‘I visited an often overlooked capital city and it had so much to offer’

A fascinating blend of modern architecture and ancient marvels, Amman is the perfect gateway city for first-time visitors to the Middle East.

With a population of over four million people, Amman is the largest city in Jordan and is a destination packed full of fascinating and fun things to do.

Whether you’re a history-buff inspired by civilizations of the past, or a traveller who likes to calmly pass through a new place and soak up the atmosphere from the comfort of a coffee shop – Amman is for you.

Perhaps overlooked in favour of the country’s more notable attractions such as Petra and Wadi Rum, it is worth factoring time in Amman into your Jordan travel plans.

It shouldn’t be too difficult to do so either, as the majority of flights from the UK to Jordan land at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman.

READ MORE: ‘I travelled one of the Seven Wonders by car and it was spectacular’

Visiting the city has been made far easier and affordable in recent times too with WizzAir’s introduction of a London Luton – Amman route.

Perched atop one of the seven hills that originally made up Amman is the city’s standout attraction, the Amman Citadel. With ruins from the Roman, Byzantine, and Umayyad periods, the site of the Citadel is believed to have been occupied by humans as far back as the Bronze Ages.

Highlights of Amman Citadel include the uncompleted Roman Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad palace and mosque and the Jordanian Archaeological museum.

Due to its advantageous positioning, the Citadel offers amazing panoramic views of the city’s cream-coloured buildings and The Roman Theatre – more on that shortly.

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A view to be admired at all hours, the optimum time to visit the Citadel is when the city is gloriously bathed in the light of the setting sun.

As previously mentioned, one of the most noticeable landmarks from the view at the top of the citadel is The Roman Theatre of Amman.

Dating back to the 2nd century, when the city was known as Philadelphia, the impressive architectural feat once was home to 6,000 seats for onlooking spectators.

However, The Roman Theatre remains in remarkably good condition 2000 years later, allowing modern-day visitors an opportunity to transport themselves back to days gone by.

Something you’ll be quick to notice about Amman is the abundance of coffee shops and establishments to grab a quick bite to eat.

A destination popular with visitors to the city is one of Amman’s most famous roads, Rainbow Street, where coffee-lovers will find plenty of rooftop cafes to grab their caffeine fix.

As the name suggests, Rainbow Street is vibrant and colourful, and a great place to wander around, exploring all the charming shops in search of the perfect souvenier.

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