AIRPORT TRANSPORT
Amman is served by a state-of-the-art airport designed and opened in 2013. More than 40 airlines from around the world fly here and there are direct flights to dozens of North American, Asian, European, and African destinations. Taxis and taxi hailing apps are available for transport to and from the airport and usually charge between 20 -25 JD, one-way. Sijal also offers airport transport for interested students who would like a driver to meet them at the airport at the rate of 25 JOD.
GETTING AROUND
Amman is connected to the rest of Jordan and the surrounding region by a network of highways and major roads. Within Amman, there are a variety of ways to navigate the city: taxi hailing apps, yellow taxis and service taxis, and buses. Feel free to ask us if you aren’t sure which to take; we are always happy to help students to find the appropriate route of transportation for them!
Our first recommendation to students would be taxi hailing apps, as the most simple, hassle-free way to travel around the city. Through these, you can pay with both cash and card, and can put in your exact pick up and drop off location. This can be especially useful if you are less familiar with the city, or not yet confident to give directions in Arabic.
Clearly recognizable by their yellow color, taxis are widely available and affordable. They can be a useful way to navigate the city, if you are aware of where you're going. Taxis should run on a meter, and most rides within Amman will cost between 1-4 JD. It is useful to note, though, that most taxis navigate by local landmarks, not street names, so they can be more difficult to take if you are not familiar with the city.
White service taxis are shared cabs that run on a set route and charge a flat rate of 0.50 JD. Services are a good options for students who live within walking distance of a service line - in particular, in Jabal Amman, Jabal Al-Weibdeh, or downtown - as they can be an incredibly convenient and inexpensive way of commuting in Amman. Sijal is located directly on the Jabal Amman service route, which runs between downtown and 2nd/3rd circle, and there is also a convenient route between downtown and Jabal Al-Weibdeh.
Amman has a variety of bus types and bus routes. Some of these are more formal, whilst others (such as the “coaster” buses) are less so. Amman's public bus system is not always very accessible for traveling short distances within the city, but it can be useful for students who live a bit farther from Sijal and happen to live on a bus route. You can find more details on the Vision City Bus website here, which includes the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes, the Bus Amman routes, and some of the smaller, “coaster” bus routes.