Book a Flight to Amman from €79

Roman Amphitheatre: Built in the 2nd century on the northern side of a hill, and now superbly restored, this impressive Roman theatre, seating 6,000 spectators, is the most impressive structure to have survived from ancient Philadelphia. At sunset there are magical views of the city from the upper tier. In summer the theatre is the venue for a variety of cultural events.
Address: Al-Hashami Street, Amman

Jabal al-Qala’a: The Citadel is to be found on the highest of Amman’s seven hills and dates from the Bronze Age. Despite the ravages of time there are still remarkable traces to be seen of the various civilizations which have settled here. Among them, the vast and impressive Umayyad Palace (8th century) and the Roman Temple of Hercules. 
Address: King Ali Bin Al-Hussein, Amman

Al-Husseini Mosque: This impressive mosque of pink stone, built in the Ottoman style, rises above the heart of downtown Amman. Built in 1924 by King Abdullah, on the site of an ancient temple (640 AD), its courtyard is now one of the most popular meeting places for local people, sipping juices sold by the vendors who set up their stalls here.
Address: Al Shaeb, Amman

Museum of Popular Traditions: A small but important museum, which brings alive the traditions and customs of Jordan through various exhibits: traditional costumes, jewellery, embroidery and ceramics, as well as an exceptional collection of 6th century mosaics from Byzantine churches in Jerash and Madaba.
Address: Roman Theatre complex, Al Hashimi

Jordan Museum: This is the new home of the National Archaeological Museum, an ultra-modern and very attractive building next to City Hall. Its important collection tells the epic history of Jordan, from the civilization of the Nabateans to the present day. Among other things a visitor can admire priceless treasures such as the oldest human statues in the world, the famous Ain Ghazal (6500 BC), and manuscripts from the Dead Sea, written on parchment and papyrus.
Address: Omar Matar St., Amman, jordanmuseum.jo

Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts: This impressive gallery’s collection features more than 2,000 works of contemporary art, by artists from 59 countries in the Arab and Muslim worlds. Prepare to marvel at superb paintings, works of sculpture and ceramics, typography and photography, the work of no fewer than 800 artists, with the emphasis on Asia and Africa. The Gallery’s stylish bar is a favourite meeting place for the city’s artistic elite.
Address: Hosni Fareez St., Amman, www.nationalgallery.org

Nymphaeum: A number of columns and a fine arch are the only features so far recovered in the excavation of the city’s Roman Nymphaeum (191 AD). Scholars believe that the two-storey sanctuary complex was surrounded by fountains, mosaics, stone sculptures and a huge pool containing 600m3 of fresh water.
Address: Quraysh St., Amman

Royal Automobile Museum: This delightful museum features more than 70 classic cars and motorcycles from the private collection of King Hussein (1956-1999), father of the current King of Jordan Abdullah II, a great motor car enthusiast. These fabulously expensive models date from the 1920s and include Mercedes, Rolls Royces, Ferraris and Aston Martins, as well as military motorcycles from the 2nd World War.
Address: King Hussein Park, Umm As-Summaq, Amman, www.royalautomuseum.jo

Darat al Funun: This superb visual arts centre is housed in a magnificent complex of three white villas, formerly the home of the Commander of the Arab Legion, Frederick Peake. The gardens are among the most beautiful in Amman, while the interior is home to a small contemporary art gallery featuring works by Jordanian and Arab artists, as well as a library and sculpture and painting workshops.
Address: Nadeem al Mallah St. 13, Amman, www.daratalfunun.org

Hejaz Railway Station: Famous from the adventures of Lawrence of Arabia, and a remnant of Jordan’s colonial past, this historic railway station is now home to a collection of vintage trains from the period, and also has steam trains which tourists can ride. In the small train museum nearby you can actually sit in the exquisitely decorated royal carriage.
Address: Madina Al Munawarah Street, Mahatta, Amman

