amman jordan food tour

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Amman Food Tour - Secret Food Tours

During your Amman stay, you deserve to find exceptional dining. Discover it via one of our Amman secret food tours.

In Jordan's capital, options modern foodies adore dance near traditional dishes that were perfected centuries ago. Our Amman food tours let you access wonders of the city's dining landscape that other visitors to Amman simply cannot attain. Whether you prefer restaurant dining or street vendors' fare, your palate will connect with the unique flavors our Amman tours offer.

When you look back on your memories of Amman, you should smile. Our exceptional Amman secret food tours will help you do that to a grand degree. Book your Amman food tours today to reserve the date and time you need!

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Amman Food Tours

Taste Your Way Through Jordan

Amman Evening Food Tour in the Old Downtown

Our 3 hour guided food tour offers the opportunity to try delicious Jordanian food, sample fresh juices, and explore downtown Amman with an expert local tour guide. The group is kept small to be able to walk the bustling streets of Amman and interact with locals without taking over the space. Private tours are also available.

What’s Included

• 10 tastings and treats including local juices, street foods, and desserts.
• Learn about food and coffee culture in Jordan from a local guide.
• Learn about Jordan’s most famous restaurants and experience what draws not only locals, but the Royal Family to dine.
• Visit the bustling fruit and vegetable market
• Pass by Amman’s oldest mosque
• Wander along Rainbow Street, the oldest street in Jabel Amman. It is full of old restaurants, shops and small museums.
• Sample popular fruit juices
• Visit some of Amman’s oldest restaurants
• Learn about the architecture of the city and how the old city differs from the rest of Amman.
• Try Jordan’s national dish, Mansaf and learn how locals and families dine on this favorite.
• A local guide will be with you for the entire tour to familiarize you with Amman and tell you stories of the city you would never uncover while traveling alone

Not Included:

• Travel Insurance
• Tips for Guide
• Items of a personal nature
• Hotel pickup or drop offs

Food Tour Notes:

This is a walking tour that starts and ends in downtown Amman.

Please advise of dietary restrictions before the tour so the tour guide can have alternate options available. We may not be able to substitute all samplings but will do our best. Jordanian food is consumed with a lot of bread (pita bread), dairy, and meat.

Comfortable shoes are suggested, expect mostly concrete with uneven cobblestones, some stairs and bustling streets.

Children are welcome on the tour.

Tours operate in all weather conditions so come prepared.

Ramadan in Jordan in 2024 is March 10nd to April 10th followed by Eid Al-Fitr holiday. There will be some modifications during Ramadan but tours will go ahead. Please note if you are booking during Ramadan , the evenings can be very busy in downtown areas. There is the possibility of having to wait for food etc which may impact the length of the tour. We do our best to ensure the restaurants know we are coming but they cannot always hold tables for us. Most places only offer walk-in service. Please be patient with our guides if restaurants are busy. Ramadan is a very festive time to be in Jordan.

TOUR START LOCATION: The tour begins at the “First Circle” at the entrance to Rainbow Street. You can find the location on Google Maps.

Evening Food Tour

Half Day Food Tour

Jerash Private Tour

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Private Tours

Private Tours are the perfect way to see Amman and beyond, your way. Private tours are fully customizable and can include multi-day tours throughout Jordan.

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3-Hours Guided Food Tour in Amman

• Amman Food Tours, Rainbow St., Amman, Jordan Guide will be waiting by the park benches at the entrance to Rainbow Street.
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travellers can participate
• This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Rainbow Street

