Amman Citadel
A Roman temple, a Byzantine church and an Umayyad palace on the hill above the city.
Duration
1 hr 30 min – 2 hrs 30 min
Best time
Late afternoon
Open
Every day
Entry price
To confirm
The hill of Jabal al-Qala has been occupied since the Bronze Age, and each power built on the last without erasing it: inside one enclosure you find a Roman temple of Hercules, a Byzantine church and an eighth-century Umayyad palace with its domed audience hall.
Three columns and a colossal stone hand are all that remains of the temple; the statue of Hercules it belonged to must have stood a dozen metres. The view takes in all of Amman, including the Roman theatre below — the two are done in the same half day.
Getting there
On the hill north of downtown. Taxi from the centre, ten minutes; the walk up from the Roman theatre is steep.
What the price covers
paid entry, check the current rate on site; included in the Jordan Pass
What to bring
- Walking shoes
- 1.5 L of water
- Cap
Rules on site
The Jordan Pass, bought before arriving in the country, covers entry here and at Petra and waives the visa fee: it almost always pays for itself. There is no shade on the plateau.
