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Amman (Arabic: عمان ʻammān) is the capital and largest city of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (population c. 2.1 million). Amman forms a great base for exploring the country and does, despite popular belief, hold a few items of interest to the traveler. The city is generally well-appointed for the traveller, reasonably well-organized, and the people are very friendly.

Although not seen as much when in the air over Amman, the city holds many surprises for the visitor. Anything can be found in Amman if one asks. Visit Amman's Roman Amphitheatre or stay in a luxurious hotel. Shopping malls are abundant in Jordan. With new construction in Abdali, in a few years the high-end traveller could eat in the most high-end restaurant, stay in a five star hotel or shop in massive malls, all a few metres from one another. Much less is being done to cater to the budget traveller, although urban beautification in the city centre (old town) is cleaning it up and making it more pedestrian-friendly.

Amman is experiencing a massive (some would say: reckless) 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 the underdeveloped parts of the city but now 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. Use Amman as a staging point for travels to nearby cities and settlements in Jordan.

A city built of white stone, Amman's growth has skyrocketed since it was made the capital of Trans-Jordan in the early 1920s, but especially after the 1948 and 1967 wars with Israel when hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees settled there. Another wave arrived after the second Iraq war, with Iraqi refugees forming the majority of newcomers.

Ammonite watchtower

Its history, however, goes back many millennia. The settlement mentioned in the Bible as Rabbath Ammon was the capital of the Ammonites, which later fell to the Assyrians. It was dominated briefly by the Nabataeans before it became a great Roman trade center and was renamed Philadelphia. After the Islamic conquests, Amman became part of the Islamic Empire, until the Ottomans were forced out by the Allies, with the help of the Hashemites, who formed a monarchy that continues to rule until the present.

Today, West Amman is a lively, modern city. The eastern part of the city, where the majority of Amman's residents live, is predominantly the residential area of the working class and is much older than the west. While possessing few sites, Amman makes a comfortable base from which to explore the northwestern parts of the country.

Amman is a very diverse city. Palestinian, Iraqi, Circassian, Armenian,and many other ethnic groups reside in Amman. Amman never stops growing.

Despite the common assertion that most Jordanians understand English, that knowledge is quite limited. Charmingly, the most commonly known English phrase seems to be "Welcome to Jordan". The only non-Arabic language used in signposting is English, and you will find "Tourist Police" near the major monuments. It never hurts to know a few useful phrases and come prepared with a translation book, or to have the names and addresses of places you are going written in Arabic for use with a taxi driver.

Remember if you're travelling during the holy month of Ramadan, it is almost impossible to buy food from sunrise to sundown even for tourists. Big shopping malls like City Mall don't let food stores like McDonald's, Sunset and Starbucks sell food during these hours.

Roman theater in Amman Umayyad Palace Mosque of the people of the Cave

Although the capital of a diverse kingdom, Amman is not what one would call "packed" with things to see, making it a great gateway to explorations further afield. Even so, the city does hold a few items of historical and cultural interest (allow maximum 2 days to see them).

Amman Citadel. A national historic site at the center of downtown Amman. Its history represents significant civilizations that stretched across continents and prospered for centuries, as one empire gave rise to the next. Settlement at the Citadel extends over 7,000 years. 3 JD (free with Jordan Pass).
- Jordan Archaeological Museum. The museum hosts a small but interesting collection of antiquities from all over Jordan. Fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls which used to be housed here are now being transferred to the new National Museum of Jordan (see below).
- Temple of Herakles. Roman period remains.
- Umayyad Palace. In the northern portion of the Citadel, it offers a great view of Amman.
- Byzantine Church. Dating to the 5th-6th centuries.
Roman Theater. Built during the reign of Antonius Pius, 138-161AD, this impressive theater could seat up to 6,000 people. Next to it are a folklore museum and a popular culture museum which the entrance fee also covers. Next to it is the Odeon theater, a smaller theater built at the same time. There are two small museums (Folklore and Popular Traditions) to the right and left as you enter. 2 JD (free with Jordan Pass).
Roman Nymphaeum. A partly-preserved Roman fountain.
Ammonite Watchtower. A circular watchtower built by the Ammonite kingdom some time between 500-1000 BC.
Rainbow Street. Near the 1st Circle in Jabal Amman, this is an interesting area to walk around and explore, it is named after the old Rainbow Cinema which is now out of use, but the area has experienced a revival with many of the old houses being restored and put into use, in the area there are some cafes and bars including Books@cafe and Wild Jordan, both with great views, a Caribbean restaurant, an Indian restaurant, a sushi joint, and an ice cream shop. There is a hammam, and the Royal Film Commission which sometimes holds outdoor screenings on its patio and some interesting small shops. Across the street from the British Council on Rainbow St., there is the refreshing Turtle Green Tea Bar where everything is in English and you can borrow a laptop to access the internet while enjoying your snack.
Darat al Funun. The 'small house of the arts' in Jabal el Weibdeh, overlooking the heart of Amman, is housed in three adjacent villas from the 1920s (and the remains of a sixth-century Byzantine church built over a Roman Temple), it has a permanent collection and also holds changing exhibitions. In the same area there are other small art galleries and the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.
Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Hosni Fareez St. (near King Abdullah I Mosque, +962 6-463-0128. W Th Sa-M 09:00-17:00/19:00 (winter/summer). Situated in two separate buildings and in between a (open to the) public park of sculptures, it is showing international, contemporary art with a focus though on regional work. 5 JD.
The Jordan Museum, Ali Ben Abi Taleb St. 10 (right next to Palm Square, +962 6-462-9317. W Th Sa-M 10:00-18:00. This is a modern and well-preserved museum. Many of the artifacts from the citadel have been moved here. A great summary of Jordan's history. The entrance to the museum can be hard to find as the pedestrian entrance is sometimes closed so you must enter through the parking entrance. The current Google Maps location is slightly inaccurate: the museum and entrance are just south of the mosque. 5 JD (locals 1 JD, Jordan Pass is not valid).
Abu Darwish Mosque, Abu Darwish St., Jabal. Built in the 1920s by a private donor called Hasan Mustafa Sharkas and situated on a hill, this mosque impresses through its black and white striped walls.
King Abdullah I Mosque. Impressive new mosque, with a church opposite. Together, they give an interesting view. 5 JD.
Al Bishara Greek Orthodox Church.
Mosque of the people of the Cave.
Royal Automobile Museum. A collection of cars, from the 100-year-old royal dynasty vehicles, to modern sports cars, to the Rover from the movie The Martian.