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Amman Food Tours Rainbow St., Amman, Jordan Guide will be waiting by the park benches at the entrance to Rainbow Street. See address & details
• 1 Rainbow Street Stop: 60 minutes See details
• 2 Amman Stop: 2 hours See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• pattersmcd 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Exploring Amman's culinary highlights with Jumana We enjoyed a fantastic evening exploring some of the best food spots in Amman with the incredible Jumana. I particularly loved that this ranged from a decades-old falafel spot to an innovative ice cream startup a young local entrepreneur set up. Jumana seemed to know everyone and brought the city alive by skilfully weaving stories and anecdotes into the evening that intertwined Amman's history, culture, and food. The tour was quite filling (there was a lot of food!). The long walk back to our hotel proved to be a blessing. Pro tip - skip at least one meal earlier in the day. As a food tour fan, this is one of the best we've experienced, and we highly recommend it. Read more Written 18 March 2024
• U8473XZchristinej 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful experience, excellent guide We had an absolutely excellent time on our Amman food tour, with Jumana - a super guide, very friendly and knowledgeable - and very good company. We learned so much and enjoyed discovering so many fantastic things to eat - while she helped us negotiate places we would not have been brave enough or have the language to try ourselves. Cannot recommend this tour highly enough! Read more Written 3 March 2024
• wareh2018 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great way to experience, Amman and the areas nearby! An excellent experience! Our guide was a very safe responsible driver. Although the ruins were impressive, the highlight of the tour was the city food tour. We had a surprisingly adventurous lunch, where we got to experience the dash countryside and a local dish. We highly recommend this experience and our guide,Jumana. She is well-known in the Amman downtown area, which made the experience even more delightful. Read more Written 19 February 2024
• Hunter59601 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Good tour. Very personable. Good English. Recommended Jumana was great. Knowledgable about the foods and a nice touch of culture and history as well. Her english is good. Very pleasant. Highly recommended. Read more Written 18 January 2024
• Y8906OZrobertt 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles What a day! Jerash and Ajloun. This was yet another incredible experience all thanks to Jumana who was so knowledgeable about everything we saw and made the history come alive. Once again our 7-year old was kept entertained and loved the castle. Our lunch just outside Ajloun was somewhere we could never have found or known about without Jumana. We watched breads being made and then ate a fabulous meal set against a beautiful backdrop. We enjoyed the changing landscapes as we drove and watched the sun go down over Amman as we returned. By then we felt that Jumana had become less of a guide and more of a friend. Read more Written 4 January 2024
• Themedic 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome Amman Fantastic day spent with Jumana. She was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and took us to some amazing food stations! The highlight was the sweet market for me!!! Read more Written 12 November 2023
• pmrosello 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Full and Fun!! We met Jumana at the Citadel and also stopped at the amphitheater. Jumana provided great explanations of history. Be careful... all food stops were bountiful and delicious but I really enjoyed the market. ADVICE: go hungry and pace yourself. Jumana, thank you for sharing your Amman with us and we enjoyed your company and sense of humor! Read more Written 11 May 2023
• Jill F 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Don’t miss the city and food tour We did the city and food tour for 1/2 day with Jumana and it was fantastic. She was so knowledgeable in both history and the food We went through the market and got the full experience. I would highly recommend Read more Written 7 May 2023
• Jomumjo 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Not just a Food Tour. Culture too. Not just a food tour. Jumana took us first to the Citadel then to the Roman Theatre. Both very interesting and worth seeing with someone who knows the history. Then the food! So much, so varied. Had not tried green cherries or fresh almonds before. After that appetiser it was time for the main event. Warning- do not fill up on the bread as there are plenty more courses to come. And while strolling from one venue to the next, discover the Jordanian culture from what's on offer at the many street stalls. Read more Written 2 May 2023
• petercG5923AC 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The food tour was amazing The food tour was amazing, I will be posting comments on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, Jumana our guide was very informative and knowledgeable, she not only knew the food but she also was very informative about Jordanian history and Jordanian life in general, we will recommend Food Tours and Jumana to anybody that ask. Read more Written 8 June 2022
• 311gracier 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Must do The best way to experience the food & culture of Amman! Awad is a great guide & very friendly & knowledgeable. Tried so many different foods - make sure to come on an empty stomach! Highly recommend. Read more Written 17 May 2022

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Jordanian Food Tour

Tour details:, technical details.

