Exploring Amman - Jordan's Millennia-Old City

If you've never been to the Middle East, Amman is the perfect welcome for you. Amman is not just a crossroads of major civilizations but also a bustling modern city blending the East and the West. While Amman has westernized considerably, Jordan's capital still retains the subtle charm of the Middle East, brimming with delicious food and incredibly hospitable people. What's special about Amman is that the city sits atop seven hills, and by city regulation, all houses must be painted in the same color palette. So standing atop a hill in Amman, looking down at the entire city, I feel like Amman is a fascinating arrangement of grayish-yellow cubic blocks.

Amman resembles an intriguing arrangement of grayish-yellow cubic blocks

Archaeological evidence suggests that humans have been present in Amman since the 13th century BCE, with the city known then as Rabbat Ammon. In subsequent years, Ammon was invaded by the Assyrians, followed by the Persian Empire, and then the Greeks. By the 7th century, the city was formally named Amman during the Islamic rule. Amman served as a crucial stopover on the region's trade route and continued to prosper through the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties. In the late 19th century, the Ottoman Empire decided to develop Amman into a central transit station connecting Damascus and Medina, serving two main purposes: commerce and facilitating pilgrimages to the holy city of Mecca.

In 2010, under the leadership of King Abdullah II, Amman was assessed by economists as one of the fastest-growing cities in the Middle East and the fourth most expensive city in the Arab world after Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Beirut.

Today, Amman is a highly appealing tourist destination due to its unique blend of old and new. You can witness modern high-rise buildings alongside ancient architectural marvels dating back thousands of years, coexisting harmoniously.

Attractions in Amman

Amman Citadel

The Citadel is a cluster of architectural structures built from the 2nd to the 8th century BCE. According to archaeological evidence, various civilizations such as the Persians, Greeks, Byzantines, and Muslims once thrived here, but today only traces of the Greek and Byzantine cultures remain. These include the Temple of Hercules, the Byzantine church, and the Umayyad palace.

The Temple of Hercules was constructed during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius from 161-180 AD to honor the mythical figure of Hercules in Greek mythology. Only two columns, bearing strong ancient Roman characteristics, remain visible from any part of the city. In front of the temple lies a finely crafted white stone hand, showcasing the masterful craftsmanship of that era.

The Temple of Hercules was constructed during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius from 161-180 AD

The remaining hand sculpture

The Byzantine church was constructed around the 6th or 7th century during the Byzantine Empire's invasion and occupation of this region. Today, the church is mostly in ruins, with only tall Corinthian columns standing tall, bearing strong Roman architectural features. The Umayyad Palace stands out as the most prominent structure at the Citadel, built in the early 7th century with typical Islamic architecture, featuring an open courtyard for residents to gather, a water reservoir, and a main hall. The palace's dome is nearly intact, renovated with wooden beams inside. Not far from the palace lies the Jordan Archaeological Museum, housing hundreds of statues, ancient daily life artifacts like pottery, glass, flint, and metal tools arranged chronologically.

The Umayyad Palace stands out as the most prominent structure at the Citadel, built in the early 7th century

The Ancient Theater

Running along the hillside of the Citadel's ancient city is the theater considered the most impressive heritage of the Roman period in Amman. Emperor Antoninus Pius built the theater in the 2nd century, with a seating area of 33 rows impressively designed with inclined and sloping architecture, accommodating over 5000 people. Seen from the Citadel, the theater is truly a masterpiece of ancient engineering and grandeur.

The Ancient Theater was constructed in the 2nd century

King Abdullah Mosque

Prominent King Abdullah Mosque

With its prominent 35m diameter blue dome, you can easily spot the King Abdullah Mosque when standing on the city's hills. Completed in 1989 by King Hussein in memory of his grandfather, this is the most famous and largest mosque in Amman, accommodating up to 10,000 worshippers.

Non-Muslim visitors are required to pay a fee of 2JD (equivalent to 64,000VND) at the entrance. Please dress modestly when visiting, with men wearing trousers that cover the knees and women ensuring their heads and hair are covered.

Explore the vibrant Middle Eastern markets (the souk)

Souq or Souk means market in Arabic, it's a place brimming with local flavor, from colors, bustling sounds, language, to scents. Exploring the souk is an unmissable experience when in Amman. Amman boasts 3 famous market districts: Souk Mango, Gold Souk, and Souk El-Khodra, all conveniently located downtown. Souk Mango offers a variety of wedding attire, women's clothing, accessories, religious garments, shoes, and perfumes. Across from Souk Mango lies the Old Souk - a small market for gold and silver, be prepared to haggle when shopping here. Souk El-Khodra is where locals buy their daily fruits, vegetables, meat, and spices. The vendors at the market are very friendly and welcoming.

