Amman is the largest city in Jordan and serves as the current capital of the country. You can quite easily fill up an entire day in Amman, and it is a great place to end your Jordan itinerary. One day in Amman will take you to some of the historical sites and to several awesome places to eat. It is also a great place to base yourself to take some day trips.
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History of Amman
The history of Amman dates back to the Neolithic Period. Around 7000BC, the area was inhabited by about 3000 people, and they formed a village. During the Iron Age, many resources were found in the area, and it helped to form an ancient trade route.
During the Middle Ages, the area was conquered by Alexander the Great and the Roman Empire. Present-day you can find many Roman ruins scattered throughout the country. Later, the area was taken over by the Byzantines and shifted to an Islamic religion. Citadel Hill helped to protect the empire during this time.
After this time, the area was in control of the Ottomans, and the first council was established. After a time, the British controlled Amman for a bit until 1946 when Jordan gained its independence. 1921 is when Amman became the capital of Jordan. Present-day the city has seen a population boom as well as a lot of growth.
Where to Stay in Amman
Amman is a big city. After spending a week in the smaller desert cities, Amman was almost a shock. There are various areas you can stay all over the city, but I recommend staying close to Rainbow Road. TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Amman hotels here! Other options include the following hotels.
We opted to stay at the Jabal Amman Hotel which was right on Rainbow Road. It was also very reasonably priced. It was fine for a night. If looking for something a little more upscale, you can opt to stay at the Intercontinental Amman which is across the street from some good restaurants and bars and is about a 15–20 minute walk to Rainbow Street.
Transportation Around Amman
We had a rental car for our week in Jordan, so it made it very convenient to get in and around Amman. Traffic can be a bit of a nightmare, so keep that in mind when driving around. You can also opt to take taxis or Ubers around the city as well.
Things to do on a One Day Amman Itinerary
Want a guided tour to start out your trip and get acclimated to the city? Then check out Guru Walks for a free guided tour. You can book online to reserve your spot and pay what you wish when you get there. Check out the tours in Amman here.
Although there are not many things to see in Amman, there are a few gems worth seeing and a TON of delicious places to eat.
One Day in Amman
Jerash
Cost: 12JD (included on the Jordan Pass)
Hours: 8am-6:30pm
Start the morning of this one-day Amman Itinerary with a visit to Jerash, which holds some of the best-preserved Roman Ruins outside of Rome. It has earned the nickname “Pompeii of the Middle East.” The site contains a ton of preserved sites to walk around to and two museums to check out artifacts. You can easily spend several hours here exploring the ruins.
Teacher Tip: Get there when it first opens to beat the crowds and the heat.
Cheesy Grill
Cost: $
Hours: Sunday-Monday, Wednesday-Saturday: 10:30am-12am; Tuesday: 12am-11:59pm
After spending some time exploring Jerash, grab some lunch at Cheesy Grill. Here they serve a variety of skewers and burgers. It is the perfect stop for a quick lunch and a filling meal.
Amman Citadel
Cost: 2JD (included on the Jordan Pass)
Hours: Saturday-Thursday: 8am-4pm (winter); 8am-7pm (summer)
The Amman Citadel is an archaeological site in the center of Amman high on one of the seven hills that make up Amman. The Citadel has a long history and has been around since the Neolithic Period. There are still many major remains left scattered around the hill.
Visitors can take in spectacular views of Amman, wander through the various ruins and archaeological sites, and learn about the history of the area. Plan to spend at least an hour exploring the citadel during your one day in Amman.
Roman Theater
Cost: 3JD (included on the Jordan Pass)
Hours: 8am-4pm (winter); 8am=7pm (summer)
The Roman Theater is located at the bottom of the Citadel hill. This theater sat 6,000 people during Roman times. Visitors can opt to view it from above or wander through the bottom area of it.
Walk Rainbow Street
Cost: Free
Rainbow Street is the main street of Amman, named after Abu Bakr. The area contains a wide variety of shops and restaurants that tourists and locals alike will visit. It really comes alive during the evening when everyone is out and about after work.
Make sure to stop at AlQuds Falafel to grab a snack of falafel. This place has some of the best falafel I have ever had all for a low price of 0.70JD. You will not be sorry for spending time on Rainbow Road during your one day in Amman.
Dinner at Sufra
Cost: $$$
Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 12pm-11:30pm, Friday-Saturday: 9:30am-12pm, 5pm-11:30pm
Located along Rainbow Road, one of the most popular restaurants to eat at during your one day in Amman is Sufra. This is one of the fancier restaurants in Amman, serving Jordanian and Middle Eastern foods in one of the oldest Amman neighborhoods. Visitors will leave full from all of the delicious food!
Drinks at The Living Room
Cost: $
Hours: 1pm-11:30pm
The Living Room is a rooftop terrace and one of the most popular places to get drinks during your one day in Amman. They also offer food and light bites to eat. I recommend visiting for an after-dinner drink as they have a lot of fun craft cocktails.
If you can, get there before sunset so you can take in the gorgeous sunset views of Amman. Visitors can opt to make a reservation or walk-in if they just want to grab a drink. Be prepared to wait on weekends.
More Than One Day in Amman?
Day Trip to The Dead Sea
If you have more than one day in Amman, opt to take a day trip to visit the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. I recommend spending the night and staying at a resort hotel like the Hilton Dead Sea Resort to get the full experience. When staying at the resort, you will have access to a private beach.
Day Trip to Bethany
Cost: 12JD or 8JD with the Jordan Pass
Hours: 8:30am-5pm
Bethany is worth a day trip from Amman as it is the Baptismal Site of Jesus. Visitors can opt to book a ticket with their Jordan Pass or buy one upon arrival. Tours leave every 30 minutes and are first-come, first-serve.
The tour lasts about an hour and takes you to the Baptismal Site of Jesus Christ and the Jordan River where many people opt to get Baptized. There are also a museum and a couple of churches to visit. I recommend going early in the morning to ensure you get a spot on the tour.
Final Tips for One Day in Amman
Amman is the main place to fly into Jordan so it is worth spending at least one day in Amman at the beginning or end of your trip. Make sure to visit Petra and Aqaba on your Jordan itinerary as well. Jordan can also easily be paired with a trip to Israel or some of the Eastern Mediterranean countries.
3 thoughts on “How to Spend One Day in Amman, Jordan: Things to do in the Stunning Capital of Jordan”
Jordan is really at the top of my bucket list! I will have to add Amman to the itinerary!
I am hoping to go to Jordan in 2024. Never considered spending much time in Amman but it seems like there is more to do than I initial thought!
I only had about…two full days in Amman? I wish I had gotten more food recs though! I loved my day trip to Jerash and Bethany! But mannn…Cheesy Grill looks so good!! After a little over a week in Jordan, a burger would’ve been amazingggg