This visit won’t take up much time but it is worth climbing all the way to the top of the 6,000 seats to take in the views, it is a perfect morning excursion before heading to nearby Hashem restaurant for the best traditional homous, falafel and ful breakfast with Chai (tea). After which you will be close enough to venture to one of my all time favourite sights in the city, Amman Citadel. The old city of Amman was founded on seven hills or “jabals” and Jabal Al Kalaa is one of these with the Citadel at the top. It is considered among the oldest continuously inhabited places in the World with a long history of occupation by many great civilizations. The most notable buildings at the site are the Byzantine church, the Umayyad Palace and The Temple of Hercules.

Exploring the streets of Amman can be a lot of fun, but a hip and surprisingly pedestrian friendly area, is the First Circle in Jabal Amman. Rainbow Street is popular amongst locals and tourists alike, with a thriving café culture, art galleries and traditional handicrafts. Check out Turtle Green Café for some delicious tea blends inspired by the Jordanian landscape and the renowned Gerard’s ice-cream parlour. There are some very tasty restaurants, such as Sufra, that offers an array of traditional Jordanian home made dishes served as tapas with views of the adjacent Jabal Webdeh.

During the summer months, there is a local market, Souk Jara, that takes place on Fridays. 

For all art lovers, it’s a must to visit Jabal Al-Webdeh which is adjacent to Jabal Amman, a very charming neighbourhood which has still managed to reserve the charm of old Amman. It is home to many art galleries, such as Darat Al-Funun with the historic house on sight dating back to the 1920s. It is also home to many café’s and eateries with an eclectic feel of old and new.

The amazing city of Jerash, one-hour drive North of Amman, is a must see when visiting the country. It is home to the ancient Greco-Roman city of Gerasa, although history of habitation goes back to the Neolithic era, the archaeological remains are most notable from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine to early Muslim and Crusade periods. There is a lot to explore, and worth having a full day here to explore and take in all this city has to offer. A late lunch at the Lebanese House (Um Khalil) restaurant will end this magical day with an exquisite culinary experience.

The Desert Castles are another hidden treasure that are well worth a visit, they form part of a larger chain of Umayyad desert castles or palaces stretching to Syria in the North and Israel and the West Bank in the West. Most of the castles can be visited over the course of a day in a loop from Amman via Azraq.

The Dead Sea is another experience not to be missed, as the lowest point on Earth, lying over 400 metres below sea level. It is a large saline lake, with rich minerals and natural mud that are both therapeutic and relaxing. There are many hotels and resorts to choose from or simply head to the public Amman Beach for a more local experience. A short drive away is the city of Madaba and Mount Nebo, were it is stated in the Old Testament that Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land.

There is a lot that this country has to offer, so it might be worth allowing more time to explore!