Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a lovely vibrant city with so much history. It is, more than often, overlooked as a go-to destination when it comes to visiting Jordan in favor of more known sites such as Petra and the Dead Sea.
I believe this is a mistake as the city has much to offer in terms of culture, activities, history, food and much more, providing any traveler with a fluffing experience and an exquisite taste of the Middle East.
The city was built on seven hills and it is one of the most modern and liberal cities in the Middle East. Amman’s history spans 9 millennia, starting from the Ammonites during the Iron Age, through byzantine and Ottoman eras until the modern-day.
So I created this two-day itinerary to make your stay in Amman, whether it is a part of a larger trip through Jordan or as a single trip on its own, a great and fulfilling experience.
Amman 2 Day Itinerary
DAY 1
AMMAN CITADEL
Start the day by visiting Amman’s Citadel, a historical site located in the heart of Amman on one of its hills. You can sense the history oozing from this place, with many ruins from the Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad eras.
For any history buff out there, the Citadel is a dream come true. Most notable sites to see in the Citadel are the Temple of Hercules, The Umayyad Palace, Byzantine Church, and the Jordan Archaeological Museum.
Furthermore, Make sure to enjoy the view of the city from all angles since the Citadel is located on a high hill that overlooks the city.
If you are visiting in the summer, we suggest getting there early around 9-9:30 am to enjoy the Citadel when the weather is nice and cool before the midday heat.
Operating hours
Winter: 8AM – 5PM
Summer: 8AM – 7PM
Ramadan: 9:30AM – 5:30PM
Friday & Official Holidays: 9AM – 4PM
Entrance fee: 3 JDs
Roman Amphitheater
From the Citadel you can make your way down to the Roman amphitheater and the adjacent Odeon Theater. There is a way through old steps that goes down from the Citadel down the hill to the amphitheater, ask around for them! You won’t get lost.
The theater is a well-preserved attraction in the middle of the downtown and it was built during the reign of Antonius Pius (138-161 CE), it’s an impressive structure with a
Do not forget to see the Odeon located next to the amphitheater, it’s am ancient Greek structure used for musical performances that
The 2 museums that you can visit are The Folklore Museum that was founded in 1975, and the Museum of Popular Traditions.
Operating hours
Winter: 8 AM-4 PM
Summer: 8 AM-6:30 PM
Ramadan: 8AM – 5:30PM
Friday & Official Holidays: 8AM – 3:30PM
Entrance fee: 3 JDs
Breakfast at Hashem Restaurant and Dessert at Habibah
After indulging in the history of the Citadel and Amphitheatre, make your way to Hashem restaurant. It is a local hotspot that is visited and beloved by everyone in Jordan. As one of the oldest remaining restaurants, operating since 1950s Hashem became a household name with its food and atmosphere despite its street style and straightforward design.
Hashem serves a variety of Jordanian and Levant style deliciousness, my favorite dishes to order there is mezze consisting of falafel, hummus,
There is no menu at Hashem, but the waiter will explain everything to you. Feel free to ask them about the prices before you order.
After a hearty meal at Hashem, it is the time to enjoy a magnificent Knafeh sweet (a cheese-based dessert with sweetened crunchy pastry) at Habibah deserts, another famous local spot in the downtown.
This place is so good there is always a queue, but don’t worry!! It moves fast and totally worth the wait.
Visit Diwan Duke
Next to Habibah located one of the oldest standing buildings in Amman, built in 1924. The building was turned into what is known now as Diwan duke mini-museum that serves as a reminder of Amman’s old architectural heritage.
It will provide you with a sense of nostalgia of a time long gone with its preserved decor and collection of photo. If you are lucky you will get to meet the caretaker, an interesting gentleman with lots of wonderful stories to share about Amman.
Entrance fee: free.
Check Out the Downtown Markets
After enjoying Diwan Duke, it’s time for a stroll through downtown’s old markets. The markets are called souk in Arabic.
Use your time to soak up and indulge in this traditional shopping experience through walking the narrow streets of many of the adjacent markets such as Souk el-
Depending on when you’re visiting Amman, you will see lots of street vendors selling food in the streets.
If you visit in the summer, you might find fresh mulberries and cactus pears that you can buy peeled and ready to eat!
Take a stroll down Rainbow Street
After walking through the markets, make your way towards Rainbow Street (about 15 minutes walk). Rainbow Street is more of a modern hip street with a multitude of cafes, ice cream shops, funky hip clothing stores and galleries that are fun to check out.
Also, Rainbow Street it is the home of the Royal film commission as well as many events held throughout the summer such as Souk Jara, which is a busy and famous flee market that opens on Rainbow Street from 10am-10pm on Fridays.
Dinner at Sufra Restaurant
Sufra restaurant is located at Rainbow Street; it has a traditional lovely interior with lots of greenery. Sufra serves Jordanian style dishes such as Mansaf (traditional Jordanian dish made of lamb cooked in a sauce made from fermented dried yogurt and served with rice) or Sajeyeh (meat or chicken cooked with onion and garnished with toasted pine seeds, then it’s eaten with freshly baked pita bread).
The restaurant can get packed easily so make sure to book a table before going.
For reservations, call +962 – 6 – 4611 468
Day 2
Breakfast at Pain Chaud
Start Day 2 by visiting Pain choux, a local breakfast spot in the Al-Webdieh neighborhood, for your morning manakeesh and tea. This quaint place has a simple interior with creative touches and a lovely outside seating area.
