Getting Around Amman

Introduction:

Amman is a huge city with millions of people and there are many ways to get around. Depending where you are heading, walking usually isn't a great option. The city is situated in a hilly area between the desert and the lush Jordan Valley. Everywhere you go there is evidence of an old past. Next to historic sights you can often find modern buildings, hip coffee shops, and fast food restaurants like McDonalds, Popeyes or Subway. The highest point in the city is the Citadel, which is about 850 meters above sea level and dates back to the Bronze Age (2000-1500 BC).

How do people get around?:

There are multiple ways to get around the city if you don't have a car. A few options are the yellow taxi, the white taxi, bus, and App-based servies like Uber and Careem. Buses are generally the cheapest form of public transportation and as of June 2019 a bus map exists, new buses operate and you can pay cashless with cards. Previously I had no idea what the routes were and the bus process seemed quite chaotic. 

White taxis run on fixed routes and leave when they are mostly full. They are cheaper than yellow taxis and are easiest to use when you know the route.

Yellow taxis are what I typically used when I studied abroad in Amman. There are some important steps to take when you ride in a yellow taxi.

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