Amman Citadel. A national historic site at the center of downtown Amman. Its history represents significant civilizations that stretched across continents and prospered for centuries, as one empire gave rise to the next. Settlement at the Citadel extends over 7,000 years. 3 JD (free with Jordan Pass).

Jordan Archaeological Museum. The museum hosts a small but interesting collection of antiquities from all over Jordan. Fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls which used to be housed here are now being transferred to the new National Museum of Jordan (see below).
Temple of Herakles. Roman period remains.
Umayyad Palace. In the northern portion of the Citadel, it offers a great view of Amman.
Byzantine Church. Dating to the 5th-6th centuries.

Jordan Archaeological Museum. The museum hosts a small but interesting collection of antiquities from all over Jordan. Fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls which used to be housed here are now being transferred to the new National Museum of Jordan (see below).
Temple of Herakles. Roman period remains.
Umayyad Palace. In the northern portion of the Citadel, it offers a great view of Amman.
Byzantine Church. Dating to the 5th-6th centuries.

Jordan Archaeological Museum. The museum hosts a small but interesting collection of antiquities from all over Jordan. Fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls which used to be housed here are now being transferred to the new National Museum of Jordan (see below).
Temple of Herakles. Roman period remains.
Umayyad Palace. In the northern portion of the Citadel, it offers a great view of Amman.
Byzantine Church. Dating to the 5th-6th centuries.

Jordan Archaeological Museum. The museum hosts a small but interesting collection of antiquities from all over Jordan. Fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls which used to be housed here are now being transferred to the new National Museum of Jordan (see below).
Temple of Herakles. Roman period remains.
Umayyad Palace. In the northern portion of the Citadel, it offers a great view of Amman.
Byzantine Church. Dating to the 5th-6th centuries.

Jordan Archaeological Museum. The museum hosts a small but interesting collection of antiquities from all over Jordan. Fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls which used to be housed here are now being transferred to the new National Museum of Jordan (see below).
Temple of Herakles. Roman period remains.
Umayyad Palace. In the northern portion of the Citadel, it offers a great view of Amman.
Byzantine Church. Dating to the 5th-6th centuries.

Roman Theater. Built during the reign of Antonius Pius, 138-161AD, this impressive theater could seat up to 6,000 people. Next to it are a folklore museum and a popular culture museum which the entrance fee also covers. Next to it is the Odeon theater, a smaller theater built at the same time. There are two small museums (Folklore and Popular Traditions) to the right and left as you enter. 2 JD (free with Jordan Pass).

Roman Nymphaeum. A partly-preserved Roman fountain.

Ammonite Watchtower. A circular watchtower built by the Ammonite kingdom some time between 500-1000 BC.

Rainbow Street. Near the 1st Circle in Jabal Amman, this is an interesting area to walk around and explore, it is named after the old Rainbow Cinema which is now out of use, but the area has experienced a revival with many of the old houses being restored and put into use, in the area there are some cafes and bars including Books@cafe and Wild Jordan, both with great views, a Caribbean restaurant, an Indian restaurant, a sushi joint, and an ice cream shop. There is a hammam, and the Royal Film Commission which sometimes holds outdoor screenings on its patio and some interesting small shops. Across the street from the British Council on Rainbow St., there is the refreshing Turtle Green Tea Bar where everything is in English and you can borrow a laptop to access the internet while enjoying your snack.

Darat al Funun. The 'small house of the arts' in Jabal el Weibdeh, overlooking the heart of Amman, is housed in three adjacent villas from the 1920s (and the remains of a sixth-century Byzantine church built over a Roman Temple), it has a permanent collection and also holds changing exhibitions. In the same area there are other small art galleries and the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.

Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Hosni Fareez St. (near King Abdullah I Mosque, +962 6-463-0128. W Th Sa-M 09:00-17:00/19:00 (winter/summer). Situated in two separate buildings and in between a (open to the) public park of sculptures, it is showing international, contemporary art with a focus though on regional work. 5 JD.

The Jordan Museum, Ali Ben Abi Taleb St. 10 (right next to Palm Square, +962 6-462-9317. W Th Sa-M 10:00-18:00. This is a modern and well-preserved museum. Many of the artifacts from the citadel have been moved here. A great summary of Jordan's history. The entrance to the museum can be hard to find as the pedestrian entrance is sometimes closed so you must enter through the parking entrance. The current Google Maps location is slightly inaccurate: the museum and entrance are just south of the mosque. 5 JD (locals 1 JD, Jordan Pass is not valid).

Abu Darwish Mosque, Abu Darwish St., Jabal. Built in the 1920s by a private donor called Hasan Mustafa Sharkas and situated on a hill, this mosque impresses through its black and white striped walls.

King Abdullah I Mosque. Impressive new mosque, with a church opposite. Together, they give an interesting view. 5 JD.

Al Bishara Greek Orthodox Church.

Mosque of the people of the Cave.

Royal Automobile Museum. A collection of cars, from the 100-year-old royal dynasty vehicles, to modern sports cars, to the Rover from the movie The Martian.

Wadi al-Seer. A region to the west of Amman, it is a small valley leading down towards the Dead Sea. Nearby is the al-Bassa Springs, the source of the valley's river. Above the spring is the al-Deir monastery. It's a 20-minute climb up to the monastery.
Iraq Al-Amir. 15 km from Wadi al-Seer, the Caves of the Prince., close to Al Qasr., are southwest of Amman and are great for a day tour. 1 JD.

Day trips can be done to the Desert Castles Amra, Kharaneh and Azraq in the east, about 30-50 km from Amman around the nearby city of Azraq.

Wadi al-Seer. A region to the west of Amman, it is a small valley leading down towards the [[Dead Sea (Jordan)|Dead Sea]]. Nearby is the al-Bassa Springs, the source of the valley's river. Above the spring is the al-Deir monastery. It's a 20-minute climb up to the monastery.

Iraq Al-Amir. 15 km from Wadi al-Seer, the Caves of the Prince., close to Al Qasr., are southwest of Amman and are great for a day tour. 1 JD.

See the sunset from the view point near the Citadel. But pay also your attention to the time of the muezzin call. If you listen to it from the view point, where the whole city lies before you, you get the unforgettable acoustic impression.
Due to accelerated growth the past several decades, the styles of living differs considerably as one travels from east to west throughout Amman. Visitors desiring a more exotic and traditional experience should explore "Old Amman", the central downtown, or Balad., which features many souqs, shops, and street vendors. Also known as the Souq with traditional sights and smells of the spice market, and shop for authentic souvenirs. Take a walk through the narrow alleyways and corners and negotiate (haggle) the price with friendly vendors. A maze of streets with everything from a fruit market to spices, souvenirs, clothes, hardware. Drink a cool glass of Sugar Cane juice, watch the talented young men make artistic sand designs inside the glass bottles, go and smoke a shisha (hubbly bubbly) in any of the numerous street cafes. Enjoy some tasty falafel in the famous Hashem cafe, enjoy a mansaf dish at Jerusalem restaurant or a nice slice of tasty Kanafe from Habibeh sweets. Busy crowded streets with the real taste of Jordan.
Abdali, a section of downtown Amman, is being transformed into a modern center for tourists and natives. The plan includes a broad pedestrian boulevard where visitors can shop, eat, or do numerous other activities. New office buildings and residential hi-rises have been built, and more are on the way. The massive, modern Abdali Mall draws Amman's young and monied.
The cultural scene in Amman has seen some increased activities, notably cultural centers and clubs such as Makan House, Al Balad Theater, the Amman Filmmakers Cooperative, Remall, and Zara gallery. Around the 1st of September the Jordan Short Film Festival takes place.
Amman Waves Aqua Park and Resort, 15, Amman 00962 (12 km from the 7th circle along the airport road, +962 6 412 1704. 10:00-18:00. The biggest water park in Jordan (80,000 m²), opened in 2004.

See the sunset from the view point near the Citadel. But pay also your attention to the time of the muezzin call. If you listen to it from the view point, where the whole city lies before you, you get the unforgettable acoustic impression.

Due to accelerated growth the past several decades, the styles of living differs considerably as one travels from east to west throughout Amman. Visitors desiring a more exotic and traditional experience should explore "Old Amman", the central downtown, or Balad., which features many souqs, shops, and street vendors. Also known as the Souq with traditional sights and smells of the spice market, and shop for authentic souvenirs. Take a walk through the narrow alleyways and corners and negotiate (haggle) the price with friendly vendors. A maze of streets with everything from a fruit market to spices, souvenirs, clothes, hardware. Drink a cool glass of Sugar Cane juice, watch the talented young men make artistic sand designs inside the glass bottles, go and smoke a shisha (hubbly bubbly) in any of the numerous street cafes. Enjoy some tasty falafel in the famous Hashem cafe, enjoy a mansaf dish at Jerusalem restaurant or a nice slice of tasty Kanafe from Habibeh sweets. Busy crowded streets with the real taste of Jordan.

