Citadel
Perched high up on a hill in the center of Amman, the Citadel features ruins dating as far back as the Bronze Age. Highlights include the Temple of Hercules, a Roman temple built 2,000 years ago, along with the stone hands of what must have once been a towering sculpture of Hercules that historians believe stood almost 40-feet tall. While here, be sure to visit the Jordan Archeological Museum, which helps give context to the remains of the structures found there.
Qasr Al-Mshatta
Just outside of Amman, you’ll find a wide array of well-preserved desert castles and caravansaries. One of the most impressive is the Qasr Al-Mshatta Winter Palace, located around 20 miles outside Amman near the airport. It was built in 744 A.D. by the Umayyad Caliph and is surrounded by a defense wall complete with 25 towers. Although much of the facade is now gone, you can still get an idea of the palace’s grandeur and take in early examples of Islamic art and architecture.
Roman Theater
Just 20 minutes from the Citadel by foot, the restored Roman theater was built more than 2,000 years ago, and was once able to accommodate nearly 6,000 people on its steep stone stairs. It was also the place to be and be seen during the Roman era. Concerts and plays are still held here during the summer, which is a great way to see the theater as it was originally intended.