The Best Museums in Jordan: What to See, Where to Go, and How to Plan

Quick answer: The best museums in Jordan are The Jordan Museum (Amman), Royal Automobile Museum (Amman), Jordan Archaeological Museum at the Amman Citadel, Petra Museum (Wadi Musa), Jerash Archaeological Museum, Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (Amman), and Children’s Museum Jordan (Amman).

Museum Directory

• The Jordan Museum — Amman — National history and archaeology — [On VisitJordan Museums: Yes] — [Included in Jordan Pass: No]
• Royal Automobile Museum — Amman — Royal car collection & modern history — [On VisitJordan Museums: Yes] — [Included in Jordan Pass: No]
• Jordan Archaeological Museum — Amman (Amman Citadel) — Archaeology of Jordan — [On VisitJordan Museums: Yes] — [Included in Jordan Pass: Yes (with Amman Citadel)]
• Children’s Museum Jordan — Amman — Interactive learning for kids — [On VisitJordan Museums: Yes] — [Included in Jordan Pass: No]
• Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts — Amman — Modern & contemporary art from Jordan and the region — [On VisitJordan Museums: Yes] — [Included in Jordan Pass: No]
• Petra Museum — Wadi Musa/Petra — Nabataean history & archaeology — [On VisitJordan Museums: Yes] — [Included in Jordan Pass: Free museum; Pass covers Petra site]
• Jerash Archaeological Museum — Jerash — Finds from the Roman city — [On VisitJordan Museums: Yes] — [Included in Jordan Pass: Yes (with Jerash site)] — wowjordan.com page not available
• Madaba Archaeological Museum — Madaba — Mosaics & local archaeology — [On VisitJordan Museums: Yes] — [Included in Jordan Pass: Yes (with Madaba Archaeological Park)]
• Umm Qais Museum (Umm Qays Archaeological Museum) — Umm Qais — Decapolis/Gadara artifacts — [On VisitJordan Museums: Yes] — [Included in Jordan Pass: Yes (with Umm Qais site)]
• Aqaba Archaeological Museum — Aqaba — Aqaba & Red Sea history — [On VisitJordan Museums: Yes] — [Included in Jordan Pass: Often free/nominal; Pass not required] — wowjordan.com page not available
• Jordan Folklore Museum — Amman (Roman Theater complex) — Daily life, crafts & costumes — [On VisitJordan Museums: Yes] — [Included in Jordan Pass: Yes (with Roman Theater)]
• Museum of Popular Traditions — Amman (Roman Theater complex) — Traditional costumes & jewelry — [On VisitJordan Museums: Yes] — [Included in Jordan Pass: Yes (with Roman Theater)]
• 

Jordan’s museums are the missing chapters to the story you see in stone at Petra, Jerash, and the Amman Citadel. They gather fragile objects, timelines, and voices that ruins alone can’t convey. If you’re traveling with kids, or you want a weather-proof cultural day, Amman’s cluster of museums makes an easy start. Beyond the capital, smaller site museums in Jerash, Madaba, Umm Qais, Petra, and Aqaba add context right where history happened.

Below you’ll find practical, traveler-ready guides to the most important museums—what each does best, what to see, and how to plan around hours, passes, and family needs.

The Jordan Museum, Amman

Why it matters: The Jordan Museum is the country’s flagship cultural institution. It distills Jordan’s story from prehistory to the modern state in clear, bilingual exhibits anchored by star pieces like the 9,000-year-old ‘Ain Ghazal statues. It’s the single best primer before any deep dive into sites.

Highlights

• The ‘Ain Ghazal statues (among the world’s earliest large-scale human figures)
• Dead Sea Scrolls fragments and conservation stories
• Interactive timelines tying Jordan’s regions into wider trade networks
• Temporary exhibits that rotate recent finds and themes

Plan your visit

• Where: Ras Al-Ain, central Amman (easy by taxi/ride-hailing).
• Hours/admission: Typically daytime, closed one weekday; admission is modest and not covered by the Jordan Pass. Check same-week hours locally.
• Time needed: 60–90 minutes for a first pass; two hours if you read deeply.
• Best time: Late morning or mid-afternoon for quieter galleries.
• Accessibility: Step-free entry and elevators; benches in galleries.
• Family tips: Clear labeling and hands-on elements keep older kids engaged.
• Photography: Non-flash for most spaces; signs indicate any restrictions.
• Amenities: Café nearby in Ras Al-Ain; museum shop for quality books and replicas.

