Amman عمّان

Amman (Arabic: عمّان) is the capital and biggest city in Jordan. It covers 1,680 sq km (648.7 sq mi) and has a population of 2.9 million people, within a metropolitan area that has a total of 4 million population. As with many of the cities in this particular part of the world, Amman is ancient. It is in fact one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world.

As with the rest of Jordan, Amman experiences a semiarid climate. The best months to visit are from November to April, when the temperature is more pleasant for sightseeing. The coldest month is January, when temperature ranges from 4°C to 12°C. In April it is between 10°C and 23°C. Summer in Amman starts in late May and ends in early October. During this time, the temperature may exceed 32°C and may occasionally touch 36°C (97°F).

Today Amman derives its economy as the hub for communications and transportation in Jordan. Visitors to Amman are often surprised to find an ancient city with new, gleaming skyscrapers under construction. For a touch of instant Arabia, Amman has its share of souqs and bazaars. It is also the gateway for visiting many of the tourist attractions in Jordan. The city is also carving a name as a destination for medical tourism.

The area around Amman has been inhabited for over ten thousand years. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of habitation from the Neolithic period in eastern Amman. Amman was part of the land of the Ammonites. During the ancient times, it was known as Rabbah or Rabbath Ammon.

Through its long history, Amman has been conquered by various ancient powers including the Assyrians, Persians and Macedonians, during which the Macedonian ruler renamed it as Philadelphia. By AD 321, Philadelphia became a bishopric when the empire embraced Christianity. After that, it passed into the hands of the Ghassanids and then the Umayyads, during which it became an Islamic city.

Amman was under the Ottoman Empire for many centuries, but remained a desolate wasteland after it was devastated by a number of earthquakes. It was only in 1887 that Amman was resettled. Then in 1921, its fortune returned, when King Abdullah I selected it to be the capital of his new kingdom, the Emirate of Transjordan. From then on, Amman continued as capital, of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as it is today.


Amman, Jordan



King Abdullah Mosque, Amman



City Mall, Amman



The market or market or souq in Amman

Visiting Amman

The Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) is the airport serving Amman. As the biggest airport in Jordan, it receives flights from all over the world.

From the airport, you can catch a taxi to downtown Amman for about 20 Jordanian dollars. The taxi fare is fixed, so you do not have to haggle.

Places of Interest in Amman

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