Amman

Amman is a great place to visit if you want to explore the old whilst casting an eye out for the new. There is plenty to see here to keep travellers occupied for some time. The city is peppered with items of cultural and historic interest including The Roman Theatre, a watchtower intact from the Ammonite-era, the new Jordan museum which showcases a wealth of cultural and historical finds and a plethora of museums, traditional cafes, religious monuments and swanky places to stay. Amman is also a gateway to many other locations including Burma, Sakib and Raymun. The locals are renowned for their warmth and hospitality helping to make newcomers feel utterly invited and welcomed. The cities fusion of up-and-coming metropolis and sleepy antique find is quite captivating, especially for those new to the Arabic world.

When people flock to the Middle East having no prior knowledge of it, they typically harbour rather outdated and stereotypical views. Amman itself is known by locals to have two very distinctive faces; the eastern side of Amman includes the downtown area and is poorer with an array of Palestinian refugee camps within sight. The west of Amman is notably different with wide, open residential expanses, and endless bars, museums, galleries and restaurants. Somehow both areas work together to coherently and cohesively represent the entirety of Jordan; the east harks back to the realities of poverty and war whilst the west represents Amman’s potential to become a globally recognised metropolis. Although every city possesses its polarising aspects, Amman’s marriage of both feels distinctive and raw and offers visitors real insight into the realities of Jordan.

As a city, Amman is informed by various influences. Most recently, an influx of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian and Iraqi refugees have undoubtedly altered the cultural landscape. Amman has become a safe haven and sanctuary for those unable to remain in their home countries. Amman itself is a fair, tolerant and welcoming city with a forward thinking outlook that also remains astutely respectful of its conventional Islamic origins. The overall vibe of Amman is characterised by a tantalising mix of respect and progress. What makes a holiday to Amman so interesting is that it feels like a modern city in motion; culturally, Amman is diverse with international leanings and is lively and utterly safe. Amman is comprised of the best of the old and the most useful of the new making it a quaint and enjoyable little jumble.

It is best to go on an Amman holiday between the months of March and June and from then on between October and December. These are the periods during which there is the lowest rainfall and the temperatures are manageable. Temperatures soar between June and September and the relentless heat can be off putting to unaccustomed locals.

Amman is a city that is largely traversed by car so the temperature needn’t be an issue if you plan to explore via air conditioned vehicle. Jordan is itself is around 90% desert with all that this implies; summers in Jordan are a sizzling, scorching affair surprisingly plagued by cold nights. Ideally, it is best to visit Amman during its comfortable seasons when rainfall is lower and heat is not as much of an issue.

Summer (April-October)

Holidays in Amman’s during summer are, as you might expect for the region, decidedly long. This period is hot and dry and can be uncomfortable for tourists unused to such heat. The hottest summer month is August. Temperatures typically rise to between 20°C to 35°C. If you wish to evade the rain, June, July and August are the three drought months. During the day temperatures can reach a blistering 40°C and the area is characterised by dry, hot winds coming in from a southerly direction that can lead to sandstorms (these periods are referred to as the Sirocco).  During summer, Amman is typically blessed with 13 hours of sunshine.

Winter (November-March)

Again, as you might expect, winters in Jordan do not last long and Amman does not buck this trend. Winter passes quickly and is characterised by cool weather. January is the coldest month during which the majority of the countries annual rainfall occurs. It’s not uncommon to witness volatile storms, local flooding and erosion of local architecture. Amman experiences a very particular kind of coldness and it is even possible to witness snow. During this period, the average day consists of 6 hours of sunshine with the least sunshine experienced in December. The days themselves are not always cold but the nights are very chill-prone. Days can be dry but cold with snowfall expected during the peak winter months.