Al Balad – Downtown Amman: Address, Al Balad – Downtown Amman Reviews: 4.5/5
Al Balad – Downtown Amman
Al Balad – Downtown Amman
4.5
About
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Al Balad – Downtown Amman
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
511 within 5 kms

Pizza Roma Cafe
630
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Bar • Pizza • Arabic

Habibah Sweets
1,280
0.2 km$ • Quick Bites • Middle Eastern • Vegetarian Friendly

Hashem
3,184
0.3 km$ • Fast food • Mediterranean • Middle Eastern

Jafra
653
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Mediterranean • Middle Eastern

Zajal Restaurant
148
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • Middle Eastern • Vegetarian Friendly

Wild Jordan Center
625
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Healthy • Middle Eastern

Cafe Jafra
177
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Cafe • Mediterranean • Middle Eastern

Books at Cafe
481
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Bar • Cafe • International

Sufra Restaurant
1,543
0.5 km$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • Middle Eastern • Vegetarian Friendly

Shahrazad Restaurant mosbah
75
0.3 km$ • Barbecue • Middle Eastern • Halal
Attractions
63 within 10 kms

Grand Husseini Mosque
43
34 mHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks

Temple of Hercules
123
0.4 kmHistoric Sites • Ancient Ruins

The Citadel
4,372
0.5 kmHistoric Sites • Ancient Ruins

Duke of Mukhyber's Residence
34
0.3 kmHistoric Sites

National Archaeological Museum
331
0.4 kmNatural History Museums

JADAL for Knowledge and Culture
36
0.4 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks

Old Signs Of Amman
3
0.3 kmHistory Museums

Pandazilla
2
0.3 kmArt Galleries

Souk Jara
97
0.4 kmFlea & Street Markets

Jordanian Museum of Popular Tradition
160
0.5 kmHistory Museums
Contribute
Popular mentions
4.5
487 reviews
Excellent
232
Very good
175
Average
71
Poor
8
Terrible
1
joannehurley
London, UK976 contributions
May 2022
We spent about two hours here today, we had a lovely time trying different fruits and cakes. The people were super friendly always saying hello and mostly speaking good English, they were also giving out free water, plus it was lovely to see real Jordanians at work and going about their business.
Written 29 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
PepyMasso
Sofia, Bulgaria312 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
Soak up the Orient 😀
Vivid, colourful, exotic, smells of spices, roasted nuts, chestnuts, corn and dozens of stalls selling sweets, confectioners, ice cream, toys on one side and shops on the other, selling souvenirs, clothes, fresh juices, parfumes, shining gold shops., cafés, restaurants, old buildings... Al Balad is a busy place, full of people and cars. Strangely enough, all this hustle and bustle is a kind of relaxing. Do not miss The Duke's Diwan - the oldest building in the heart of Amman, Roman theatre, Hashem restaurant, king Faisal avenue with beautiful tall palm trees. Enjoy during the day, also at night 😀
Vivid, colourful, exotic, smells of spices, roasted nuts, chestnuts, corn and dozens of stalls selling sweets, confectioners, ice cream, toys on one side and shops on the other, selling souvenirs, clothes, fresh juices, parfumes, shining gold shops., cafés, restaurants, old buildings... Al Balad is a busy place, full of people and cars. Strangely enough, all this hustle and bustle is a kind of relaxing. Do not miss The Duke's Diwan - the oldest building in the heart of Amman, Roman theatre, Hashem restaurant, king Faisal avenue with beautiful tall palm trees. Enjoy during the day, also at night 😀
Written 24 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
AlDON B
Amman, Jordan123 contributions
Dec 2021 • Family
Nice experience at amman Jordan with nice people as well 😀
Thank youuuu all nice Jordanian people and delicious food
You should try Mansaf
And for breakfast you should try falafel and hummus so delicious of course you will like it so much and I forgot shawarma it's really unforgettable 😋
Thank youuuu all nice Jordanian people and delicious food
You should try Mansaf
And for breakfast you should try falafel and hummus so delicious of course you will like it so much and I forgot shawarma it's really unforgettable 😋
Written 12 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Belfasttravelguy
Belfast, UK1,643 contributions
Nov 2021 • Friends
It’s worth taking a visit to the downtown area to experience the more authentic part of Amman. There are plenty of shops, souks, restaurants etc and it’s more bustling. There were quite a lot of pet shops too! We also found a rooftop bar which had pet rabbits and a guinea pig running around.
Written 2 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
palawanismyhome
Palawan Island, Philippines20,538 contributions
Sep 2021
Al Balad, Downtown Amman is so interesting i walked through the area many times, seeing the souks, the mosque, trying some restaurants, looking at souvenir shops and observing the locals going about their business. The area is very busy so be careful crossing the road.
Written 16 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
AyyadAyyad
Amman, Jordan128 contributions
Aug 2021 • Friends
Start Amman “Wast Albadad” walking tour.
Head to the citadel, called Jebel al-Qala'a, from which you can enjoy a fascinating panoramic view of the Former 7 Hills of Amman. On the highest terrace of the citadel hill are parts of the Omayyad palace, Al Qasr, and not far from it, rise the mighty columns of the former Hercules temple in the sky. On the circular route you will visit the archaeological museum, which presents finds from a period of over 50,000 years. From this vantage point we can see a wide panorama of Amman, from the wealthy suburbs of Jabal Amman in the West, right across to the 3500 year old city that Kingdome of Ammon established. It's the ideal place to understand Amman's significance in the region, and to all Jordanians."
2 hours walk from the Citadel through one of Amman's oldest neighborhoods is planned for beautiful snapshots, it highlights the top experiences of the old town. On the way visit Amman Panorama Art Gallery, in one of Amman's oldest houses where you can have a cup of Arabic coffee with Jordanian dates or enjoy tea with typical Jordanian flavors, talking to one of the local artists.
Next to the art gallery is the most significant construction in the old town, the astonishingly well-preserved Greco-Roman theater, with its six thousand seats in the southeast of the city. The fruit and vegetable market lure us. We go past spice shops, clothing stores for child, man, woman bring us closer to the city. Not far away is the Al-Husseini Mosque, the gold dealers, perfumeries offer original Jordanian fragrances with a special oriental touch, Shawarma, Hummus & Falafel shops are to be discovered almost every corner. Not to mention the sweet shops, famous for “Knafa”, a traditional Arab dessert made with thin noodle-like pastry, or alternatively fine semolina dough, soaked in sweet, sugar-based syrup, and typically layered with cheese.
Head to the citadel, called Jebel al-Qala'a, from which you can enjoy a fascinating panoramic view of the Former 7 Hills of Amman. On the highest terrace of the citadel hill are parts of the Omayyad palace, Al Qasr, and not far from it, rise the mighty columns of the former Hercules temple in the sky. On the circular route you will visit the archaeological museum, which presents finds from a period of over 50,000 years. From this vantage point we can see a wide panorama of Amman, from the wealthy suburbs of Jabal Amman in the West, right across to the 3500 year old city that Kingdome of Ammon established. It's the ideal place to understand Amman's significance in the region, and to all Jordanians."
