The Citadel
The Citadel
4.5
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
This archaeological landmark features remnants from several different cultures.
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  • betteskid
    Boston, Massachusetts1,310 contributions
    Worthwhile visiting - great views of Amman
    We enjoyed visiting this site. The ruins mostly consist of the Temple of Hercules, which is very nice, but the site is smaller and not as well preserved as many of the other sites we saw on our trip to the Middle East. That said, the views from the site are really great and it was interesting to see the old palace off to the side. The view of the Roman Amphitheater is especially good from here. There is also a small museum at the site that has a small but very nice collection that helps you understand the history of the place.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 17, 2022
  • ken j
    Manalapan, New Jersey905 contributions
    Great intro to culture and history
    This was a good start to our Jordan group Globus tour. It has a great view and is well-explained. It is a mix of multiple civilizations and was interesting. Don't miss this. Museum in the middle needs updating but is still worth a visit.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 19, 2022
  • Roy F
    Doha, Qatar60 contributions
    Beautiful Citadel
    Another one of those easy visits you can go to even as a single traveller. The citadel is within the city proper. It is accessible by public transport like taxi and no guided tour is needed for this place. This place gives you an overview of the city of Amman which is spectacular! A must visit to go to plus you may meet the friendly cats within the citadel.
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled solo
    Written December 29, 2022
  • Musicians Mum
    557 contributions
    Ancient ruins and SPECTACULAR OVERVIEW of Amman
    Interesting collection of ancient buildings.Visited as part of a small group tour from UK .Was a bit damp and chilly so difficult to fully appreciate! Part of the 7th century Umayyad palace,part of temple of Hercules(and a hand and an elbow from a huge statue of him),water cisterns . SPECTACULAR view as this is sited on on of the seven hills on which Amman is built.
    Visited December 2022
    Written January 18, 2023
  • 0rion
    123 contributions
    Nice spot
    Nice spot ! You can hire a guide at the entrance if you want, museum Is worse to do ! If you want to enjoy thé visit & the sunset, go there about 3:30 pm, during January, expect 2-3 jours to do the tour. Included in the Jordan Pass
    Visited January 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written January 30, 2023
  • HungaryHopper
    Birmingham, United Kingdom445 contributions
    Long hilly walk up
    Recommend to get a taxi or walk up if you are fit enough. Takes approx two to three hours to visit and free with Jordan pass. Interesting ruin and especially on sunset can view the lovely Amman surrounding. Hercules, old temple and gateway were all found on this site. Follow map and places to see. As part of Amman sightseeing recommended. Have visitor centre with WC and gift shop upon entry/way out
    Visited February 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 4, 2023
  • Brun066
    Florence, Italy12,266 contributions
    Testimony of the large time gap between the importance of Amman until the early Middle Ages and its newfound importance
    As is known, Amman is much less rich in ancient architectural monuments than the other major historical cities in the area, such as Jerusalem or Damascus. This is because when it was chosen by Emir Abdullah as the future capital of Transjordan (1921), it had ceased to be an important city since more than thousand years.. It's true that ancient Philadelphia (as Alexander the Great renamed present-day Amman) had been prosperous since at least 1200 BC, and had continued to do so under the Ammonites, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, and the Umayyad Caliphate (caliphate which had established the seat of the ruler of the province, residing precisely in the Palace which is in the Citadel). But precisely the decline had begun with the end of the Umayad caliphate (750 AD); after that, only the construction of a watchtower from the Ayyubid era was reported on the Citadel, around 1220, as part of the strengthening of Islamic control in an anti-Crusader function, which was operated on the ridge left of the Jordan River (moreover, Philadelphia-Amman was under Ayyubid control as early as 1170). A watchtower, with all evidence, doesn't imply the presence of a great center of power: and it is for this reason that on the Citadel we see only important witnesses of Umayad presence, or earlier (especially Roman; and here it is inevitable to mention the Temple of Hercules). In particular I would like to point out the beauty of what remains of the Umayad palace, like the domed audience hall. It's true that it has been restored; but the elaborate decorative reliefs of the walls of the room remain intriguing, both inside and outside. They reminded me of the reliefs of the "Gate of Baghdad" in Raqqa (Syria), which I admired many years ago.
    Visited August 2022
    Written February 7, 2023
  • geoff B
    518 contributions
    Beautiful wooden dome on the old palace
    Great views from up here over the city which looks like little Lego blocks stacked on all the surrounding hills. The citadel is a great place to spend a couple of hours just wandering around. The museum was also interesting. The citadel is included if you have a Jordan pass. We took a cab from our hotel in downtown and it cost 2jod to get up there then we walked back down through the houses and stairs to get to the Roman forum.
    Visited February 2023
    Written February 19, 2023
  • Jadranka P
    London, United Kingdom717 contributions
    Mixture of Roman and Umayyad ruins
    Overlooking the old town of Amman, sitting atop the hill is the Citadel, one of the iconic historical structures of Amman, which includes the impressive Temple of Hercules and the Ummayad Palace. I wish that we had a bit more time to explore the area. Absolutely beautiful .. There is a very interesting museum which is a worth a visit and near the entrance there is a small snack bar.
    Visited November 2022
    Written February 27, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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CrystalB4
Portland, OR229 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We visited in February on a pleasant sunny day. This is well worth the visit if you are in Amman. There are great panoramic views of the city and of course a ton of history. We hired a guide but I felt it was a waste of money. He didn't tell us anything that I hadn't already read online. If you are staying in Jordan for more than three days I highly recommend buying the Jordan pass. It covers the entry Visa and the entry fee to most of the historic sites in Jordan including Petra.
Written February 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ross C
Amman, Jordan14 contributions
Jun 2020 • Solo
Visited the citadel on a Friday Morning at approximately 11am. I would suggest getting a taxi to the site as it is atop a very steep hill. The taxi drops you off right by the front gate. The entrance fee was 3 Jordanian Dinars (JOD's) which was amazing value for what you get to see on the site. On entry to the site I was approached if I wanted a professional photographer to take pictures of me from the best viewpoints for 10 JOD's. To be fair the example pictures shown were very well taken and I would probably of had them done if I was in a family group. There is a cafe on site for refreshments if needed. I would recommend carrying a bottle of water with you during the visit as it is quite hot and exposed on the hill. Also a hat and suncream is recommended (or long sleeves) as you are walking around for a good hour. The site is very well presented with both English & Arabic signage explanations of the ruins. You can get close to everything as the path weaves around the site. There is a brilliant museum at the top of the hill with plenty of exhibits. During the Covid 19 pandemic a mask is required for entry. The views from the site over the city are amazing and I was lucky enough to be there when Friday prayers were taking place. You could hear the call to prayer echoing off the hills all around from the different mosques - it was a memorable experience. Well worth a visit if in Amman.
Written June 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Linda Y
Frisco, TX5,665 contributions
Jan 2020
This historical site is located smack-dab in the middle of downtown Amman, on one of Amman’s original seven hills. It’s important because the site has a long history of occupations that reads like a who’s-who list of great civilizations that date back to the Middle Bronze age. It is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited places! Remaining today are the ruins of the Roman Temple of Hercules, a Byzantine church, and the Umayyad Palace, among others. The small but well-organized Jordan Archaeological Museum is also included with admission to the Citadel (don’t miss the Ain Ghazal Statues). Even if you aren’t interested in the historical/archaeological aspects, the panoramic view of Amman is worth the visit. The Citadel is included in the Jordan Pass.
Written March 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vince C
Bellevue, WA68 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
We hired the Odynovo Tour company. They greeted us when we de-planed, facilitated our entry through Customs, drove us to our hotel. Super-efficient! The next morning, our tour guide (his name pronounced "safe") drove us to the Citadel and patiently waited as we walked through various scenic overlooks, the museum, etc. The paths are well- defined, good signage descriptions along the way. We took about an hour to see what was of interest to us. Others could take twice as long as there is much to see. Only bathroom is at the cafe at the entry gate. Highest point so panoramic views were 360.
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Riccardo M
Milan, Italy14 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We arrived in the morning at 8:30 so we didn’t find many tourists! It was nice to walk around the area by ourselves. Other than the ruins, you have also an amazing view of Amman.
Be careful if you bring any kids there cause there are no safe railings all around the place and it could be very dangerous for them!
Worth visiting
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