1/2 Food tour in Amman

Important information.

We maintain small group sizes to navigate Amman's lively streets, engaging with locals without overcrowding. Private tours are also an option for a more personalized experience.

This tour may include other people who are interested in joining this group

This tour may cancel due to any conditions we see it is not feasible to run

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Guided Street Food Tour Amman

1 Day | 0 Night

Tour Description

• Private historical and culinary tour in Amman.
• A passionate and experienced local English speaking guide.
• 6 stops for authentic tasting locations (food or drinks).
• Insight about Jordanian food and culture.
• Experience local daily life.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 amman street food and walking tour     5 stops.

Amman Citadel

Roman Theater

Rainbow Street

Second Circle

• Escorting English speaking tour guide.
• Private transfers in new, a/c vehicle.
• Entrance fees Amman Citadel and Roman Theatre.
• Local food tastings.
•  Travel Insurance. 
•  Tips and private expenses.  

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Why You Should Take a Food Tour In Amman

When you travel to Jordan, it is full of authentic experiences. Right off the plane, if you have booked a tour, your guide will more than likely be a local Jordanian. If you are traveling independently, your car rental will have local workers, as will your hotel front desk. While Jordan does have some foreign workers, they do not typically work in tourism. When you visit Jordan, those you interact with were likely born and raised in Jordan. When you take a food tour in Amman with Amman Food Tours, not only are you getting a local who was born and raised in Amman, you are hiring an experienced female guide (names Jumana) who receives gainful employment from you.

When you think about travel, sometimes budget is at the top of your mind. But when you travel to emerging destinations, think about how far your dollar goes to support the local economy. This is not a cruise port where the cruise ship gets all of the money. On an Amman food tour, you are directly supporting a local.

You can book a  tour online  to experience a deep dive into the food culture in Amman. Start with a typical staple, manaqish, as well as a falafel sandwich. These are things that local Jordanians eat every day! Continue your tour into the fruit and veggie market, where many locals prefer to shop in the market for veggies and meat instead of grocery stores. (Yes Jordan also has grocery stores). Your tour also includes  mansaf  a bedouin dish that is often referred to as the national dish of Jordan. It is comparable to how many Canadian and Americans and Brits think of Turkey dinner!

Yes, it will 100%bbe cheaper to walk around Amman yourself, but think about how valuable it is to locals when you spend your money in their country.

Plus, Jumana gets rave reviews on Tripadvisor ! All of her guests offer positive feedback and many experienced travelers remark that this is the best food tour they have taken in the world! If you are planning a trip to Jordan, put a tour with Amman Food Tours on your to do list in Amman!

Here are some photos of me on tour in Amman:

Booking Info For Amman Food Tours:

Website: https://ammanfoodtours.com

Schedule: daily departures

Time: 5:00pm or 6:00pm (depending on the season)

Price: from $80

Lindsay fell in love with Jordan when she first visited in 2016. She now goes back every year to explore more of this special place. Lindsay is also the owner of Amman Food Tours , a social enterprise that is women-owned and hires local female guides. This project provides meaningful employment for women in Amman.

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Total USD $ 366 Deposit Now USD $366

• Wear comfortable walking shoes and from spring to autumn you need sun protection. 
• To respect the local culture cover knees and shoulders and avoid tight fitting clothes.
• Inform us about any diet or food allergies in advance.
• The tour is not possible during Ramadan, expected to last in 2023 from 22 March to 21 April.
• The tour is not recommended for expectant mothers.  

- After booking the tour with us online, one of our consultants will get in touch within 24 hours. You need to pay then a 25% deposit by credit card or by bank transfer. The full payment is due latest 09 days before tour start. Cancellations or changes need to be sent in written form. Charges are as follows: • 100% of the total price of the trip for cancellations or changes made 08 to 01 days before departure or no show. - For refunds we do not cover transaction fees charged by credit card companies and banks.

