10 Fun Things to do in Amman Jordan – 2025

Don’t miss the 10 BEST Hotels in Amman – there really is something for everyone!

Darna Hostel – Great value for money. Lovely location. Style & feel of a home stay. Small privates & dorms available. Find it on Agoda or on booking.com.

Carob Hostel – Very stylish and beautiful hostel with lovely views & great facilities. Best budget hotel in Amman for style & good vibes. Find it on Agoda or on booking.com.

Sandra Hotel – Very trendy Old City hotel with great facilities. Twins, doubles and triple rooms available. Find it on Agoda or on booking.com.

Hilton Amman – Luxury 5 star hotel with excellent facilities and an amazing range of beautiful rooms to choose from. Indoor swimming pool. Find it on Agoda or on booking.com.

The House Boutique Suites – Stylish luxury hotel with beautiful spacious suites and an outdoor swimming pool. Great location. Find it on Agoda or on booking.com.

Amman – 5 things to know before you go

Before we dive into an in-depth discussion of the best things to do in Amman, we just wanted to answer a few questions to help you prepare for your trip and tell you things to know before you go.

1 How long should you stay in Amman?

Many people visit Jordan just to see Petra, although we can understand this. In our opinion, if you only visit Petra and don’t spend some time in Amman, you are missing out. In some cases, your travel itinerary may not allow for much time in Amman. However, if you are at the stage of planning where you can choose how long you spend in each country and each place, we would strongly recommend spending at least two or three days in Amman. You don’t necessarily need to spend the days consecutively. You could spend a day before you visit Petra and then the day or two after you have visited Petra. In our opinion, two or three days is the ideal amount of time to enjoy exploring Amman and make the most of the things to see and do in the area.

2 What are the best ways to get around in Amman?

The best ways to get around in Amman depend on your budget and your desire for convenience.

Short journeys around Amman

Walking: If you are just exploring the Amman Old City area, it is easy to walk around. Walking is a great way to see and experience this beautiful city, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the Old Town. This is also a healthy and cost-effective option for exploring Amman. If you do choose to walk around this area, we do recommend having some offline maps on your phone and enabling location to help you navigate. There are many small side streets around Jordan, and it can be quite hard to find your orientation and navigate without a map.

Local bus: If you’re traveling on a budget and you are interested in connecting with the local culture, there is a local bus system in Amman. Buses are affordable, regular, and reliable. This is a very cost-effective way to explore Amman.

Taxi: The most convenient way to get around in Amman is to use a local taxi. There are plenty of taxis around town, and it is very easy to speak to a driver and negotiate a good deal. Most drivers have a reasonable level of English, and if you are using a map, you should normally be able to work out a good deal with a driver. If you are struggling across the language barrier, you could use an online translator app such as Google Translate. However, if there is any ambiguity, this can make it tricky agreeing on the price, so you may want to find a different driver. In general, we found that drivers in Amman were very reasonable and willing to go for a fair price. Most short taxi journeys around town are likely to cost 2 – 3 JOD (around £2 – £3 or $2.50 – $4).

Longer Journeys from Amman

If you’re planning to do longer journeys around Amman, then we recommend negotiating a good deal with a taxi driver. The cheapest way to do this is just to walk around the old city and speak to different drivers. A full day trip by taxi from Amman should cost around 40 – 60 JOD depending on how far you want to go and waiting times. It is important to do this at least one day before you plan to take your trip.

Once you have found a driver who is happy to take you, then we recommend swapping phone numbers. Many taxi drivers in Amman use WhatsApp, and this is a reliable and convenient way to communicate with your driver. It is important that your driver speaks a reasonable level of English and understands exactly where you want to go and what you want to do. Make sure you agree on the following things if you are planning a day trip. Here is a checklist of things to arrange with your driver:

• Number of people in the group (check the price applies to the whole group).
• Destination.
• Pick up time.
• Waiting times.
• Any other stops.
• Swap phone numbers

Alternatively the Jett bus company do offer some trips to places like the Dead Sea.

