Amman Travel Guide
Originally built across seven hills, or , the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has expanded into a bustling metropolis that now stretches across numerous hills and valleys. Today, Amman is home to around 4.8 million people, nearly half of Jordan's population, and serves as the country's political, cultural, and economic centre.
Nicknamed the White City, Amman's hills are covered with a patchwork of light-coloured limestone buildings. These are typically box-like in shape with flat rooftops, a feature common in traditional desert architecture. The city's landscape combines faded minarets, lively pavement markets, fragrant Arabian sweet shops, and remnants of ancient civilisations with sleek new towers, international restaurants, and stylish boutiques. This mix of old and new comes together most vividly in the city's bustling downtown, where Amman's famously welcoming residents go about their daily routines.
At the heart of this lively district stands the King Hussein Mosque, an Ottoman-style landmark that anchors the city's spiritual and social life. During prayer times, the surrounding streets are full of activity, filled with the sounds of bargaining in the souks (markets), the scent of spices and roasted nuts, and displays of glittering jewellery, textiles, and handmade crafts.
Amman's sense of history is as powerful as its atmosphere. With roots stretching back more than 5,500 years, it was once the ancient capital of the Ammonites, known as Rabbath-Ammon in the Old Testament. Under Greco-Roman rule, it became Philadelphia, one of the cities of the Decapolis. Overlooking modern Amman from Jabal al-Qal'a is the Citadel, the site of ancient Rabbath-Ammon, where ruins from Roman, Byzantine, and early Islamic periods still stand. At the base of the hill lies the city's most iconic archaeological site, the Roman amphitheatre, a remarkably well-preserved remnant of ancient Philadelphia.
Despite its deep historical roots, Amman is a thriving and modern city. It's a commercial and administrative hub that offers all the conveniences of a cosmopolitan capital while maintaining a strong tradition of hospitality. Thanks to its central location, Amman is also an ideal base for exploring Jordan. From the capital, no destination in the country is more than a five-hour drive away.