Amman, Jordan

State guide with cities, regions, and key information.

JordanAsia
Introduction
The Amman Governorate is the most populous and politically central of Jordan's twelve governorates, containing the capital city of Amman — a city of approximately four million people built across the hills of the central Jordanian plateau. The governorate extends from the city out into the surrounding countryside, including agricultural land to the north and the beginning of the eastern desert steppe toward the Desert Castles region.

Discover Amman

Amman is Jordan's political, commercial, and cultural capital — a city of nearly four million built across nineteen hills on the central plateau. The historic centre around the Citadel and Roman Theatre is the archaeological and atmospheric core; west Amman (Abdali, Jebel Amman, Rainbow Street, Abdoun) is the commercial and residential city. The city is comfortable and well-organised for independent travel: reliable taxis, a growing café and restaurant scene, good hotels at multiple price points, and easy bus connections to the rest of Jordan. The Jordan Museum in downtown Amman (opened 2014) houses the most comprehensive collection of Jordanian history and archaeology in the country, including the Dead Sea Scrolls copper scroll and the 'Ain Ghazal plaster statues from 6500 BCE.

Travel Types

Capital City & Museums

Amman's Citadel, Roman Theatre, Jordan Museum (Dead Sea Scrolls copper scroll, 'Ain Ghazal statues), Jordan Archaeological Museum, and the contemporary art at Darat al-Funun.

Jerash Day Trip

50 km north of Amman: the best-preserved Roman provincial city outside Italy, with intact Forum, Cardo, temples, theatres, and hippodrome from the 2nd–3rd centuries CE.

Desert Castles Circuit

90 km east of Amman: Qusayr Amra (UNESCO, extraordinary Umayyad frescoes), Qasr Kharana, and Qasr al-Azraq (Lawrence's winter fortress) — best with a hired car for a full-day circuit.

Dead Sea & Biblical Sites

60 km west: Dead Sea resort beaches and the float experience, plus Madaba (Byzantine mosaic map of Terre Sainte) and Mount Nebo (views over the Jordan Valley, Moses memorial church).

Amman Governorate Travel Information
  • •Queen Alia International Airport is 30 km south of Amman city centre. Taxis to the city cost approximately JOD 20–25; the Airport Express Bus (JOD 3.25) runs regularly to Abdali bus terminal.
  • •Amman taxis: always insist the driver uses the meter (argue firmly if necessary); meters are cheaper than any negotiated price for most journeys. Ride-hailing apps (Careem, Uber) are also available.
  • •For Jerash: buses from the North Bus Terminal (Al-Tabarbour) in north Amman run regularly (about 1 JOD each way). Minibuses also available; taxis about JOD 30 return with waiting time.
  • •For the Desert Castles circuit, a car or hired taxi is strongly recommended — public transport connections to Qusayr Amra are very limited.
  • •Friday is the holy day in Jordan. Downtown Amman is quieter on Fridays; most government offices and many shops are closed. Tourist sites usually open but with shorter hours.
  • •The Amman city centre is hilly and walkable between the Citadel and Downtown, but west Amman (Rainbow Street, Abdali) requires taxis or a car — distances are greater than they appear on maps.
Cities in Amman

1 city with detailed travel information

Amman