This Amman city guide is for travelers who want a clear picture of the Jordanian capital before they land: where to sleep among the hills, which hummus counters and sweet shops are worth the walk, what the Citadel and the Roman Theatre cost, and how a day adds up at three levels of comfort. Amman grew across hills of pale limestone, and it rewards slow walking, long breakfasts and a taste for conversation.
Prices last updated October 2026. Rates move with the season and the exchange rate, so please treat the figures below as a planning guide and let each hotel, venue and transport operator’s official site have the final word. Jordanian dinar (JD) amounts are converted at about JD 1 to US$1.41, the level the dinar has long been pegged to.
Quick facts
- Currency: Jordanian dinar (JD), about 1.41 US dollars; one dinar divides into 1,000 fils.
- Language: Arabic, with English widely spoken in hotels, cafés and shops.
- Plug type: Types C, D, F and G are all in use; bring a universal adapter (230 V).
- Time zone: UTC+3 all year.
- Airport transfer: Queen Alia International Airport is about 35 kilometers from the city. Official airport taxis have been listed at a fixed JD 22.50 (about US$32) per car, and the Sariyah Express bus at about JD 3.30 (US$4.70) per person.
- Best months: March to May and late September to November.
Amman travel guide: when to go
Spring and autumn are the sweet spots. Days are warm and clear, and evenings are cool enough for a light jacket on a terrace. Summer is dry and sunny, so carry water and plan sightseeing for the morning. Winter brings cooler, occasionally rainy weather and a few days of real chill at this altitude, which suits museums, cafés and long lunches. Hours at archaeological sites shorten in the cooler months, so check them before you set out.
Where to stay in Amman
Pick the hill that suits your mood. Downtown (Al Balad) is the old center, with the Roman Theatre, the souks and the best early-morning food. Jabal Amman and Rainbow Street pair old stone houses with cafés and balcony restaurants. Jabal Al Weibdeh has galleries, small roasters and a quiet, artistic feel. Abdali and the Circles to the west hold the larger hotels.
At the top end, Four Seasons Hotel Amman lists from about US$410 a night (JD 290), the Ritz-Carlton, Amman from about US$435, and the St. Regis Amman and Fairmont Amman from roughly US$250 to 350. The W Amman sits around US$200 to 215, and Le Royal Amman around US$150 to 160. Boutique stays make a charming alternative: The House Boutique Suites, between the First and Second Circles, has been listed from about US$150 to 160 with a pool and gym, while Canary Boutique Hotel in Weibdeh is around US$100 with breakfast. For a lower budget, Medusa’s House, a guesthouse just off Rainbow Street with a roof terrace, is about US$40 a night.
Where to eat and drink
Begin like a local, with hummus, foul, falafel and flatbread. Hashem in Downtown is the famous address, and a full breakfast there costs under JD 5 (US$7). A falafel sandwich at Al Quds Falafel on Rainbow Street is about JD 0.60, and a shawarma wrap from the roadside stall Shawerma Reem is around JD 1. Fresh juice from Palestine Juice is about JD 1.50.
For a sit-down meal, Sufra, in a courtyard house on Rainbow Street, serves mezze and Jordanian mains in a garden setting. Shams El Balad occupies a historic mansion with shareable plates. Shahrazad in Downtown is known for hearty grilled meat; its kofta with tahini is about JD 3. Mansaf, Jordan’s national dish of lamb in a tangy dried yogurt sauce over rice, is typically JD 5 to 15 (US$7 to 21) per person, and a mid-range restaurant meal is about the same. For a refined evening, see our guide to fine dining in Amman.
For breakfast with a view, the Wild Jordan Center serves traditional dishes above the old city, and Al Siran and Zajal are named by many visitors for fried kubbeh, mixed mezze and tahini kofta. Table service is relaxed everywhere. Order a few plates to share, ask for fresh bread, and let the meal run long.
Save room for knafeh, the warm, syrupy cheese pastry. Habibah Sweets in Downtown sells it for about JD 1.75 per quarter kilo, and Al Quds is also admired for it. Coffee is a pleasure in Weibdeh, where Rumi Café and Jungle Fever serve specialty coffee, and a strong cardamom coffee is easy to find downtown.
