Things to see and do Amman

Built by King Abdullah II in memory of his father. It presents a collection of over 70 cars and motorcycles that belonged to King Hussein.

Located on the top of a hill (Jebel Al-Ashrafiyeh), south of the lower town, it is easily identifiable thanks to the alternating white and black bands on its walls. It was built in 1961 by the circassian community. Non-Muslims are generally not allowed to enter.

Not far away is the St-Sauveur Church. You have to climb hard to reach the top of this hill. From the lower town, on Italian Street, you can take taxis-service No 25 or 26.

This art gallery located in the trendy Rainbow Street area exhibits a large number of Arab artists, some of whom are very young and very talented. It has the art of sniffing out the talents of tomorrow and offering them a pleasant exhibition space. The exhibitions, often of short duration, are open to the public. You need only push the door to discover the prolific contemporary scene in the Arab world. The gallery, like most of its counterparts, organizes workshops for adults and children to discover contemporary art.

This large private gallery actively participates in the dissemination of art in Jordan. It presents artists' exhibitions on larger surfaces than traditional galleries, which allows it to arrange exhibitions in an original way. The gallery aims to be an incubator for national artists and to show another face of Jordanian art. In addition to the painting and sculpture exhibitions, one can also appreciate the presentation of contemporary ceramists who perpetuate and reinvent the art of pottery with talent.

This art gallery, located near the Wild Jordan Center, exhibits contemporary Jordanian artists who are recognized beyond their borders, as well as uncovering new talent. It broadens its horizons (and yours) by following closely the artistic expressions of the Middle East and Maghreb, by regularly highlighting some of their artists. The amateurs of paintings will find here temporary exhibitions of quality. Moreover, the place is very welcoming, with a patio planted with trees, and it organizes drawing courses for all levels.

This beautiful art gallery located in the upscale neighborhood of Umm Uthaina usually exhibits contemporary Arab artists and exceptionally English, Italian or New Zealand artists. It opened in 1993 at the request of a private collector with a passion for contemporary art. In addition to the gallery, there is an art centre offering drawing, pottery, sculpture and graphic arts courses for children and adults. If you are in the neighbourhood, don't hesitate to come in, if only out of curiosity.

Orient Gallery focuses on the exhibition of emerging Arab artists. It represents artists from Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. Her remarkable and acclaimed work contributes to the emergence of painting in the Arab world, with a selection of artists with strong invocative powers. The gallery, which opened its doors in 1996, when art was reserved for an intelligentsia open to the world, has built up a permanent collection which is exhibited on its walls alongside temporary exhibitions.

Dar Al-Anda Art Gallery occupies two old houses in Old Amman. The first houses the gallery itself and has been carefully restored with original tiles dating back to the 1930s. The second houses a café with a pleasant roof terrace offering beautiful views of the city. The gallery opened in 1998 and is one of the most prominent in Jordan. With more than 200 exhibitions to its credit, presenting some of the most renowned artists of the Arab world, it has also built up a private collection over the years.

Beer lovers will tell you that Carakale is the best beer produced in Jordan. The brewery, located in a lost valley between Fuheis and As-Salt, welcomes visitors to share its know-how and dispel a few preconceived ideas. Yes, Jordan produces beer and wine. And it's Christian families who perpetuate this ancestral art. Blonde, white, triple... the beers brewed here are made with care. The owners take great care over the quality of the hops and malts selected. The result is original beers.

The Abu Jaber House is one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture in Jordan in the late 19th century. This beautiful residence with its dozens of arches on the façade stands in the main square of As-Salt and surpasses all others in its finesse and elegance. It contributes greatly to the inscription of the city on the Unesco World Heritage List. It was built in several stages between 1887 and 1905 for a wealthy merchant in the city, Saleh Abu Jaber. The first floor dates from 1887 and housed the family and the store. In 1896, a second floor was added where the family moved in. The first floor was used for storage and as a residence for visiting guests. In 1905, Saleh Abu Jaber had a third floor added. The family gained more height, while the second floor was allocated to guests and the first floor was used for meetings, trading and horse stables. The building is the first in As-Salt to be equipped with a plumbing system. The roof tiles were imported from Marseille. King Abdullah I resided here in 1922. After the death of Abu Jaber, the upper floors were divided into three separate apartments, one for each of his sons. The first floor has retained its commercial vocation with the installation of stalls. On the^first floor, you will notice that the arched windows have colored stained glass. The house of Abu Jaber was transformed into a museum in 2010. It presents the history of the city and its rich heritage.

On the road to Iraq al-Amir, as you drive through a gorge full of vegetation, you will notice a nursery and a small café on the side of the road. Looking up at the mountain, what looks like a cave dwelling with its cut-out windows stands out from the rock. It is in fact an old dovecote dating from the Middle Ages, a cave with two chambers. The interior walls are entirely carved with 800 triangular niches that provided a resting place for the pigeons. The cave is reached by a staircase that starts from the nursery.

This handicraft production centre, established under the auspices of the Noor Al-Hussein Foundation, works in pottery, mosaics and weaving, among other things. Traditional embroidery is one of the arts applied here. The centre provides training for future craftsmen in order to preserve know-how and provide a job for people who are far from the cities and from employment. The creations, sometimes original, are sold in the showroom. The workshops can be visited freely.

At the foot of the stairs leading to Muallaqat Al-Deir, you will notice the remains of an aqueduct dating from Roman times. It is not very impressive, but the portion that is still standing includes an arch that you can walk under. The water flowed over it and was used to irrigate crops. Wadi Sir means "the valley of orchards" and trees still grow in abundance. The galloping development of Amman has changed the landscape. It is likely that in a few years, the city will have caught up with this bucolic corner.

At the top of the city you will find the ruins of an ancient Ayyubid fortress dating from the 13th century. It was probably built in 1220 by King al-Ma'azzam Isa bin Ayoub, the nephew of Saladin. The small barracks that can be seen around it date from 1870. They are reached by an imposing staircase that seems to never end. The interior of the fort is completely gutted and left to nature. Only the external walls remain, which were 6 meters high. There is still a beautiful view of the city.

The Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is the government agency in charge of organizing tourism in Jordan and managing the archaeological heritage. There is no reason for you to go there. On the other hand, you will find on the website links and information related to tourist visas, visas for residents, the list of all diplomatic representations present in the country as well as useful numbers in case of problems.

Surrounded by the rare towers of Amman, the Haya Cultural Centre is designed for children. The eco-museum, the planetarium, the indoor and outdoor playground have been designed to awaken children to culture and science. Numerous workshops are organised around themes such as music, singing, theatre, drawing... The center is rather intended for people living in Amman, but nothing prevents you from coming there if you travel with young children and are looking for a safe park to let them loose.

Whether you are an avid trekker, birdwatcher, cyclist,camper, rock climber or simply a contemplative nature lover, the Royal Society for the Preservation of Nature is a great place to discover the Nature Reserves it administers and enjoy a unique experience. You can plan your stay with the advisors of the Wild Jordan Adventures team and book your accommodation there.