Whatever your plans for Jordan are, do not skip Amman. We have said it before and we’ll say it again. Amman is well-worth seeing on its own and a great place to stay for a few days. This is where to stay in Amman.
In this article, we will introduce you to the best areas to stay in Amman, share some of the best hotels in Amman, including where we stayed, and share with you some of our favourite activities in Amman.
Key Takeaways
- Amman has different neighborhoods for different traveler preferences: Downtown for history and culture, Jabal Amman for nightlife and socializing, and Jabal Al-Weibdeh for a calm, artsy atmosphere.
- Accommodation ranges from budget-friendly hostels in Downtown to luxury five-star hotels like Grand Hyatt and Le Royal, with many boutique options in the hills.
- Key attractions include the Amman Citadel, Rainbow Street’s cafes and shops, art galleries in Jabal Al-Weibdeh, and local food spots in Downtown.
- Amman is hilly, so location-wise, choose accommodations with easy access to major sites and consider using ride-hailing services to avoid steep walks.
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3 Amman Hotels at 3 Different Price Points
Whatever your budget dictates, Amman has the right hotel to fit your needs. These are 3 Amman hotels at 3 drastically different price points:
Name | Price | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|
Luxury | InterContinental Amman | from $ 161 per night | |
Boutique | New Merryland Hotel | from $ 90 per night | |
Budget | The Cabin | from $ 16 per night |
A Quick Introduction to the City of Amman
For what it’s worth, Amman is still a hidden gem in Jordan. Sure, most people stay in Amman for a night or two after arriving to Jordan via Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), but few take the time to dig deeper and actually get to know Jordan’s administrative capital. And that’s a shame.
Amman may only have existed as the modern capital city of Jordan for a little more than 100 years, but its roots reach back up to 9 millennia. Having been ruled by the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines and the Ottomans among others this city has pretty much seen it all. Unsurprisingly, it has lots to show today.
Staying in Amman is a great choice for its ancient history, displaying ruins from multiple eras at the Amman Citadel. At the same time, though, Amman also serves as the modern cultural center of Jordan. For progressive and alternative thought, look no further than Jabal Amman and Jabal Al-Weibdeh.
The 3 Best Areas to Stay in Amman
Within Amman, picking the area to stay in is clutch. The city of Amman is very hilly and your hotel will decide whether you spend your days scrambling uphill or not.
These are the best areas to stay in Amman:
Downtown Amman (Al-Balad)
As a first-time visitor to Amman, staying in Downtown Amman will be the smartest choice. In Al-Balad, first timers will find themselves within walking distance of many historic sites and local restaurants. The hotels themselves are more rustic and noisier, if you will. During our first visit to Amman, we also stayed The Cabin in Downtown.
Jabal Amman
While most of the Downtown area is located in a valley, Jabal Amman (Jabal meaning mountain) puts you right on top of one of Amman’s mountain. The Jabal Amman area is considered a more modern area with lots of restaurants, bars and boutiques along Rainbow Street. This area is a great shout, if you want to socalise more than explore.
Jabal Al-Weibdeh
Located on the other side of Downtown Amman, Jabal Al-Weibdeh is a much calmer neighborhood and the perfect place of digital nomads. More than anything, you can find plenty of great cafés and art galleries in the Jabal Al-Weibdeh area, along with some historic sites. Similarly to Jabal Amman, this neighbourhood is located on a hill, meaning less scrambling for you.
As a first timer, we’d recommend you to stay in Downtown Amman to take in the atmosphere of historic Amman. If you value calmness, however, moving up the hills on either side, can be a great choice.
Where to Stay in Amman: From Luxury Hotels to Affordable Hostels
In Amman, you can pretty much find a suitable hotel for any budget. Are you looking for a budget-friendly option? Stay at a hostel in Downtown. Do you value comfort and privacy? Check into a boutique hotel outside of the centre. And for luxury? Amman’s got plenty to offer as well.
The Best Luxury Hotels in Amman
The luxury sector in Amman is dominated by international hotel brands such as InterContinental, Marriott and Sheraton. Considering comfort, location and price, these are the best luxury hotels in Amman.
InterContinental Amman
Located just 3 kilometres from the city center, the InterContinental Amman removes you from the noise without making you feel isolated from it. Apart from its great location, guests applaud its beautiful room, high-end facilities and superb breakfast.
Name | Area | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
InterContinental Amman | Jabal Amman | from $ 161 per night |
Le Royal Hotel Amman
While the Le Royal Hotel Amman is more removed from the city center, it puts you a little closer to the airport, making it a strategic stop for a short stay or layover. High-end rooms and facilities aside, this hotel can count on not one but two swimming pools and its own spa center. No wonder it’s one of the most prestigious hotels in town.
| Name | Area | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Le Royal Hotel Amman | Zahran | from $ 128 per night |
The Best Boutique Hotels in Amman
For those seeking a quiet refuge for the hustle and bustle of Downtown Amman, the hills of Jabal Amman and Jabal Al-Weibdeh, have some absolutely stunning boutique hotels to offer.
New Merryland Hotel
Located a few minutes from the main attractions in the center, the New Merryland Hotel in the Abdali neighbourhood serves as an oasis of serenity. The New Maryland Hotel is much more accessible than the tucked-away boutique hotels in the hills, all while providing the same peace and comfort you’d expect from a boutique hotel.
Name | Area | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
New Merryland Hotel | Al-Abdali | from $ 90 per night |
Lemon Tree Residence
Only a few hotels in Amman manage to make you feel as if you are staying on the countryside while being in the dead centre of the city. The Lemon Tree Residence is one of them. Located on Jabal Al-Weibdeh, this boutique hotel boasts cozy air-conditioned rooms, a tasty breakfast and a dreamy terrace adorned by bougainvillea.
| Name | Area | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Lemon Tree Residence | Jabal Al-Weibdeh | from $ 101 per night |
The Best Hostels in Amman
When looking for budget-friendly options in Amman, looking no further than Al-Balad. In the Downtown area, affordable hostels have come to stay. And what can we say? They do the trick.
