Trip highlights
- 1Petra day trip
- 2Amman Citadel
- 3Roman Theatre
- 4Rainbow Street
- 5Downtown souks and Hashem Restaurant
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
Photos: Unsplash
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Amman Citadel
Tuesday, April 20
Est. spend
$120
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
Queen Alia International Airport
A taxi or the Airport Express bus connects to downtown Amman in about 35-45 minutes.
Use the official airport taxi counter rather than drivers approaching you directly — fixed rates avoid negotiation.
☀️ Afternoon
Amman Citadel
Amman Citadel, Jabal al-Qal'a
A hilltop archaeological site with ruins spanning the Bronze Age through the Islamic period, including the iconic Temple of Hercules columns and sweeping views over Amman's seven hills.
Visit in late afternoon for the best light over the city and a cooler temperature for walking the exposed hilltop site.
🌙 Evening
Dinner at Hashem Restaurant
Hashem Restaurant, Downtown Amman
A legendary, decades-old hole-in-the-wall downtown institution serving some of the best falafel and hummus in Amman — a beloved local experience regardless of budget.
Cash only, no menu, and no frills — just excellent, authentic Jordanian street food at unbeatable prices.
🍽️ Meals
Airport or hotel breakfast
Jordanian · $8
Citadel area lunch
Jordanian · $12
Hashem Restaurant dinner
Jordanian · $10
Roman Theatre & Rainbow Street
Wednesday, April 21
Est. spend
$130
per person
🌅 Morning
Roman Theatre
Roman Theatre, Downtown Amman
A remarkably well-preserved 2nd-century Roman amphitheatre seating 6,000, still used for performances today, set directly in the heart of downtown Amman.
Climb to the top tier for a great view across downtown and the surrounding hills.
☀️ Afternoon
Downtown souks and Rainbow Street
Rainbow Street, Amman
Amman's lively downtown markets, followed by Rainbow Street, a trendy strip of cafés, boutiques, and art galleries climbing one of the city's famous hills.
Stop for a traditional Jordanian coffee or mint lemonade at one of Rainbow Street's rooftop cafés.
🌙 Evening
Dinner with a city view
Rainbow Street, Amman
Several Rainbow Street restaurants offer rooftop seating with sweeping views over Amman's hills, especially striking at sunset.
🍽️ Meals
Downtown breakfast
Jordanian · $8
Souk street food lunch
Jordanian street food · $10
Rainbow Street dinner
Jordanian · $35
Petra Day Trip
Thursday, April 22
Est. spend
$240
per person
🌅 Morning
Drive to Petra
Petra, Jordan
About 3 hours south of Amman, Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World — an ancient Nabataean city carved directly into rose-red sandstone cliffs.
Book a private driver or guided tour with an early departure to maximise time at the site and avoid the midday heat and crowds.
☀️ Afternoon
Petra: The Treasury and Royal Tombs
Petra Archaeological Park
Walk through the narrow Siq canyon to the iconic Treasury (Al-Khazneh), then continue to the Royal Tombs and as much of the vast site as time allows — Petra is far larger than most visitors expect.
Wear sturdy walking shoes and bring plenty of water — the site involves significant walking over uneven terrain, often in strong sun.
🌙 Evening
Return to Amman
Amman
Return to Amman in the evening, tired from a long but unforgettable day among one of the world's most extraordinary archaeological sites.
🍽️ Meals
Pre-Petra breakfast
Jordanian · $8
Petra visitor centre lunch
Jordanian · $15
Amman dinner
Jordanian · $30
Jordan Museum & Departure
Friday, April 23
Est. spend
$100
per person
🌅 Morning
Jordan Museum
Jordan Museum, Amman
The country's leading museum, housing the Dead Sea Scrolls fragments and the remarkable 9,000-year-old Ain Ghazal statues, among the oldest large-scale human statues ever found.
A good final stop for context on Jordan's deep history beyond Petra and the Roman ruins already seen.
☀️ Afternoon
Final souvenir shopping
Amman
A final lunch and shopping for olive oil soap, Dead Sea cosmetics, or traditional Jordanian textiles before departure.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to Queen Alia Airport
Queen Alia International Airport
Allow at least 3 hours before an international flight given the airport's distance from the city centre.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Jordanian · $8
City centre lunch
Jordanian · $18
Airport food
Jordanian/International · $16
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
March–May and September–November offer the most comfortable temperatures (15-25°C) for both Amman and the Petra day trip. Summer (June-August) is hot, especially at Petra's exposed sandstone site.
🛂 Visas
Most Western nationalities can obtain a Jordan visa on arrival, though the Jordan Pass (which bundles the Petra entrance fee with visa fee waiver) is highly recommended and should be purchased online before arrival.
💱 Currency
Jordanian Dinar (JOD), one of the higher-valued currencies in the world relative to USD. Cards are accepted at hotels and larger restaurants; cash is needed for souks and smaller vendors.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 911
ambulance: 911
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Buy the Jordan Pass online before arrival — it waives the visa fee and bundles entrance to Petra and other major sites, generally saving significant money.
- Petra is far larger than a single Treasury photo suggests — allow a full day and wear proper walking shoes for the uneven terrain.
- Hashem Restaurant in downtown Amman is a beloved, decades-old institution for falafel and hummus — cash only, no frills, genuinely excellent.
- Jordanian hospitality is famously warm — accepting an offer of tea or coffee from a shopkeeper is a normal, appreciated part of the culture.
- Dress modestly, particularly in downtown areas and religious sites — covered shoulders and knees are respectful and generally expected.
One thing worth not skipping
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