That the city is so close to so many important sites and resorts shouldn’t take away from the attractions on offer in Amman itself. Large swathes of the city’s youth have been educated in Europe, Canada and the United States, and their desire to maintain the lifestyle they enjoyed there has led to a boom in the number of restaurants, clubs and cafes around the city itself.

If you’re spending time in the city, you’ll find that there are plenty of cool, cutting edge galleries, sushi restaurants, beautiful terraces and much more to keep you occupied. If you venture to Wadi Rum or Petra, you will quickly become immersed in scenery that has captivated generations of travellers and more than one Hollywood director.

See

The undoubted jewel in Jordan’s crown is the almost indescribably beautiful city of Petra. Carved into the red rocks of the desert, the city has been designated as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The city was ‘rediscovered’ by a Swiss explorer in 1812. Worth visiting for the jaw dropping moment when you first see the famous Treasury building appearing through the narrow corridor known as the Siq, Petra is also home to a multitude of temples, tombs, Roman ruins and monasteries.

Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon is slightly further south of Petra, and is home to a host of spectacular rock formations and mountains. People have been around Wadi Rum for many thousands of years, as evidenced by the rock carvings depicting scenes from a hunt several thousand years ago.

Further south lies the Dana Biosphere Reserve, a huge nature reserve which is home to rare animals and plants, including three plant types found nowhere else on the planet. A hiker’s paradise, this is one of the most verdant places in the Middle East.

Another spectacular nature reserve can be found at Wadi Mujib, the lowest nature reserve in the world at 410 metres below sea level. Hot springs, wild cats and hiking trails are just some of Wadi Mujib’s attractions.

Further North, and closer to Amman visitors can have one of the worlds few truly unique experiences. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth, and, as the name suggest, is a sea that is bereft of life as a result of its high salt and mineral content. This combination of salt and minerals makes the water and surrounding mud extremely beneficial for your health.

At the northern end of the Dead Sea is Mount Nebo where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land before he died. At 700 metres high, the mountain gives spectacular views over the Dead Sea and beyond. Visit the Memorial Church of Moses, which is beautiful in its simplicity as is the Old Baptistery, which features a beautiful mosaic.

Another place of significance to Christians is Bethany where John the Baptist is said to have baptised Jesus. There are the remains of a church and evidence of Islamic pottery further indicating the importance of the site and why it attracts tens of thousand of tourists each year.

In Amman itself, you can see some of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls at the National Archaeological Museum, which is part of the city’s famed Citadel – one of the oldest fortified sites on the planet. Pottery from the Neolithic period has been found on the hill, with remnants and ruins from the last 7000 years of history. The Citadel also gives visitors an impressive view over the old Roman amphitheatre, which is still used for occasional events.

North of Amman is the city of Jerash, famous for its Roman Ruins. It is one of the biggest and best-preserved Roman excavation sites in the world and is worth a trip to Jordan in itself.

Jordan has a wealth of castles from the Middle Ages such as Karak, a spectacular Crusader castle 1000 metres above sea level. The scenery is breathtaking and the castle is one of Jordan’s hidden gems. Another spectacular castle is Qasr Kharana, one of the earliest examples of Islamic architecture in the region and an almost perfectly preserved desert castle 60km east of Amman.
In the north of the country is Ajlun Castle, a well-preserved Islamic fortress that was built to protect the north of the country from Crusader attacks.

Stay

The Four Seasons in Amman (Book here) may not be right on the doorstep of any of the major attractions in the city, but it is a sumptuous hotel with a spa that offers several Dead Sea treatments for those who don’t have the time to make the trip to the lowest point on Earth themselves. Rooms start from $450

Those of you who are making the time to travel to the Dead Sea could do a lot worse than trying the Kempinski Ishtar (Book here). The hotel occupies some prime real estate on the shores of the beach, where guests can have massages and spa treatments before retreating to one of the many pools dotted around the hotel to relax and unwind before enjoying dinner while watching the sun set over the Dead Sea. Rooms from $420

Elsewhere in Amman, the Al Qasr Metropole (Book here) offers a sushi bar and a popular nightclub. Guests are advised to ask for a room as far away from the nightclub as possible as the sound of the music can feel like it’s travelling directly upwards at times. Rooms from $120

Eat

Don’t let the fact that there are Amman branches of international chains like Pizza Hut and TGI Fridays put you off the cuisine here. Amman has a reputation for having plenty of high quality Asian fusion food, Indian food and of course local cuisine.

Fakhr al-Din is situated in an elegant old Amman villa. Serving a wide range of regional dishes, it is the place that most Jordanians would point you towards on your first night in the city. You must book in advance, and if possible, try to secure a table in the courtyard.

A relative newcomer on the scene is the Cantaloupe Gastro Pub on Rainbow Street. Boasting impressive views over the whole city from its rooftop terrace, Cantaloupe serves bistro favourites such as shepherd’s pie, steaks, carpaccio and buffalo wings in an elegant setting. Advance booking is  required as this place didn’t have a table available for the first month that it was open.

In Petra, the Sun City restaurant has won praise from visitors for its mezze. Run by a former Movenpick chef, it’s a good alternative to the hotel food that is the norm in Petra and Wadi Musa.

Shop

Amman is rather unlike other destinations in the region in that haggling and bargaining is not as much a part of the experience. While this will come as a welcome relief to many, for others, it may take some of the edge off a visit to the souq. However, you may find genuine hospitality in smaller shops in Amman, with owners freely offering coffee to potential customers.

There are numerous antiques dealers throughout the city, with those operating on the more fashionable Western side of the city tending to be slightly more expensive and oriented towards tourists. The Balad, or old downtown area offers a slightly more ramshackle, authentic experience, complete with bargaining.

Recently, Amman has experienced a mall boom, with City Mall, Mecca Mall and Abdoun Mall all offering big International brands. Western style clothes and accessories are available on Wakalat Street.

For a more contemporary and cool experience, the streets around Rainbow Street have an array of craft shops, clothes shops and much more besides. During the summer, you can find a bustling flea market off Rainbow Street, while you can find some unique crafts at Wild Jordan on Othman bin Affan St.

Red Tape

Money
The currency of Jordan is the Dinar. As of the 1st of March 2010, $1 was equal to approximately 0.70 Dinars. There are money exchange facilities at the airport. ATMS are plentiful and credit cards are readily accepted in all major cities.

Telephone
The country dialling code is +962

Visas
Most visitors who require a visa can purchase one upon arrival at Queen Rania International Airport for 10JD.

Transport
Your hotel may be able to arrange transportation to and from the airport. The standard taxi fare is approximately 35JD into the city centre, though you can bargain with taxi drivers.

Getting around in Amman is quite easy, with plentiful taxis offering cheap fares to most destinations within the city. Taxi drivers are required by law to use the meter in their vehicle, but some need to be gently reminded.

To get to Petra, Wadi Rum or the Dead Sea, you can take a bus, a shared taxi, a regular taxi or a taxi booked through your hotel. The prices range from 20JD upwards based upon the distance and where you make your booking.