The City à Amman

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 on 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.