Citadel Hill
From its position on top of a hill overlooking the
city, the Citadel (known locally as Jabal al-Qal'a) stands
testament to the history of Amman, with its ancient ruins and
excavated relics. It is the site of the ancient capital
Rabbath-Ammon and numerous excavations have revealed Stone Age
remains as well as those from the Roman to the Islamic periods.
Other items from throughout the country are housed in the Jordan
Archaeological Museum. The site contains several structures
including the impressive Omayyad Palace (al-Qasr), a small
Byzantine basilica and what was once the Temple of Hercules, the
Great Temple of Amman. Also on the site is the Jordan
Archaeological Museum, which has an excellent collection of
artefacts from Jordan dating back to the earliest settlement in the
region over 700,000 years ago. The Dead Sea Scrolls, Iron Age
sarcophagi, and a copy of the Mesha Stele are its most important
exhibits.
Citadel Hill
Shadi Samawi
Roman Theatre
Below the Citadel is the magnificent Roman
amphitheatre, an impressive relic from ancient Philadelphia that is
cut into the hill and can seat up to 6,000 people. The theatre is
still used occasionally for events today. Two cultural museums form
part of the complex: the Jordan Folklore Museum, which has exhibits
on traditional life, and the Museum of Popular Traditions with
traditional costumes and mosaics from 4th to 6th century Jordanian
churches. The theatre was built during the reign of Antonius Pius
(138-161 CE) and is today a famous landmark in Amman and of course
the ancient Roman city Philadelphia. It surrounds the Hashemite
Plaza, Odeon Theatre, and the Nymphaeum.
Address: Quraysh Street, Downtown
Roman Amphitheatre
Dennis Jarvis
Desert Castle Loop
Stretching to the east of Amman towards Saudi Arabia
and Iraq is the vast desert plain where a cluster of historic ruins
such as castles, forts, baths, and palaces have been preserved.
They are collectively known as the Desert Castles. Their purpose is
largely unknown, but most are thought to have been built as
recreational retreats by the Umayyad caliphs during the early
Islamic Period (7th to 8th centuries AD). Qasr Mushatta is the
biggest and most elaborate of the castles, a fine example of
Umayyad architecture despite never being completed. The best
preserved and most enchanting is the luxurious bathhouse of Qusayr
Amra, with its domed ceiling, colourful interior frescoes, and
mosaics. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other desert
castles include the black rock fortress at Azraq, which was the
desert headquarters of Lawrence of Arabia during the Great Arab
Revolt in 1917, the mysterious Qasr al-Kharrana, Qasr al-Hallabat's
crumbling remains, and the well-maintained complex at Qastal.
Transport: Most of the castles can be visited on a day trip from
Amman via Azraq by using a variety of public buses and minibuses
combined with hitching or walking, although it is easier and less
time consuming to hire a car or a taxi for the day; hotels can
arrange drivers who know the way and speak English
Amman has a semiarid climate, with hot summers and cold winters.
Summers last from June to September and are dry and hot with high
temperatures averaging 86°F (32°C). There is also low humidity and
frequent breezes provide some relief from the heat. Rain is
uncommon during the day, but at night there is often fog and
drizzle. Spring is brief, lasting from April to May, with rain
sometimes falling during the morning and the afternoon. Winters
last from December to April, and are wet and cold. Temperatures in
winter drop below 24°F (-4°C), with snowfall and heavy fog. It can
snow anytime between November and March. The best time to visit
Amman is during the warmer months between June and September.
Queen Alia International Airport
Location: The airport is situated 20 miles (32km) south of
Amman.
Time: Local time is GMT +2 (GMT +3, from the last Friday
in March to the last Friday in October)
Getting to the city:
Local buses and an airport express bus offer transfer options to
the city.
Car Rental:
Car rental is available and includes major companies such as
Budget and Hertz.
Airport Taxis:
Airport taxis are available. Prices are fixed.
Fascilities:
Facilities include banks and bureaux de change, duty-free
shopping, bars and restaurants, and a medical centre. There are
also VIP and business lounges. A tourist help desk is also
available. Facilities for the disabled are good.
Parking
Costs will vary depending on the parking lot, starting from JOD
4 for the first 11 to 20 minutes in the Drop-Off Area, or JOD 2 per
hour or part thereof in the short-term lot. The best daily rate is
in the long-term parking lot, which charges a total of JOD 11 for
every 24-hour period and JOD 1 for every additional hour.
Amman is a relatively small city and is thus easy to navigate.
Metered private taxis are available at reasonable prices, and white
shared taxis cover fixed routes. Locals are usually very friendly
and helpful regarding directions and drivers are usually
forthcoming about route information. Municipal buses travel along
most routes in Amman; although they are efficient and safe to use,
most routes are only written in Arabic and they are not popular
with visitors. Car hire is available and offers a viable means of
exploring the city; it's a good idea to hire a vehicle with a
driver, which usually comes at an extra cost.
