Amman, Jordan’s capital, is a city of contrasts – a mix of old and new, located on a hilly area between the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley. The city’s commercial center has modern buildings, hotels, restaurants, art galleries and boutiques, as well as traditional coffee shops and small artisan workshops. Amman’s neighborhoods vary in culture and history, from the lively downtown markets, to the art galleries of Jabal Al Lweibdeh and the contemporary shopping district of Abdali.
The Citadel
The Citadel is the perfect place to start if you want to experience the history of Amman. It is situated on a hill and offers visitors a view of Amman’s evolution and a panoramic view of downtown Amman. Some of the must-see sites at the Citadel are the Umayyad Palace complex, the Temple of Hercules and the Byzantine Church. Location
Souq Jara
The summer street market in Jabal Amman is a fun activity for the whole family! It is open on Fridays and features stalls with local products, pop-up cafes, street food and live shows from local bands and musicians. Don’t miss this opportunity if you’re in Amman during the summer! Location
Nymphaeum
Constructed in 191 AD, it used to be a grand two-story building with fountains, mosaics, stone carvings and maybe a 600 square meter pool.
Hijaz Railway Station
See the impressive collection of working steam locomotives, which were once used for a pilgrimage route connecting the Ottoman Empire to Saudi Arabia and played a vital role in the Great Arab Revolt in 1918. To learn more about the history of the station, don’t forget to visit the museum on the premises. Location, Website: jhr.gov.jo
Royal Film Commission
The Royal Film Commission is a group that seeks to grow the local production industry by inspiring Jordanians to use film and audio-visual media to share their creative ideas. The commission also creates opportunities for audiences and filmmakers to meet, watch independent films, and discuss ideas as well as supporting local and international movie productions in the Kingdom. Location, Website: film.jo
The Jordan Museum
The Jordan Museum is situated in the vibrant new downtown area of Ras al-‘Ayn. It showcases the history and cultural heritage of Jordan in a series of elegantly designed galleries, The Jordan Museum acts as a comprehensive national center for learning and knowledge that reflects Jordan’s history and culture, and displays in an interesting yet educational way the Kingdom’s historic, antique and heritage property as part of the ongoing story of Jordan’s past, present, and future. Location, Website: jordanmuseum.jo
Turquoise Mountain
Turquoise Mountain preserves and celebrates heritage in Jordan, Syria, and other places, changing lives and supporting communities with jobs, skills, and opportunities. In Jordan, Turquoise Mountain collaborates with skilled master artisans from across the region to restore traditional craft and create beautiful heritage objects. Visit the showroom on Rainbow Street to explore their collections. Location, Website: https://www.turquoisemountain.org
Darat al-Funun
The houses that make up Darat al Funun were built by Jordanian, Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese families. They are a living memory of the history of Jordan and the shared history of the Bilad al Sham. Darat al Funun today is a haven for the arts overlooking the busy downtown area of the old city of Amman. Besides visiting the Darat’s contemporary art exhibitions, many come to appreciate Amman’s traditional architecture, attend events in the archaeological site, read a book in their art library, or take a stroll in the gardens.
Location , Website: daratalfunun.com
Nabad Art Gallery
Nabad is a contemporary art gallery in Amman, Jordan, that has been exhibiting and providing artworks by emerging and established artists from Jordan since 2008. Besides supporting Jordanian art, Nabad also displays a number of artists from the broader Arab world and beyond, with an aim to foster intercultural dialogue among artists and with the public. Location, Website: nabadgallery.com
Dar al-Anda
Dar Al-Anda is a sanctuary of the senses that lies at the edge of ancient and contemporary history. The name is an original Arabic one. It means “home of the giving” and thus reflects 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 stimulating thought and discourse. Location, Website: daralanda.com
King Hussein Bin Talal Mosque
The King Hussein Bin Talal Mosque, named after the late King, is the biggest mosque in the Kingdom. Its architecture mirrors the Umayyad style common in several sites in Jordan. Location
King Abdullah I Mosque
Constructed as a tribute by the Late King Hussein to his grandfather, the distinctive blue-domed mosque can accommodate up to 7000 worshippers inside and another 3000 in the courtyard area. Location
Jobedu
Jobedu is a local creative brand that sells clothing and other merchandise created by local and regional designers. The brand captures the spirit of Jordanian humor and culture. While the store started by selling t-shirts they have grown their products to include sweaters, hoodies, posters and so much more. Location , Website: jobedu.com
Jordanian Crafts Center
The association seeks to enhance, advance and support the ancient traditions of local handicrafts. The association is situated at Jabal Al Lweibdeh near the Paris Square, where the local women present a wide range of their local handcrafts made around the kingdom.
