Amman, Jordan

The museum's total build area of 8000 square meters includes 180 interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits, and educational facilities, such as an art studio, a library, a multipurpose hall, an outdoor theater, Tinker Lab and Secret Garden, a restaurant with an adjunct party room and a gift shop. 

While historical sites are certainly a main attraction, taking advantage of Amman’s dining scene is essential to experiencing the Jordanian culture. We will take you to the finest restaurants serving local cuisines.

The art scene in Amman is very lively with many galleries displaying local talent as well as works from artists abroad. Small but impressive galleries provide its visitors with a great appreciation for contemporary Jordanian painting, sculpture, and pottery.

Learn how to play the Qanun (traditional Middle Eastern stringed instrument with a long history, possibly descended from the ancient Egyptian harp) and the Tabla (also called Doumbek or Derbeki, is a traditional goblet-drum known for being the foremost percussion instrument in Middle Eastern music.)

TIRAZ is a non-profit organization that aims to preserve and promote the rich and diverse Arab heritage & living traditions by creating uniquely themed exhibitions. It is home to the largest existing collection of Jordanian, Palestinian and other Arab Countries’ cultural heritage items, namely The Widad Kawar Collection, which ranges from costumes, weavings, home utensils, and jewelry.

The King Abdullah I Mosque was built between 1982 and 1989. It’s capped by a magnificent blue mosaic dome beneath which 3,000 Muslims may offer prayer. You will learn the prayer rituals, daily prayer schedule and the format of the Quran, what will help you understand the practice of Islam.

There is nothing like flying over Jordan to view the countries’ unique geographical features varying from plains, mountains, valleys, and even terrains below sea level. Fly from Amman to Ajloun & Jerash, Dead Sea, Petra, or Wadi Rum for lunch or visiting the site and fly back to Amman.

This museum has an amazing collection of motorbikes and cars going back to the time of the Great Arab Revolt, and includes the late King Hussein’s 1952 London Capri (that he had when he was a student in England) and the 1955 Mercedes 300SL ‘Gullwing’ that he once raced.

Step into the Soap House, enjoy the scents of natural herbs and oils and browse through the various soaps and lotions, which are made using Jordanian olive oil and Dead Sea minerals.

Enjoy stunning view from the Wild Jordan Café. The Wild Jordan Café is one of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature’s (RSCN) projects that work on conserving biodiversity throughout Jordan. Their menu is based on low fat and low carbohydrate recipes with ingredients extracted from the RSCN’s nature reserves. All revenue goes to support the RSCN’s mission.

Tucked away in the kitchen of her Abdoun mansion, Nisreen offers one of the most exquisite culinary experience in town. Mistake Artisanal Cheese is all made from local fresh milk from real Shepards with no added anything. The experience comes with live commentary and tips from Nisreen.

A project set up by Maria Haddad and her sisters Dina and Tania in which visitors cook their own meal under supervision. In a spotless modern kitchen installed in a charming historic townhouse, you get a spend a couple of hours cooking. Beit Sitti hires local women from Jordan and Syria, experiencing hardships.

One of the things Jordanians are proudest of is their traditional Jordanian cuisine. One local dish that is specific to the country and a real must-try is Mansaf – a rice-based dish served with chicken or lamb and accompanied by a yoghurt sauce called Jameed. Expect this dish as a guest at almost every special occasion in Jordan.

Pamper yourself in true Middle Eastern style with a 2-hour Turkish Hammam experience. After a steam bath, enjoy an invigorating body scrub and gentle massage: a time-honored procedure dating back to the Ottoman Empire that was central to Middle Eastern culture.

Afterwards, you will enjoy a walk through the old city called “West Al Balad”. It has hundreds of shops, coffee shops and local restaurants. During your walk, you will stop at Hashem Restaurant direct on the street to taste the most famous Hummus & Falafel with other perfectly cooked & prepared beans dishes. Now continue to the oldest and the most famous sweets store “Habibah” to taste the true Arabian-Jordanian “Kunafa” followed by a drink from one of the street cocktail makers. During your tour you will get the chance to make shopping from the various shops of this area having handmade & local products. Jordan is famous for its mosaics which are still produced to this day in Madaba Area and sold in all cities in Jordan. You can also shop for: traditional clothes, handmade rugs, handmade jewelry, ceramics, traditional sand bottles, Dead Sea Salts, mud.

If you are tired of the usual pies and brownie treats, try some Arabic sweets like Ush Al-Bulbul, Faisalieh, Nabulsieh, Barazek, Ghriebeh, and Ma’moul. There is also Knafeh, a traditional sweet, in downtown Amman, a spiral of sticky sweetness with a layer of white cheese and the vermicelli-like pastry dyed orange and covered in sugary syrup and sticky Tamriyyeh, freshly-cooked right in front of you.

You haven’t tried falafel until you’ve eaten here. This legendary eatery, run for half a century by a Turkish family, is so popular with locals and visitors alike that there’s stiff competition for tables, many of which overflow into the alleyway. Aim for an early lunch or supper if you want to avoid the queues, although it has to be said that Hashem does a fantastic job of feeding the multitude in record time. Mid-afternoon, it makes a great place to sup a mint tea and watches downtown slide towards siesta.

To get to the heart of Amman it is imperative to explore al-Balad, the historic downtown that lies in the Wadi (valley) created by the ancient Sayl Amman (Amman River). Visit Souks and the oldest apartment in Amman from 1920s that has become a time capsule with its doors permanently open to artists and guests and many more.