Amman. Among the sites you can’t afford to miss at the Citadel are the Umayyad Palace complex, the Temple of Hercules and the Byzantine Church.

Nymphaeum

Built in 191 AD, it was once a large two-story complex with fountains, mosaics, stone carvings and possibly a 600 square meter swimming pool.

The Roman Theatre

The restored Roman Theatre, which dates back to the 2nd century AD is built into three sides of the hillside, it seats around 6000 people and is still used for performances today.

Souq Jara

This summer street market in Jabal Amman is open on Fridays and includes stalls selling local wares, pop-up cafes, street food and live performances from local bands and musicians. If you’re in Amman during the summer, you can’t miss out on this family friendly activity!

Hijaz Railway Station

View the great collection of working steam locomotives, formerly used for as part of a pilgrimage route connecting the Ottoman Empire to Saudi Arabia and an intrinsic part of the Great Arab Revolt in 1918. For more of an in-depth look at the history of the station make sure to visit the onsite museum.

Darat al-Funun

Jordanian, Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese families built the houses that form Darat al Funun. They are a living memory of the history of Jordan and the shared history of the Bilad al Sham. Darat al Funun today is an oasis for the arts overlooking the crowded downtown area of the old city of Amman. Along with visiting the Darat’s contemporary art exhibitions, many come to admire Amman’s traditional architecture, attend events in the archaeological site, read a book in their art library, or take a walk in the gardens.

Dar al-Anda

Nestled at the cusp of ancient and contemporary history is a sanctuary of the senses that is Dar Al-Anda. The name is an authentically Arabic one. It best translates into “home of the giving“and therefore exemplifies what they stand for. Dar Al-Anda aims to enrich the lives of their patrons, employees and community by giving them the opportunity to experience art in all of its forms, thereby provoking thought and discourse.

King Hussein bin Talal Mosque

The King Hussein Bin Talal Mosque, named after the late King, is the largest mosque in the Kingdom. Its architecture reflects the Umayyad style prevalent in several sites in Jordan.

Grand Husseini Mosque

The mosque was built by the late King Abdullah I in 1924 on the site of a much older mosque. It’s conveniently located downtown near the traditional souqs and street food vendors.

King Abdullah I Mosque

Built as a memorial by the Late King Hussein to his grandfather, the unmistakable blue-domed mosque can ost up to 7000 worshippers inside and another 3000 in the courtyard area.

Rainbow Street

Rainbow Street is one of the oldest streets in Amman and has become a hub for local and international visitors. Lined with cafes, restaurants and a few art galleries sprinkled here and there the street is a must visit location in Amman for shopping, a night out or a simple meal.

Iraq al-amir

Located southwest of Amman, Iraq Al-Amir is famous for its olive trees and hillside caves that date back to the copper age. Also worth visiting while in the area is Qasr El-Abd on of the very few examples of pre-Roman architecture in Jordan, dated back to the 2nd century BC.

Jadal

Jadal is located on Al-Kalha, one of the oldest staircases in Amman, in a house that dates back to 1933. It connects Downtown, the heart of Amman, and Jabal Al-Weibdeh, an area full of ambitious cultural projects and artistic initiatives. The project is a private non-profit initiative, providing an area in which cultural and intellectual activities are pursued in an attempt to create and share progressive societal concepts, cultures, and values.

Downtown Markets – Souq al-Sukar

Walk through this beautiful and busy downtown fruit and vegetable market where locals shop for their fresh produce.

The Jordan Museum

The Jordan Museum is located in the dynamic new downtown area of Ras al-‘Ayn. Presenting the history and cultural heritage of Jordan in a series of beautifully designed galleries, The Jordan Museum serves as a comprehensive national center for learning and knowledge that reflects Jordan’s history and culture, and presents in an engaging yet educational way the Kingdom’s historic, antique and heritage property as part of the ongoing story of Jordan’s past, present, and future.

National Gallery of Fine Arts

The National Gallery of Fine Arts is one of the most important art museums in Jordan, because it is containing some of the most important art collections from 60 countries with a highlight on local and regional artists. The museum's collection comprises of over a thousand pieces of art.

Royal Automobile Museum

The Royal Automobile Museum was founded in 2003 under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II. The Royal Automobile Museum showcases an important part of Jordan's political history from an interesting perspective. The exhibits also reflect the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan through cars from the reign of King Abdullah I to the reign of King Abdullah II. More recently, it has included many non-Jordanian vehicles and bikes, such as a 19th-century bike, a Bugatti and other rare vehicles. One of the most important items of the museum is the Lincoln Cabri convertible, 1952 model, which was used by late King Hussein Bin Talal during his studies in England, and also during his crowning ceremony in May 1953.

The Children’s Museum

The Children’s Museum is a non-profit educational institution launched by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdallah in 2007. The Museum is spread over 8000 m2 of more than over 180 indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits and educational facilities, such as the Library, Art Studio, Tinker Lab and Secret Garden, along with year-round educational programs, events and shows. Since its opening, the Children’s Museum Jordan has received more than 2.5 million visitors.

The Jordan Archeological Museum

Situated at the top of the Amman Citadel, the museum was built in 1951 to display the richness of archaeological sites from various artifacts discovered during excavations throughout Jordan. The museum was designed to rely on natural lighting (sunlight) through the windows on the top of the building and on electric lamps on the walls of the museum and above the cupboards so as not to shed light on the artifacts directly and damage them.

Nabad Art Gallery

A contemporary art gallery based in Amman, Jordan, Nabad has been exhibiting and providing artworks by emerging and established artists from Jordan since 2008. In addition to seeking to promote Jordanian art, Nabad also showcases a number of artists from the wider Arab world and beyond, with a view to cultivating intercultural dialogue among artists and with the public.

Folklore Museum

First opened way back in 1971, The Folklore Museum of Costume and Fashion was established in the eastern part of the Roman Theatre in Amman, with the aim of collecting Jordanian and Palestinian folklore from all parts of Jordan to protect and preserve for future generations. The museum also aims to showcase our popular heritage and present it to the whole world.

Hashem Restaurant

Hashem Restaurant is one of the oldest restaurants in the country and is famous for its Hummus and Falafel. The restaurant has managed to maintain its standards for over forty years and there isn’t a single person in Amman who isn’t familiar with the location. Its downtown branch is usually full of visitors at any time of the day. The beauty of Hashem Restaurant is that locals and foreigners frequent this famous establishment.

Habiba Sweets

Habiba is one the most famous places that serves Knafeh. It is considered a complimentary dessert to the hummus and falafel dishes at Hashem Restaurant nearby. The place is always packed full of people who stand in line waiting to get their share of the delicious ‘Nabulsi Kanafeh’. The dessert can be eaten in the courtyard near the restaurant or pre-ordered for large events and gatherings.

Beit Sitti

Beit Sitti offers a special cooking experience where tourists and locals can learn how to prepare a traditional Arabic meal side by side by attending unique training courses which can last for several hours. Once enrolled, you get to prepare one meal along with several appetizers and sweets which you can eventually share with other visitors.

(Source: Jordan Tourism Board)