Excursions in Amman

Jerash

Situated about 31 miles (50km) north of Amman is one of the top attractions in Jordan, the ancient city of Jerash, which is considered to be one of the best preserved Roman sites in the world. Its exceptional state of preservation is due to the fact that it was 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 (July).

Telephone: (0)2 635 1014 (Visitor’s Centre); Opening time: Daily 7am until dark. From July to October a sound and light show takes place every evening

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 and are collectively known as 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 although it was never completed. The best preserved and most enchanting is the luxurious bathhouse of Qusayr ‘Amra, with its domed ceiling and colourful interior frescoes and mosaics, and is 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-preserved complex at Qastal.

Address: East and south of Amman; 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; Admission: No admission fee is required, but in some cases the castle may be locked and the caretaker will expect a tip to open it

Dead Sea

Situated about 28 miles (45km) from Amman, lies the famous geographic attraction known as the Dead Sea, which is the lowest point on earth at 1,335ft (407m) below sea level. Devoid of plant or animal life due the high salt concentration (four times saltier than normal sea water), 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 Suweimeh, where the Dead Sea Resthouse 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 Dead Sea Resthouse at Suweimeh; Admission: Swimming anywhere in the Dead Sea is free, but a fee of JD2 allows entry to the Dead Sea Resthouse where it is possible to swim as well as make use of their facilities, including showers

Mt Nebo

The most sacred site in Jordan, Mt 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, Mt 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.

Opening time: Daily 9am to 4pm; Admission: 500 fils

Tourist Attractions in Amman

Citadel Hill

From its position on top of a hill overlooking the city, the Citadel stands testament to the history of Amman, with its ancient ruins and excavated relics, alongside those from throughout the country, housed in the Jordan Archaeological Museum. 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.

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 Ammam. 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.

Address: Jabal al-Qala’a; Telephone: (0)6 463 8795 (museum); Opening time: Museum: Daily 9am to 5pm (winter), 9am to 7pm (summer); Friday hours are 10am to 6pm

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 Jordan churches.

Address: Quraysh Street, Downtown; Opening time: Jordan Folklore Museum: daily 9am to 5pm; Fridays 10am to 4pm. Museum of Popular Traditions: 9am to 5pm; closed Tuesdays

Church of St. George

The Greek Orthodox Church of St George is home to Madaba’s main attraction and most famous mosaic, the celebrated 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land. 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.

Adress: (Madaba Visitor’s Centre); Opening time: Daily 8.30am to 6pm, Friday and Sunday from 10am to 6pm; Admission: A small donation is requested

Amman Climate and Weather

July and August are the hottest and driest months of the year, especially in Amman and the Jordan Valley, and in the desert areas, with temperatures over 97°F (36°C). Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times to visit with clear, sunny days and moderate temperatures.

The winter months from November to April can be very cold, particularly in Amman, with snow, rain and wind, but there is little rainfall in the desert regions and in Aqaba, which makes a pleasant wintertime resort. About 75 percent of the country can be described as having a desert climate with very little annual rainfall.

Where to go in Amman

Blue Fig Cafe - catering to both old and young, this hip social atmosphere saciates your appetite for international food, beverages, local Argeelah, and music at all hours. This place is not to be missed if you are looking for a cross-cultural fusion…and if you like the art, inquire because it is for sale! Supporting other forms of local artists as well, Blue Fig hosts live music performances, especially young local emerging artists. Prices are very reasonable. Located south of Abdoun Circle, it is accessible by taxi.

The Nai Club and Restaurant - built as a ‘meze bar’ (meze meaning appetizer featuring some populars such as hummos and tabouleh) designed to evoke the 1920s to 1930s melange of Ottoman and European cultures, yet with a modern twist. It includes a changing schedule of live jazz, pop and rock music with an Arabic accent. Do not reserva a table unless money is not an issue as The Nai can be pricey. Located in Shmeisani.

The Buddha Bar - Home to Southeast Asian cuisine, listen to the famous rythems of the Buddha Bar as you enjoy an exotic cocktail. Opens at 7pm every night except Tuesdays. Some special features include a free drink for women on Ladies’ Night or half price off the next whiskey bottle on Men’s Night.