Payment Options

Days : 1 | Nights : 0

• Private transfers.
• Escorting tour guide
• Bottled water in vehicle.
• Free WiFi in vehicle.
• Local food tastings.
•  Travel Insurance. 
•  Tips and private expenses. 

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• Bangkok Food Tour
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These meals will make you want to travel, just to eat!

Prepare yourself to drool over these 41 meals, each featuring mouthwatering photos, details, and where you can eat it.

I've also included some of my personal travel eating tips and answered some of your top questions... like "Mark, how do you make money to travel?".

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Amman travel guide for food lovers

If you love Arabic food, warm friendly hospitality, and a mix of both modern and ancient history, you’re going to love Jordan!

Home to nearly half the population, Amman is the biggest, busiest, and most energetic city in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Although many travelers only remain in the city for a day or two before traveling to some of the more famous sites like Petra or the Dead Sea, I really enjoyed staying in Amman, and I think it’s a city that’s well worth exploring for a few extra days, or even a week if you have the time (especially if you love food).

In this Amman travel guide for food lovers, I’m going to share with you a little bit about where my wife and I stayed, what we did, and some of the top restaurants we tried during our trip to Amman.

Arriving and Leaving Amman

Queen Alia International Airport , the main Amman international airport is located about 30 km from Amman city center. My wife and I flew directly from Bangkok to Amman on Royal Jordanian.

The easiest way to get to the city is by taxi at the official taxi stand at the airport. Fare should cost 22 – 25 JD and the journey takes about 30 minutes depending on traffic.

Jordan visa:

Tourist visas cost 40 JD (about $56) for single entry and they are available upon arrival at the airport for many nationalities.

You can use this link to see if you qualify for a visa on arrival, or this for US citizens .

Safety traveling to Jordan

I usually don’t get into safety information all that much in my city travel guides , mainly because safety and traveling is such a relative subject, but for visiting Amman (and for traveling in Jordan in general), I thought I’d quickly share my thoughts.

Jordan is known for being one of the most politically stable, modern, and progressive countries in the Middle East. Yet due to their geographic location, surrounded by Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Palestine, and Israel, Jordan’s safety doesn’t always get the best international view.

For what it’s worth, my wife and I experienced no safety issues when we traveled in Jordan, and I never felt threatened or fearful of security during our visit. Additionally, I thought Jordan took thorough security measures, especially in tourist destinations and attractions.

For females, I don’t really have a full say as I can’t speak from any experience, but from what I observed, and from how my wife felt, I think overall women are treated respectfully in Jordan. You’ll see plenty of women walking and hanging out on the streets of Amman, both with and without a hijab or head covering, and there’s not a strict policy on this issue.

What’s most likely to happen when to you travel to Jordan, is that people say hello, offer you food and tea, and show their genuine hospitality and generosity.

However, you can think about safety and traveling in two ways: think you’re either safe anywhere you go, or think you’re not safe anywhere you go – and both could be true for any destination in the world. It’s mostly up to you how you view it.

It is a good idea to read up on safety information , keep alert, and follow current events, but for myself, I would not let safety concern deter me from visiting Jordan.

Where To Stay In Amman?

Amman is a large modern Middle Eastern city, and there are plenty of places to consider staying when you visit.

• La Locanda Boutique Hotel – For my entire stay in Amman, my wife and I stayed at La Locanda, one of the only boutique hotels in the city. Along with being clean, what I also really liked about it was its location – just a short walk from downtown Amman (not far from the Amman Citadel), and within an old neighborhood (Jebel Al Weibdeh) of the city that’s at the moment transforming back into a heritage trendy area of town. For a change from one of the major chain hotels, a place with character, I would recommend it. Only thing is that downstairs there is a bar, which can be a bit loud during the night (although I couldn’t hear anything in my room).
• For a budget option, you could try a place like Arabian Suites , decent apartment style rentals in a good location for a fair price. Nothing fancy but very suitable and more of an apartment style rather than a hotel.
• For luxury, Amman offers many of the major high end international brands like Four Seasons Amman  and  InterContinental Amman .

