Al-Madinah (Downtown)
I always send first-timers here. You wake up to the call to prayer echoing off limestone buildings, walk five minutes to the Roman Theater, and grab kunafa from a shop that’s been there for decades.
The streets get loud after sunset-families out strolling, vendors selling roasted corn, car horns bouncing off narrow alleys. If you need silence to sleep, bring earplugs.
Most hostels and budget guesthouses cluster here. You’ll pay $15-30 a night and actually feel like you’re in Jordan, not some generic hotel district.
The Reality: Traffic is genuinely chaotic. Crossing the street near Hashemite Plaza requires confidence. And in summer, the heat gets trapped between buildings-it’s brutal by 2 PM.
Jabal Amman
This hilltop neighborhood feels like someone dropped a European quarter into the Middle East. I come here when I want a good coffee and a quieter pace.
Rainbow Street runs through the heart of it-galleries, bookshops, cafes where you can sit for hours. The views at sunset are worth the climb, especially from Wild Jordan Cafe.
Boutique hotels here run $60-150. You’re paying for the vibe and the location. Most historical sites are still walkable, just uphill on the way back.
The Reality: Those hills aren’t a joke. I’ve watched plenty of tourists underestimate them in July heat. And parking is a nightmare if you’re driving.
Shmeisani (Shumaysani)
This is where I stayed my first trip when I was watching every dinar. It’s a commercial area-not charming, but practical.
You’ll find $25-50 hotels that are clean and functional. Malls, phone shops, shawarma places that stay open late. It works if you’re using Amman as a base for day trips to Petra or Jerash.
My Take: I wouldn’t choose it if this is your only time in Jordan. You’ll spend money and time on taxis just to see the Citadel.
Abdoun
I stayed here once on someone else’s budget. It’s where wealthy Jordanians live-gated compounds, high-end restaurants, that international hotel aesthetic.
If you want a pool, gym, and spa after dusty days in Wadi Rum, this delivers. But you’re not really experiencing Amman. You’re experiencing a nice hotel that happens to be in Amman.
Cost: Expect $150+ per night. Taxis to Downtown run about 5-7 JD.
Al Abdali
This district still feels like it’s trying to convince itself it exists. New towers, a giant mall, wide boulevards that feel empty even when they’re not.
I find it soulless, honestly. You could be in Dubai or any other city building itself from scratch. The AC is powerful, the restaurants are fine, but there’s no story here yet.
My Recommendation
If it’s your first time, stay in Al-Madinah.
Yes, it’s loud. Yes, the traffic is manic. But you’ll be five minutes from the Citadel, you’ll eat where locals eat, and you’ll save money for the rest of your trip. Book something near Hashemite Plaza and just embrace it.
