Amman City Guide

Jordan

Amman City Guide

Amman Governorate

Amman is Jordan's capital, built on hills with a mix of ancient sites and modern life. It’s a key cultural and economic center in the Middle East. The city is lively and welcoming, but traffic and hills can slow you down.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Excellent
8

Local favorites are Mansaf, Falafel, and Shawarma. There's also a variety of international food. Many places stay open late. Vegan and vegetarian options are increasing.

Local Dishes:
Mansaf, Falafel, Hummus, Shawarma
International Cuisine:
Italian, Chinese, American, Indian
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
7

Nightlife includes bars, pubs, and shisha lounges mainly in Abdoun, Rainbow Street, and Weibdeh areas.

Coffee Culture
Excellent
8

Coffee culture is strong, mixing traditional Arabic coffee with modern specialty cafes.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping of 10% is customary in restaurants. Rounding up fares is common for taxis. Small tips are standard for other services.

Top Attractions
Roman Theatre
Historical
Ancient Roman-era theatre in the city center.
Citadel
Historical
Historic site with ruins and views over Amman.
Rainbow Street
Cultural
Popular street with shops, cafés, and nightlife.
King Abdullah I Mosque
Religious
Large blue-domed mosque open to visitors.
SIM Cards

SIMs available at airport and provider stores like Zain, Orange, and Umniah. Passport required for activation.

Available at:
Zain official stores
Orange official stores
Umniah official stores
Queen Alia International Airport
Recommended Apps
Careem(Transport)
Uber(Transport)
Talabat(Food)
OpenSooq(Shopping)
Google Maps(Navigation)
WhatsApp(Communication)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Good
6

Cleanliness varies by area with regular waste pickup in residential neighborhoods.

24/7 Services
Good
7

Pharmacies, minimarts, and some clinics are open 24/7. Late-night street food is common.

Groceries
Carrefour
Miles
C-Town

International goods are in supermarkets like Carrefour and Miles. Fresh markets offer local produce and bargaining is common there.

Cashless Payments
Cash preferred

Cards work in big hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets. Smaller places and taxis mostly use cash.

ATMs

ATMs are everywhere, mainly at banks and malls. International cards usually incur a fee around 3-7 JOD per withdrawal.

Schools
International

International schools include Amman Baccalaureate, American Community, and International Community School. Instruction is mainly English.

Available Schools:
Amman Baccalaureate School
American Community School
International Community School

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
7
Available Spaces:
The Tank
Modern space with good Wi-Fi and 24/7 access for members.
24/7 Access
TechWorks
Collaborative environment with meeting rooms.
The Office
Affordable co-working with day passes available.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Excellent
Books@Cafe
Quiet cafe with reliable Wi-Fi and good coffee.
Turtle Green Tea Bar
Relaxed atmosphere and strong internet.
Wild Jordan Center
Good work vibe and views.
Alternatives:
Greater Amman Municipality Libraries
Quiet spots, sometimes with Wi-Fi.
Hotel lobbies
Comfortable seating and Wi-Fi for quiet work.
Digital Nomad Community
Limited
5

The nomad community is growing with events and co-living spaces. Cafes with Wi-Fi are common.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Good
6

Parks like King Hussein and Al Hussein Public Parks offer green spaces and paths for exercise.

Running
Good
6

Good routes include King Hussein Park and marathon paths. Safety is good in busy areas.

Gyms
Available

Gyms are modern with various equipment and classes.

Available Gyms:
Gold's Gym
Fitness First
Amman Martyrs Park Gym
Tennis
Good
6

Tennis and padel courts are available in sports clubs and parks like Amman Martyrs Park.

Padel
Good
6

Padel courts can be found at sports clubs around the city.

Yoga
Good
7

Yoga studios offer various styles with many English-speaking instructors.

Martial Arts
Good
6

Dojo options include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and boxing. English-speaking trainers available.

Skiing
Poor
0

No ski resorts in Jordan.

Water Sports
Limited
4

Water sports like kayaking and paddleboarding are mostly at the Dead Sea or Aqaba.

Surfing
Poor
0

No surfing spots in Amman or nearby.

Diving
Poor
3

Diving is available in Aqaba, a 4-5 hour drive from Amman, with good visibility and marine life.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Good
7

Private hospitals like Abdali and Specialty have English-speaking staff. Pharmacies are numerous and many open late or 24/7.

Hospitals:
Abdali Medical Center
Specialty Hospital
Pharmacies:
Local pharmacies
Chain pharmacies
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is safe but many prefer bottled water for taste.

Common Scams
Taxi overcharging without meter, Pressured souvenir sales, Ask to take photo then blame damage, Bird poop paste scam to distract and pickpocket, Being led to overpriced bars via dating apps

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Good
7

Parks and playgrounds are common. Attractions like Children's Museum and indoor play areas keep kids entertained.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Poor
3

Jordan is conservative with limited protections and acceptance for LGBTQ+. Public displays are discouraged.

Pet Friendly
Good
6

Pet-friendly places vary. Vet services are good. Some parks allow pets but dedicated pet parks are few.

Communities
Expats in Amman (Social)
Digital Nomads Jordan (Work)
Amman Foodies (Food)
What's Up Amman (Events)
Jordan Tourism Board (Official)

Quick Facts

Population
4,007,526
Power Reliability
Excellent
8/10

Power supply is mostly stable with only short outages sometimes.

Beach Access
Available

The Dead Sea is about an hour’s drive. It has unique mineral-rich waters but no sandy swimming beaches.

Mountains
Available

Amman is hilly, with hiking spots nearby like Ajloun and Wadi Mujib.

Languages
Arabic(100%)
English(70%)
Emergency
911
General Emergency

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
Low Risk
4

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme Heat
June, July, August
Summers are hot with temperatures often above 30°C.
Dust Storms
March, April, May
Dust storms sometimes occur in spring and early summer.

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