Amman Luxury Hotels, the Citadel and Jordan's Capital

Amman is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, known to the Romans as Philadelphia. On Jabal al-Qal'a, the Amman Citadel holds the columns of the Temple of Hercules, a Byzantine church and the Umayyad Palace, with sweeping views across the white city. Below, the 6,000-seat Roman Theatre is still used for performances.

Modern Amman is relaxed, safe-feeling and refined, with art galleries in Jabal al-Weibdeh, cafés and boutiques along Rainbow Street, and fine dining in Abdoun and Sweifieh. It is also the gateway to everything else in the country: the Dead Sea is under an hour away, Jerash 45 minutes, and Petra about three hours south. See our Jordan luxury travel guide for the full picture.

Begin at the Citadel in the early morning light, then walk down to the Roman Theatre and the souks of downtown. The Jordan Museum displays fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the 9,000-year-old Ain Ghazal statues, among the oldest human figures ever made. Darat al Funun, an arts center in restored villas, and the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts are highlights for art lovers. Car enthusiasts should not miss the Royal Automobile Museum.

In the evening, stroll Rainbow Street, browse the boutiques of the Abdali Boulevard and end with dinner on a terrace overlooking the hills. Explore more in our pages on museums, Jordan's history and culture and Arab hospitality and the majlis.

Amman's prime residential districts, Abdoun, Dabouq and Deir Ghbar, offer spacious villas and apartments at prices far below the Gulf capitals. Foreign buyers may purchase property with government approval, and Jordan offers investment-linked residency routes. Our guides to residency and golden visas and Jordan's Vision 2033 explain the wider opportunity.