Also, take a look at the hotel selection on Booking.com for a wide range of hotels in Amman.

Personally I would recommend staying somewhere in the Jebel Al Weibdeh neighborhood – it’s an old area of Amman, but it’s making a comeback as a heritage and trendy area of town, with nice shops, cafes, and restaurants, and it’s just a short walk from downtown.

*NOTE : The links above are affiliate links, meaning if you book a hotel, at NO extra charge to you, I will receive a small commission – which will help me continue writing and publishing blogs like this. Thank you for your help!

Jordanian Food: My Favorite Dishes

When I visited Egypt a few years ago (which by the way I thoroughly enjoyed and loved the food there too), some of the Egyptian friends I made told me that you have to go to Jordan to eat the best falafel in the Middle East.

That was years before I knew I’d be taking a trip to Jordan.

Now, I can confirm.

Jordan truly has some of the world’s finest falafel, along with lots of other incredibly delicious things to eat.

Also check out my full Jordanian food guide here .

One of the things I immediately loved about eating Jordanian food in Amman is that due to its strategic position, at the crossroads between the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North Africa, and positioned within the Levant , there’s a huge diversity of food available.

This is by far not all the Jordanian dishes available or even an extensive list of what I ate, these are just a few of my personal favorites – the dishes I’d fly to Jordan just to eat:

• Falafel – Like I already mentioned, Jordan is known for having excellent falafel , which consist of ground chickpeas and spices, deep fried in little patties until golden brown and crispy. They are eaten plain or often stuffed into a sandwich for a common street food snacks.
• Fattet hummus – I know you’ve heard of hummus, and you’ll undoubtedly have some of the best hummus you’ve ever had in Jordan. But something I had never tried before visiting was fattet hummus, the combination of hummus with bread which is soaked into the hummus making the hummus more fluffy and not as dense. It’s amazing.
• Moutabel – When it comes to dipping dishes (part of the greater mezze spread), moutabel in Jordan was one of my favorites. The combination of creamy roasted eggplant, garlic, sesame paste, and olive oil is a flavor and texture that’s hard to beat.
• Manakish – Manakish is one of the staples of Levantine cuisine, and you’ll find it all over Amman, as a popular meal and snack. It’s sort of like a pizza, in that the base is a circle of dough, which is traditionally topped with olive oil and za’atar (a thyme herb mixture) and baked. They also have versions of manakish with halloumi cheese and egg that are also superb.
• Shish kebabs (kofte) – There are lots of wonderful vegetarian dishes in Jordan, but I have to admit I’m a meat lover, and few things satisfied me in Jordan more than shish kebabs. The minced meat, usually lamb or beef, is mixed with salt and parsley, formed into sausage shapes, and grilled over charcoal. The salty and fattiness of the meat brings out an incredible smokey taste.
• Kousa mahshi – For this excellent dish, which is common around the Levantine region, zucchini are hollowed out, stuffed with a combination of rice and minced lamb, then cooked for hours on low heat until they become fall apart tender and the lamb fat has fully flavored the entire dish. It’s also excellent with grape leaves.
• Maqluba – Literally translated to upside-down, maqluba is a dish that includes chicken and spices on the bottom of a pot, cooked with rice on the top. Once the dish is fully cooked, it’s flipped over onto a tray, so the rice goes to the bottom and the meat or chicken remains on top.
• Mansaf – Known as the national dish of Jordan, mansaf is a meal that totally sums up the culture of Jordan, its generosity and hospitality, and the love for lamb and yoghurt. The dish includes lamb that’s cooked until fall apart tender in jameed (a type of dry goat yoghurt made into a gravy), and served with rice, more jameed, and topped with pine nuts. What’s also fascinating is how mansaf is eaten, off a communal tray, with balls of lamb and rice rolled into ones hand, and consumed without touching your fingers to your mouth (might need to watch the video demonstration below for this one). It’s also customary for the host to feed guests!

