Visit the Amman Citadel on the hilltop and the Roman Theatre in downtown as two separate stops. For a first visit, start at the Citadel while you have time and energy, take a break and continue to the theatre. You can use a car between them if you want to avoid the walk.
At the standard foreign-adult rates, admission to the two sites totals JOD 5: JOD 3 for the Citadel and JOD 2 for the Roman Theatre. A valid Jordan Pass includes both sites, but transport and a guide are separate. Bring the required identity document and leave enough time for the seasonal closing.
Prices and budget examples are in Jordanian dinars (JOD).
Admission prices and what you are buying
| Site or ticket | Standard foreign admission | Jordanian admission |
|---|---|---|
| Amman Citadel | JOD 3 | JOD 0.25 |
| Roman Theatre entry | JOD 2 | JOD 0.25 |
| Both sites, calculated total | JOD 5 | JOD 0.50 |
These categories come from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities fee table. The government eTickets site also lists a JOD 2 Roman Theatre and Odeon product. Check the category you qualify for before purchasing; studying in Jordan is not by itself proof that a Jordanian admission rate applies. Official site-admission fee table; Roman Theatre and Odeon eTicket.
The Citadel entry and the downtown theatre entry are separate purchases. Read the selected ticket’s site coverage and visitor category before paying. A tour or transport booking may charge separately for admission. Keep the ticket available through the visit, and ask staff which museum spaces are open within your selected entry.
Using a Jordan Pass
The Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre, Jordan Archaeological Museum and Museum of Popular Traditions in Amman appear on the Jordan Pass included-attractions list. The pass generally permits one entry to each attraction; its extra-entry exception concerns Petra in the relevant packages. Have your pass and identity document ready, and keep an offline copy. Jordan Pass attraction list; Pass entry and identity rules.
If you already have a pass, check that it is valid for the date of your visit. If your only paid visits are these two Amman sites, compare their JOD 5 standard foreign-adult total with the pass price before buying a wider sightseeing package. For a trip that includes Petra, compare Jordan Wanderer, Jordan Explorer and Jordan Expert.
Seasonal opening hours
The government ticket portal publishes the following seasonal hours for both the Citadel with its archaeological museum and the Roman Theatre with the Odeon. Choose the season that applies to your visit, with the separate Ramadan hours when relevant. Government opening-hours schedule.
| Season shown by the ticket portal | Citadel and Roman Theatre visiting hours |
|---|---|
| Winter | 8 am to 4 pm |
| April and May | 8 am to 5:30 pm |
| Summer | 8 am to 6:30 pm |
| Ramadan | 9 am to 5 pm |
Plan to arrive well before closing. An arrival at the closing time is not a workable visit, and a ticket does not give you an extra hour after the site closes. Allow more time if you want the museum spaces as well as the outdoor remains. Special closures and access instructions at the entrance take priority over a general timetable.
What to see at the Citadel
The Citadel, also known as Jabal al-Qal’a, brings together remains from different periods. The Department of Antiquities identifies the Temple of Hercules, a Byzantine church and the Umayyad palace complex among its landmarks. It also lists the mosque, cistern and other remains, alongside the archaeological museum on the hill. Department of Antiquities site description.
Begin with the main remains and their signs rather than trying to identify every piece of stone immediately. Give the palace area and the city views some time. Stay on permitted routes, respect barriers and avoid climbing masonry for a photograph. The open ground and uneven surfaces need suitable footwear.
Choose your arrival transport around the climb you want to do. A car to the public entrance can leave more energy for the site itself. Save the Citadel entrance pin and check that your driver is taking you to the public arrival point, rather than just a viewpoint somewhere on the hill.
The Roman Theatre and the Odeon
The Roman Theatre is built into the downtown hillside. Government eTickets dates it to the second century and describes three semicircular tiers with capacity for around 6,000 spectators. The nearby Odeon is a smaller theatre with capacity for around 500. Government theatre and Odeon description.
You can appreciate the theatre from lower levels without making the top seating your goal. The rows rise steeply; take your time and turn back if the steps do not suit you. A clear photograph is not worth a difficult climb or stepping beyond a barrier. Ask site staff about the areas you can access without using the upper steps.
Hashemite Plaza is a useful meeting point outside the site. Save the theatre and plaza pin for your onward trip. If there is an event, follow the event’s own access and ticket instructions; a daytime site ticket does not establish entry to a separate performance.
A manageable visiting order
| Part of the day | Suggested plan | Why leave room |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Arrive at the Citadel and visit the main remains. | You can take breaks without pushing the theatre visit towards closing. |
| Middle of the day | Pause for food or water, then travel to downtown. | The downhill journey still needs energy and a route suited to you. |
| Afternoon | Visit the Roman Theatre and any open spaces on your ticket. | Finish while you still have time for the return to Jabal Amman. |
For a winter visit, starting in the morning gives more room before the 4 pm closing. If you arrive late, choose one site and return for the other on a different day, allowing for the single-entry rule if you use a pass.
Costs beyond the gates
Set aside transport and food money separately from admission. For two foreign adults buying the two site entries individually, the site-fee total is JOD 10. That does not include a car, a meal or a guide. If you arrange a guide, agree the scope, duration, language and full fee before starting.
Carry water and protection suitable for the weather, and keep your phone charged for the journey home. Our Amman transport guide explains local bus payment and trip planning. For a longer downtown visit after the theatre, follow the market and walking route.
Fitting a visit around a semester or work stay
Students at German Jordanian University (GJU) can make this a free-day outing from Jabal Amman. Keep the university timetable, the attraction closing and the return journey separate when planning. The student-budget Amman guide has shorter outings for days when you only have an afternoon.
Our apartments for rent in Jabal Amman for extended visits are available by room or as an entire apartment. Confirm the unit’s furnishings, price and inclusions for your dates, and use its exact entrance when planning the trip. Sightseeing tickets and transport are separate from your accommodation booking.