samer2015
Amman, Jordan2,580 contributions
Jan 2020
This is a well kept place at the center of Amman. Of course it is on top of a hill and surrounded by walls to keep intruders of the past away. Definitely worth seeing. The place used to be a small city well engineered. You will definitely appreciate the architecture, discipline and the level of details that the people few thousands years ago used to have.

You will need anywhere between 1-3 hours depending on your own pace and level of details you want to enjoy.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rajesh u
New Delhi, India170 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
The Citadel, perched on the top of the hill is a time capsule of Jordan's history. With relics ranging from the Roman, to Byzantine to the Islamic era, all three periods are represented in Citadel. Apart from the ruins in the complex, the views of the city are the most interesting. The light brown monochrome appearance of the city is well delineated from the site.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Crabcar
20 contributions
Mar 2021 • Family
We went in there as a small family of 5 (all adults) and the guards told us that we were not allowed to enter without a tour guide. After some negotiation with our guide and the gate guards we were able to enter. Apparently they implemented some 'rule' that people in large groups must pay a guide to lead them around. And the place wasn't even well maintained.
Written March 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

John G
11 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
The citadel of Annan presents a grand view of the seemingly endless city spreading out in all directions. You can see how the city is situated on the plateau and the building that has flowed into the wadis. Some archeological restoration has need undertaken and information on contemporary stone pillars illustrates the huge time span of the city‘s development: From Iron Age to Ottoman. The museum is a modest affair. Surprising that it was first established in the 50‘s. It was superseded by the Jordan Museum. It appears that Ammanites go to the Citadel to hang out: young lads being cool, families out for a pick-nick or indeed young couples for a modest and decorous meet. If you look hard enough you can descend from the Citadel via unofficial paths through the dense housing on the steep slopes.
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

daesquiv
San Jose, Costa Rica651 contributions
Mar 2020
Included in the Jordan Pass, this should be a must see and it is really the best place to start your walk through Amman. You will have a lot to walk so if you prefer you can take a taxi to the top from anywhere in the city.
Don't miss the Museum, the Temple of Hercules and to walk around to enjoy the amazing views of the Roman Amphitheater, all of Amman and you won't miss the outstanding jordan flag on the back of the Citadel.

You can get a guide for 30JD that lead you through the place if you are really interested.
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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