Royal Automobile Museum, Amman

Why it matters: Part design gallery, part modern history, this museum uses 80+ vehicles to tell the story of Jordan in the 20th century, centered on King Hussein’s life and the country’s evolving landscape.

Highlights

• Early motorcycles and 1910s–1930s cars in near-mint condition
• Rally and desert vehicles tied to Jordan’s terrain
• Curated film clips that place vehicles in historical context
• Seasonal outdoor displays in Al Hussein Public Parks

Plan your visit

• Where: Al Hussein Public Parks, west Amman.
• Hours/admission: Open most days except one weekday; separate ticket; Jordan Pass not valid.
• Time needed: 60–90 minutes.
• Best time: Weekday mornings; avoid late Friday afternoons.
• Accessibility: Wide aisles and ramps; easy stroller use.
• Family tips: Clear, sequential layout works well for children.
• Photography: Usually allowed without flash; no touching vehicles.
• Amenities: Park cafés/playgrounds nearby; combine with the Children’s Museum next door.
• 

Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Amman

Why it matters: Jordan’s leading modern and contemporary art museum spans painting, sculpture, photography, video, and installation from Jordan and across West Asia and North Africa. It’s a compact window into regional creativity.

Highlights

• Rotating exhibitions drawn from a 3,000+ work collection
• Sculpture garden and small park between the gallery buildings
• Frequent design and photography shows with regional themes

Plan your visit

• Where: Jabal Al-Weibdeh, a pleasant arts district.
• Hours/admission: Open most days; typically closed one weekday and on official holidays; small admission; Jordan Pass not valid.
• Time needed: 45–75 minutes.
• Best time: Late afternoon; pair with a nearby café.
• Accessibility: Elevators available; ask staff for accessible entrance.
• Family tips: Short, focused visits work best; ask for family worksheets if available.
• Photography: Allowed in most areas; check for “no photo” labels.
• Amenities: Café and bookshop; park seating outside.

Children’s Museum Jordan, Amman

Why it matters: A purpose-built learning space with 185+ interactive exhibits, outdoor play, and seasonal science shows, designed for children up to early teens.

Highlights

• “City” role-play zones and a child-sized supermarket
• Science experiments and makerspace activities
• Outdoor aviation and playground elements

Plan your visit

• Where: Al Hussein Public Parks, next to the Royal Automobile Museum.
• Hours/admission: Seasonal hours; closed one weekday; separate ticket; Jordan Pass not valid.
• Time needed: 2–3 hours with young kids.
• Best time: Mornings; book or check hours before holidays.
• Accessibility: Stroller-friendly; accessible restrooms; nursing room.
• Family tips: Bring water/snacks; rotate between indoor and outdoor zones.
• Photography: Family photos fine; avoid close-ups of other children.
• Amenities: On-site café; shaded seating in the park.

Jordan Archaeological Museum, Amman Citadel

Why it matters: Inside the Amman Citadel, this compact museum gathers artifacts from across Jordan—Bronze Age tools, Nabataean pottery, Roman glass—making it an ideal stop to connect objects with the site’s ruins.

Highlights

• Region-wide artifact survey in one digestible circuit
• Clear labels tying objects to excavation sites
• Pairing with Citadel views of downtown Amman

Plan your visit

• Where: Jabal Al-Qala’a (Amman Citadel).
• Hours/admission: Follows Citadel schedule; included with the Citadel ticket and Jordan Pass.
• Time needed: 30–45 minutes, plus Citadel time.
• Best time: Morning or golden hour for light and breezes.
• Accessibility: Uneven surfaces; wheelchairs manageable with assistance.
• Family tips: Combine with the Temple of Hercules and the Umayyad Palace.
• Photography: Non-flash; be mindful of glass reflections.
• Amenities: Kiosk and restrooms by the gate.

Jordan Folklore Museum, Amman (Roman Theater Complex)

Why it matters: A human-scale look at daily life—costumes, tools, and room scenes—right beside Amman’s Roman Theater. It complements the stones with stories.