What to see, and what it costs
The Amman Citadel crowns Jabal Al Qala’a, with the columns of the Temple of Hercules and an Umayyad palace; entry has been listed at about JD 2 to 3 (US$3 to 4), and it includes the small Jordan Archaeological Museum. Allow an hour and a half, and arrive in the morning for the softest light. The Roman Theatre, below in Downtown, costs JD 2 (US$2.80), including two small folklore museums. Both are covered by the Jordan Pass.
The Jordan Museum (JD 5, not covered by the pass) tells the story of the country from the earliest settlements onward, and the golden-domed King Abdullah I Mosque welcomes visitors free of charge, with modest dress required and free coverings provided at the door. Darat al Funun, a quiet arts center in a cluster of old villas, is a lovely stop in Weibdeh. For crafts to take home, see our Jordanian crafts guide.
Shopping, culture and a slower hour
Downtown’s lanes reward an unhurried browse. The souks and shops around the Roman Theatre mix sweets, spices and everyday goods, and conversation is part of every purchase. In Jabal Amman, Rainbow Street’s old stone houses hold cafés, restaurants and craft shops. Weibdeh is the place for a quiet afternoon with an art book and a pot of tea. Many hotels offer a spa or hammam, and a massage after a day on the hills is a welcome pause. If you are heading to the Dead Sea, a mud treatment makes a natural companion to the city’s stone and sun.
A short two-to-three-day itinerary
Day one. Hummus breakfast at Hashem, then the Roman Theatre and the Citadel. Lunch at Rainbow Street, an afternoon in Jabal Amman and dinner at Sufra.
Day two. Start in Weibdeh with coffee and a gallery stop, then visit the Jordan Museum and the King Abdullah I Mosque. Take tea and knafeh downtown.
Day three. Go out of town. Jerash is about an hour’s drive north; our piece on the ancient city of Jerash shows how to plan it. Mount Nebo and Madaba, with its Byzantine mosaics, are a gentler loop (Mount Nebo is about JD 3). The Dead Sea is easy too: a resort day pass runs about US$30 to 50 with lunch, and our look at Dead Sea spa rituals explains what to expect.
Getting around Amman
Yellow taxis are plentiful, and most city rides cost no more than about JD 3 (US$4.25); ask the driver to use the meter, or agree the fare before departing. Ride-hailing apps such as Careem and Uber work well and give a fixed fare, usually somewhat higher than a meter. City buses cost about JD 0.50. The center is hilly, so allow time for stairs and good shoes, and take a taxi between hills in the heat. Guided tours of the Citadel run from about JD 15 an hour.
Practical notes for a smooth trip
Tipping is appreciated: round up taxi fares, and leave about 10 percent in restaurants where a service charge is not added. A Zain SIM costs about JD 5, with a weekly tourist bundle around JD 8 (US$11) for 30 GB, and shops at the airport sell them (carry your passport for registration). Data-only eSIMs start near US$5 for a week. Many nationalities receive a visa on arrival for JD 40 (about US$56), and the fee is waived for travelers who buy the Jordan Pass (JD 70 to 80, or about US$100 to 113) and stay at least three nights; confirm your own passport’s rules and buy only from the official Jordan Pass site. Dress is relaxed in Amman, though modest clothing is appreciated and mosques ask for covered arms and legs. Before you book, it is sensible to check your government’s latest travel advice and your airline’s schedule, as you would for any destination.
Amman price guide per day
| Style | Daily budget per person (two sharing) | What it buys |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | About JD 35 to 50 (US$50 to 70) | Guesthouse bed, falafel and hummus meals, buses and taxis |
| Comfortable | About JD 110 to 160 (US$155 to 225) | Boutique hotel, restaurant dinners, sites and ride-hailing |
| Luxury | From about JD 330 (US$465) | Five-star suite, fine dining, private driver and guide |
Prices last updated October 2026. Rates change with the season and the exchange rate, and the official websites are the final word.
Insider tips
Buy the Jordan Pass before you arrive if you plan on Petra, since it combines your visa fee with entry to dozens of sites; our 48 hours in Petra guide shows how to use the days. Carry some dinars in small notes, since ticket booths at the Citadel may not accept cards. The Citadel is gentlest before 10 am or in the last ninety minutes before closing. Habibah can be busy at peak hours, so a mid-morning stop is relaxed. Weibdeh is at its best on a weekday morning, and a Friday brings a slower rhythm, with the mosque opening later at 10 am. If you continue south, Wadi Rum’s luxury camps make a graceful finish.
