• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

ZigZagonEarth

Plan unforgettable road trips!

  • FRANCE
    • CORSICA
    • NORMANDY
    • PARIS
  • EUROPE
    • ANDALUCIA
    • CANARY ISLANDS
    • CRETE
    • ICELAND
    • ICELAND WINTER
    • MADEIRA
    • MALLORCA
    • PORTUGAL
    • SANTORINI
    • SCOTLAND
    • SLOVENIA
  • REST OF WORLD
    • NEW ZEALAND
    • OMAN
  • TIPS
  • EBOOKS
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT

How I convinced policemen to let me stay for Sunset at the Citadel

Last updated on March 6, 2016 by Claire / this article contains affiliate links (Info)

The Citadel is the best spot in Amman to watch sunset: its location high in the middle of the city, the foreground of ruins, the views of the houses tha turn pink as the sun sets... And on top of that it is also a perfect spot to listen to the powerful Muezzin call.

Travel Guide Jordan - plan your trip to the Citadel in Amman at sunset

Navigate back to the complete Jordan Travel Guide


INFO & PLANNING TIPS - Sunset at Amman's Citadel

TIPS FOR TRAVEL PLANNING ADDICTS - Sunset at Amman's Citadel

Getting to the Citadel

  • You cannot miss it. It is on the hill in the middle of the city
  • If your hotel is on top of the hill, you can walk like I did
  • If you are fit and full of energy, you can walk up from the amphitheater
  • Otherwise taxis are an easy option

Watching sunset

  • Arrive at the end of the afternoon
  • In May, the sun sets a little after closing time. Do not leave the first time they ask you, they still have to tour the site. And the next time they indicate you to leave, just smile and ask politely for 5 more minutes to see the sun setting.

Rosy display from the houses

The Citadel is on the top of the highest and most central hill of Amman. I went there at the end of the afternoon with the objective to stay until sunset. I had seen great pictures on the internet with the ruins and the sun behind, and had also read that the Muezzin call from the Citadel was a special experience.

Even before sunset, the sun reflecting on the buildings created a beautiful rosy display:

Amman buildings at sunset, Jordan

Convincing policemen to let me stay

I was in Jordan in May, the month with almost the longest days of the year, so the Citadel was actually closing before sunset.

The policemen came to me and told me they were going to close and I should leave. He then went on to other people. The site is quite big and some people were still there so I decided to wait and see. They came back only a while later to repeat that the site was closing. I then smiled with all my teeth and explain that I wanted to get pictures of the sunset and would really appreciate staying a bit longer.

And it worked! However the sun was very long to set and I had to smile a lot and convinced several of them to let me stay.


Sunset over the skyscrapers

Standing amongst ruins while observing skycrappers being built is quite astonishing:

Sunset view from Citadel, Amman

Sunset in the roman ruins of the Citadel

Although I did not get the perfect alignment of the sun with the ruins as I saw on someone else page that I cannot find anymore, the spectacle was still beautiful. Especially with those silhouettes.

The mix of the muezzin call with this special acoustic of being on the hill, the softness of the sun and the stillness of the ruins created a magical moment.

Sunset in the roman ruins, Citadel, Amman
Sunset in the roman ruins, Citadel, Amman 2
Sunset in the roman ruins, Citadel, Amman 3

Totally zen and filled with emotion, I then walked back to my hotel to end a great day.


Want to see MORE of JORDAN?

Discover more things to do with planning information and photos in my online Guadeloupe Travel Guide.

PREVIOUS LOCATION: 

AMMAN: THE CITADEL

NEXT LOCATION: 

ROMAN RUINS OF JERASH

Jordan destination guide travel planning addict

Have you ever convinced policemen to let you do something?

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search my ZigZags

Hi! I’m Claire

ZigZag On Earth photo

I am the Travel Planning Geek behind the ZigZag Travel Guides. My goal is to provide you with clear and practical information to help you plan unforgettable trips! Read more

Footer

CONTACT ME

Search

Follow ZigZag on Facebook

Follow ZigZag on Pinterest

Website in French: ZigZagvoyages.fr

Website in German: ZigZagreisen.de

Website in Spanish: ZigZagviajes.com

And discover the French regions:

Normandielovers.fr

LoireLovers.fr

CorsicaLovers.fr

 

Privacy / Terms of Use / Disclosure Policies / Refund policy

Become an affiliate for the ZigZag road trip guides

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ZigZagOnEarth.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.uk and Amazon.ca

Copyright © 2023 ZigZag On Earth ยท Log in