Museum

Amman Citadel

#1of 9 places to visit in AmmanAmman, Amman Governorate, Jordan

Also known as Jabal al-Qal'a · Jabal al-Qala'a · Citadel Hill

Quick answer

Opening hours: 08:00–16:00. Entry: JOD 3 for foreign visitors. Allow 1.5 hrs. Best time: 16:00 - 17:30.

Updated 18 September 2026 · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read

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Photo: David Bjorgen / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5

Opening hours: 08:00–16:00; Hours are seasonal: 08:00-16:00 November-March, 08:00-17:30 April-May, 08:00-18:30 in summer. The encoded window is the shortest (winter) one. Shortened hours during Ramadan (reported around 08:30-18:00) and on public holidays. The last entry is usually 30-60 minutes before closing. Verify current hours at the gate.
Entry fee: JOD 3; For foreign visitors
Time needed: 1.5 hrs
Best time of day: 16:00 - 17:30
Best months: Mar – May, Sep – Nov
Address: Jabal al-Qal'a, Downtown Amman, Amman, Jordan (Jordan does not use street-level postal codes for heritage sites)

About Amman Citadel

Amman Citadel charges JOD 3 for foreign adults as of 2026, and the ticket also covers the Jordan Archaeological Museum on the same hilltop. Amman Citadel (Jabal al-Qal'a) crowns one of the hills around Downtown Amman and holds Bronze Age, Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad remains inside one compound of pale limestone. Amman Citadel is best known for the Temple of Hercules, where two 13.5-metre columns and a few giant fingers from the cult statue's hand still stand, and for the terrace beside them, which looks across the stacked white blocks of central Amman toward the Roman Theatre below.

Best time of day: 16:00 - 17:30. In cooler months, when the limestone turns honey-coloured and the wind drops; arrive at 08:00 in summer to beat the heat on the unshaded summit.

Amman Citadel timings

Amman Citadel opens at 08:00 and closes at 16:00. The weekend is no different: Saturday and Sunday follow the same times.

Opening hours: 08:00–16:00; Mon–Sun 08:00–16:00; Hours are seasonal: 08:00-16:00 November-March, 08:00-17:30 April-May, 08:00-18:30 in summer. The encoded window is the shortest (winter) one. Shortened hours during Ramadan (reported around 08:30-18:00) and on public holidays. The last entry is usually 30-60 minutes before closing. Verify current hours at the gate.
Closed on: Open every day

Mon–Sun	08:00–16:00

Good to know: Shortened hours during Ramadan (reported around 08:30-18:00) and on public holidays; the last entry is usually 30-60 minutes before closing.

Opening hours compiled from international.visitjordan.com and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Amman Citadel ticket price

Entry fees for Amman Citadel
Ticket	Price
Standard ticket (foreign visitors)	JOD 3
Concession (student / senior)	JOD 3
Children	JOD 3

Amman Citadel is listed at JOD 3 for foreign adults on the Jordan Tourism Board fee table, as of 2026; some operator guides still quote JOD 2, so verify at the ticket window. The ticket includes the Jordan Archaeological Museum on the hill. Amman Citadel is included in the Jordan Pass. No foreign-visitor student or child concession was confirmed; Jordanian residents pay a much lower rate.

Prices compiled from international.visitjordan.com and public records, last updated 18 September 2026. They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides

Best time to visit Amman Citadel

Quiet
Moderate
Busy

08:00 - 10:00
Opening CalmBest time to go
Amman Citadel is quiet apart from early tour vans; the temple platform is easy to photograph without people in frame.
Quiet
10:00 - 13:00
Tour Group Window
Day-trip and cruise-transfer groups arrive together and crowd the Temple of Hercules and the museum entrance.
Busy
13:00 - 15:30
Midday Heat Lull
Heat thins the crowd in summer; shade is scarce, so visits at this hour are short.
Moderate
15:30 - closing
Golden-Hour Terrace
Photographers and locals gather on the terrace for sunset over the city; the hill empties within minutes of closing.
Busy

