Children's Museum

Amman's Children's Museum is surprisingly delightful. There are plenty of interactive exhibits allowing the young ones to get a hands-on approach to learning about the world, from the inner workings of the human digestive system to the mechanics of a car. Adults will enjoy continuing on to the Royal Automobile Museum next door.

• Web:

  www.cmj.jo/en

• Address:

  King Abdullah II St, Amman

• Phone:

  +962 6 541 1479

Citadel Hill

The capital's most important historic landmark is an entire area known as the Citadel, perched on top of Amman's highest elevation — the Jabal al-Qal'a hill. Its story dates back to as early as the Bronze Age, with various epochs bringing cultures and peoples who have all left their mark here. The Citadel's two primary attractions are the ancient Temple of Hercules (162-166 AD) and the Ummayad Palace dating back to the 8th century.

Darat Al Funun

An art centre and architectural landmark in its own right, Darat Al Funun contains a frequently updated selection of exhibitions. Its serene setting making for a pleasant excursion, and hillside location affording panoramic city views. Archaeological remains of a 6th century Byzantine church can be observed at the entry.

• Web:

  www.daratalfunun.org

• Address:

  Nadim Al-Mallah Street 13, Amman

• Phone:

  +962 6 464 3251

• Opening hours:

  Sat–Thu 10am–7pm. Open until 3pm during Ramadan. Closed in August

Jordan Museum

The country's largest museum containing some of its most important archaeological artefacts is certainly worth a visit. Exhibits are accompanied by both English- and Arabic-language explanations, making for an informative excursion into the country's ancient and recent past.

• Web:

  www.jordanmuseum.jo

• Address:

  Ali Ben Abi Taleb Street 10, Amman

• Phone:

  +962 6 462 9317

King Abdullah I Mosque

The iconic blue-domed mosque is one of the country's most recognisable attractions, a place of worship as much as a national landmark and even somewhat of a museum: a few archaeological finds and personal items of King Abdullah, who inaugurated the mosque, are also displayed here. Unlike at most other mosques, non-Muslim visitors are welcome inside, provided they follow the rules of attendance.

• Address:

  Suleiman Al Nabulsi St, Amman

• Phone:

  +962 7 9806 2939

• Opening hours:

  Daily 3:20am–10pm

Qasr al-Abd

As opposed to the omnipresent in Jordan remains of Roman and Umayyad structures, Qasr al-Abd is a rare example of architecture pre-dating the Roman era. Its exact origins remain unknown, which only adds to the fascination. Qasr al-Abd is usually described as a large Hellenistic palace from the first quarter of the second century BCE. Not too far from here are the ancient caves dating back to roughly the same time period.