Although the Jordanian capital has its fair share of ancient remnants (the city was first mentioned as Rabbath Ammon in the Hebrew Bible around the 10th century BC), it is the way Amman experiences modernity that fascinates the most. Often listed among the most progressive cities in the Middle East, Amman is a flourishing capital growing by the hour, inhabited by a culturally diverse and rather liberal populace.
Although things have been rough for some of Jordan's immediate neighbours, the country itself has managed to largely avoid political unrest in recent history, making today's Amman a pleasant and perfectly safe city to visit. The locals are famously welcoming, and many speak English, but a surprising few identify as originally Jordanian, belonging rather to various other ethnicities, such as Iraqi, Circassian, or Palestinian.
Nowhere is Amman's eclectic mix of cultures and youthful spirit more apparent than in Rainbow Street, one of the city's most happening locations lined with restaurants, bars, and shops, playing host to the weekly open-air Jara Souk during the summer. There is plenty to do and see in the city itself, but Amman also makes for an excellent base from which to explore the country further.Read More
