What You Can See In One Day In Amman

Amman, the capital of Jordan, is one of the oldest inhabited places in the world. Today, it is the commercial and economic centre of Jordan, but its ancient history can be felt at every turn. What is worth visiting in Amman?

Before we head to Amman, let’s find out some our advice for visiting (not only) Jordan.

You can visit very well-preserved monuments from the period of the rule of ancient Rome and also from the early Middle Ages. In the streets of the city centre you can taste delicious cuisine and on Rainbow street you can see that even without alcohol you can enjoy the nightlife.

How to get from the airport to Amman

You will be interested to know how to get from the airport to the city centre. There are more options, let’s go to them.

The cheapest is the public bus line. The one to the city centre runs directly from the airport at a price of 3,30 JOD. You buy your ticket at the kiosk outside the airport hall. For exact departure times and routes, visit Airport Expres websites. 

Another considerably more expensive option is to use Taxi services. You can also purchase a taxi from the kiosk outside the airport hall. The price in this case is fixed at 22.5 JOD. The advantage of the Taxi is that it will take you directly to the hotel. The bus will only take you to certain places in the city centre. The rest you have to either walk or take a taxi or UBER. We chose the Taxi route this time as we arrived late at night. In terms of saving time and traveling all day from home to Jordan, this was the best idea.

ACCOMODATION

In Amman, we recommend staying in the city centre, where you’re close to the major sights and streets that really come alive in the evening. From our own experience, we can recommend the Nobel Hotel, which is directly opposite the Amman Citadel. The hotel is really basic but the rooms are clean and comfortable. Upon arrival the staff treated us to tea and were really nice and helpful the whole time. For a night in a double room with breakfast here you pay 17,5 JOD. Contact at the reception is +962 795 588 691. You can also book a room via www.booking.com.

AMMAN CITADEL 

Within walking distance of the recommended hotel you will find one of the most important monuments in the city, the Amman Citadel. Most of the buildings still visible on the site date back to the Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad periods and it is truly admirable how well preserved some of them are. Allow at least 2 hours to visit the citadel. If you have a Jordan Pass (more info here), be sure to take it with you. It gives you free entry to the Citadel. Without the Jordan Pass, you will pay 3 JOD.

JERASH

Another ancient city that is considered one of the largest and best-preserved sites of Greek and Roman architecture in the world outside of Italy, Jerash is easily accessible from the centre of Amman. This is the city of Jerash.

How to get to Jerash

There are several ways to get to Jerash. The cheapest way is by public bus. Buses leave from North Bus Station and you only pay 1 JD for a one-way ride. The journey takes about an hour and the bus will stop right at the entrance to the city. 

The interesting thing about Jordan is that there are no timetables, but the buses only leave when they fill up. As a rule, they fill up faster in the morning, around noon you can easily wait an hour before the whole bus fills up and leaves.

The best way to get to North Bus Station from the city centre is by using the UBER app. Don’t be afraid to use UBER in Jordan. It’s cheaper and more reliable than Taxi. 

Another option for getting to Jerash is Taxi. Taxis can be hailed for 40 JOD for a round trip. The driver will wait for you at the location for 2-3 hours and after you have explored the city, he will take you back to Amman.

Again, the Jordan Pass is valid to enter the city, without it the entrance fee will cost you 10 JOD. 

You can visit both of these sights in one day, and in the evening, be sure not to miss a walk through Amman city centre. You can start with dinner at Carob Restaurant, where they have delicious vegan dishes and often have live music in the evening. Then head to the streets around King Faysal Square, where you can just wander among the local shops and enjoy the evening’s bustling atmosphere.

Then finish the evening on the famous Rainbow Street, where you can enjoy the best tea and shisha. However, don’t expect alcohol. You’re in a Muslim country, so it’s not exactly common to have a beer in a restaurant.

TIPS for visiting AMMAN

The UBER app works reliably throughout the city. So if you want to get anywhere, be sure to use it. Unfortunately, taxis are sometimes several times more expensive. It will definitely come in handy if you’re taking a bus from the airport or to Jerash. North Bus Station is outside the city centre and a taxi ride could get expensive.

WATCH OUT in AMMAN

Taxi drivers in particular are often very pushy and their offers specifically for tourists actually exceed the real price. For example, if you walk out of Amman Citadel, right at the entrance they start offering you “bargain” offers for a ride to Jerash. Don’t be tempted. Go back towards the city and call an UBER at the main road, you will really save a lot of money.

You have to accept the fact that you are in a Muslim country and getting alcohol here is much more difficult than here. Some of the more expensive hotels and tourist restaurants offer alcohol, but the price is usually quite high.

Also count on the fact that you need to observe and respect certain cultural customs. If you are travelling as a couple, for example, any displays of affection in the street are unacceptable, and holding hands is not exactly customary either. Women should also at least keep their shoulders covered and wear long trousers. However, headscarves are not necessary.

Thank you for reading and enjoy Amman!