It’s safe to say, you’re in for some good eating when you visit Jordan!

Restaurants and Street Food

Amman has a great selection of restaurants, ranging from hole in the wall spots to very nice relaxing and luxurious dining. There’s a decent selection of international food as well, but I focused all my attention of local Jordanian and surrounding regional food when I was there.

In this Amman travel guide, I’ve included some of the best restaurants I tried:

• Hashem Restaurant  – Visited by nearly every politician, famous person, and even Jordanian royal family members, Hashem Restaurant is one of Amman’s most popular and well known restaurants in downtown. They serve falafel (included the famous stuffed falafel), ful medames, moutabel, and some crazy good hummus. This place is also vegetarian .
• Falafel Al-Quds  – Meaning Jerusalem in Arabic, Falafel Al-Quds, located on Rainbow Street, serves only falfael sandwiches (you can’t even order plain falafel), and they are some of the best falafel I had in all of Amman. The sandwiches come in a sesame seed bun, filled with falafel, tomatoes, and seasoned with tahini.
• Salaheddin Bakery  – This is one of the oldest bakeries in Amman, and I think it’s almost safe to say that the majority of Amman agrees that they make one of the best sesame seed rolls in the city. It’s an awesome place, you walk in, grab a fresh roll, fill it with hard baked eggs, cheese, and a pinch of salt and za’atar, and eat. It was incredible.
• Shawarma Reem  – When it comes to beef and lamb shawarma, one of the Amman standards is Reem. Their meat is sliced thin so it’s both juicy and crispy, salty and a bit citrusy. Wrapped in a fresh pita, and combined with tahini, onions, and tomatoes, it was incredibly good.
• Al Osrah Restaurant  – If you’re looking for local Jordanian comfort dishes, Al Osrah is neighborhood winner. They have a huge selection of different dishes like an excellent fattet hummus (hummus with bread in it), chicken liver sautéed in oil and lemon juice, and wonderful ful medames.
• Habibah Sweets  – Located in downtown Amman, Habibah Sweets is an institution for kanafeh, a wildly popular cheese based dessert. You buy a piece and can then sit and eat it around the downtown patio area.
• Shams El Balad Cafe  – I really enjoyed this place, it’s a cross between a cafe and restaurant, but it has a real home feel to it. They serve mostly local, organic, and healthy Jordanian food, including seasonal specials. Both the indoor, and the outdoor patio section overlooking downtown Amman, are lovely.
• Rakwet Arab Cafe – On my last day in Amman, my wife and I were just walking around the Paris Circle, and found Rakwet Arab Cafe, a restaurant, and shisha cafe. The food, including tabbouleh, mixed grill, and chicken in a claypot, was all excellent, as was the Arabic coffee and shisha I enjoyed post meal.
• Tawaheen Al Tawa  – This is one of the largest restaurants in Amman, and while I saw some tour groups here as well, it’s also extremely popular with local Jordanians. They have two specialities, barbecue meat like shish kebabs, and they serve an awesomely delicious mansaf – something you don’t want to miss eating when you’re in Amman. Eating mansaf at Tawaheen Al Tawa was one of my favorite experiences within this Amman travel guide.
• Sufra Restauran t  – If you’re looking for a higher end restaurant that serve top-notch Jordanian food, Sufra is an excellent place. The venue, situated in an old heritage home on Rainbow street, paired with delicious food, makes it a fantastic restaurant. I especially loved the kofta bi tahini , minced meat with tahini and potatoes, and the sajieh chicken, chicken braised in olive oil and all spice.