The bustling centre of the old city (Balad), with its labyrinth of narrow streets and innumerable little shops, is the first port of call for any visitor seeking authentic souvenirs of the city. Everything can be found here, from clothes and spices to souvenirs and all sorts of household items. Of particular interest are the traditional copper teapots, with the characteristic carved spout and exquisite etching.
The pedestrianized Wakalat Street, in the Sweifieh district, is the ideal place if you’re looking for expensive international labels, or just a relaxed stroll away from the chaos of the city traffic. Also ideal is the new, pedestrians-only Abdali Boulevard. The popular, stone-paved Rainbow Street offers an eclectic range of boutiques stocking clothes and household goods, small antique shops, cafes, bars and tea shops with hookahs.

The busiest of Amman’s street markets is the gigantic weekly Abdali Market. An excellent place to find second-hand clothes and shoes at bargain prices, as well as local foods, including excellent olive oil. If you’re shopping for jewellery, make sure you visit the famous Gold Souk, consisting of stalls featuring creations in gold, stretching as far as the eye can see. For western-style shopping, Amman’s biggest mall, selling all the best-known international brands, is the City Mall, while the more recent TAJ Mall is more expensive and opulent.

Amman has excellent restaurants serving Jordanian food (a mix of Arab and Mediterranean cuisine), whatever your budget, as well as dishes from the Middle East, Lebanon, Syria, and even Egypt and Iraq. The best places to eat are downtown, where the famous street food is also to be found, with thousands of stalls serving incredible varieties of kebabs or falafel sandwiches. You must without fail sample mansaf, (the Jordanian national dish – rice with lamb and almonds, served with warm yoghurt), shawarma (a variety of kebab), falafel, hummus, kebabs and, of course, Arab pita bread. Try the arak or one of the local beers, and finish off your meal with a rich Oriental sweet like baklava or kanafeh.

Sample the nightlife of the city at one of the innumerable bars, nightclubs or lounge bars. For something more relaxing, head for one of the hookah bars. The centre of Amman nightlife is in the western part of the city, in the Jabal Amman district and on Rainbow Street.

• Al Balad Music Festival: Every year for a week in June the superb Roman theatre of Amman echoes to the sounds of Arab music. Soloists and ensembles of musicians, with contemporary bands from Jordan and Lebanon, Egypt and Algeria, all creating a magical festive atmosphere for you to enjoy.
• Amman Jazz Festival: Every April leading jazz musicians from Jordan and farther afield meet in the Jordanian capital for a unique cultural dialogue, celebrating the differences, variety and underlying unity of the world of music. The festival features events in indoor and open-air venues across the city, and the programme takes in a wide range of musical genres, from American jazz to European avant-garde, oriental and Latin jazz fusion.
• Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts: One of Jordan’s biggest cultural festivals is held every June-July in the historic city of Jerash, north of Amman. Visitors enjoy superb performances of theatre, music and dance, as well as literary evenings, a food festival and opportunities to buy craft items, while they can also participate in arts seminars and workshops open to the public.
• Jordan Rally: For thirty years now the golden sand dunes of Jordan (to the north of Amman and around the Dead Sea) have been transformed for a weekend into one of the world’s most exciting speed tracks. Some of the best drivers in the world come here to take part in the thrilling races staged each May, which attract spectators from every corner of the earth.

Getting to and from the airport

Aegean Airlines flights land at the Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), which is located at Zizya, 30km south of Amman. The airport’s new, state-of-the-art terminal was designed by the famous architect Norman Foster, and officially opened in 2013. The airport is full of duty-free shops, supermarkets, banks, ATMs, foreign exchange desks, restaurants and cafes, and you will also find a medical centre, pharmacies, a children’s play area and prayer rooms. There is free Wi-Fi in the departures and arrivals areas.

The most convenient and least expensive way to get to the city centre is by the Sariyah shuttle bus, which runs from the airport to the centre of Amman every 30 minutes.