3 What are the best areas to stay in Amman?

If you are hoping to explore Amman, then we highly recommend finding a hotel or guest house in the Old City or at least not too far from The Old City. The Amman Old City is a great place to stay. There is plenty of street food, cafes, shops, and restaurants in the area. You can easily explore markets and access the best attractions in this area. There are also plenty of taxi drivers waiting around, which makes it easy to arrange transport connections. The Amman Old City is also one of the best areas to find guest houses, hostels, and hotels. There is a very good range of accommodation in the area, including some very affordable budget options and some boutique luxury options.

4 Can you take a day trip to Petra from Amman?

If you are visiting Jordan, then we highly recommend making sure you take a visit to Petra. This is one of the most important, prestigious, and fascinating attractions in this region. It is possible to take a day trip to Petra from Amman. 

However, it is important to recognize that this is a very long day trip, and you would only get a few hours in Petra. What’s more, if you do take a day trip to Petra from Amman, you will be arriving at the hottest and busiest part of the day during the late morning, and you would need to leave by mid to late afternoon. This does not allow a lot of time to explore Petra, and this is not the best time of the day.

If you do have the time in your itinerary, we recommend spending at least two days and one night in Petra. On your second day, you can get up nice and early and visit Petra during the most calm, peaceful, and beautiful hours (6 am – 9 am).

Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE Amman to Petra independent and on a budget

5 What are prices like in Amman?

Prices are relatively low in Amman. You get a lot for your money in the city. This applies to food, accommodation, and transport. For example, you can get an amazing and very filling meal in a local restaurant, and the bill is unlikely to be any more than 10 – 15 JOD (£10 – £15 or $12 – $18). Street food in Amman is also very cheap and readily available. There are plenty of bakeries where you can buy bread and cakes very cheaply. In terms of accommodation, Amman is also a very cheap destination. You can find dormitory beds for around £5 – £10 per night (roughly $6 – $12). You can find private double and twin rooms starting at around £10 – £15 per night ($12 – $18). This is significantly cheaper than Israel and many European countries. It is also very cheap to get around Amman by local taxi.

TOP TIP: The most expensive part of visiting Jordan is traveling longer distances around the country. There is only one bus company offering connections between Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea. The company is called Jett. We recommend that you book Jett bus tickets online in advance to make sure you get a seat on your preferred dates. These buses often fill up a week or two in advance.

In-depth 10 amazing things to do in Amman

1. Explore the Amman Citadel

If you’re looking for the classic things to do in Amman, don’t miss the Amman Citadel (also known as Jabal al-Qal’a). This is one of the main attractions in Amman.

The Amman Citadel is an ancient historical site perched on a hill in the heart of Amman, the capital of Jordan. This archaeological gem has a storied history dating back over seven millennia and is considered one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited places. Its strategic location and natural defensive features made it a prime settlement site for various civilizations throughout the ages.

The Citadel is a wonderful destination to learn more about the rich and fascinating history of this area. It is also a great place to slow down, relax, and take in the beautiful scenery. It is easy to walk to the Amman Citadel if you are staying in the Old City area. The walk takes around 20 minutes and leads up some beautiful local streets past small shops and cafes. Alternatively, you could take a taxi from the old city area, and this is likely to cost around 3 JOD (around £3 or $4).

You can enter for FREE with a Jordan pass. If you don’t have a Jordan Pass, entrance only costs 3 JOD (12 years and older). Find out more about the Jordan Pass. You can purchase your Jordan Pass from the Official Jordan Pass website.

We recommend allowing at least one or two hours for the entire trip. There is also a beautiful cafe serving a range of hot drinks situated near the entrance to the Amman Citadel. It is also worth being prepared for your trip. This area is relatively sun-exposed with very little shade. If you are visiting the Citadel in the summer months from June to August, we recommend bringing sun protection and plenty of water.