Other features in the past have been raffles for plane tickets or seasonal special events. Opens at 7pm every night except Tuesdays and conveniently located in Le Royal Hotel which offers a wide selection of bars and restaurants…one option is enjoying sushi at Samurai or a menu from China to India at Silk followed by dessert at The Buddha Bar!

Milano - If your weakness is good Italian pizza or hot subs, then reserve a table at Milano located in the heart of Shmeisani.

General Advice: Most places require reservations, so it’s never a bad idea to call ahead of time. For the most part, groups of people or couples are preferred over individuals, but for tourists it varies.

Nightlife and Entertainment in Amman

Amman offers a variety of high quality restaurants, with international menus as well as Middle Eastern offerings. Downtown coffee houses offering strong Arabic coffee and delicious pastries as well as an Argeelah, the traditional water pipe for flavored tobacco are common gathering places in Amman. Clubs and bars are also common throughout the city.

Amman has diverse shopping opportunities from haute couture from Paris and traditional dress from the Bedouin tribes people. Craft shops sell a variety of hand made items, including jewelry, sand painting, hand blown glassware, and hand stitched fabrics. Amman’s downtown gold market is located in the center of the city on narrow walkways lined with small shops.

Here the price of gold is sold at a fixed rate per gram, based on the current world market. While bargaining is no longer as common in Amman, keepers of the downtown souvenir shops will still haggle with tourists over price

Religion and Demographics

Jordan prides itself on its diverse population and the religious and cultural freedom and rights provided to all its citizens. All religious, cultural and ethnic groups in Jordan have the right to form their own associations and participate in their own cultural rituals

Sunni Muslims make up more than 92% of Jordan’s population, and thus dominate Amman’s population. Around 6% of Jordanians are Christians, who predominantly belong to the Greek Orthodox Church, although other denominations are also present. Shi’a and Druze populations make up a small part of Jordan’s population.

Jordan’s 5.2 million people, and thus the majority of Amman’s population is made up of Arabs who have migrated from many different areas of the world over the past centuries.

Husseini Mosque

There are three main groups of Jordan’s population: the Circassians, the Palestinians, and the Bedouins. Many Jordanians in Amman are of Palestinian origin, many of whom have been forced from their homeland by the violent Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Jordan was the only Arab state to grant all Palestinians the right to Jordaniancitizenship during the 1948 and 1967 Palestinian wars with Israel. Currently, there are close to 1.4 million Palestinian refugees living in Jordan.

Palestinian Refugee Camp Outside Amman

Circassians are a non-Arab Islamic people that began to arrive in Amman in 1878 from the Caucasus region of western Asian. The Circassians have settled in Amman and other parts of Northern Jordan due to Southward Russian expansion during the 19th century. Today, it is estimated that from 20,000 to 80,000 people of Circassian origin live in Jordan.

While the typically well-educated Circassian population is engaged in a variety of economic sectors and professions, they are strongly represented in the army and government, and currently constitute King Hussein’s ceremonial guard.

People of Bedouin origin (which comes form the Arabic word Bedu, meaning “desert dweller") make up the majority of Jordan’s population but do not make up a large component of Amman. People of Bedouin origin tend to live in the desert areas of Eastern and Southern Jordan. The Bedouins live in agricultural communities or travel in nomadic clans that travel the desert.

Economy of Amman

Amman serves as Jordan’s commercial, industrial and administrative center. Important industries in Amman include the manufacturing of tobacco products, textiles, batteries, leather products, ties and cement and the processing of food products.

Petroleum refining and the extraction of phosphate are also important industries. The growth of Jordan’s economy in the past decade has been due in large part to the subsidized oil the country receives.

Amman has diverse shopping opportunities from haute couture from Paris and traditional dress from the Bedouin tribes people. Craft shops sell a variety of hand made items, including jewelry, sand painting, hand blown glassware, and hand stitched fabrics.

Amman’s downtown gold market is located in the center of the city on narrow walkways lined with small shops. Here the price of gold is sold at a fixed rate per gram, based on the current world market. While bargaining is no longer very common in Amman, keepers of the downtown souvenir shops will still haggle with tourists over prices.