The hilly capital of Amman is packed with wonderful sightseeing
opportunities and fantastic activities for all types of travellers.
One favourite route for tourists is the Desert Castle Loop, which
spans east and west of the city and has numerous sights to visit on
the way and makes for an intriguing day out for the whole family,
visiting different castles and exploring the scenic desert
landscape. Within the city of Amman there is also plenty to do,
including a tour of the spectacular Roman Amphitheatre and a stroll
up the Citadel Hill to take in an eagle eye's view of the city. And
when your feet are tired, sitting in one of the bustling street
cafes is one of the best ways to see what the city is all about.
Whether it's talking to people around your or simply watching the
routines and traditions of those around you, make sure you find a
spot to hang out for an hour and simply enjoy your
surroundings.
Not far from the city, one can experience many great day
excursions from Amman, to sights such as the Jaresh, Madaba and
Mount Nebo, each with their own specific cultural significance and
each with their own special charm. Also, not to be missed, is the
short trip from the capital to the shores of the Dead Sea. Here the
northern hills, rich with olive trees, teeter over the rift of the
Jordan Valley, which in turn runs down to the Dead Sea, the lowest
point on earth. It is a spectacular sight and an experience not to
be missed when visiting Amman, something that can truly be
appreciated by all visitors to this exciting desert city.
Jerash
Situated about 31 miles (50km) north of Amman is one
of the top attractions in Jordan: the ancient city of Jerash,
considered to be one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the
world. Its exceptional preservation is due to it being buried in
sand for centuries and the magnificent baths, theatres, temples,
arches, columns ,and stone chariot-rutted streets have long
attracted scholars and tourists from across the world to admire the
most complete city in the Roman Decapolis. Excavations dating to
the Neolithic Age have indicated that Jerash was continuously
occupied for more than 6,500 years. Today visitors can marvel as
the ancient amphitheatre comes to life at the annual Jerash
Festival of Culture and Arts, where artists from around the globe
sing, dance, act, and play music on stage in a celebration of
Jordanian and international culture.
The Dead Sea
Situated about 28 miles (45km) from Amman, lies the
famous attraction of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth at
1,335 feet (407m) below sea level. Devoid of plant or animal life
due to the high salt concentration (four times saltier than
normal), it is the incredible mineral rich water that has made it
an internationally sought-after destination since ancient times,
popular for its curative properties as well as for the experience
of floating effortlessly on its surface. Most holidaymakers go to
the main resort area on the northern shore at Sweimeh, where the
Government Rest House provides showers, a restaurant, a beach, and
the opportunity to smother oneself in the mineral-rich black mud.
Accommodation is available at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel, where various
medical treatments are also on offer.
Transport: Buses leave from Muhajrin station to the Government Rest
House at Sweimeh.
Dead Sea
Pieter van Marion
Mount Nebo
The most sacred site in Jordan, Mount Nebo is
believed to be the burial site of Moses who climbed the hill in
order to survey the Promised Land that he would never enter.
Situated on the edge of a plateau about six miles (10km) from
Madaba, Mount Nebo affords spectacular views towards Jerusalem,
whose spires are visible on a clear day, and across the Jordan
Valley and the Dead Sea. A modern day shrine sits on the ruins of a
6th-century Byzantine monastery, and affords protection to the
original floor mosaics, while in the grounds stands the symbolic
Serpentine Cross.
Madaba
Madaba is most famous for its spectacular Byzantine
and Umayyad mosaics from the 5th to 7th centuries which are
scattered throughout the town's homes and churches. Located just 19
miles (30km) south of Amman, Madaba is also home to the famous
6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land, in which Jerusalem and its
surrounding regions are depicted. One of the town's most beautiful
mosaics covers the floor of the Byzantine Church of the Apostles,
and the Archaeological Park features an impressive collection of
mosaic collages, where a series of ramps has been built over
excavated mosaics to allow people to view them from above. The
Greek Orthodox Church of St George is home to Madaba's main
attraction and most famous mosaic: the 6th-century Madaba Map.
Millions of pieces of coloured stone embedded on the church floor
create a vivid picture of Jerusalem and its holy sites, including
the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dead Sea, Jericho, and the
Jordan River. It is the earliest surviving original map of the
region and was laid around 560 AD. Madaba is also known for its
hand-woven carpets and tapestries and it is possible to see them
being made in several shops around town.
Madaba
Wojtek Ogrodowczyk
Citadel Hill
Shadi Samawi
Roman Amphitheatre
Dennis Jarvis