Abdali, a section of downtown Amman, is being transformed into a modern center for tourists and natives. The plan includes a broad pedestrian boulevard where visitors can shop, eat, or do numerous other activities. New office buildings and residential hi-rises have been built, and more are on the way. The massive, modern Abdali Mall draws Amman's young and monied.

The cultural scene in Amman has seen some increased activities, notably cultural centers and clubs such as Makan House, Al Balad Theater, the Amman Filmmakers Cooperative, Remall, and Zara gallery. Around the 1st of September the Jordan Short Film Festival takes place.

Amman Waves Aqua Park and Resort, 15, Amman 00962 (12 km from the 7th circle along the airport road, +962 6 412 1704. 10:00-18:00. The biggest water park in Jordan (80,000 m²), opened in 2004.

Wakalat Street If it's shopping you're after, then the pedestrian "Sharia'a Al Wakalat" (Brands Street). offers a wide selection of international brand names to choose from. Furthermore, there are the City Mall., Jordan's biggest shopping mall, the older and huge Mecca Mall. aimed at women (walking distance from City Mall), the Abdoun Mall. (also aimed at women), the Park Plaza., and Baraka Mall., for those seeking indulgence and the odd US$500 to spare - all designer names. – all large shopping centers scattered across Amman.

Amman has numerous antique dealers littered throughout the city. Those in the western parts of the city will most likely be served by those with a competent grasp of the English language, but you run the risk of the items being a bit overpriced.

clothes market at bus station Some interesting, original souvenir items that one may consider taking home are:

a keffiyeh, the traditional checkered headpiece of Jordanian men
an antique brass tea/coffee pot, distinctly Middle Eastern with its artistic etching and curved spout
olive wood carvings of various objects or figures can be purchase nearly everywhere
hand-crafted Jordanian daggers
hand-made Bedouin-style embroidered clothing
spices.

Also Rainbow Street is populated with small antique stores, clothing, restaurants, sheesha tea shops and the well-known Falafel al-Quds, reputedly the "best" falafel in the Middle East (some Saudis even financed the opening of one in Saudi Arabia). Further down the street you will find a small park that overlooks the city. Further still on a side street, during the warmer months, is a side-walk flea market. At the end of this street and down some stairs you will find Wild Jordan.

If it's shopping you're after, then the pedestrian "Sharia'a Al Wakalat" (Brands Street). offers a wide selection of international brand names to choose from. Furthermore, there are the City Mall., Jordan's biggest shopping mall, the older and huge Mecca Mall. aimed at women (walking distance from City Mall), the Abdoun Mall. (also aimed at women), the Park Plaza., and Baraka Mall., for those seeking indulgence and the odd US$500 to spare - all designer names. – all large shopping centers scattered across Amman.

Amman features many different styles of restaurants, from traditional Middle Eastern fare to more familiar Western fast food and franchises. Prices range from ultra-cheap to moderate, depending on one's taste buds. For those on a budget, Arabic food is very affordable and can be obtained everywhere.

Arabic food generally consists of several general basic groups. Meat dishes will generally consist of lamb or chicken; beef is more rare and pork is never offered. Shwarma, which is cooked lamb meat with a special sauce rolled in piece of flat bread, is a local favorite. Rice and flat bread are typical sides to any meal. Jordan's specialty, mansaf, is a delicious lamb and rice meal, typically eaten with your hands. Arabs serve plenty of cucumbers and tomatoes, many times accompanied by a white yoghurt sauce. Another favorite is chick pea-based foods such as falafel, hummus, and fuul.

One of Amman's most famous local foods restaurant is Hashem in the downtown. This restaurant is one of the favourites of the Royal family and you will see a lot of photographs of the Royal family of Jordan dining in this literal hole-in-the-wall. See the listing below.

In an alley off King Faisal St. is Habibah, which serves traditional east Mediterranean sweets such as baklava, but is most famous for serving a traditional dessert known as knafeh nabelseyyeh in reference to its origin from the Palestinian city of Nablus. 800 fils for a "half quarter kilo", which is enough for one person (Oct 2018). The original store is easy to spot with the long queue spilling onto the street: if you're just there for the food rather than the vibe, try the new extension that opened 100 m further up on King Hussein St.

Do not forget the good surprises coming from the countless shawarma outlets and other very cheap places.