Highlights

• Traditional clothing and jewelry by region
• Recreated home interiors showing crafts and rituals
• Quick, kid-friendly displays

Plan your visit

• Where: Downtown Amman, Roman Theater plaza.
• Hours/admission: Mirrors the Roman Theater schedule; included with Roman Theater ticket and Jordan Pass.
• Time needed: 20–30 minutes.
• Best time: Early morning before tour groups.
• Accessibility: Ground-level; some thresholds.
• Family tips: Short attention spans welcome; combine with the Museum of Popular Traditions next door.
• Photography: Usually allowed; no flash on textiles.
• Amenities: Cafés in Hashemite Plaza.

Museum of Popular Traditions, Amman (Roman Theater Complex)

Why it matters: Focused on textiles, costumes, and ceremonial objects, this partner museum deepens the folklore story with fine detail.

Highlights

• Embroidered dresses and regional variations
• Wedding and festival objects
• Jewelry and home crafts

Plan your visit

• Where: Roman Theater complex, downtown Amman.
• Hours/admission: With Theater schedule; included with Roman Theater ticket and Jordan Pass.
• Time needed: 20–30 minutes.
• Best time: Pair immediately after the Folklore Museum.
• Accessibility: Similar to its neighbor; some steps.
• Family tips: Turn it into a “spot the pattern” game.
• Photography: Respect textile conservation; no flash.
• Amenities: Shade and seating in the plaza.

Jerash Archaeological Museum, Jerash

Why it matters: After walking Jerash’s colonnaded streets, this museum helps decode what you saw—inscriptions, statues, daily wares—so the Roman city becomes more than architecture.

Highlights

• Sculptures and inscriptions tied to the city’s public life
• Household items illustrating trade and craftsmanship
• Finds from local temples and theaters

Plan your visit

• Where: Inside the Jerash archaeological zone.
• Hours/admission: Same as the site; included with the Jerash ticket and Jordan Pass.
• Time needed: 30–60 minutes in addition to site touring.
• Best time: Mid-visit break during the heat of the day.
• Accessibility: Paved paths to entrance; some uneven floors inside.
• Family tips: Pick one object per person to “explain” at lunch.
• Photography: Allowed without flash.
• Amenities: Restrooms near the gate; food options just outside.

Madaba Archaeological Museum, Madaba

Why it matters: Madaba is synonymous with mosaics. This small museum and the nearby archaeological park frame that heritage with context, conservation stories, and lesser-known pieces.

Highlights

• Mosaic panels beyond the famous map in St. George’s Church
• Pottery and coins from the plateau’s towns
• Folklore corner with costumes and jewelry

Plan your visit

• Where: Central Madaba; walkable between church, park, and museum.
• Hours/admission: Typically aligned with the archaeological park; covered by the Jordan Pass via the park.
• Time needed: 30–45 minutes, plus the park and churches.
• Best time: Late morning before day-trippers arrive.
• Accessibility: Narrow doors and occasional thresholds; manageable with help.
• Family tips: Turn mosaic hunting into a scavenger list.
• Photography: Non-flash; respect ropes and barriers.
• Amenities: Many cafés and souvenir workshops nearby.

Umm Qais Museum (Umm Qays Archaeological Museum), Umm Qais

Why it matters: At the northern edge of Jordan with views toward the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights, Umm Qais (ancient Gadara) pairs dramatic scenery with a thoughtful museum housed in a 19th-century stone residence.

Highlights

• Basalt sculpture and everyday wares from the Decapolis city
• Byzantine and Islamic-era finds from the hilltop
• Period house architecture: courtyards, rooms, and stonework

Plan your visit

• Where: Within the Umm Qais archaeological site.
• Hours/admission: Follows site hours; included with the Umm Qais ticket and Jordan Pass.
• Time needed: 30–45 minutes plus 1–2 hours for the ruins and views.
• Best time: Clear mornings for panoramas; sunset is superb.
• Accessibility: Cobblestones and slopes; wear sturdy shoes.
• Family tips: Bring binoculars for lake spotting.
• Photography: Allowed; mind low-light blur indoors.
• Amenities: Local restaurants with terraces just outside the gate.