2 hours walk from the Citadel through one of Amman's oldest neighborhoods is planned for beautiful snapshots, it highlights the top experiences of the old town. On the way visit Amman Panorama Art Gallery, in one of Amman's oldest houses where you can have a cup of Arabic coffee with Jordanian dates or enjoy tea with typical Jordanian flavors, talking to one of the local artists.
Next to the art gallery is the most significant construction in the old town, the astonishingly well-preserved Greco-Roman theater, with its six thousand seats in the southeast of the city. The fruit and vegetable market lure us. We go past spice shops, clothing stores for child, man, woman bring us closer to the city. Not far away is the Al-Husseini Mosque, the gold dealers, perfumeries offer original Jordanian fragrances with a special oriental touch, Shawarma, Hummus & Falafel shops are to be discovered almost every corner. Not to mention the sweet shops, famous for “Knafa”, a traditional Arab dessert made with thin noodle-like pastry, or alternatively fine semolina dough, soaked in sweet, sugar-based syrup, and typically layered with cheese.
Written 21 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
kr0elle
Amman, Jordan947 contributions
Feb 2021
Amman can seem quite atypical most of the times with its slick skyscrapers and cool attitude. Not so much in the downtown: Come to soak in the vibe, aromas, and tastes of a true Arabic metropolis.
Written 16 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
AlDON B
Amman, Jordan123 contributions
Dec 2020 • Family
Alot of nice places here and nice atmosphere was fantastic with amazing Jordanian food like falafel and shawerma
And sweets of course kunafa 🤩
Nice time
And sweets of course kunafa 🤩
Nice time
Written 3 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
JimParkway
Toronto, Canada2,072 contributions
Feb 2020
This city gives me an experience of the past. The shoppers, stores front, and the streets. I found the best views are the houses rise above the hills. Love to have a chance to browse into these mazes.
Written 19 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
R. Marshall
Fayetteville, NC340 contributions
May 2020
I cannot easily summarize the site, sounds and tastes of this area in Amman in this review. I would recommend that you add Amman to your bucket list if you enjoy travelling. This is a VERY historic area (as is most of Amman and the country for that matter). To truly appreciate the history and current culture this would be a very good place to start. The Roman Coliseum, King Hussein (or Husseini) Mosque, Nymphaeum and The Original Arab Bank building are the popular historic sites. There are multiple places to shop for gold, clothing, fabrics, custom jewelry and fabrics. You also have plenty of little shops for local food items to try. I recommend you try the original Habibah shop AND Abu Ali’s which is close by. If you have a good sweet tooth, you'll understand why. You won't soon forget the experience of the visit and you will most likely return for seconds!
Written 20 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Pat
Pennsylvania5 contributions
I am having trouble locating where downtown Amman is. I like the description of walking the busy streets full of shops and markets. I like to find a 3 or 4 star-hotel nearby to take advantage of it. Can anyone recommend a hotel?
Ghada S
Amman, Jordan14 contributions
There aareso many hotels surrounding downtown or in it. Though I don't normally recommend the ones downtown. . You can book a room at affordable prices in nearby areas like jabal luibdeh, jabal Amman or Hussein. Just google these areas for hotels
Msakko
209 contributions
Il lunedì mattina è aperto ?sapete giorni e orari ?
C1168BCsilviac
3 contributions
si e° sempre aperto, in pratica il centro storico, chiudono i negozi tardi
Mary V
Athens, Greece169 contributions
Are the shops open on friday?
Irongate69
Beirut, Lebanon255 contributions
Some would. Maybe not all.
Gizzy02
London, UK219 contributions
We want.to book a holiday to Jordon to see Petra and all the other sights. Is it safe in downtown Amman as the UK Foreign office advise to keep away from there but looking at the reviews I'm not so sure this is the case. Can anyone answer my question? thanks.
JemoScout
Leuven, Belgium203 contributions
I can highly recommend it beased on my own experience this winter.
annalena T
Milan, Italy2 contributions
Il venerdì si può visitare ugualmente?
Giovanni F
Rome, Italy11,996 contributions
Mi spiace, questo lo ignoro.
tanialatinina
Jakarta, Indonesia480 contributions
what is the opening hour?
MontherYASEEN
Amman, Jordan1,702 contributions
Many shops cafés restaurants from early morning till like 10 or 11 pm
Nandalousie
1 contribution
hey just arrived here and want know how the styreet market and if there is a night life here ... got 1day off a week and don t know what to do yet ...
NirmalSunkari
Gurugram (Gurgaon), India219 contributions
There are some interesting shops in Al Balad if you are a collector of coins, antiques, etc. Night life is vibrant and there are some awesome restaurants that dot the Rainbow Street, complete with music and great food.
Frequently Asked Questions about Al Balad – Downtown Amman
- We recommend booking Al Balad – Downtown Amman tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 57 Al Balad – Downtown Amman tours on Tripadvisor
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Al Balad – Downtown Amman:
- Private Walking Tour in Amman With Local (From RM 198.27)
- Private Street Food and Walking Tour Amman Downtown (From RM 572.77)
- Amazing Amman City Tour (From RM 330.40)
- Ultimate Jordan Luxury Tour (From RM 9,693.08)
- Full-Day Trip To Petra And Wadi Rum (From RM 1,418.98)
- Hotels near Al Balad – Downtown Amman:
- (0.06 km) Khirfan House Apartment Luxury - Center of the City- 3A
- (0.06 km) Karota Hotel
- (0.19 km) Arab Tower Hotel
- (0.16 km) Khan Khediwe Hotel
- (0.15 km) Torwadah Hotel
- Restaurants near Al Balad – Downtown Amman:
- (0.02 km) Palestine Juice
- (0.03 km) Az Az Shrimp
- (0.05 km) Zain Restaurant and Cafe
- (0.23 km) Habibah Sweets
- (0.10 km) Palestine Mountains Juices Downtown
- Attractions near Al Balad – Downtown Amman:
- (0.03 km) Grand Husseini Mosque
- (0.12 km) Jordan Royal Road
- (0.29 km) Tropical Desert
- (0.20 km) Gold Souk
- (0.26 km) Trinitae at The Soap House