9 Ways to Experience Jordanian Culture in Amman and Beyond

When you’re in Jordan, you’ll likely meet locals eager to tell you about places to visit, both familiar and behind the scenes. For most travelers, their journey starts in Amman, the bustling capital packed with museums, shops, the finest restaurants and luxury hotels.

It often extends to other locales like Wadi Rum, Petra, the Dead Sea and Aqaba, among other places.

No matter where your journey takes you, here are some of the can’t-miss activities that let you experience Jordanian culture.

As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.

Museum-Hopping in Amman

Amman is filled with cultural centers and museums worth exploring. The Jordan Museum is the country’s largest and is packed with more than 2,000 magnificent archaeological and historic artifacts in the Ras al-‘Ayn area of town.

It is divided into central themes, like art and architecture, daily life, religion, industry, and politics and the military, which means you can make a beeline for the section that interests you most.

At the Royal Automobile Museum, car buffs can peruse a collection of historic and rare cars dating back more than a century, as well as some modern-day sports cars. Movie fans will want to check out the rover that was used in the Hollywood film “The Martian,” filmed in Wadi Rum.

And for art lovers, the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts has more than 3,000 pieces of art and design on display.

Historic Amman and Jerash

The old Roman amphitheater in downtown Amman has a museum of its own, but many enjoy climbing the ancient steps for a better view of town. The amphitheater dates back to the second century when the city was known as Old Philadelphia.

A visit to Jerash is an easy day trip about an hours drive north of Amman. Today, this is highly regarded as one of the most complete and well-preserved Greco-Roman cities, giving visitors the chance to stroll through its streets and see its ancient architecture.

It is one of the most visited sites in the country, but it’s not just tourists that make the drive. This is also home to one of the region’s biggest cultural festivals, the Jerash Festival, with traditional dance, music and art performances providing an excellent lens into Jordanian culture.

Haggling with Shopkeepers

The time-honored tradition of bargaining with vendors is somewhat of a pastime here. And they expect you to do it. It’s almost part of the fun. If you’re really serious about bringing down the price, it’s best to have a local on your side, though.

While Jordanian souks in the downtown area are great resources for handicrafts, spices and even jewelry, the best quality is in locally owned boutiques found in high-end shopping centers like Abdali Mall and Swefieh Village. At these traditional shops, bargaining is less appropriate.

Local artisans abound for jewelry, clothing, art and food items, and a visit to the Jordan Craft Center shouldn’t be missed, even if just to take a look at what is on display. It’s a great way to understand the country’s history and culture.

Floating in the Dead Sea

This is a must for the novelty factor alone as you float as if you are light as air in the saline-rich waters of the Dead Sea, less than 40 miles southwest of the capital. So high in salt content is the sea that it’s easy to remain buoyant while reading a book or snapping selfies on your smartphone.

Just remember that entering the water with any cuts or wounds will prove painful, and swimming beneath the surface with eyes exposed is not recommended.

In addition to floating in the water, many choose to lather themselves in the nutrient-rich mud that is said to nourish and refresh the skin. The area is packed with resorts, like the Dead Sea Marriott Resort & Spa, for those that want to stay over, and the landscape of properties has shifted to a much more luxurious set of options.

Perusing Petra

The Petra Marriott Hotel, for many, is the gateway to Petra, permitting travelers the chance to spend the night a short drive from the gates to the ancient landmark and be among the first to enter before sunrise.

While a day trip from Amman is possible (it’s three hours south of the capital), it can be daunting to do the round-trip drive all in one day. Instead, pair a visit to Petra with an overnight so that you can stroll the cavernous pathways of this majestic historic landmark before the busloads of tourists arrive.

Mingle with Locals: Rainbow Street and Shmeisani

Rainbow Street has quickly become a tourist hub for its interesting cafés, bookstores and restaurants where locals, expats and foreign tourists intermingle over Arabic coffee and even Jordanian wine.

Sufra is a favorite dining spot for its colorful and creative meze spreads and stone oven used to bake bread on-site. Since the city sprawls across seven hills, it is not easy to take public transportation or even walk from neighborhood to neighborhood.

While taxis are cheap, Rainbow Street provides a concentrated center of retail and restaurant spots that English speakers will find to their liking.

If you’re in town on business, you may find yourself in the Shmeisani neighborhood, home to many downtown offices and the Jordan Museum. There are plentiful options in this area to keep international visitors interested. Whether you’re looking for a shawarma sandwich, some Arabic pastries with coffee or even a burger with fries, you’re likely to find it in either part of town.

Break (and Make) Bread with Locals

If the cuisine at Sufra or any of the other restaurants you visit intrigues the taste buds, why not learn to prepare these famous dishes yourself? Cooking classes with local chefs are on the rise in Amman.

Beit Sitti is one of many new cooking schools that welcome tourists. Learn to bake traditional bread and prepare authentic falafel or local dishes like freekeh (a whole grain) with chicken and spices.

Spa Day in Amman

Many hotels in the capital offer chic spa facilities and swimming pools; these include the luxurious offerings at The Ritz-Carlton, Amman and The St. Regis Amman, both on Amman’s swanky 5th Circle.

This is a great way to swim laps in the (literal) lap of luxury, even if you’re staying elsewhere. Many of the spas’ treatments use products from Jordanian beauty brands that incorporate Dead Sea minerals. Round out the relaxation with a drink at the bar or dinner in one of the many famed restaurants.

Visit Amman National Park

This is an easy spot to tag onto any trip as it is on the main highway to Queen Alia International Airport outside of Amman. This mountain park is packed with lush trees and greenery, which are sometimes lacking from the bustling downtown core of Amman.

The park is a popular spot for locals to picnic or play sports, and it can be a serene grand finale to any visit to Jordan before hopping a flight home.