These are just a few of the best restaurants I personally ate at while in Amman – you can check out many more Jordanian food suggestions on my full Amman food guide .

Latest Jordan blog posts:

Here are some of the latest restaurants and articles I have blogged about from my Jordan trip:

Legendary Amman Street Food at Hashem Restaurant

22 Comments

There’s a reason why nearly every diplomat, celebrity, and Royal family member that has passed through Amman has enjoyed a meal at Hashem Restaurant: They’ve been serving delicious Jordanian food since 1952. Hashem Restaurant, located in downtown Amman, is one…

Jordanian Food: 25 of the Best Dishes You Should Eat

222 Comments

There’s a quote in Jordan and the Middle East that says something along the lines of: “Even when you’re full, you can still always eat 40 more bites of food.” And I believe it’s not nearly as shallow as just eating until you are stuffed, and then…

One of Amman’s Best Sesame Bread Sandwiches

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Before you ever arrive at the bakery… …In every direction within about a 500 meter radius, you’ll see people walking down the sidewalk, or driving in their cars, their faces stuffed into crusty sesame bread sandwiches. And you’ll know immediately, they…

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Things To Do In Amman

Food is the main reason you and I travel, but sometimes we have a little extra time beyond food, so in this Amman travel guide, here are a few of the things you can consider doing when you’re in Amman… but I know eating is your priority!

• Amman Citadel – Amman has an ancient history, and the citadel, located on the hill above modern downtown, is evidence of the layers of history and civilizations that have called Amman home. One of the highlights of visiting the Amman Citadel is the Temple of Hercules , and although only the foundation, a few of the columns, and the hand of Hercules remains, it’s one of the most significant and recognized ruins at the site. There are also amazing views of Amman from the Citadel. Entrance price – 3 JD ($4.22)
• Roman Theater – Another significant Roman creation, just down the hill from the Citadel is the theater. Carved into the side of the mountain, with stone bleachers, the theater can hold up to 6,000 people. What amazed me is how the sound carries throughout the entire theater (with no electrical microphone equipment), and it’s also still used today for concerts. Entrance price – 2 JD ($2.81)
• King Abdullah Mosque – One of the most prominent mosques in Amman is the King Abdullah Mosque, with its incredible blue dome. Along with visiting the mosque, there’s also a small museum. Entrance price – 2 JD ($2.81)
• The Royal Automobile Museum – Unfortunately I didn’t have time to visit the Royal Automobile Museum, but I heard very good things about it, and if I’m ever in Amman next trip, I will make it a point to visit. The museum was set up by King Abdullah II as a way to remember his father King Hussein, and houses a beautiful collection of automobiles. Entrance price – 3 – 5 JD
• Downtown Amman / Al-Balad  – In order to experience the action and busyness of Amman, walking though the narrow markets streets of downtown Amman is a must. You’ll find just about everything you can imagine for sale, from shoes and clothes to fresh fruits and vegetables, and dry spices. While it can be quite busy, in comparison to other major cities, it’s quite easy to navigate and overall quite a friendly downtown.
• Rainbow Street – Another great part of Amman to just walk around and browse is Rainbow street, a quiet and pleasant road, not too far from downtown, but far from the loudness of downtown. Along Rainbow street in Amman you’ll find lots of great restaurants, cafe’s, and a contrast of both traditional and modern trendy shops and restaurants.

Apart from these main famous things to do that I included in this Amman travel guide, one of the things I also enjoyed doing was just walking around the streets of Jebel Al Weibdeh, going to different cafes and restaurants, walking up and down hills and staircases, and just enjoying the atmosphere of Amman.

How To Get Around?

Unfortunately there’s not really a fantastic way to get around Amman as a tourist other than by taxi. However, taxis are relatively inexpensive and safe, but just make sure the meter is always used as soon as you get in.

When I was in Amman, because I was with the Jordan Tourism Board, my wife and I had access to a private vehicle, which really did make things much easier to get around.

