Tourists coming to the capital of the country of Jordan for the first time may be uncertain of what to wear, all the more as conflicting advice can often be delivered by various voices on forum boards on the Internet. For reference, the following information may then be useful to you if you are in this position of uncertainty, as it may clarify quite a number of issues that would be of moment when visiting the city.
First, it must be remembered that Amman is part of a generally modest country, culturally speaking. Yes, it is the capital, and yes, it is in fact one of the most “westernised” and culturally liberal cities of the region, but it pays to keep the above in mind. It may prevent you from making a mistake somewhere and interpreting some fashion advice you run into too liberally or running it to the less conservative end of the interpretive spectrum. In short: always err on the side of modesty.
That having been said, Amman truly is fairly open as far as Jordanian cities go. This is a major hub of tourist activity, and a lot of westerners and peoples of other races are regularly passing in and out of it. As such, there is less likelihood of attracting a goggling crowd just by wearing something you might see in your own country. Again, just remember to err on the conservative side. If you are going to be wearing trousers, that is all well and good-but wear trousers that are not skinny jeans. If you are going to be wearing a short-sleeved top, that is actually allowed-but stay away from tops with absolutely no sleeves, for your own comfort while going about the city. A good rule of thumb, both for men and women, is actually to wear more modest clothes when heading to the eastern districts of the city. This is because the western parts are more progressive and more used to seeing tourists.
Something that can be very useful here would a wrap or scarf, or even a cardigan. This gives you far more versatility in moving about the city comfortably, as you can easily throw this on your body whenever you move to areas with fewer tourists and with more conservative people. Furthermore, it can be very handy if another common characteristic of the city strikes: the cold.
Amman can actually be fairly cool, especially in the nights and in the months from October straight down to mid-April. The winters, which begin around late November to early December, can reach temperatures around zero on the Celsius scale, and snow is not at all uncommon. This is partly due to the altitude of the city’s hills, some of which even go beyond 1000 metres. As such, jumpers, pullovers, coats, and cardigans are generally obligatory-even during spring and summer, in fact, as night can bring in a fairly cool breeze at these times. One other note to keep in mind regarding what to wear in Amman in keeping with the weather, though: spring (April to May) is very wet. Remember to prepare for rain if you are headed to the city then.
Tips for Getting Around Amman
Leave a Reply