Petra Museum, Wadi Musa/Petra

Why it matters: Built with modern displays beside Petra’s main entrance, the museum bridges what you will see in the gorge with a crisp storyline—trade networks, water engineering, religion, and craftsmanship of the Nabataeans.

Highlights

• Chronological galleries explaining Petra’s rise and regional ties
• 3D models and multimedia on hydraulic systems and quarries
• Fine sculpture, inscriptions, and everyday objects

Plan your visit

• Where: Next to Petra Visitor Center, Wadi Musa.
• Hours/admission: Generally aligned with visitor center hours; the museum itself is free, and the Jordan Pass covers Petra site entry.
• Time needed: 45–90 minutes before or after your Petra walk.
• Best time: Late afternoon after the site, when it’s cooler and calmer.
• Accessibility: Step-free routes and benches; air-conditioned.
• Family tips: Use the models to plan your next-day route.
• Photography: Allowed without flash; check signs.
• Amenities: Restrooms, shops, cafés at the visitor center.

Aqaba Archaeological Museum, Aqaba

Why it matters: Set near the fort and flagpole in the former house of Sharif Hussein bin Ali, Aqaba’s museum traces the city’s role in trade and the Arab Revolt, with finds spanning prehistory to Islamic periods.

Highlights

• Early Islamic inscriptions and coins from Red Sea trade
• Local ceramics and glasswork tied to Aqaba’s harbor
• Historic house setting beside Aqaba Fort

Plan your visit

• Where: Old Aqaba, steps from the fort and seafront.
• Hours/admission: Hours may vary; often free or nominal; the Jordan Pass isn’t required here. Check locally, as openings can shift with restoration work.
• Time needed: 30–45 minutes; pair with the fort and Ayla ruins.
• Best time: Morning before beach plans.
• Accessibility: Ground-floor rooms; some thresholds.
• Family tips: Combine with a short fort visit and ice cream on the corniche.
• Photography: Usually fine without flash.
• Amenities: Cafés and shaded seating nearby.

How to Plan a Museum Day in Jordan

Amman half-day: Start at The Jordan Museum for the big picture, then taxi to the Amman Citadel for the Jordan Archaeological Museum and sweeping views. End downtown at the Roman Theater to see both the Jordan Folklore Museum and the Museum of Popular Traditions. If traveling with kids or car lovers, swap the last stop for Children’s Museum Jordan + Royal Automobile Museum in Al Hussein Public Parks.

Jerash day trip: Allow 2–3 hours for the ruins, then 30–60 minutes at the Jerash Archaeological Museum before lunch. The Jordan Pass covers the site and museum, so you’ll skip extra payments at the gate.

Petra add-on: Visit the Petra Museum for 45–90 minutes either the evening before your Petra walk or afterward to make sense of what you saw. The museum is free; your Jordan Pass covers the site.

Aqaba rainy-day (or windy afternoon): Pair the Aqaba Archaeological Museum with Ayla and the Aqaba Fort for a gentle, indoor-leaning loop. Finish at the seafront for dinner.

Getting around: In Amman, taxis and ride-hailing are the most practical between clusters (Ras Al-Ain, Jabal Al-Weibdeh, downtown, Al Hussein Parks). In regional towns (Jerash, Madaba, Umm Qais, Petra, Aqaba), museums sit within or beside the main sites and are walkable once you’re there.

Jordan Pass basics: The pass typically covers state-run archaeological sites (Petra, Jerash, Amman Citadel, Umm Qais, Madaba Archaeological Park) and the on-site museums attached to them. It generally does not cover independent museums in Amman such as The Jordan Museum, Royal Automobile Museum, Children’s Museum, or the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts. If a museum is free (e.g., Petra Museum), the pass isn’t needed for entry.

Bottom Line

If you want one all-purpose overview, start with The Jordan Museum. Families should prioritize Children’s Museum Jordan and the Royal Automobile Museum. Art lovers will enjoy the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts. History buffs should pair each major site with its museum—Jerash, Umm Qais, Madaba, and Petra—to turn ruins into a readable story. Short-stay travelers can cover The Jordan Museum plus one site museum and leave Jordan with both the big picture and the details.