However, we spent a few extra days in Amman on our own, and staying at La Locanda Hotel , we were able to walk places as well. If you’re staying in the center of the city, Amman is decently walker friendly, and you’ll get a good workout too with all the hills and staircases.

Prices and Expenses

Jordan is on a whole more expensive than I thought it would be before going.

Perhaps it’s because I’m normally based in Bangkok where the cost of living and traveling is still relatively low for a major international city. Although you can get by on a budget for some things, Amman is a pretty expensive city to visit and live in.

For accommodation, there’s a range of hotels and accommodation options, but for a mid-range private room, you’re looking at about $60 – $100 USD per room per night. You can book cheaper accommodation for about $30 – 40 USD for a double room at the minimum.

As a traveler for food, you can still get by on budget meals of falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, and sandwiches in the price range of 1 – 3 JD ($1.41 – $4.22), but I noticed that if you start to branch out into more meat based dishes like kebabs and lamb dishes, you’ll spend likely spend 10 – 15 JD ($14.07 – $21.10) per person or more at a nicer sit down restaurant.

The prices below are estimates based on things I bought and my experience in Amman, but take them loosely as ideas to help you plan.

Accommodation:

• Hostel bed: $20 – $30 USD
• Mid-range hotel: $60 – $100 USD
• High end: $100 USD and up

Transportation:

• Taxi: 3 – 5 JD ($4.22 – $7.03) for a short rice, 5 – 10 JD ($7.03 – $14.07) for a long ride
• Sample taxi ride from airport to Amman: 22 – 25 JD ($30.95 – $35.17)
• Food snack: 0.20 – 1 JD ($0.28 – $1.41)
• Local restaurant meal: .50 – 5 JD ($0.70 – $7.03) per person
• Nice indoor restaurant: 10 – 20 JD ($14.07 – $28.13) per person
• Arabic coffee: 0.30 – 1 JD ($0.42 – $1.41)
• Western coffee shop coffee: 2 – 4 JD ($2.81 – $5.63)
• Big bottle of water: 0.30 JD ($0.42)
• Draft beer at bar: 5 – 8 JD ($7.03 – $11.25) – alcohol is pricey

Overall budget:

• Budget: 25 – 40 JD ($35.16 – $56.27) per person per day
• Mid-range: 40 – 70 JD ($56.27 – $98.47) per person per day
• High end: 70 JD ($98.47) and up, per person per day

*JD (or JOD) = Jordanian Dinar, at the time of writing this 1 JD = $1.41 USD

Here’s are some more interesting prices on cost of living and traveling in Amman.

Jordan Travel Videos:

When I knew I was going to visit Jordan to travel and eat I was thrilled. I decided to make full day videos, including just about everything we did, experienced, and ate during each day. There are 12 full days of Jordan packed into these videos!

Press play above to start watching my entire Jordan travel video guide series.

(Alternatively you can watch all the videos on YouTube here )

Amman, known as the white city because of the common white stone construction, is the modern capital city of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The city, which once started on a single hill, now occupies around 19 hills (maybe a few more), and has a population of nearly half the country.

Along with an ancient history, and a number of impressive historical attractions, Amman is also home to museums, art and cultural centers, nightlife, excellent cafes, bustling markets, and a great selection of restaurants and hole in the wall eateries that serve delicious Jordanian food.

I hope this Amman travel guide for food lovers will give you some great ideas and insights for what to do and especially what to eat when you’re in Amman, Jordan!

Are you planning to visit Jordan? Have you already visited?

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

MORE ON JORDAN:

• Coming soon
• All City Guides
• Things I Use
• T-shirts and eBooks

Disclosure : I was invited to visit Jordan by the Jordan Tourism Board , who sponsored my trip. But all thoughts, opinions, photos, and videos, are my own. Big thank you to Jordan Tourism Board for such an amazing trip.

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