Shawermat Reem. The allegedly best shawarma in Amman is found in this street-side kiosk. It is very famous and there are even lines at 02:00. It is very cheap.
Lebnani snack. This is a great place to eat Middle Eastern sandwiches, delicious ice cream and cocktails.
La Maison Verte. An impressive French restaurant, with excellent food and excellent ambience. A must go to place. Moderate to pricey, but it's worth it; the atmosphere alone is worth it, it's quite fancy yet very cozy. Their house specialities include "Entrecote", various steaks and a variety of sea food.
Levant, +962 6 46 28 948. A very comfortable restaurant with excellent service, excellent English and excellent food. They serve "gourmet" Arabic food, which means fresh local ingredients in surprising and delicious combinations. For more information you can view their website.
Cantaloupe, 10 Rainbow Street, 1 Juqa Street, +962 7777 333 33. A fairly trendy restaurant and cocktail bar with terrace impressively overlooking the city. Salads and fish are good, steaks are excellent. Regional and local wines are remarkably good. Service is excellent and unobtrusive. A little loud as the evening progresses.
Fakhr al Din, 40 Taha Hussein, St Jabal (when going from 1st to 2nd circle, turn right after the Iraqi embassy, then turn right at the end of this street, go past the lot on your left and then turn left again -- "Fakhr al Din" is written in Arabic on the wall of last building on the block, +962 6 4652399. A real classical of Amman's Lebanese-oriented restaurant. Quite pricey but worth it, especially if you're in the terrace on a warm evening. For local wine, try their "Gerasa" red wine. Reservation highly advised. Great place, but beware of waiters who deliver unordered food to your table. Don't accept anything you don't order. 15-30 JD for a complete meal.
Noodasia. Nothing to do with Arabic food, as the menu handles the whole map of Asia, from Thailand to China, through Japan (good sushis) and Indonesia. Nice place, excellent service and good food for the money, but no alcohol served.
Books@Cafe - a beautiful old house turned into the then-first bookstore/internet/cafe. Opened in 2000 and a hot spot ever since. This cafe is on Rainbow street overlooking all of the old city (Balad) and has two wonderful terraces with the best views in Amman. Boasting a very funky interior in contrast with the classical exterior, this café offers lite fare, water pipes (argheeleh), wine, beer and the best pizza in Amman. Free wireless network and three Internet terminals. A must see.
Grappa, +962 463 8212. Restaurant and lounge bar with great steaks and good wine. 10 JD for mains.
Hashem. During meal times, the place is swarming with locals and tourists. Wash this classic Arab meal down with a glass of mint tea. For 3 JD per person, you get the "mix" -- bowls of hummus, baba ghanouj, falafel, fuul, fries, salad and pita.
Ameer. The falafel sandwiches are cheap and delicious, 30 piasters. Ask for "shuta" (pronounced, shut-a, with the "a" as in "about", shuta means hot sauce) if you like it spicy. The falafel sandwiches come with French fries in them, tomatoes, parsley, onion, and some hummus. You can also ask for a "batata" sandwich (French fry sandwich).
Jafra Restaurant & Cafe, +962 6 4622551-2. A quaint Lebanese restaurant that also offers pizza and shisha.
Kan Zaman. Impressive medieval castle on a hilltop turned into a beautiful restaurant. The place is worth the visit. The food is pretty basic but ok. Ask for their local "Kan Zaman" red wine. Hopefully, the prices are not proportional to the size of the hall.

Shawermat Reem. The allegedly best shawarma in Amman is found in this street-side kiosk. It is very famous and there are even lines at 02:00. It is very cheap.

Lebnani snack. This is a great place to eat Middle Eastern sandwiches, delicious ice cream and cocktails.

La Maison Verte. An impressive French restaurant, with excellent food and excellent ambience. A must go to place. Moderate to pricey, but it's worth it; the atmosphere alone is worth it, it's quite fancy yet very cozy. Their house specialities include "Entrecote", various steaks and a variety of sea food.

Levant, +962 6 46 28 948. A very comfortable restaurant with excellent service, excellent English and excellent food. They serve "gourmet" Arabic food, which means fresh local ingredients in surprising and delicious combinations. For more information you can view their website.

Cantaloupe, 10 Rainbow Street, 1 Juqa Street, +962 7777 333 33. A fairly trendy restaurant and cocktail bar with terrace impressively overlooking the city. Salads and fish are good, steaks are excellent. Regional and local wines are remarkably good. Service is excellent and unobtrusive. A little loud as the evening progresses.

Fakhr al Din, 40 Taha Hussein, St Jabal (when going from 1st to 2nd circle, turn right after the Iraqi embassy, then turn right at the end of this street, go past the lot on your left and then turn left again -- "Fakhr al Din" is written in Arabic on the wall of last building on the block, +962 6 4652399. A real classical of Amman's Lebanese-oriented restaurant. Quite pricey but worth it, especially if you're in the terrace on a warm evening. For local wine, try their "Gerasa" red wine. Reservation highly advised. Great place, but beware of waiters who deliver unordered food to your table. Don't accept anything you don't order. 15-30 JD for a complete meal.

Noodasia. Nothing to do with Arabic food, as the menu handles the whole map of Asia, from Thailand to China, through Japan (good sushis) and Indonesia. Nice place, excellent service and good food for the money, but no alcohol served.

Books@Cafe - a beautiful old house turned into the then-first bookstore/internet/cafe. Opened in 2000 and a hot spot ever since. This cafe is on Rainbow street overlooking all of the old city (Balad) and has two wonderful terraces with the best views in Amman. Boasting a very funky interior in contrast with the classical exterior, this café offers lite fare, water pipes (argheeleh), wine, beer and the best pizza in Amman. Free wireless network and three Internet terminals. A must see.

Grappa, +962 463 8212. Restaurant and lounge bar with great steaks and good wine. 10 JD for mains.

Hashem. During meal times, the place is swarming with locals and tourists. Wash this classic Arab meal down with a glass of mint tea. For 3 JD per person, you get the "mix" -- bowls of hummus, baba ghanouj, falafel, fuul, fries, salad and pita.

Ameer. The falafel sandwiches are cheap and delicious, 30 piasters. Ask for "shuta" (pronounced, shut-a, with the "a" as in "about", shuta means hot sauce) if you like it spicy. The falafel sandwiches come with French fries in them, tomatoes, parsley, onion, and some hummus. You can also ask for a "batata" sandwich (French fry sandwich).

Jafra Restaurant & Cafe, +962 6 4622551-2. A quaint Lebanese restaurant that also offers pizza and shisha.

Kan Zaman. Impressive medieval castle on a hilltop turned into a beautiful restaurant. The place is worth the visit. The food is pretty basic but ok. Ask for their local "Kan Zaman" red wine. Hopefully, the prices are not proportional to the size of the hall.

For the coffee lover, Amman's Starbucks locations (Swefieh, Abdoun, Taj Mall, City Mall, Mecca Mall, Abdali Mall) offer various mugs, tumblers, and to-go cups with distinctive Jordanian and Middle Eastern flair.

Those who crave gourmet coffee have a number of choices along Rainbow St. off of First Circle in Jabal Amman with other shops sprinkled throughout the city.

Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor), can be purchased in liquor stores across the city. Most are distinguishable by an advertisement for Amstel or some like beverage outside. There are also bars up and down Rainbow St. in Jabal Amman and throughout Abdoun. Drinking age is 18 but some bars and cafes might card you and admit 21+ customers only.

Jordan's national beer is aptly called Petra Beer, and there are many liquor shops and kiosks around Amman where you can find it. There are two types: 'black' and 'red', which have 8% and 10% alcohol percentage respectively. The red is usually slightly more expensive than the black, but you should expect to pay 2-2.5 JD for a 500ml can at a shop. You will often find that bars prefer Amstel and other international brands and do not have Petra beer available.

For night clubs and bars visit the cosmopolitan West Amman where many Western and American franchises operate here. The nightlife in Amman is not as vibrant as other Middle Eastern cities like Beirut or Tel Aviv, however, there are a few clubs and bars in Amman.

Picadelli Pub. Friendly place that serves alcohol, food, and complimentary snacks 3 JD for beer and wine.
La Calle. This multi-level bar is known for its half-price happy hour specials.

new and old downtown

Jafra Café. A great spot right in the heart of the downtown area. It has an old, rustic feel to it with more young locals than tourists. They have a great selection of nargileh (water pipe) and the entire menu is reasonably priced. Expect to pay about 10 JD for dinner, including an appetizer, kebab, fresh juice and nargileh. Live music starts at 21:00 most night. There is another one near Paris circle in Jebel Al Webdeh.
Maestro Bar. Jazz and pub. There have been complaints about their entry policy.

The main places people who live in Amman spend time during the evenings are hookah shops.

Al-Mawardi, 15, Siqilya St. (South of Al-Rabia circle, +962 6 5532010. Coffee shop with traditional hookah, a wide selection of coffee and beverages. Offers Backgammon boards but no card games. 5 JD for a coffee and hookah.

Picadelli Pub. Friendly place that serves alcohol, food, and complimentary snacks 3 JD for beer and wine.

La Calle. This multi-level bar is known for its half-price happy hour specials.

Jafra Café. A great spot right in the heart of the downtown area. It has an old, rustic feel to it with more young locals than tourists. They have a great selection of nargileh (water pipe) and the entire menu is reasonably priced. Expect to pay about 10 JD for dinner, including an appetizer, kebab, fresh juice and nargileh. Live music starts at 21:00 most night. There is another one near Paris circle in Jebel Al Webdeh.

Maestro Bar. Jazz and pub. There have been complaints about their entry policy.

Al-Mawardi, 15, Siqilya St. (South of Al-Rabia circle, +962 6 5532010. Coffee shop with traditional hookah, a wide selection of coffee and beverages. Offers Backgammon boards but no card games. 5 JD for a coffee and hookah.

Compared with other capital cities, Amman is a very safe place to visit. Jordanian police and the military maintain a tight grip on law and order. Personal safety is high in Amman - it is safe to walk anywhere in the city at any time of day or night. Serious crime is extremely rare. In 2005, some major hotels were targeted by bombers (connected with the conflict in Iraq). Security measures at all major hotels were increased as a result.