Location, Website: jordancraftcenter.com
Beit Sitti
Beit Sitti provides a special cooking experience where tourists and locals can learn how to make a traditional Arabic meal together by joining unique training courses that can last for several hours. Once enrolled, you get to make one meal with several appetizers and sweets that you can later share with other visitors. Location, Website: beitsitti.com
National Gallery of Fine Arts
One of Jordan’s premier art museums, the National Gallery of Fine Arts showcases a diverse collection of artworks from 60 countries, with a special emphasis on local and regional artists. The museum boasts more than a thousand pieces of art in its collection.
Location, Website: nationalgallery.org
Rainbow Street
A historic street in Amman, Rainbow Street attracts both locals and tourists with its vibrant offerings. Whether you are looking for cafes, restaurants, art galleries or shops, you will find them along this lively street. Don’t miss this spot if you want to enjoy a shopping spree, a night out or a casual bite. Location
Jordan River Foundation
The Jordan River Foundation (JRF) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1995 and chaired by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah. It aims to transform Jordanian communities by promoting child safety and community empowerment. It works for social justice, poverty reduction, and socio-economic empowerment - with a focus on women and youth - through various programs. The JRF Showroom on Rainbow Street displays products from community empowerment projects supported by the foundation.
Location, Website: jordanriver.jo
Jadal for Knowledge and Culture
Jadal is a private non-profit project that fosters cultural and intellectual activities to create and share progressive social ideas, cultures, and values. It is situated on Al-Kalha, one of Amman’s oldest staircases, in a house from 1933. It links Downtown, the heart of Amman, with Jabal Al-Weibdeh, a hub of cultural projects and artistic initiatives.
Location, Website: jadalculture.com
Hashem Restaurant
Hashem Restaurant is a country-wide legend for its Hummus and Falafel. For over forty years, it has kept its standards high and its location well-known. Its downtown branch is always bustling with visitors, day and night. The charm of Hashem Restaurant is that it draws both locals and foreigners to its famous fare.
Location, Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/Hashem.resturant
Habiba Sweets
Habiba is a renowned place for Knafeh. It is a perfect dessert to go with the hummus and falafel dishes from Hashem Restaurant next door. The place is always crowded with people who queue up to get their taste of the scrumptious ‘Nabulsi Kanafeh’. The dessert can be enjoyed in the courtyard near the restaurant or ordered in advance for big events and gatherings. Location, Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/Habibahsweetsjo/
Duke’s Diwan
This home is a rare glimpse into the architectural heritage of Amman. It has been turned into a public space for artists and musicians by its owner. The building has a rich history, as it was Amman’s first post office in the 1930s, then a hotel, and now a creative space. It is a truly immersive experience that takes visitors back in time through Amman’s history.
Downtown Markets – Souq al-Sukar
Explore this lively and lovely Amman downtown fruit and vegetable market where locals buy their fresh produce.
The Royal Automobile Museum
The Royal Automobile Museum was established in 2003 under the auspices of His Majesty King Abdullah II. The Royal Automobile Museum displays a significant aspect of Jordan’s political history from a unique angle. The exhibits also trace the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan through cars from the era of King Abdullah I to the era of King Abdullah II. In addition, it has featured many non-Jordanian vehicles and bikes, such as a 19th-century bike, a Bugatti and other rare vehicles. One of the museum’s most important items is the Lincoln Cabri convertible, 1952 model, which was used by late King Hussein Bin Talal during his education in England, and also during his coronation ceremony in May 1953.
The Children’s Museum
The Children’s Museum is a non-profit educational institution inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdallah in 2007. The Museum covers 8000 m2 of more than 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. The Children’s Museum Jordan has welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors since its opening. Location, Website: cmj.jo
Jordan Archeological Museum
The museum was constructed in 1951 at the peak of the Amman Citadel to exhibit the richness of archaeological sites from various artifacts unearthed during excavations across Jordan. The museum was designed to use natural lighting (sunlight) through the windows on the top of the building and electric lamps on the walls of the museum and above the cupboards to avoid shining light on the artifacts directly and harming them.
The Folklore Museum
The Folklore Museum of Costume and Fashion was founded in 1971 in the eastern part of the Roman Theatre in Amman, with the goal of collecting Jordanian and Palestinian folklore from all regions of Jordan to safeguard and conserve for future generations. The museum also aims to display our cultural heritage and share it with the world. Location
The Roman Theatre, Amman
Built in the 2nd century AD, the Roman Theatre in Amman is a hillside amphitheatre that can accommodate about 6000 spectators. It has been restored and is still a venue for various shows today. Location
Iraq Al Amir
Iraq Al-Amir, a place of ancient olive groves and copper age caves, lies to the southwest of Amman. Nearby, you can also see Qasr El-Abd, a rare pre-Roman building from the 2nd century BC. Location
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