Amman is the starting point for most tourists visiting Jordan, it’s Jordan’s capital city and a melting pot of cultural experiences. From traditional houses to luxurious five-stars hotels, Amman is a great place to explore.
If you only have one day in Amman, I prepared the best itinerary for you! It includes must-see tourist attractions, awesome restaurants and amazing viewpoints. I can guarantee that you won’t get bored.
I spent one week in Jordan and two full days in Amman. I had enough time to explore the city and discover everything it has to offer. Here is my Amman one-day itinerary.
1. Is one day in Amman enough?
24 hours in Amman is enough time to explore the main sights and tourist attractions. It’s a big city, but luckily all the main attractions are located in the same area, making it easy to walk between them.
I recommend spending one night in the city and planning an entire day to explore Amman. Start your trip early in the morning and you’ll have enough time to visit all the main attractions in Amman.
If you don’t feel like climbing up the hills (summer days are extremely hot), I recommend using Uber. The fares are affordable, but the traffic is a bit of a nightmare.
2. Things to know before visiting Amman
Here are a few things you should consider before visiting Amman:
- Dress appropriately – The majority of Jordanian people are Muslim. Dress conservatively and cover your shoulders and knees. Avoid short skirts or pants and crop tops. Read more here.
- Stay hydrated – Summer days are extremely hot. Also, don’t forget to apply sunscreen!
- Bargaining is ok – When shopping for souvenirs, don’t be afraid to bargain.
- The locals are kind and welcoming – Even when going to the supermarket, I was amazed to be welcomed so warmly. The locals would tell me “Welcome to Jordan” or “Thanks for visiting Jordan, I hope you have a great time” every time they met me. This was one of the highlights of my trip to Jordan.
3. Amman day trip – things to do in one day
I love that all the must-see tourist attractions in the city are located close to one another. However, keep in mind that Amman is built on hills, and in order to get to some of the attractions, you’ll have to hike a bit. That’s why I recommend wearing comfortable shoes when exploring Amman.
3.1 Amman Rainbow Street
The day starts in the heart of Amman. Amman stretches on seven hills, also known as districts and The Rainbow Street is located in the Jebel Amman district. This place is famous for its restaurants, cafes and funky decorations.
Take a walk on the streets, admire de funky cafes and stop for breakfast at Nabteh O Fatteh and try their delicious traditional meals.
- Opening hours – 24/ 7
- Entrance fee – free
3.2 Grand Husseini Mosque
Walk for about 15 minutes downhill to Grand Husseini Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Amman. The mosque is located at the intersection of 2 busy roads, in the heart of the city. It’s pretty amazing to see the Jordanians’ daily life unfold right in front of your eyes.
If you want to enter the mosque, make sure that you’re dressed appropriately (cover your shoulders and knees). This applies to both women and men.
- Opening hours – 9 am to 7 pm
- Entrance fee – free
3.3. Souq Bukharia
Right across the street from Grand Husseini Mosque is Souq Bukharia, the perfect place to shop for souvenirs in Amman. Even if you’re spending just one day in Amman, you have to make time for shopping.
In this souq, you’ll find traditional clothes, art pieces, decorations and all kinds of colorful trinkets. Plan at least half an hour to explore this place.
- Opening hours – morning till noon
- Entrance fee – free
3.4 Roman Theatre
We’ll continue our one-day Amman itinerary with a stop at the incredible Roman Theatre. If you’re holding a Jordan pass, the entrance is free. Otherwise, the entrance costs 2 Jod per person.
Dating from the 2nd century, the Roman Theatre could seat about 6,000 people. Nowadays, the theatre is sometimes used for cultural events and it’s an important landmark in Amman.
When you enter the site, you can also visit the Folklore Museum and the Jordanian Museum of Popular Traditions. These museums are rather small but they display amazing traditional objects that help you imagine the traditional Jordanian way of living.
- Opening hours – 8 am to 8 pm
- Entrance fee – 2 Jod, free for Jordan Pass holders
3.5 Amman Citadel
You can’t visit Amman without stopping and admiring the Amman Citadel. The ruins here are incredible and most structures present here are from the Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad periods. My favorite site was the Temple of Hercules.
Apart from its incredible history, the citadel offers some of the best views over Amman. Plan at least one hour to explore the Amman Citadel. At the entrance you’ll be approached by guides who’ll offer to give you more information about this place, but you can definitely explore the site on your own.
- Opening hours – 8 am to 4 pm
- Entrance fee – 2 Jod, free for Jordan Pass holders
3.6 Hashem Restaurant Down Town
By the time you’ll finish exploring the citadel, you’ll be hungry. Stop at Amman’s most famous restaurant – Hashem. Located in a small courtyard near the main street, this restaurant serves delicious traditional food at affordable prices.
I recommend ordering a menu that includes a few traditional dishes such as hummus, salads, falafel and more. An entire menu costs only a few euros and the food is incredible! I ate here on my last day in Jordan and I loved it!
- Opening hours – 24 hours
3.7 The Duke’s Diwan
Our Amman one-day itinerary continues with The Duke’s Diwan, a traditional Jordanian home that gives you a glimpse into how the Jordanian people used to live.
This place is free to visit and the apartment’s rooms are filled with old furniture, decorations and news articles. I really loved this place – it’s an oasis of culture and history in the middle of Amman’s chaotic streets.
- Opening hours – 10 am to 5 pm
- Entrance fee – free
3.8 Habibah Sweets
Let’s end the day with something sweet. Habibah Sweets sells the most delicious Kenafah I’ve ever tried! This dessert is made from pastry soaked in sugary syrup and layered with cheese. Trust me, it’s amazing!
- Opening hours – 9 am to 12 pm
4. Where to stay in Amman
I chose to stay at W Amman, one of the best hotels in the city. It was not my first stay at a W Hotel (I also stayed at W Singapore) so I knew that the amenities are impeccable. The hotel is located in a good location and the rooms are huge and well-equipped.
If you’re looking for more affordable options, here are some recommendations:
- Budget – Nomads Hotel – excellent location, friendly staff, clean rooms, breakfast included
- Mid-Range – Amman International Hotel – beautiful pool, modern and spacious rooms, free parking, great amenities
5. Final thoughts
Spending at least a day in Amman is a must when visiting Jordan. I know that there are many beautiful places in Jordan but don’t skip its capital city. It has a lot to offer in terms of history, culture and cuisine.
I liked wandering the chaotic streets of Amman and shopping for souvenirs in its busy markets. Also, I loved its historical sites and welcoming people.
I hope that this Amman one-day itinerary helped you plan your trip. Also, don’t forget to also include Petra, the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum on your itinerary!
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask me in the comments section below. May the travel bug bite you!
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Aurelia Teslaru is a professional travel blogger and the writer behind Daily Travel Pill. With a 4-year experience as a travel writer and photographer, Aurelia only shares travel guides about destinations that she visited.
She has been to more than 40 countries during the past 10 years and aims to explore 50 countries before turning 30 years old. Aurelia is a digital nomad who transformed her passion for travel into a lifestyle. Read more about her here.
To follow her adventures, check out her Instagram and Facebook pages!
Very helpful, thank you! (Headed to Amman in 2 days)