Many details can also be found here: https://www.embassypages.com/jordan

Australia Australia, Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia. Visitors address: 3 Yousef Abu Shahhout, Deir Ghbar, +962 6 580-7000.
Belgium Belgium, Jabal Amman, 4th Circle (near Prime Ministry), Saad Juma Street 17, +962 6 465 57 30.
Canada Canada.
China China (People's Republic of).
Czech Republic Czech Republic.
Egypt Egypt.
Europe Delegation of the European Union to Jordan, Al-Ameerah Basma Street, North Abdoun, +962 64607000.
France French Embassy, 40 Rue Al Mutanabbi, Jabal Amman, +962 64604630.
Germany Germany, Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Visitors address: Benghasi 25, Jabal Amman, +962 6 593-0351, +962 6 593-0367, +962 6 593-1379, +962 79 553 4261 (emergency mobile).
Greece Greece, 7, Suleiman Youssef Sukkar Str., +962 6 592 2724, +962 6 592 2725, +962 777 230 260 (Emergencies).
Hungary Hungary, A Magyar Köztársaság ammani nagykövetsége. Visitors address: Abdoun, Jaqoub Ammari Str. 13., +962 6 592-5614.
Indonesia Indonesia, 13 Ali Seedo Al-Kurdi Street, Sweifieh Amman, +962 6 5926908, +962 6 5926798, +962 7791 50407.
Iran Iran.
Italy Italy, Ambasciata della Repubblica Italiana. Visitors address: Jabal Al-Weibdeh, Hafiz Ibrahim 5, +962 6 463-8185.
Netherlands Netherlands, Abu Bakr Siraj Al-Din Street 3, +962 6 5902200.
Norway Norway.
Philippines Philippines.
Russia Russia, (22) Zahran St. 3rd Circle, Jabal, +9626 464 1158, +9626 464 2532. Su-Th 08:00 - 14:00.
Sweden Sweden.
Switzerland Switzerland.
Turkey Turkey, +962 6 464 1251.
United Kingdom United Kingdom, Abdoun, +962 6 5909200.
United States USA, Abdoun, Al-Umawyeen St, +962 6 5906000.

Australia Australia, Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia. Visitors address: 3 Yousef Abu Shahhout, Deir Ghbar, +962 6 580-7000.

Belgium Belgium, Jabal Amman, 4th Circle (near Prime Ministry), Saad Juma Street 17, +962 6 465 57 30.

Canada Canada.

China China (People's Republic of).

Czech Republic Czech Republic.

Egypt Egypt.

Europe Delegation of the European Union to Jordan, Al-Ameerah Basma Street, North Abdoun, +962 64607000.

France French Embassy, 40 Rue Al Mutanabbi, Jabal Amman, +962 64604630.

Germany Germany, Botschaft der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Visitors address: Benghasi 25, Jabal Amman, +962 6 593-0351, +962 6 593-0367, +962 6 593-1379, +962 79 553 4261 (emergency mobile).

Greece Greece, 7, Suleiman Youssef Sukkar Str., +962 6 592 2724, +962 6 592 2725, +962 777 230 260 (Emergencies).

Hungary Hungary, A Magyar Köztársaság ammani nagykövetsége. Visitors address: Abdoun, Jaqoub Ammari Str. 13., +962 6 592-5614.

Indonesia Indonesia, 13 Ali Seedo Al-Kurdi Street, Sweifieh Amman, +962 6 5926908, +962 6 5926798, +962 7791 50407.

Iran Iran.

Italy Italy, Ambasciata della Repubblica Italiana. Visitors address: Jabal Al-Weibdeh, Hafiz Ibrahim 5, +962 6 463-8185.

Netherlands Netherlands, Abu Bakr Siraj Al-Din Street 3, +962 6 5902200.

Norway Norway.

Philippines Philippines.

Russia Russia, (22) Zahran St. 3rd Circle, Jabal, +9626 464 1158, +9626 464 2532. Su-Th 08:00 - 14:00.

Sweden Sweden.

Switzerland Switzerland.

Turkey Turkey, +962 6 464 1251.

United Kingdom United Kingdom, Abdoun, +962 6 5909200.

United States USA, Abdoun, Al-Umawyeen St, +962 6 5906000.

The bus stop at the 7th circle is less than 100 m south of the circle. This stop serves the airport, Madaba (0.75 JD), Kerak and others. The small yellow "airport express" labeled bus is easily recognized and the driver will also stop on other places if you wave at him. To reach the 7th circle from downtown take bus 41 or any headed to Wadi As-Seir and ask to be dropped of at Dawaar As-Saabe'a (7th circle). Many buses going by the 7th circle also take a turn at the 4th circle coming from Trababour Bus Station.

The Trababour Bus Station serves all destinations to the north and to the western border. To get there from downtown, take Serviis (a sedan car that works like a bus) #6 from Raghadan Tourist Service Station (Raghadan Al Seyaha) which is located right next to the Colosseum. The Trababour Bus Station is the last stop on the Serviis' route.

Many budget hotels like Palace or Farah organize day tours for about 16-18 JD which seems a sensible price, but they do not include entrance fees which could be important. These tours are open to people who don't sleep at the hotel. Classical tours are Jerash, Ajlun, Um Qais, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Baptism site, Dead Sea, and Castles.

Madaba — Just 45 min away and known as the 'City of Mosaics' for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, especially a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of Palestine and the Nile delta at St. George Church. 0.75 JD by bus from the 7th circle.
Jerash (and Ajlun (Ajloun) Castle) — An ancient Roman City. Besides Petra and Wadi Rum, the most famous site in Jordan. 1 h, 0.75 JD from Trababour Bus Station. Get off right before the Hippodrome, 1 km before the bus station, and enter down the side road through the museum. A private taxi from Amman can be hired for 8-10 JD one-way. Expect to pay as much as 40 JD for a return trip and taxi driver staying on site while you look around. Ajlun Castle is only a short side trip from Jerash, either by bus from the junction south of the Hippodrome or by Taxi.
Umm Qais — A town north, close to the ruins of the ancient Gadara. Best reached by (rental) car or taxi.
Dead Sea — Mt. Nebo (1 JD) and Jesus' Baptism Site (Al-Maghtas) on the Jordan River are essentially on the way, so consider them as well if you have your own car or taxi. The Dead Sea Amman City Resort is about 20 JD with free showers and swimming pools, but no lockers, towels or mud. Taxi services for travel to the Dead Sea can be purchased for the day 20 JD if you hail a cab from downtown, down town hotels charge 35 JD for the same service. There are a handful of bus lines that also run from Amman on a daily basis. Bus from Mujaharin bus station to Rame costs 1 JD. A taxi from Rame to Amman Tourist Beach 4 JD or less. JETT offers a daily shuttle from Amman (7th circle) to the Dead Sea and back for 7 JD oneway.
Petra — The most famous site in Jordan. JETT buses, both ordinary and all-inclusive guided tour, connect via the fast (but boring) Desert Highway. It leaves at 6:30 from the JETT bus office at Abdali and in 3.5 hr you'll get to the bus station not even 5 minutes from the entrance of Petra. At 17:00 the JETT bus takes off again to go back to Amman. The price is 8-10 JD one way. Time tables of the JETT Bus: http://www.jett.com.jo/SubPage.aspx?PageId=230 Also, from the South Bus Station Petra can be reached by tourist buses: they tend to leave when they are full, from 08:30 onwards (3½ hr, 4-5 JD). Another option, go via Ma'an (7 JD) into Wadi Musa (0.5 JD) (town of Petra). Furthermore, for 75 JD or less (depending on how much you haggle) you may be able to get a private taxi from Amman to Petra and back, including the driver waiting around for 6 hr.
King Hussein Bridge (Allenby Bridge) and border — The border crossing from Jordan to West Bank is King Hussein Bridge (called Allenby Bridge in Israel, but using this name in Amman is likely to cause perplexion or even hostility). The JETT bus to the border costs 11 JD (as of October 2018), departs once daily around 06:30 from the JETT office at Abdali, and takes about 1 hr. A taxi to the border crossing bridge can cost 25 JD and takes one hour, depending on which of the three border crossing points you use. Though the KH/Allenby Bridge crosses from Jordan to the West Bank, the checkpoint on the western side is operated by Israel, and plan your travel documents accordingly. Also bear in mind that the border can be closed with relatively little warning, especially if the security situation in the West Bank escalates. Once at the border crossing, you must switch to another bus (operated by JETT, 7.5 JD [Oct 2018] on its own, plus extra for luggage; or included if you have bought the 11 JD [Oct 2018] ticket from Amman) to cross over the bridge, pass through the checkpoint, then take a bus or shared taxi to travel onwards on the Israeli side. Exiting the Israeli border building, transport to Israeli destinations is more or less outside the entrance, and for Palestinian destinations turn right and go to the red buses. Expect travel from Amman to the old city of Jerusalem to take at least 3 hr.
Syria — There were two operators (on of them called Challenge) each providing two daily services to Damascus (Sumariya-Terminal) from Amman for SYP500 (SYP50 student discount). The tour took at least 4 to 5 hr, depending on border formalities. However, considering the current situation in Syria, it is not recommended you head into this direction.

King Hussein Bridge (Allenby Bridge) and border — The border crossing from Jordan to West Bank is King Hussein Bridge (called Allenby Bridge in Israel, but using this name in Amman is likely to cause perplexion or even hostility). The JETT bus to the border costs 11 JD (as of October 2018), departs once daily around 06:30 from the JETT office at Abdali, and takes about 1 hr. A taxi to the border crossing bridge can cost 25 JD and takes one hour, depending on which of the three border crossing points you use. Though the KH/Allenby Bridge crosses from Jordan to the [[West Bank]], the checkpoint on the western side is operated by [[Israel]], and plan your travel documents accordingly. Also bear in mind that the border can be closed with relatively little warning, especially if the security situation in the West Bank escalates. Once at the border crossing, you must switch to another bus (operated by JETT, 7.5 JD [Oct 2018] on its own, plus extra for luggage; or included if you have bought the 11 JD [Oct 2018] ticket from Amman) to cross over the bridge, pass through the checkpoint, then take a bus or shared taxi to travel onwards on the Israeli side. Exiting the Israeli border building, transport to Israeli destinations is more or less outside the entrance, and for Palestinian destinations turn right and go to the red buses. Expect travel from Amman to the old city of Jerusalem to take at least 3 hr.

[[Syria]] — There were two operators (on of them called Challenge) each providing two daily services to Damascus (Sumariya-Terminal) from Amman for SYP500 (SYP50 student discount). The tour took at least 4 to 5 hr, depending on border formalities. However, considering the current situation in Syria, it is not recommended you head into this direction.