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Abu Darwish Mosque
On top of Jebel al-Ashrafiyeh' is the striking Abu Darwish Mosque, built in 1961 with unmistakable alternating layers of black and white stone. Non-Muslims are generally not permitted inside, but the views on the way up are good. Take service taxi 25 or 26 from Italian St in Downtown to the mosque, or charter a taxi. It's a very long and steep climb southeast of Downtown if you decide to walk.
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Al-Pasha Turkish Bath
Al-Pasha Turkish Bath is the perfect pampering antidote to the hills and bustle of Amman. The full service includes steam bath, sauna, Jacuzzi, scrubbing, 40-minute massage and two soft drinks, all done in a superb building architecturally faithful to the tradition of a Turkish hammam . There are male and female attendants. Couples are welcome during the day; evenings are generally for men only. It's a good idea to book ahead and bring a pair of swimming trunks.
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Byzantine church
Almost as significant as the Darat al-Funun's artistic endeavours are the architectural features of the site. At the base of the complex, near the entrance, are the excavated ruins of a 6th-century Byzantine church. Buildings further up the hill are mostly restored residences from the 1920s; it was in one of these that TE Lawrence wrote part of Seven Pillars of Wisdom . There is also a peaceful café and gardens with superb views over Amman.
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Citadel
The area known as the Citadel sits on the highest hill in Amman, Jebel al-Qala'a (about 850m above sea level) and is the site of ancient Rabbath-Ammon. Artefacts dating from the Bronze Age show that the hill was a fortress and/or agora for thousands of years. The complex is surrounded by 1700m-long walls, which were rebuilt many times during the Bronze and Iron Ages, and the Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad periods. The Citadel ticket office is on the road leading up to the Citadel's entrance.
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Darat al-Funun
On the hillside to the north of the Downtown area, Darat al-Funun is a superb complex dedicated to placing contemporary art at the heart of Jordan's cultural life. The main building features a small art gallery with works by Jordanian and other Arab artists, an art library, and workshops for Jordanian and visiting sculptors and painters. A schedule of upcoming exhibitions, lectures, films and public discussion forums is available on the website and the Jordan Times newspaper.
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Folklore Museum
The Folklore Museum is immediately to the right as you enter the Roman Theatre. It houses a modest collection of items illustrating traditional Jordanian life. They include a Bedouin goat-hair tent complete with tools; musical instruments such as the single-string rababa (a one-stringed Bedouin instrument); looms; mihbash (coffee grinders); some weapons; and various costumes, including Cssian. Don't miss the B&W photos of old Amman by the entrance. Captions are in English.
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Forum
The row of columns immediately in front (north) of the Roman Theatre is all that's left of the Forum, once one of the largest public squares (about 100m by 50m) in Imperial Rome. Built in AD 190, the square was flanked on three sides by columns, and on the fourth side by the Seil Amman stream; almost everything (including the stream, which still runs) lies underneath the modern streets.
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Haya Cultural Centre
This is designed for children and has a library, playground, an interactive ecomuseum and an inflatable castle. It also organises regular activities and performances for kids.
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Islamic Museum
Inside the King Abdullah Mosque is a small Islamic Museum, which has some pottery pieces, as well as photographs and personal effects of King Abdullah I. There are also a number of pieces of Muslim art, coins and stone engravings. The admission fee to the mosque includes access to the museum.
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Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts
The small Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts is an excellent place to gain an appreciation of contemporary Jordanian painting, sculpture and pottery and is worth an hour or more. There's an excellent small gift shop and a café. The gallery was renovated in 2005.
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King Abdullah Mosque
Completed in 1989 as a memorial by the late King Hussein to his grandfather, the unmistakable blue-domed King Abdullah Mosque can house up to 7000 worshippers inside, and another 3000 in the courtyard area. This is the only mosque in Amman that openly welcomes non-Muslim visitors.