The Cabin (We Stayed Here)
The Cabin in Amman encompasses pretty much everything you’d want a hostel in a big historic city like Amman to be. It is located right in the center of the city, just minutes from the Roman Theatre, the Amman Citadel and the King Abdullah Mosque as well s multiple of the city’s most iconic food spots.
Food and attractions aside, the hostel itself is located in a historic multi-story building that feels both rustic and cozy at the same time. It features pod-like bedrooms, separate locker rooms, shared bathrooms and a rooftop where you can have breakfast and prepare your own meals.
Name | Area | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
The Cabin | Al-Balad | from $ 16 per night |
The Carob Hostel
Located even closer to some of Amman’s most historic sites, the Carob Hostel is yet another super popular hostel in Amman, offering everything a budget traveller’s heart craves: affordable bunk beds starting from just $ 12 per night, affordable breakfast options and great city tours.
Name | Area | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
The Carob Hostel | Al-Abdali | from $ 12 per night |
What to Do in Amman, Jordan
In Amman, there is no shortage of things to do, of course. Often times, however, there is not enough time to explore all the attractions Amman has to offer. After all, you still want to have enough time for the Dead Sea, Petra and the Wadi Rum Desert.
These are the things you need to see and do in Amman, if you are staying just a day or two:
Visit the Ancient Ruins of Amman
Easily the most dense historic site in Jordan, the Amman Citadel is a great starting place for any Jordan trip. With the first signs of human settlement reaching back as far as 9,000 years, the Amman Citadel houses traces of countless historic eras. Take the Roman Temple of Hercules for instance. Or the Byzantine church. Or the Umayyad palace complex. You get the point.
Side note: For Jordan Pass holders, entry to the Amman Citadel is free. Check out, why the Jordan Pass is worth it and buy it online before you start your trip.
Try Jordan’s Most Amazing Food in Downtown
After exploring the Amman Citadel, you have to walk downhill first, before heading back uphill towards your next stop on Rainbow Street. A great opportunity for an early lunch, if you ask me. In Downtown Amman, there are two food spots you cannot miss out on: Hashem Restaurant (serving amazing Jordanian lunch staples) and Habibah Sweets (serving authentic Knafeh from Palestine).
Have a Coffee at the Good Bookshop
Combine your first caffeine break of the day with a short lesson on Amman’s modern history at The Good Bookshop. Located just off Rainbow Street, The Good Bookshop doubles as a café and book store, offering a wide selection of coffee and regional books in both Arabic and English. In the entrance area, you can also find some beautiful local souvenirs, you can barely find elsewhere.
Visit One of Amman’s Art Galleries
On Jabal Al-Weibdeh, a much calmer atmosphere invites you to follow your nose into one of the neighourhood’s many art galleries and museums. Pay a visit to Jadal for Knowledge and Culture, walk the historic corridors of Darat Al-Funun and stop for another cup of coffee and a bite of food at Rumi Café and Deli.
Looking for more off-the-beaten-path attractions in Amman? We’ve already published another guide on Amman’s lesser known gems. Check it out.
Go Vintage Shopping on Rainbow Street
On Rainbow Street, you can find enough stores to keep you occupied for the rest of the day. From locally-produced souvenirs, to start-up fashion brands and vintage stores, your unique memory of Amman is waiting to be picked up on Rainbow Street. Our favourite store on Rainbow Street has to be Authentage, a second hand paradise that just keeps getting bigger and bigger the deeper you venture inside.
The Bottom Line
Where you stay in Amman makes all the difference. Stay in the city centre to immerse yourself in the city’s ancient history and food culture. Stay in the hills, Jabal Amman and Jabal Al-Weibdeh, to soak in the youth’s culture, visit art galleries and work at coffee shops. Stay in Abdali for relaxing in a high-end accommodation, all while staying within reach of the city’s major attractions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best area to stay in Amman?
The best areas to stay in Amman are Downtown Amman (Al-Balad), Jabal Amman, and Jabal Al-Weibdeh. Other good areas to stay in Amman are Abdali and Abdoun. For first-time visitors to Amman, staying in Downtown Amman is often the smartest choice.
Is Amman, Jordan a walkable city?
Yes and no. In general, Amman has many pedestrian-friendly areas such as the Downtown area, Rainbow Street and the Jabal Al-Weibdeh area. The city is quite hilly, though, so make sure to check beforehand, if you have to scale a hill, and hire Ubers to spare yourself from exhaustion.
Where is the best place to stay in Jordan?
For budget travellers, The Cabin in Downtown Amman is the best place to stay in Amman. During our time in Amman, we found this hostel to be perfectly located for exploring Amman’s historic center. Additionally it not only features safe bund beds and lockers, but also a complimentary hostel breakfast.
How many days is enough in Amman?
Considering that you will want to visit many other places in Jordan such as the Dead Sea, Petra or Wadi Rum, we recommend allocating 2 days to Amman. In 2 days, you can visit the historic Amman Citadel, go shopping on Rainbow Street and try local food staples in Downtown Amman.
Hey! We are glad you are curious about travelling the Middle East.
We are Nancy & Elias.
Over four years of backpacking and digital nomading made us fall in love with the Middle East. We have lived on the Red Sea coast in Egypt, lived in a Bedouin Camp in Jordan and travelled 6+ Middle Eastern countries overland.
As we continue to travel, we share our battle-tested travels advice on this blog, from travel reports and transfer guides to accommodation recs and saving hacks.