History of Amman Citadel

Amman Citadel occupies the acropolis of Rabbath-Ammon, capital of the Iron Age Kingdom of Ammon, and archaeologists trace occupation on the hill back to the Bronze Age. Roman Philadelphia built the Temple of Hercules on the summit between AD 162 and 166, in the reign of Marcus Aurelius. A Byzantine church of the 6th century sits on the hillside, and the Umayyad Palace complex, dated to the period of the dynasty's rule (661-750), adds a monumental gateway, a colonnaded street, a cruciform audience hall and a restored domed entrance. A 13th-century Ayyubid watchtower shows the hill was still used as a strongpoint centuries later. The Jordan Archaeological Museum, opened in the early 1950s, displays Neolithic to Islamic finds in a small building beside the temple.

Rules & etiquette at Amman Citadel

Amman Citadel is an open-air archaeological site with no formal dress code, but shoulders and knees covered is the safer choice, particularly for women, and the hilltop has little shade and no barriers at several drop-offs. Climbing on the temple drums and the Umayyad walls is prohibited, and rope lines mark restricted areas. Drones are tightly restricted in Jordan and need advance permission from the civil aviation authority, so do not fly one at the site. Unofficial guides approach visitors near the entrance; agree a price before walking, or use the licensed guides at the ticket office. Photography is free, and tripods are tolerated outside peak hours.

A Jordan Pass QR code is scanned at the gate, and the pass covers the ticket but not the separate guide fee.

Tips for visiting Amman Citadel

1
Amman Citadel is best reached by taxi to the top and a walk down through the Jabal al-Qal'a lanes, because the climb from Downtown is steep and the summer sun is fierce. Bring water, a hat and shoes with grip, since the Roman paving is worn smooth and uneven. Start at the Temple of Hercules, cross to the Umayyad Palace, then finish in the museum, which is cool and quiet in the afternoon.
2
Amman Citadel and the Roman Theatre are about 1.5 kilometres apart, and combining them with lunch in Downtown makes a natural half-day. Sunset from the terrace is the strongest view, but the last entry is before closing, so check the timetable before planning a golden-hour visit in winter. Carry small notes for the ticket window.

How to reach Amman Citadel

The red star is Amman Citadel; the numbered pins are the 4 nearest places in our guides, each showing its rank in its city. Tap a pin for details.

Jabal al-Qal'a, Downtown Amman, Amman, Jordan (Jordan does not use street-level postal codes for heritage sites)Directions in Google Maps

From Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
40 km · 60-80 min
JOD 3.3-3.4 by Airport Express (reported, as of 2026), plus roughly JOD 2-4 by taxi to the hill; official airport taxi to central Amman is around JOD 22.50 (last confirmed early 2024)
From Downtown Amman (Hashemite Plaza)
1.5 km · 5-10 min
Roughly JOD 1.5-3 (metered taxi or app price; confirm before boarding)
From Jabal Amman (Rainbow Street)
3 km · 10-15 min
Roughly JOD 2-4 (metered taxi or app price)

Nearest airport

From Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)

about 35 km south of central Amman, 45-60 minutes by Airport Express bus or 40-50 minutes by taxi.

Nearest station

From Amman has no metro or passenger rail; the nearest public transport is the Ras Al-Ain BRT terminal and Downtown taxi ranks. The Citadel is a steep 15-20 minute climb from Downtown or a short taxi ride.

Amman Citadel FAQs

How much does Amman Citadel cost?

JOD 3 for foreign adults on the Jordan Tourism Board fee table, as of 2026, and free with the Jordan Pass. Some guides still quote JOD 2, so verify at the ticket window; the ticket includes the Jordan Archaeological Museum.

What are the opening hours of Amman Citadel?

Daily from 08:00, closing at 16:00 in winter, 17:30 in April and May, and 18:30 in summer, as of 2026. Ramadan hours are shorter, so confirm locally.

Is Amman Citadel included in the Jordan Pass?

Yes. Amman Citadel is one of the 40-plus sites covered by the Jordan Pass, and the QR code is scanned at the entrance.

How long do I need at Amman Citadel?

About 90 minutes covers the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad Palace, the Byzantine church and the museum. Add 30 minutes if you want to linger on the terrace for sunset.

Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated 18 September 2026. How we rank and check places