Hijaz Railway Museum

The Hijaz Railway Museum is at the historic Amman station of the line that once ran from Damascus to Medina. The railway was established by the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II to carry Muslim pilgrims towards the holy cities, link the empire's provinces and strengthen Ottoman control over them. Construction began in 1900 and the line opened in 1908, but operation ended when it was destroyed in 1916 during the First World War and the Great Arab Revolt.

Today the station is a quiet, atmospheric place for anyone interested in railways or the history of the region. Jordan's tourism board describes a collection of working steam locomotives at the site, together with a museum devoted to the railway, its links with the Ottoman pilgrimage route and the Arab Revolt of 1916 to 1918. Seeing the engines close up gives a sense of how important this route once was to the region.

The museum suits history and railway enthusiasts, and families with children who enjoy trains. A visit takes around an hour. Bring water and a hat in summer, since you will spend time outdoors looking at the engines. Remember that it closes on Fridays and Saturdays, the Jordanian weekend, so it is easy to miss if you leave it to the end of a trip. Railway enthusiasts may want to combine a visit with one of the heritage train departures when they run, which is the only way to experience the line in motion today. It is open from Sunday to Thursday between 08:30 and 15:30. Note that the site is listed as not accessible for people with disabilities.

The Jordan Pass offers an add-on train ride called Journey Through 1916, which is free on certain days only. Check the railway's website for current departures before planning around a ride, as they do not run every day.

The station is in the east of the city, some distance from the main tourist areas, so take a taxi or ride-hailing car from Downtown. Because it is off the usual tourist circuit, you are likely to have the place largely to yourself, which is part of its appeal. Combine it with a morning at the Citadel and Downtown for a day focused on Amman's history.