Overview
Amman, Jordan's hilltop capital, mixes Roman ruins, downtown souks and a lively café culture, and it's the natural gateway to Petra, Jerash, the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum. It works well as a long-weekend city break or as the start of a longer Jordan tour. Flights land at Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), about 30km south of the city. Use the price charts on this page to compare live fares from your local UK airport.
Best time to fly to Amman
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are ideal, with warm days, cool evenings and comfortable sightseeing weather across Jordan. Summer (June to August) is hot and dry, though Amman's altitude keeps the nights bearable. Winter (December to February) is cool with occasional rain and the odd cold snap. Fares tend to climb around Easter and the spring school holidays, so check the When to book chart above to find cheaper weeks.
Airlines and routes
Royal Jordanian and British Airways fly direct from London Heathrow to Amman, and easyJet operates a direct service from London Gatwick. The non-stop flight takes roughly 5 to 5 hours 30 minutes. There are currently no direct flights from Manchester or other regional airports, so you'll connect — commonly via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines or Pegasus, via a European hub with Lufthansa or Air France, or via the Gulf with Qatar Airways or Emirates. Allowing for the layover, expect around 8 to 12 hours in total.
Things to do in Amman
Compact and hospitable, Amman rewards a day or two before you head out to Jordan's headline sights.
- Amman Citadel: hilltop ruins with the Temple of Hercules, an Umayyad palace and sweeping views over the city.
- Roman Theatre: a well-preserved 2nd-century amphitheatre cut into the downtown hillside.
- Rainbow Street: Jabal Amman's café- and boutique-lined strip, good for local food and people-watching.
- The Jordan Museum: home to the Ain Ghazal statues and part of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
- King Abdullah I Mosque: a striking blue-domed landmark that welcomes respectful visitors outside prayer times.
At Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
The airport is about 30km (20 miles) south of central Amman, usually a 30 to 45 minute drive. The Airport Express Bus (Sariyah) runs regularly to Tabarbour (North Bus Station) and the 7th Circle for a few dinars. Official airport taxis charge a set fare into the city, and international car hire desks are in the arrivals hall.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Amman
- Book roughly two to four months ahead; last-minute seats to Amman are rarely cheap.
- Fly midweek and avoid Easter, spring half-term and the Christmas period — the price charts on this page show the pattern.
- Use a flexible-date search to compare a Tuesday or Wednesday departure with the weekend.
- Weigh a direct Heathrow or Gatwick flight against a one-stop route from your regional airport, factoring in bags and transfers.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders need a visa for Jordan. A single-entry visa on arrival is available at Queen Alia Airport, but the Jordan Pass — bought online before you travel and valid if you stay at least three nights — waives the visa fee and includes entry to Petra, Jerash and many other sites. The currency is the Jordanian dinar (JD). No vaccinations are formally required for most travellers, but check the NHS Fit for Travel and FCDO pages before departure, and make sure your passport has at least six months' validity.