Spices displayed in the markets in Amman

Rainbow Street - Vibrant Hub of Amman

This charming street boasts unique cafes, restaurants, quaint old houses, and lively bars. While quiet during the day, Rainbow Street comes alive at night, becoming the liveliest entertainment district in Amman. Nearby is the Wild Jordan Center where you can find jewelry, soaps, local products, delicious organic food, and souvenir items.

Colorful Rainbow Street in Amman

The Royal Automobile Museum

The Royal Automobile Museum in Amman showcases a private collection of cars and motorcycles belonging to King Hussein from the early 1920s to modern sports cars. It's an impressive collection even if you're not a car enthusiast.

Jerash: A Glorious Ancient City

Hidden beneath centuries of sand, Jerash stands as a magnificent ancient city, once a testament to the golden era of Alexander the Great, Emperors Trajan and Hadrian, and mathematician Nichomachas. In 63 BC, the Romans occupied the city, making it a province of Roman Syria. By the first century AD, Jerash flourished with a plethora of structures including a hippodrome, a theater seating 4,000, the Temple of Zeus, and the Temple of Artemis. In 106 AD, Roman Emperor Trajan initiated road construction to connect cities and foster trade, furthering Jerash's prosperity.

Jerash: Flourishing Roman City

Jerash was destroyed in an earthquake in 749, often likened to another great Roman city: Pompeii - the ruins rediscovered by German explorer Ulrich Jasper Seetzen in 1806. Today, it stands as one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Middle East.

Hadrian's Gate: Before entering the heart of Jerash, you'll pass through the magnificent gate built to commemorate Emperor Hadrian's visit in 129.

Sanctuary of Zeus: The ruins of the current temple date from 162-166, but excavations here have unearthed various artifacts from the Greek era.

Oval-shaped public plaza: This is where community gatherings took place. It's the only oval-shaped plaza in an ancient city and is remarkably well-preserved to this day.

Oval-shaped public plaza

South Theater: A stone theater situated on a hill, featuring intricately designed seating and accommodating up to 3,000 spectators.

Nymphaeum Public Fountain: This spot is the best-preserved area in all of Jerash.

Nymphaeum Fountain

Romanesque Columns

Travel Information

Language

The most widely used language is Arabic, however, in eateries, restaurants, and tourist spots, most people in Amman can speak English.

ATMs and Banking Services

ATMs are available at many locations throughout the city, and major hotels and restaurants accept Mastercard and Visa. If you need to exchange USD/EUR to JD, it's advisable to do so at banks to avoid potential scams in the black market.

How to Get to Amman?

Currently, there are no direct flights from Vietnam to the capital, Amman. The most economical way is to fly to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur and then proceed to Amman. Several airlines, including Gulf Air, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Emirates, operate flights to Amman with various price ranges and convenient schedules.

From Airport to City Center and Vice Versa

Queen Alia International Airport is located 40 km away from downtown Amman.

Bus: The bus fare is 3.5 JD per person (equivalent to 11,000 VND), and the journey takes about 45 minutes. You can purchase tickets at the counter right outside the airport exit, but they only accept cash. Buses operate every 30 minutes from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM and hourly from 5:00 PM to midnight. However, this bus does not go directly to the city center; the final stop is Tabarbour Bus Station. From Tabarbour Bus Station, you can take a taxi to downtown Amman for around 3 JD (equivalent to 9,500 VND). For more information, visit the website: https://sariyahexpress.com/airport-express/

Getting Around Amman

If you're in the downtown area, you can walk to major attractions. Alternatively, you can opt for a taxi if you feel tired and want to save time.

Bus Service: You can move around Amman using public buses. You can check information on bus routes and destinations on the website:

Best Time to Visit

Therefore, you should visit Amman in April, May, and September, October, November.

Where to Stay?

Amman is a large city but the downtown area is small, most attractions are within walking distance so choosing a hotel in the city center and near bustling markets is the most sensible option for tourists. You can also stay in the new district, where there are modern skyscrapers and luxurious, expensive hotels. However, from here you will have to take a taxi to the attractions.

You can visit famous booking websites/apps like Booking, Agoda, Mytour, Hostelworld... to choose hotels that suit your criteria. Here are some hotel suggestions:

This article is a collaboration between Mytour and blogger Trần Hồng Ngọc.
All content and images in the article belong to Mytour. Please refrain from copying or using in any form without the consent of Mytour.