Attractions
Amman
Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a fascinating city of contrasts – a unique blend of old and new, situated on a hilly area between the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley. In the commercial heart of the city, ultra-modern buildings, hotels, smart restaurants, art galleries and boutiques rub shoulders comfortably with traditional coffee shops and tiny artisans’ workshops. Amman’s neighborhoods are diverse and range in cultural and historical context from hustle and bustle of the downtown markets to the art galleries of Jabal Lweibdeh and the modern shopping district of Abdali.
THE CITADEL
If a journey through history is what you’re looking for then the best place to start would be the Citadel. Located on a hill it gives visitors a glimpse into the evolution of Amman and provides stunning views of downtown Amman. Among the sites you can’t afford to miss at the Citadel are the Umayyad Palace complex, the Temple of Hercules and the Byzantine Church.
HIJAZ RAILWAY STATION
View the great collection of working steam locomotives, formerly used for as part of a pilgrimage route connecting the Ottoman Empire to Saudi Arabia and an intrinsic part of the Great Arab Revolt in 1918. For more of an in-depth look at the history of the station make sure to visit the onsite museum.
BEIT SITTI
Beit Sitti offers a special cooking experience where tourists and locals can learn how to prepare a traditional Arabic meal side by side by attending unique training courses which can last for several hours. Once enrolled, you get to prepare one meal along with several appetizers and sweets which you can eventually share with other visitors.
DUKE’S DIWAN
A unique look into the architectural heritage of Amman, this home has been converted by its owner to a public space for artists and musicians. While the home’s initial purpose served as Amman’s first post office in the 1930s, the building was then transformed into a hotel and then into the creative space that it is now. It is truly an immersive experience bringing visitors back through Amman’s history.
THE ROMAN THEATRE
The restored Roman Theatre, which dates back to the 2nd century AD is built into three sides of the hillside, it seats around 6000 people and is still used for performances today.
IRAQ AL-AMIR
Located southwest of Amman, Iraq Al-Amir is famous for its olive trees and hillside caves that date back to the copper age. Also worth visiting while in the area is Qasr El-Abd on of the very few examples of pre-Roman architecture in Jordan.
THINGS TO DO/ PLACES TO VISIT
- SOUQ JARA (This summer street market in Jabal Amman is open on Fridays)
- NYMPHAEUM
- KING HUSSEIN BIN TALAL MOSQUE
- GRAND HUSSEINI MOSQUE
- KING ABDULLAH I MOSQUE
- THE CAVE OF THE SEVEN SLEEPERS
- ROYAL FILM COMMISSION
- JORDANIAN CRAFTS CENTER
- RAINBOW STREET
- JABAL AL LWEIBDEH
- DOWNTOWN MARKETS – SOUQ AL-SUKAR
- IZZWETY INITIATIVE
- JORDAN RIVER FOUNDATION
- IRAQ AL-AMIR WOMEN’S COOPERATIVE
- THE ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE
- INDOOR ROCK CLIMBING – CLIMBAT AMMAN
MUSEUMS/ART GALLERIES
- JORDAN MUSEUM
- MUSEUM OF PARLIAMENTARY LIFE
- ROYAL AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM
- THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
- THE JORDAN ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
- FOLKLORE MUSEUM
- DARAT AL-FUNUN
- NABAD ART GALLERY
- DAR AL-ANDA
- JADAL
- NATIONAL GALLERY OF FINE ARTS
The Jordan Trail
AJLOUN TO IRAQ AL-AMEER
This section weaves through farmland and a spattering of rural villages as you leave Ajloun and its hilltop castle behind. The trail crosses the King Talal Dam, before ascending a hilltop following rich farmlands to the village of Rmeimeen with its beautiful church spire and minaret. Winding down through fertile valleys, the trail reaches the town of Fuhais and continues to Iraq Al-Ameer.
Total Length: 74.3 KM
Days: 5 Hiking days
Main sites in the region:
– Khirbet Sarabis and Springs
– King Talal Dam
– Rmeimeen village
– Town of Fuhais
IRAQ AL-AMEER TO WADI ZARQA MA’IN
Here you leave the more northern regions and Amman behind and head towards the Dead Sea. Walk past the ancient palace of Iraq Al-Ameer before descending along the spectacular King Hussein’s Rally Road to the Jordan Valley. The climate and scenery changes as the Dead Sea looms from a plateau and Bedouin camps scatter the path. The trail now follows a roman road, encountering basalt cliffs and Wadi Zarqa Ma’in with its year-round stream.
Total Length: 58.8 KM Days: 3 Hiking days
Main sites in the region:
– Fuhais
-Iraq Al-Ameer, Qaser Al Abed and Burial Caves
– Iraq Al-Ameer Women’s Cooperative
– Mount Nebo
– Roman Road