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King Hussein Mosque
Built by King Abdullah I in 1924, and restored in 1987, the King Hussein Mosque is in the heart of Downtown on the site of a mosque built in AD 640 by 'Umar, the second caliph of Islam. The mosque is more interesting as a hive of activity than for any architectural splendour; the precinct is a local meeting place and exudes an altogether Arab flavour. Non-Muslims, while generally welcome any time (except during prayer time), may feel intrusive.
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Luna Park
This park has rides and amusements for the kids. It also has a branch at King Abdullah Gardens.
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Military Museum
The simple and solemn Martyr's Memorial houses the small but interesting Military Museum, which chronicles Jordan's recent military history, from the Arab Revolt in 1916 (in which 10,000 Arab fighters were killed) through to the Arab-Israeli Wars. It does, however, airbrush over many of the controversial aspects of these conflicts - the 1948 and 1967 wars are hardly mentioned and the 1973 war only in passing.
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Museum of Archaeology
If you have an interest in archaeology, or happen to be at the University of Jordan, the small Museum of Archaeology is well worth a visit. Highlights include models of the Temple of Artemis and Nymphaeum at Jerash, a copy of the Mesha Stele, and finds from Bronze Age Jericho and the 6th-century BC Ammonite fort at Tell al-Mazar. Don't miss the unmarked gems laying around outside the building, including several dolmens (ancient graves). The next door Museum of National Heritage isn't up to much.
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Museum Of Popular Traditions
The Museum Of Popular Traditions, to the left after you enter the Roman Theatre, has well-presented displays of traditional costumes, jewellery, face masks and mosaics from Jerash.
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Museum of the Political History of HM Late King Abdullah bin al-Hussein
The Museum of the Political History of HM Late King Abdullah bin al-Hussein is worth checking out for its coverage of Jordan's political life in the early 20th century. It's next to the Iraqi Embassy, west of 1st Circle.
Read more about Museum of the Political History of HM Late King Abdullah bin al-Hussein
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National Archaeological Museum
The National Archaeological Museum is just northwest of the Temple of Hercules. It has a good collection of items spanning all eras of Jordanian and regional history, ranging from 6000-year-old skulls from Jericho to Umayyad period artwork. It also boasts some examples of the Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran in 1952, a copy of the Mesha Stele and assorted artefacts from Petra and Jerash. Most exhibits are well labelled in English.
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Nymphaeum
Built in AD 191, the Nymphaeum was once a large, two-storey complex with fountains, mosaics, stone carvings & possibly a 600-sq-metre swimming pool, all dedicated to the nymphs (mythical young girls who lived in and around the rivers). Up until 1947 the ancient stream and Roman bridge still stood where the road now runs. Excavations started in earnest in 1993, and restoration will continue for many years.
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Odeon
On the eastern side of what was the Forum stands the 500-seat Odeon. Built in the 2nd century AD, it served mainly as a venue for musical performances. The small amphitheatre was probably enclosed with a wooden or temporary tent roof to shield the performers and audience from the elements.
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Raghadan Flagpole
From most places in the city you can spot the huge Jordanian flag of the Raghadan palace compound, which at 127m high is said to be the world's largest free-standing flagpole. (A smaller but similarly impressive flag flies in Aqaba.) The award for the tallest flag pole in the world actually goes to those crazy North Koreans on the border with South Korea but that one is supported by cables, which as everyone knows is cheating.
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Roman Theatre
The restored Roman Theatre is the most obvious and impressive remnant of Roman Philadelphia and, for many, the highlight of Amman. It is cut into the northern side of a hill that once served as a necropolis, and has a seating capacity of 6000. It was built on three tiers: the rulers, of course, sat closest to the action, the military had the middle section, and the general public sat perched, squinting, way up the top.
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Royal Automobile Museum
Car enthusiasts will like the display of over 70 classic cars and motorbikes from the personal collection of King Hussein at the Royal Automobile Museum. It's in the northwestern suburbs, north of 8th Circle.
