Museums in Jordan – Complete Guide and Directory

Museums in Jordan

Last updated: 7 November 2025 (Asia/Amman)

Jordan’s museums tell the country’s story in a straightforward, accessible way. Some are major destinations in Amman with large permanent collections; others are compact rooms placed beside Roman theaters, Crusader castles, or Nabataean trails. Even the smallest museum often has one display or artifact that makes a visit memorable—an inscription, a mosaic fragment, a carved door, or a panoramic model that explains the site outside.

This guide is written for travelers, families, students, and anyone planning a cultural route through Jordan. It lists the main museums by city and region, explains what each place shows, and suggests practical combinations so your day flows naturally. When a WowJordan listing exists, you’ll see a direct link so you can check opening times, visitor notes, and directions before you go.

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Table of Contents

1. How to use this guide
2. Amman
3. Jerash
4. Ajloun
5. Madaba
6. Salt
7. Zarqa & Desert Castles
8. Mafraq & Umm al-Jimal
9. Irbid & Umm Qays
10. Karak
11. Tafileh
12. Ma’an & Petra
13. Aqaba
14. Dead Sea / Wadi Mujib
15. Wadi Rum
16. Seasonal and temporary exhibitions
17. Planning essentials
18. Master summary table

How to use this guide

Museums in Jordan generally fall into two types:

• City museums — larger, modern, air-conditioned, with clear signage and ticket counters. Examples: The Jordan Museum (Amman), Petra Museum (Wadi Musa), Aqaba Museum.
• Site museums — smaller displays inside or next to archaeological parks. Examples: Jerash Archaeological Museum, Umm al-Jimal Museum, Umm Qays Archaeological Museum.

For city museums, plan 45–90 minutes each. For site museums, 20–40 minutes is enough and often makes the ruins easier to understand. Children usually enjoy the short format, especially when combined with cafés, shaded courtyards, or outdoor walks.

If you are using the Jordan Pass, many site museums are included when you enter the archaeological park. Independent museums in Amman—like the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts—may have separate tickets.

Amman

Amman is Jordan’s cultural capital and home to several key museums. The city is spread across hills, but moving between museums is simple with taxis, ride-hailing apps, or scheduled private drivers.

The Jordan Museum — flagship national collection

This is Jordan’s main museum and the best starting point for anyone curious about the country’s history. Exhibits show everyday objects, reconstructions, inscriptions, and mosaics from prehistoric time to the modern kingdom. Many travelers visit it on their first or last day in the capital because it ties everything together: Petra, Jerash, the Crusader castles, and the Islamic desert palaces.

Best for: First-timers, families, educational groups
Accessibility: Modern building with level access and signage
Typical hours: Daytime, Fridays often shorter
Listing: https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/the-jordan-museum/

Travel suggestion: Combine The Jordan Museum with an afternoon walking tour in Downtown Amman or a visit to Rainbow Street for lunch.

Jordan Archaeological Museum — Amman Citadel

Perched high on one of Amman’s oldest hills, the Citadel has temples, walls, and panoramic views. Inside the park, the Archaeological Museum presents statues, pottery, and small finds that make the ruins outside easier to interpret. The museum is compact, which works well with children and quick visits.

Best for: Travelers who prefer short, focused stops
Listing: https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/jordan-archaeological-museum/

Tip: Bring water and a hat in summer. The path to the Citadel entrance is uphill; allow a few extra minutes.

The Folklore Museum — Roman Theater, Downtown Amman

Attached to the Roman Theater, this small museum displays traditional tools, household items, wedding clothing, and musical instruments. Because it sits next to a major attraction, it’s a natural stop for anyone already in Downtown.

Best for: Families, visitors exploring the theater district
Listing: https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/the-folklore-museum/

Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts — Modern and contemporary art

A quiet museum for travelers who enjoy painting, sculpture, photography, and rotating exhibitions. It balances the archaeology-heavy route many visitors take, and offers a calm mid-day cultural break.

Best for: Culture travelers, students, and repeat visitors
Family-friendly: Good for older children and teens

Royal Automobile Museum — Modern heritage

This museum displays vehicles connected to key moments in modern Jordanian history. Family groups often enjoy the route because exhibits are clear, well-lit, and easy to follow. It works well as a morning visit combined with a stroll in King Hussein Park.

Best for: Mixed-age groups
Family-friendly: Strong

Children’s Museum Jordan — Interactive learning

Designed for play and hands-on learning, this museum is a reliable family favorite. Many parents pair it with lunch or a short park visit to make a half-day activity.

Best for: Families with children
Accessibility: Modern building with level access

Amman Panorama Art Gallery

A smaller space focused on local art and photography. It works well for travelers staying on or near Rainbow Street who prefer short cultural stops.

Wasfi and Saadia Al-Tal Museum — House museum

A personal museum preserving the legacy of the al-Tal family. Displays include photographs, furniture, and memorabilia connected to modern Jordanian history.

Listing: https://wowjordan.com/listing/wasfi-and-saadia-al-tal-museum/

 

Jerash

Jerash is one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the region. The ruins draw most visitors, but the museum makes the site more understandable in a short amount of time.

Jerash Archaeological Museum

Inside the archaeological park, the museum holds mosaics, statues, pottery, and daily-life items. For families, it works well because you can walk through the ruins, stop in the museum, then continue to the forum and theaters.

Best for: Anyone touring Jerash
Family-friendly: Yes
Time needed: 20–40 minutes

Travel tip: Jerash can get warm in summer. Arrive early, visit the museum first, then continue outdoors before mid-day heat.

Ajloun

Ajloun Castle overlooks wooded hills and small villages. Displays are limited in size but tie the castle to its historical context.

Ajloun Archaeology & Heritage rooms

Simple rooms show archaeological finds and historical context for the castle. The museum is small, but the combination of fortress walls, towers, and views makes it a memorable stop.

Best for: Travelers visiting Jerash and Ajloun in the same day
Family-friendly: Yes

Madaba

Madaba is known for mosaics, churches, and views from Mount Nebo. Museums here help explain Byzantine and early Islamic history in a compact space.

Madaba Archaeological Museum

This museum is located in older houses that were converted into galleries. You will see small mosaics, pottery, and household items that show how people lived in different periods. Narrow rooms and stone floors add character to the space.

Family-friendly: Yes
Listing: https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/madaba-archaeological-museum/

Al-Hakaya Museum — Near Mount Nebo

An ethnographic and storytelling museum with dioramas, mannequins, and accessible explanations. Some rooms show scenes from daily life and biblical stories, and staff help explain displays.

Best for: Families, pilgrims, cultural travelers
Listing: https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/al-hakaya-museum-2/

Travel suggestion: Combine St. George’s Church (mosaic map) + Madaba Archaeological Museum + Mount Nebo + Al-Hakaya Museum in one cultural loop.

Salt

Salt’s historic center has been restored carefully and feels like an open-air museum. Small heritage museums are scattered in old houses, civic buildings, and cultural spaces.

Heritage Houses and Civic Museums

Rooms show costumes, tools, and photographs of city life. Because Salt is walkable, many travelers prefer to explore on foot, stopping into museums, bakeries, and cafés as they go.

Best for: Visitors who enjoy quiet towns, local architecture, and relaxed itineraries
Family-friendly: Yes
Timing: 2–3 hours with breaks

Zarqa & Desert Castles

The desert castles east of Amman are some of the region’s most unusual sites—early Islamic buildings in wide open landscapes. One of these stops includes a small museum.

Qasr Al-Hallabat Museum

Next to a restored Umayyad palace complex, this museum shows archaeological finds and explains how the site changed over time. The surrounding desert makes it feel remote, even though the drive is straightforward.

Best for: Desert castle fans, road-trippers
Listing: https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/qasr-al-hallabat-museum/

Travel tip: Combine Hallabat with Qusayr Amra and Qasr Kharana for a classic three-castle loop.

Mafraq & Umm al-Jimal

Umm al-Jimal Museum

This small museum supports a site known for black-basalt buildings, ancient houses, and arches. It helps visitors understand how a basalt-stone town developed in the desert.

Best for: Archaeology lovers, photographers, and travelers who enjoy quiet sites
Listing: https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/umm-al-jimal-museum/

Many travelers stop at Umm al-Jimal as a half-day excursion from Amman or Mafraq. Families enjoy climbing low walls, walking through old rooms, and looking for inscriptions.

Irbid & Umm Qays

Umm Qays Archaeological Museum

Inside the Rosan family house, this museum displays statues, mosaics, and artifacts from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Islamic periods. The museum is part of a larger archaeological park with basilicas, a theater, and dramatic views across the Jordan Valley.

Best for: Travelers driving north after Jerash and Ajloun
Family-friendly: Yes
Listing: https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/umm-qays-archaeological-museum/

Travel tip: Early morning or late afternoon light creates great photographs of the ruins and valley. A small café overlooking the terrace is popular for coffee and juice after the museum.

Karak

Karak Castle sits above the town and overlooks deep valleys. Inside the lower areas of the castle is a short museum.

Al-Karak Archaeology Museum

Galleries show chronological finds and models that help explain Karak’s layers—from Moabite and Nabataean periods to Crusader and Mamluk history.

Best for: Road-trippers driving the King’s Highway
Listing: https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/al-karak-archeology-museum/

Tip: Visiting the castle is a highlight for families. Children like the tunnels and viewpoints.

Tafileh

Tafileh’s museums are smaller but meaningful. They are usually located in restored buildings or visitor centers in the old town and surrounding villages.

Tafileh Heritage Rooms

Rooms show household tools, pottery, jewelry, and crafts from local communities. Travelers often visit them after hiking or visiting the Dana Biosphere Reserve.

Best for: Cultural road trips
Family-friendly: Yes; quick visits

Ma’an & Petra

Petra Museum — Wadi Musa

Free to enter, Petra Museum gives visitors a clear, modern introduction to Nabataean life. Displays include trading maps, reconstructed tombs, pottery, and jewelry. Models show how Petra functioned as a caravan city.

Best for: All visitors to Petra
Fees: Free
Listing: https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/the-petra-museum/

Travel suggestion: Visit Petra Museum either first (to understand what you’ll see) or last (to appreciate what you saw). On hot days, the museum provides a welcome break.

Aqaba

Aqaba’s waterfront history includes port trade, forts, and the transformation of the city into a Red Sea destination.

Aqaba Museum

A quiet museum near Aqaba Fortress and the flagpole area. Displays present regional history and archaeological finds from the coast.

Best for: Travelers spending the day in Downtown and the old port
Listing: https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/aqaba-museum/

Families usually combine Aqaba Museum with ice cream stops, boat trips, or snorkeling sessions.

Dead Sea / Wadi Mujib

Dead Sea Panorama Museum

This museum explains how the Dead Sea formed, why the shoreline changes, and what conservation looks like. Models and maps make it easy to understand.

Best for: Families, school groups, and travelers driving the Dead Sea Road
Listing: https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/the-dead-sea-panorama-museum/

Travel tip: After visiting the museum, step outside to the panoramic terrace for sweeping views of the Rift Valley.

Wadi Rum

Wadi Rum does not have a central museum, but the visitor center includes information panels, maps, and staff who can explain geology, rock art, and Bedouin traditions. Most learning happens outdoors—through guided jeep tours, hikes, and overnight desert stays. Cultural travelers can pair a Wadi Rum trip with the Aqaba Museum for historical context.

Seasonal and temporary exhibitions

Several museums host temporary exhibitions or rotating works:

• The Jordan Museum often presents traveling collections, educational workshops, and cultural events for children.
• Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts rotates contemporary exhibitions from Jordan, the region, and abroad.
• Petra Museum occasionally displays temporary finds or new research panels.

If you are in Amman or Petra for several days, consider checking signage or asking staff if any temporary shows are running.

Planning essentials

Choosing museums for a short trip

If your time is limited:

• In Amman: The Jordan Museum + Roman Theater & Folklore Museum
• In Petra: Petra Museum
• On the Dead Sea Road: Dead Sea Panorama Museum
• In Aqaba: Aqaba Museum + Fortress

Suggested one-day museum routes

Amman (full day):
The Jordan Museum → lunch in Downtown → Roman Theater → Folklore Museum → short walk to cafés and the old markets

Madaba + Nebo (half day):
Madaba Archaeological Museum → St. George’s Church (mosaic map) → drive to Mount Nebo → Al-Hakaya Museum

North loop (full day):
Jerash Archaeological Museum → ruins walk → drive to Ajloun Castle → Ajloun heritage rooms → sunset in the hills

Petra region (half day):
Petra Museum → archaeological park → treasury view

Families

Short museums work well for children because they allow breaks and snacks between stops. The Children’s Museum, The Jordan Museum, Petra Museum, and the Folklore Museum are the easiest choices. For outdoor sites, carry hats, sunscreen, and water.

Accessibility

Modern museums like The Jordan Museum, Petra Museum, and Dead Sea Panorama Museum are designed with paths, ramps, and clear signage. Site museums and older houses may include steps or uneven floors—comfortable shoes make a big difference.

Photography

Most museums allow photography without flash. Ask before taking portraits of staff or other visitors.

Tickets and fees

• Jordan Pass: Usually includes national archaeological sites and their on-site museums.
• City museums often have separate tickets.
• It is useful to carry small cash in cities and villages.

Transport and parking

• Amman: Use taxis or ride-hailing apps.
• Madaba / Karak / Umm Qays / Petra Museum: Easy with a rental car or private driver.
• Aqaba Museum: Walkable from central hotels and the fortress.
• Dead Sea Panorama Museum: Located on the ridge above the coast, with parking on site.

Master Summary Table

City/Area	Museum	Type	Highlights	Typical Hours	Fees	Accessibility	Family-friendly	Listing link
Amman	The Jordan Museum	National	Best overall introduction	Daytime	City museum ticket	Level access	Yes	https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/the-jordan-museum/
Amman (Citadel)	Jordan Archaeological Museum	Archaeology	Compact, pairs with ruins	Site hours	Site/Pass	Hilly approach	Yes	https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/jordan-archaeological-museum/
Amman	Folklore Museum	Ethnography	Costumes, crafts	Theater hours	Theater ticket	Steps	Yes	https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/the-folklore-museum/
Amman	Children’s Museum Jordan	Kids/learning	Hands-on exhibits	Daytime	Museum ticket	Modern	Excellent	–
Amman	Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts	Art	Modern & contemporary	Daytime	Gallery ticket	City gallery	Older kids/teens	–
Amman	Royal Automobile Museum	Heritage	Modern Jordan history	Daytime	Museum ticket	Modern	Strong	–
Madaba	Madaba Archaeological Museum	Archaeology	Mosaic & finds	Daytime	Museum ticket	Older houses	Yes	https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/madaba-archaeological-museum/
Madaba (Nebo)	Al-Hakaya Museum	Ethnography/story	Dioramas, café & shop	Daytime	Museum ticket	Good access	Strong	https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/al-hakaya-museum-2/
Zarqa	Qasr Al-Hallabat Museum	Site museum	Desert castle finds	Daytime	Site ticket	Visitor center	Yes	https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/qasr-al-hallabat-museum/
Mafraq	Umm al-Jimal Museum	Site museum	Basalt-stone town	Daytime	Site/local	Uneven ground	Yes	https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/umm-al-jimal-museum/
Irbid/Umm Qays	Umm Qays Archaeological Museum	Archaeology	Rosan house displays	Site hours	Site/Pass	Historic house	Yes	https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/umm-qays-archaeological-museum/
Karak	Al-Karak Archaeology Museum	Archaeology	Chronology of Kerak	Daytime	Site/city ticket	Historic building	Yes	https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/al-karak-archeology-museum/
Petra/Wadi Musa	Petra Museum	Archaeology	Free, modern, AC	Daytime	Free	Modern	Very good	https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/the-petra-museum/
Aqaba	Aqaba Museum	Regional history	Pairs with fortress	Daytime	Museum ticket	City building	Yes	https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/aqaba-museum/
Dead Sea	Dead Sea Panorama Museum	Science	Geology, conservation	Daytime	Museum ticket	Modern	Yes	https://wowjordan.com/en/listing/the-dead-sea-panorama-museum/