2 See the Old Roman Theatre

The Amman Roman Theatre is an impressive testament to the city’s rich history and its connection to ancient Rome. This historical treasure is one of Jordan’s most iconic landmarks. Constructed during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius in the 2nd century AD, the Amman Roman Theatre once accommodated around 6,000 spectators. It was primarily used for cultural events, such as performances of classical plays, poetry recitals, and even gladiator contests. It is believed to have been the heart of the city’s cultural and social life.

The theatre’s design is characterized by its semicircular structure, which follows the contours of the hillside and offers excellent acoustics, ensuring that even those seated in the highest tiers could hear the performances clearly. As you explore, you can see the well-preserved stone seats and the intricate stonework that decorates the stage area. Entry is free with a Jordan Pass. Alternatively, tickets cost 3 JOD (for 12 years and above).

3 Try a local dessert (Baklava)

One of our favorite things to do in Amman is try the Epic Local desserts. If you take a short walk around the Amman Old City, you won’t need to walk far before you find a beautiful dessert cafe serving a tempting selection of local treats such as Baklava, Hareesh, and Kanafeh. The desserts are rich, tasty, and unique. What’s more, everything is relatively affordable. You can buy pretty amazing desserts for 1 – 2 JOD. Don’t miss the very tempting desserts at Habibah Sweets on King Hussein Street in the Amman Old City.

4 Visit the local market (Souq)

If you’re looking for things to do in Amman to help you connect with the local culture, then we strongly recommend you visit one of the local markets (called Souqs). The local markets in Amman offer a classic Middle Eastern experience. The local markets in Amman are situated on small back streets surrounded by traditional Middle Eastern buildings. You can see stalls selling fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, dried fruits, and spices.

The local markets are often full of locals buying and bartering. We love the intense noise, chaos, sights, and smells of the Amman markets. The best area to experience a local market in Amman is right next to the Grand Husseini Mosque in the old city (Souq Al-Sukar). We particularly recommend visiting this market during the early evening when it is in full swing. This is also a great place to stock up on fresh local fruit, and the prices are pretty reasonable.

5 Try a traditional Jordanian meal

One of the highlights of visiting Amman is the amazing food culture. There are plenty of shop cafes and restaurants around the Amman old city, and it is very easy to try a traditional Jordanian meal for very reasonable prices. One of our favorite local restaurants in The Old City is called the Abuzaghleh Restaurant. If anyone knows the best places to eat in their own country, it is the locals, and this restaurant is absolutely packed with locals.

We were very impressed with the variety and quality of food on the menu at this restaurant. There is plenty of seating, and the prices are extremely reasonable. We were particularly impressed with the amazing Kofte Kebab Plates.

6 Enjoy a Fresh Fruit shake

This may seem like a strange thing to find in the list of things to do in Amman. However, the fruit shake stalls in the Amman Old City are well worth a shout-out. As you walk around the Amman old city, you can find lots of small street-side stalls selling a tempting range of refreshing fruit shakes. In some cases, they sell simple shakes like watermelon, banana, and orange. Other stalls charge a little more and serve innovative mixes of fruits such as lemon and mint or passion fruit, pomegranate, and pineapple (one of our favorites). Not only are these fruit shakes refreshing, healthy, and tasty, they are also surprisingly affordable, generally costing around 1 – 2.50 JOD depending on the size and fruit. Most of the fruit shake stalls will also allow you to have a sample before you buy so you can try a range of different drinks.

7 Try local dates

If you were exploring Jordan, we highly recommend trying some of the amazing Jordanian dried fruits. You can buy dried fruits from small convenience stores, markets, and shops around town. The dates in Jordan are particularly good. Be aware if you do buy dried fruits in the Amman Old City, you will need to barter to get a fair price. A small bag of local dates is likely to cost around 1 – 2 JOD.

