Madaba, Jordan: travel guide
The "City of Mosaics", home to the 6th-century Madaba Map — the oldest surviving cartographic depiction of the Holy Land — and the gateway to Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have viewed the Promised Land.
- Country
- Jordan
- Currency
- JOD
- Time zone
- Asia/Amman
- Nearest airport
- AMM
Top places to visit in Madaba
Mount Nebo
Church · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · entry JOD 3
The windswept ridge where, by tradition, Moses viewed the Promised Land and died. The Memorial Church of Moses shelters fine Byzantine floor mosaics and a vast valley panorama.
Umm ar-Rasas
Heritage · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · entry JOD 2
A remote UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site with a stunning Church of St Stephen mosaic floor depicting 27 towns, plus a rare 15m stylite tower.
St George's Church (Madaba Map)
Church · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · entry JOD 2
A Greek Orthodox church housing the 6th-century Madaba Mosaic Map — the oldest surviving cartographic depiction of the Holy Land and Jerusalem in the world.
Church of the Apostles
Church · 4.2 rating · about 0.5 h · entry JOD 3
A Byzantine church preserving a celebrated 6th-century mosaic personifying the Sea (Thalassa) surrounded by fish and marine creatures.
Madaba Archaeological Park
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · entry JOD 3
An in-situ collection of Byzantine and Roman mosaic floors under cover, including the Church of the Virgin and the Hippolytus Hall mosaics, along the old Roman street.
Mukawir (Machaerus)
Fort · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · entry JOD 2
A dramatic hilltop fortress-palace of Herod the Great, traditionally where John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded, with commanding Dead Sea views.
Madaba Old Town & Handicraft Street
Market · 4.9 rating · about 1 h
The walkable historic core around the mosaic sites, with mosaic-making workshops, craft shops, mixed churches and mosques, and local restaurants.
Things to do
- Madaba Mosaic-Making Workshop Cultural · 2 h · from JOD 30 per person
- Mount Nebo, Madaba & Baptism Site Day Tour Cultural · 5 h · from JOD 55 per person
Where to stay in Madaba
- Madaba Town Centre about JOD 45 per night
A compact, walkable base among the mosaic churches, well placed for Mount Nebo, the Baptism Site and the Dead Sea.
Hotels
- Mosaic City Hotel 3-star · JOD 40 to JOD 75 per night
- Mariam Hotel 3-star · JOD 30 to JOD 60 per night
- Black Iris Hotel 2-star · JOD 22 to JOD 40 per night
Where to eat
- Haret Jdoudna Jordanian, Levantine · about JOD 16 per person
- Adonis Restaurant Jordanian, International · about JOD 14 per person
- Ayola Coffee Shop & Restaurant Cafe, Jordanian, International · about JOD 8 per person
- Beit Al Karma Jordanian, Levantine · about JOD 13 per person
Getting around
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.