Al Balad – Downtown Amman
Al Balad – Downtown Amman
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Al Balad – Downtown Amman
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
562 within 5 kms
Attractions
81 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
507 reviews
Excellent
241
Very good
180
Average
76
Poor
9
Terrible
1
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
lucianacordoba
Cordoba, Argentina9,900 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
We visited at night, since since it is Ramadan, most places open after 8 p.m. There are many businesses that sell souvenirs, local clothing, many vendors on the sidewalk with toys, stockings... some areas have a total cap on the number of people. There are bars, to eat something on the go and ice cream parlors.
Written 3 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zuv
Bucharest, Romania37,258 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
The old part of the city. Mixed feelings. Seen from a distance, it seems somewhat beautiful, if you ignore the uniform, monotonous, sad color of the buildings. The streets are like a roller coaster route, in a permanent ascent and descent, interconnected by pedestrian paths made up of dozens, hundreds of steps. Up close, you encounter a lot of garbage on the streets, buildings with unmaintained facades, infernal congestion (both cars and pedestrians).
The area also looks like a huge bazaar, there are hundreds of small shops, with goods displayed on the sidewalks or hanging on the facades of the buildings. In the souks, agro-food markets, all kinds of products, vegetables, fruits, spices, meat, are sold in poor hygiene conditions.
However, the area has a certain charm, fully worth visiting.
The area also looks like a huge bazaar, there are hundreds of small shops, with goods displayed on the sidewalks or hanging on the facades of the buildings. In the souks, agro-food markets, all kinds of products, vegetables, fruits, spices, meat, are sold in poor hygiene conditions.
However, the area has a certain charm, fully worth visiting.
Written 6 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PepyMasso
Sofia, Bulgaria373 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
Soak up the Orient 😀
Vivid, colourful, exotic, smells of spices, roasted nuts, chestnuts, corn and dozens of stalls selling sweets, confectioners, ice cream, toys on one side and shops on the other, selling souvenirs, clothes, fresh juices, parfumes, shining gold shops., cafés, restaurants, old buildings... Al Balad is a busy place, full of people and cars. Strangely enough, all this hustle and bustle is a kind of relaxing. Do not miss The Duke's Diwan - the oldest building in the heart of Amman, Roman theatre, Hashem restaurant, king Faisal avenue with beautiful tall palm trees. Enjoy during the day, also at night 😀
Vivid, colourful, exotic, smells of spices, roasted nuts, chestnuts, corn and dozens of stalls selling sweets, confectioners, ice cream, toys on one side and shops on the other, selling souvenirs, clothes, fresh juices, parfumes, shining gold shops., cafés, restaurants, old buildings... Al Balad is a busy place, full of people and cars. Strangely enough, all this hustle and bustle is a kind of relaxing. Do not miss The Duke's Diwan - the oldest building in the heart of Amman, Roman theatre, Hashem restaurant, king Faisal avenue with beautiful tall palm trees. Enjoy during the day, also at night 😀
Written 24 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adrian
Bucharest, Romania15 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
Crowdy area with a lot of local shops where you can find almost anything, from souvenirs, hardware, grocerie market to living animals. Intense experience. Safe if you're careful when you cross the streets. It's like a street bazar.
Written 16 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LolaGo1
Washington DC, DC6,632 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I am glad that I stayed here for 3 days. Accross from my hotel is the Roman Theater that I can see it from my bedroom window for 24 hours.
There are shops, restaurants, stores, etc. on both sides of the main street. Went shopping here for some items that I badly needed. Vendors are kind and helpful here, found help in buying a lock for my suitcase. Note that only cash is accepted and haggling is practised here.
Along the way, also noted a big mosque that is opened only to Muslims, not opened for tourists.
There are shops, restaurants, stores, etc. on both sides of the main street. Went shopping here for some items that I badly needed. Vendors are kind and helpful here, found help in buying a lock for my suitcase. Note that only cash is accepted and haggling is practised here.