It serves a variety of different traditional manakeesh pasties and hot beverages. I can’t recommend the falafel manakeesh enough. Many vegan options are also available.
Pain Chaud is the perfect spot to start your day in Jabal al-Webdieh area.
Darat Al Funnon
After breakfast, it is time to visit Darat Al Funnon. It is a gallery that consists of 6 renovated historical buildings that host different art exhibitions as well as a restored ruin of a Byzantine church in its garden.
We love Darat al Funnon because it offers a vibrant yet tranquil space that shows the opposite side of what can only be described as a chaotic capital city.
Lunch at Joz hind/ Rakwet Arab
After the gallery, you will be hungry again and will want to grab lunch. We recommend Joz Hind for a nice fresh meal; Joz Hind is a pop-up kitchen/restaurant with a menu that changes depending on the day, they always make sure to include a vegetarian option for the ones who require that.
In the event that Joz Hind was not operational, visit Rakwet Arab, a traditional yet buzzing café/restaurant in the weibdeh area, perfect venue to get a cup of Turkish coffee and a light meal with its relaxed atmosphere.
OPENING HOURS
Saturday-Thursday 10am – 7pm.
Closed on public holidays.
During Ramadan we close at 3 pm.
Entrance fee: free.
King Abdullah Mosque
After lunch, it is time to visit King Abdulla mosque. It is a beautiful structure with its traditional Islamic architecture, blue dome and blue tile decorations. Home for more than 10000 worshipers at
Please dress modestly when entering the mosque grounds, men should wear long trousers and women will have to wear Abaya ‘cloak’ provided by the mosque. And of course, no shoes are allowed when entering.
Operating hours
Daily: 8am – 11am , 12:30pm – 2PM
Entrance fee : 2 JDs.
Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts
Not too far from the mosque, make your way to Jordan National Gallery of Fine Art. The gallery will be about 12-15 minutes walking, you will get to enjoy the small streets of
The gallery is a quiet and relaxing place offering exhibits of modern art from Jordanian artists as well as artists from around the Middle East. The gallery consists of 2 buildings separated by a sculpture garden.
Operating hours
Winter: 9AM – 5PM
Summer: 9AM – 7PM
Ramadan: 9AM – 2PM
Friday & Official Holidays: closed
Entrance fee: free.
Al Pasha Hammam – Turkish Bath
After spending your time exploring the city and its historical and art scenes, it’s time to relax and visit Al Pasha Hammam.
Hammam is the Arabic word for “Turkish bath”, where you will get treated by a steam room, a scrub down and a bubble bath followed by a massage; an experience that will make you feel relaxed and rejuvenated.
Make sure you call and inquire before going as there are different times for men and women, plus if you plan this ahead then you can get group or couples treatment. Do not forget to bring shorts/bathing suits with you, as full nudity is not allowed.
Price: 25 JDs per person.
Contact info: (06) 463 3002
Extra things to do:
Jordan Museum
The museum consists of 3 permanent galleries that represent the traditional history and modern Jordan, as well as dynamic interactive pieces that keep the visitors engaged. Furthermore, there are rotational outdoor and indoor exhibits throughout the year.
Must-see highlights: Ain Ghazal statue (oldest statue ever made) and the Dead Sea Scrolls
Operating hours
Daily: 9 am to 4 pm,
Tuesday: closed
Fridays: 2 pm to 5.30 pm
Entrance fee: 5 JDs.
Abdali Boulevard
For the lovers of modernity and high-end upscale shopping entertainment, Abdali Boulevard is the perfect match. This prestigious contemporary outdoor pedestrian street offers a hip and luxurious variety of restaurants, cafes, outlets, and office space. You will for sure enjoy your time at this trendy part of town.
Amman’s nightlife has a wide mixture of more traditional Hookah cafes to the ultra-modern club scenes.
My recommendation for a good night out after exploring the city:
Jameeda Khanum
This hip eatery and local café is located in downtown that hosts local underground bands and singers, serves local foods and has an outdoor porch. The atmosphere is chill and you will love the vibe it brings. Jameeda Khanum does not server alcoholic beverages but it serves shisha
Corner’s pub
Local pub/bar that features a variety of shows with local, Middle Eastern and international artists, open mic nights and much more. With its rustic interior, themed nights, food and drinks, you will be sure to have a great night out.
Cluster
Cluster is a pop-up club that is active for 5 months a year. If you are looking for the best clubbing experience in Amman, then Cluster is the way to go. Light shows and inflatable props, Amazing DJs and music will definitely make your night worth it.
Getting around town
- if you are staying in a place that is near the above-mentioned attraction, walking is the way to go. It will give you the best experience in exploring the small street, connecting stairs, observing the early 20thcentury architecture and new bustling graffiti scene.
- For transportation between areas that are considered somewhat far to walk, it is better to either take a taxi (about 3-5 JDs per ride), but please always make sure that the driver had put the meter on.
- Another option is to use a car-hailing application such as Ube or its local equivalent Careem.
Where to stay in Amman
We can recommend:
The House Boutique Suites
A lovely spacious 5-star hotel with a great location near Rainbow street / Jabal Amman area.
La Locanda Boutique Hotel
Quiet with spacious rooms, friendly staff and top-notch location near in the webdieh area.
Of course, you can always rent a room/ apartment via Airbnb but please apply common sense when booking through Airbnb such as checking listing reviews.