8 Take a day trip to the Dead Sea

One of our top experiences in Jordan was taking a day trip to the Dead Sea from Amman. This is a very unique and fascinating experience. If you have the time, we do highly recommend taking a trip to the Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea is one of the lowest points on the surface of the earth, located around 430 meters below sea level. This sea does not have any outlets, so over time the water evaporates, leaving salt and minerals behind. As a consequence, the Dead Sea has the highest salt content of any body of water in the world. This makes the water supremely buoyant. It is a genuinely remarkable and unique experience floating on the surface of this hot ocean. It is not possible to swim down below the surface, no matter how hard you try.

In order to visit the Dead Sea in Jordan, we strongly recommend that you take a day trip to one of the Dead Sea Resorts situated in the Swemeh Region (the northeast corner of the Dead Sea). There are plenty of hotels and resorts in this area where you can purchase a day pass which allows you to access the shore of the Dead Sea and also use facilities such as freshwater showers, mud spas, swimming pools, and the hotel restaurants.

Dead Sea Details

Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE Visiting The Dead Sea with Kids

It is important to check exactly what is included in the day pass. One of the cheapest Dead Sea Resorts is the O Beach. It costs 20 JOD (adults), kids free. You can use the pool, showers, toilets, changing rooms. For an additional 10 JOD, you can include a tasty buffet lunch. They have sun loungers, freshwater showers, and a mud spa by the sea. You can use lockers for 3 JOD and rent towels for 3 JOD.

To get to the Dead Sea from Amman, you can either take a local taxi, which is likely to cost around 40 – 50 JOD for the day. Alternatively, you can book a trip with the bus company Jett. This costs 10 JOD one way or 15 JOD return. If you’re traveling as a couple or with kids, it is worth recognizing that a taxi may actually be better value for money than buying separate bus tickets.

9 Visit the Jordan Museum

If you are hoping to learn more about the history and culture of Jordan, then we highly recommend a visit to the Jordan Museum. This museum has artifacts and exhibitions dedicated to pre-history, the classic period, the Islamic period, and the modern Period. We recommend allowing an hour or two to explore and learn. This is a pretty good activity for kids with interactive displays and lots to see. One of the most significant exhibits at the Jordan Museum is the Dead Sea Scrolls. These are ancient Jewish scrolls dating back to the Second Temple period. Tickets for the Jordan Museum cost 5 JOD for adults and 0.5 JOD for kids (13 – 18 years old). Entry is not covered by the Jordan Pass. This museum also has air conditioning – a welcome break from the heat and intensity of the Old City.

10 Visit the Baptism site of Jesus

Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE to the baptism site

And finally, if you’re looking for unique things to do in Amman, then we highly recommend a day trip to the River Jordan. The River Jordan runs between Israel and Jordan, and it is possible to visit the baptism site of Jesus on the River Jordan. This is called Bethany Beyond the Jordan. You can both visit the baptism site and the Dead Sea as a single day trip from Amman. If you are interested in visiting the baptism site of Jesus, we recommend allowing around 1 to 2 hours for the whole experience. When you arrive at the visitor center and ticket office, the first thing to do is either present your prepaid pass or buy a ticket. You will then need to wait for the start of a tour; the tours run every 30 minutes and take one hour.

It is not possible to explore this area independently, so if you want to visit the baptism site, you do need to take one of the official tours. The tour starts with a ride on the minibus to a gift shop. You then take a short walk past several significant sites, including the specific location of Jesus’s baptism, a section of the Jordan River where you can actually enter the water. In order to go into the water, you need to purchase a white robe from the shop which costs 10 JOD (£10 or $12). There is also a small church (Saint John the Baptist Orthodox Monastery) and a museum. We genuinely enjoyed the whole experience; it is a fascinating way to see an entirely different part of Jordan.

TOP TIP: Remember to dress conservatively. The Jordan Pass does not include entry to the baptism site. If you buy your ticket on arrival Entry costs 12JOD per person (under 12 year olds FREE). However, if you purchase entry in advance with a Jordan pass it only costs 8JOD per adult.

Looking for more inspo? Check out our epic 7 day Jordan itinerary