Along the way, also noted a big mosque that is opened only to Muslims, not opened for tourists.
Written 30 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R. Marshall
Fayetteville, NC329 contributions
May 2020
I cannot easily summarize the site, sounds and tastes of this area in Amman in this review. I would recommend that you add Amman to your bucket list if you enjoy travelling. This is a VERY historic area (as is most of Amman and the country for that matter). To truly appreciate the history and current culture this would be a very good place to start. The Roman Coliseum, King Hussein (or Husseini) Mosque, Nymphaeum and The Original Arab Bank building are the popular historic sites. There are multiple places to shop for gold, clothing, fabrics, custom jewelry and fabrics. You also have plenty of little shops for local food items to try. I recommend you try the original Habibah shop AND Abu Ali’s which is close by. If you have a good sweet tooth, you'll understand why. You won't soon forget the experience of the visit and you will most likely return for seconds!
Written 20 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rochalovesruby
York, UK657 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We loved having a mooch round here the other day. Felt completely comfortable, enjoyed chatting to the locals & always asked before taking a photo.
The bread stall was my favourite with a local gentleman sharing his delicious just baked bread with us.
The colours, the smells & the ambience is great.
You’ll need a good few hours here!
The bread stall was my favourite with a local gentleman sharing his delicious just baked bread with us.
The colours, the smells & the ambience is great.
You’ll need a good few hours here!
Written 4 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Belfasttravelguy
Belfast, UK2,121 contributions
Nov 2021 • Friends
It’s worth taking a visit to the downtown area to experience the more authentic part of Amman. There are plenty of shops, souks, restaurants etc and it’s more bustling. There were quite a lot of pet shops too! We also found a rooftop bar which had pet rabbits and a guinea pig running around.
Written 2 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
samar_ham
Amman, Jordan11 contributions
Jun 2019 • Friends
Going down town for tourists is an exciting experience where the oldest shops and buildings , streets and people , a mixture of old and new products, and a variety of shops you will not see anywhere. It is not for shopping for high end products but everything can be found there. I love going from time to time to enjoy the atmosphere.
Written 1 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bobztraveler
Beirut, Lebanon1,286 contributions
Mar 2019 • Business
If you go there on foot and enjoy street food it will be an amazing place to be.
A souvenir from here and a sandwich from there, though small, bu you can spend an easy 1/2 day there.
A souvenir from here and a sandwich from there, though small, bu you can spend an easy 1/2 day there.
Written 14 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am having trouble locating where downtown Amman is. I like the description of walking the busy streets full of shops and markets. I like to find a 3 or 4 star-hotel nearby to take advantage of it. Can anyone recommend a hotel?
Written 22 October 2019
There aareso many hotels surrounding downtown or in it. Though I don't normally recommend the ones downtown. . You can book a room at affordable prices in nearby areas like jabal luibdeh, jabal Amman or Hussein. Just google these areas for hotels
Written 1 December 2019
C1168BCsilviac
3 contributions
si e° sempre aperto, in pratica il centro storico, chiudono i negozi tardi
Written 1 May 2019
We want.to book a holiday to Jordon to see Petra and all the other sights. Is it safe in downtown Amman as the UK Foreign office advise to keep away from there but looking at the reviews I'm not so sure this is the case. Can anyone answer my question? thanks.
Written 19 February 2018
I can highly recommend it beased on my own experience this winter.
Written 20 February 2018
Many shops cafés restaurants from early morning till like 10 or 11 pm
Written 1 February 2017
hey just arrived here and want know how the styreet market and if there is a night life here ... got 1day off a week and don t know what to do yet ...
Written 19 January 2016
There are some interesting shops in Al Balad if you are a collector of coins, antiques, etc. Night life is vibrant and there are some awesome restaurants that dot the Rainbow Street, complete with music and great food.
Written 22 January 2016
Showing results 1-8 of 8
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing