1. Amman
Amman contains about one-third of the population. It was formerly the Ammonite capital of Rabbath-Ammon and later the Graeco-Roman city of Philadelphia.
2. Salt
Once the Biblical 'Gilead', Salt is now a small town set in the fertile landscape west of Amman, retaining much of its old character as a former leading city of Transjordan.
3. Jerash
Less than one hour's drive north of Amman through the picturesque hills of ancient Gilead is Jerash. A magnificent Graeco-Roman city on an ancient site, beautifully preserved by the desert sands, Jerash is justly famous for the Triumphal Arch, the Hippodrome, the great elliptical forum, the theaters, baths and gateways, the Roman bridge and the wide street of columns that lead to the Temple of Artemis.
4. Umm Qais
In the far north of the country, Umm Qais, the Biblical 'Gadara', dominates the area around Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee). Once a city favored by the Romans for its hot springs and theaters, it had declined to a small village by the time of the Islamic conquests.
5. The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea, 392m (1286ft) below sea level and the lowest point on earth, glistens by day and night in an eerie, dry landscape. The Biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are thought to be beneath its waters.
6. The King's Highway
There are three routes from Amman to Aqaba, the most picturesque being the King's Highway, the whole length of which is dotted with places of interest. Madaba and nearby Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have struck the rock, were both flourishing Byzantine towns and have churches and well-preserved mosaics.
7. Petra
Petra is one of the wonders of the Middle-Eastern world: a gigantic natural amphitheater hidden in the rocks out of which a delicately colored city with immense facades has been carved; it was lost for hundreds of years and only rediscovered in 1812.
8. Aqaba
At the northeast end of the Gulf of Aqaba is Jordan's only port, which can be reached from Amman by road or air. It has grown considerably over the past few years, both as a port and as a tourist center, due in part to its excellent beach and watersports facilities, and its low humidity and hot climate.