Amman is the capital and largest city of Jordan and is the political, cultural, and economic center of the country. With a population of over 4 million people, Amman is one of the most populous cities in the Middle East..
Inhabited since the Bronze Age, Amman is home to many ancient sites and monuments, including the Citadel, the Roman Theatre, and the Temple of Hercules. It is a vibrant city with a rich history and culture. Amman is known for its diverse population, with people from all over the world living in harmony. The city is also known for its excellent cuisine, shopping, and nightlife.
Whether looking for a cultural experience or just a fun time, Amman has something for everyone.
Bucket List
What to expect
Jordan Info & Stats
- Language: Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken throughout the country
- Population: 10.4 million (est. 2019)
- Timezone: UTC +3
- Political System: Constitutional monarchy
- Ethnic Groups: 95% Arab, 5% other ethnic minorities (Druze, Assyrians, Circassians, Armenians)
- Religions: Jordan is primarily Muslim but there is a presence of Christianity. Compared to many other Arab countries, there is a high tolerance for other faiths.
- Credit Cards: Credit Cards are widely accepted in cities and ATMs are evenly distributed, although there is a high service fee charge
- Electricity: Socket types: Europlug, British types, Schuko, 230 volt / 50 hertz
- Haggling Culture: Common in markets and souks
Weather
The city is built on hills and stands at around 800 mt. elevation. The conformation of the area makes for relatively strong winds which blow often.
Summers are hot and dry with cool evenings, while the coldest weather is in December and January with an average temperature of 10 degrees Celsius.
I visited in March, and for me, the weather was absolutely wonderful. Warm and dry with a pleasant breeze leads to evenings requiring a light sweater.
Money
The currency is the Jordanian Dinar (JOD).
The real-time exchange rate from US dollars is: 1 JOD
Credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are commonly distributed around the city.
Prices: The Middle East is not a cheap region to visit, and Jordan is no exception. It also has a strongcurrency,y which makes visiting the country quite expensive.
Tipping: Tipping is not mandatory in Jordan, but asalways,s it is very appreciated if you do. Commonly, a 10% tip is given.
Getting around
The only way to move around the city is by bus or by taxi. Buses are the major way of transport and don’t really have a schedule and depart when full.
Amman is a large, extensive city, built on 7 hills so walking is not easy.
I personally rented a car for my trip in Jordan (check out the road trip article here), and, despite the craziness of the driving, found it quite easy to move around, find parking, and generally get around in the large, well maintained city roads.
Safety
Safety: In Jordan there is a high presence of police which reduces the instances of petty crime and theft. Because of its proximity to Syria and Iraq, the bordering areas may present a higher threat.
Natural risks: The region is prone to earthquakes. The most frequent natural risks revolve around droughts and extreme temperature, and the consequent risk of landslides and flash floods during storms.
Emergencies number: 911
Tips & Impressions
- The weather was incredible.
- I have driven in more than 15 countries but driving in Amman seemed completely chaotic to me. It was somehow better the days after (one of which was Friday so the streets were naturally empty), but on one particular day it felt like being in a Mad Max movie.
- As with many cities in the Middle East, cats are well treated and are in high numbers. Almost every restaurant, bar, cafe and hotel will have its own curious, wandering cat roaming around.
Deals for Amman
Where to stay
Luxury
Boutique & Eco-friendly
Budget & Local Experience
Travelogue
Unfortunately I did not get to see a lot of this beautiful city since the archeological visits took up most of the time. As soon as I arrived late in the afternoon I did my usual brief city walk. I spent the entire next in Jerash admiring the wonderfully preserved greco-roman ruins, and the third day was dedicated to seeing the Amman citadel which was also great. Before I could even realize it, three days had passed and I embarked on the next leg of the my road trip towards the dead sea.
Check out this post on the 10-day road trip from Amman to Aqaba
- Day 1
- City walk
- The Boulevard
- Rainbow Street
- Day 2
- Day 3
My accommodation was La Locanda Boutique Hotel ($$$$$).
The hotel has two great restaurants and bars which attracted a lot of nightlife and on one night there was live jazz performances. The rooms are cozy and spacious, and, despite being a small hotel, there was a lot of friendly and helpful staff.
