Private Amman City Tour: Ancient Ruins & Modern Neighborhoods

See Amman's layers in one day: from Roman relics to upscale modern quarters

A private 6-hour guided tour of Amman covers the city's ancient and contemporary landmarks in a single day. You travel by air-conditioned vehicle with a private English-speaking driver and local guide, visiting the King Abdullah Mosque, Amman Citadel with its Archaeological Museum, the Roman Amphitheater, Jordan Museum, and Royal Automobile Museum, plus time in Rainbow Street and the upscale neighborhoods of Abdoun and Swefieh. Hotel pickup and entrance fees to most sites are included. The tour can be extended to 8 hours with a Turkish bath or Arabic lunch option.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. King Abdullah Mosque1h · entry included
2. Amman Citadel1h · entry included
3. Roman Theater of Amman1h · entry included

Explore ancient and modern Amman

• Pick up from central Amman hotel
• Visit King Abdullah Mosque and nearby sites
• Explore Amman Citadel and Archaeological Museum
• Tour Roman Amphitheater and Museum of Popular Traditions
• Drive around downtown and visit Rainbow Street
• Visit Jordan Museum and Royal Automobile Museum
• Return to hotel or optional mall drop off

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup and moves through Amman's geography as a walk through time. You begin at the King Abdullah Mosque, recognizable by its blue mosaic dome, then climb to the Amman Citadel: the hilltop collection of Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic ruins that overlooks the entire city. The Citadel's Archaeological Museum holds artifacts from across Jordan. Your guide explains what you're looking at as you move through the collections.

From there the route descends to the Roman Amphitheater, a 2nd-century structure built to seat 6,000 spectators and still standing on its hillside. You visit the Museum of Popular Traditions next door, then pass through downtown's vibrant markets and the Grand Husseini Mosque before reaching Rainbow Street: Amman's arts and shopping district in the Jabal Amman Quarter. The tour then moves into the modern city: the Jordan Museum, which traces the country's history, and the Royal Automobile Museum in King Hussein Park, where you see vintage royal vehicles alongside contemporary sports cars. Note that both museums close on Tuesdays.

The final stretch takes you through the upscale neighborhoods of Abdoun and Swefieh, where designer shopping malls and private villas line the streets, before the tour ends at your hotel or at one of the malls for free shopping time. You can upgrade to an 8-hour tour that adds either a Turkish bath experience with steam, scrub and massage, or a lunch of Arabic mezze (small hot and cold plates like hummus, grilled meats and salads) at a local restaurant.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• private air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking driver and local guide at the Citadel (Spanish and French available by request).
• entrance fees to the Amman Citadel and Archaeological Museum, Roman Amphitheater, Museum of Popular Traditions, King Abdullah Mosque, Jordan Museum, and Royal Automobile Museum.
• on-board Wi-Fi.
• Arabic mezze lunch if the lunch option is selected.
• Turkish bath with steam, scrub and massage if the bath option is selected.

Options for this experience

4 options

Tour for holders of the Jordan PassGuide in English, Spanish or French · 09:00Private six-hour tour without entrance fees for clients who bought the Jordan Pass. Pickup is included.

Tour OnlyGuide in English, Spanish or French · 09:00A six-hour visit to Amman covering the Citadel, the Roman Theater, King Abdullah Mosque, the Jordan Museum and the Royal Automobile Museum. The museums are closed on Tuesdays. Pickup is included.

Tour with LunchGuide in English, Spanish or French · 09:00Private classic eight-hour tour that includes lunch at a local restaurant. Pickup is included.

Tour that includes a visit to a Turkish bathGuide in English, Spanish or French · 09:00Private classic eight-hour tour with a Turkish bath visit. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except TuesdayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Zaid Tours and Travel

Is this one for you?Book the standard 6-hour tour if you want to cover Amman's main attractions in a single day without adding time. Choose the lunch option if you'd like to eat at a local restaurant as part of the experience, or the Turkish bath option if you want to end the day relaxed rather than sightseeing. The private vehicle and guide mean you move at your own pace and can ask questions throughout.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the Roman Amphitheater like when you get there?

The Roman Amphitheater is a hillside structure built in the 2nd century as part of the Roman city of Philadelphia. It could hold up to 6,000 spectators and still stands intact today. Your guide explains its construction and history as you walk through it.

Can I visit the mosques during the tour?

Yes, you visit the King Abdullah Mosque as part of the tour. Visits to mosques are not allowed during prayer times. Women should wear clothing that covers the arms and legs and bring a scarf to cover the head. Men should wear a normal shirt and trousers.

What's included in the entrance fees?

The tour includes entrance to the Amman Citadel and its Archaeological Museum, the Roman Amphitheater, the Museum of Popular Traditions, the King Abdullah Mosque, the Jordan Museum, and the Royal Automobile Museum. If you hold a Jordan Pass, you can select the option without entrance fees and receive a reimbursement.

What happens if I want to add lunch or a Turkish bath?

You can upgrade to an 8-hour tour at checkout. The lunch option includes Arabic mezze (small plates of hummus, grilled chicken and beef, salads and bread) at a local restaurant. The Turkish bath option includes a steam room, soapy scrub and massage. Either upgrade ends with your choice of hotel or shopping mall drop-off.

How does the tour end?

The standard 6-hour tour ends at your hotel, or you can ask to be dropped at one of the malls visited during the day (Galleria, Taj Mall, or Abdali Boulevard) for free shopping time at your leisure.