Amman Jordan One Day Itinerary
Amman, Jordan
The Perfect One Day Itinerary
When traveling to Jordan, many travelers skip over the capital city and head right to Petra or Wadi Rum. And while these sights were also my favorite in the country, I found exploring Amman to be super worthwhile as well.
From great culinary experiences to history dating back thousands of years, this city is sure to delight and surprise you. Just follow the itinerary below for an amazing day, ejoy Amman!
One day Amman itinerary overview:
- Start your morning at the Citadel
- Walk to the Roman Theater – don’t miss the smaller theater to the left of the main one!
- Visit the King Abdullah I Mosque
- For lunch: Hashem *no menu but great local fare!
- Shop downtown on King Faisal Street in Al Balad district
- Afternoon coffee or shisha Al Mamlakeh Restaurant *Restaurant just above Hashem with pink flowers
- Head to Rainbow Street
- Happy hour with city views at La Calle
- Sunset rooftop and drinks at Cantaloupe Gastro Pub
- Late night shisha/drinks at Talet Al-Jabal Restaurant
Check out my TikTok video with the full itinerary breakdown here:
Amman One Day Itinerary
Start Your Morning at the Citadel
Begin your morning at the citadel. You’ll need the Jordan Pass to enter. The Jordan Pass will double as your visa and should be bought before you arrive in Jordan to avoid paying for the entry visa at the airport.
The citadel was largely destroyed by an earthquake but the ruins are still quite expansive. What’s fascinating is the mix of cultures and religions.
You will see Islamic ruins and Christian churches side by side. You can cover the whole area and the small museum onsite in an hour.
Walk to Odeon Theater aka the Roman Theater
After you explore Citadel Hill, walk down to the Roman Theater. It’s about 20 minutes on foot and all downhill. But you could also hop in a cab for cheap. Jordan is an expensive country but Uber and taxis are surprisingly inexpensive!
Again you’ll need the Jordan pass to enter here. There is a small museum onsite with Bedouin artifacts.
And don’t miss the smaller Roman Theater to the left of the main, larger one.
Visit King Abdullah I Mosque aka the Blue Mosque
When you’ve finished at the Roman Theater, either walk 40 minutes (it’s a great way to see the city!) or hop in one of the many taxis out front of the theater and go to the King Abdullah I Mosque.
Ladies, you’ll need to have your hair fully covered in addition to your arms and legs. However, if you don’t have the proper covering, they will provide you with the necessary robe upon arrival.
For lunch: Hashem
For lunch, you can’t miss the local fare at Hashem! This restaurant has no menu but servers will gladly help you order. It’s all Middle Eastern food so think falafel, hummus, and pita bread.
There is usually a line for a table but they turn over quickly. They have both indoor and outdoor seating and the location is prime so it makes for great people watching!
It’s right on the main street of downtown so its central location is perfect for going shopping on the main street afterward.
Shop downtown on King Faisel Street
The shops in downtown are lively and fun to walk around!
It’s a more boisterous neighborhood than the posh Rainbow Road.
Afternoon coffee or shisha at Al Mamlakeh
Once you’re done shopping, head back to the restaurant above Hashem to have an afternoon coffee or smoke a shisha.
It has nice views over the main street and very “Instagrammable” decorations with pink flowers and swings. You can’t miss it!
To enter, go through the entrance to Hashem and go up the stairs on the right.
Walk to Rainbow Street for cute shops & restaurants
Rainbow Street is a great area of Amman full of posh shops, rooftops bars and trendy cafes. The entire street is very walkable. Be sure to check out the side street as well.
If you’re looking for a great spot, check out Books@Cafe. This trendy spot is part art gallery, bookstore, bar, and restaurant with great views! They also do an awesome brunch. They have two locations but I highly recommend the one on Rainbow Road.
Happy hour with city views at La Calle
While Cantaloupe Gastro Pub is the real star of the Rainbow Street rooftops, it doesn’t open until 5pm. But next door, La Calle is open for happy hour starting at noon.
So if you are arriving for sunset & Cantaloupe isn’t open yet (especially in the winter) you can pop into La Calle first. They also have a nice rooftop, although it is small.
Just keep in mind, that drinks are expensive in Jordan. Be prepared to pay Western prices.
Cantaloupe Gastro Pub for sunset rooftop and drinks
This is the perfect sunset spot on Rainbow Street!
Whether you just want apps, drinks, or a full dinner…this place has good service, tasty food, and unbeatable views of the city!
Shop my Jordan favorites:
More on the Middle East: EGYPT- 18 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Amman Jordan One Day Itinerary
Hi,
I will be travelling to Lebanon soon and I have a layover in Amman for 17:45 hours. Your blog has motivated me to explore Amman during my transit.
Kindly confirm, how much does one need for this one day exploration of Amman? Also, do I need to apply for transit visa or is it available at the airport itself?
Thanks,
Bhupinder Mohan Rari