Best Things to Do in Madaba, Jordan
Madaba is one of the top travel destinations in Jordan. In this blog post, we will share with you the best things you can do in Madaba, the city of mosaics, in only one day. We've put together the best things to do, top attractions to see, and in general, this article will help you with planning your 24 hours in Madaba.
Our first steps in Jordan led to Madaba, a city known for Byzantine and Umayyad-era mosaics, mosques, churches, and archeological complexes.
Even though Madaba is not a small city (more than 80 000 people live here), the city center is actually very compact, and you will easily explore all nooks and top attractions in the near surroundings in only one day.
Madaba lies only 30 minutes drive from Queen Alia International Airport and less than an hour drive from the capital Amman (depending on traffic), so there is no surprise that this city makes it to almost every traveler's Jordan itinerary.
For us, Madaba was the first destination we visited in the Middle East region, therefore, no matter how tired we felt after several hours of traveling (we got up at 3 AM that day and arrived in Jordan at noon), we were super excited to start exploring the city.
That's why we quickly checked-in in our hotel, grabbed a camera and water, and we almost ran into the city center, as we wanted to see and do as much as Madaba has to offer in only a couple of hours.
Because we arrived in Madaba at the beginning of March, which is still considered to be off-season, opening hours were not that long as during the summer, so we had to rush a bit.
To be completely honest, to get a sense of Madaba, to do the best things available and see the top attractions, you do not need a full day (at least according to our opinion), half-day would be sufficient, which is good news for all of you who have the itinerary packed to the brim.
On the other hand, Madaba has wonderful surroundings, so once you feel that you saw enough from the city's highlights, jump on a car or arrange a tour, and start exploring outskirts of Madaba.
At the end of the day, we came back to our hotel room absolutely exhausted, with our memory card full, but most importantly with our minds full of memories, we will never forget.
Whether it is the largest mosaic map in the world, wonderful views from a tower we found by accident, our first shawarma, or the scents of exotic spices, Madaba was for sure worth the visit.
In case you still need a bit more persuading, keep on reading.
In this blog post, we will share with you tips on the best things to do in Madaba, Jordan, and also information on where to stay in Madaba, what is the best time to visit the city, what to wear, and much more practical information.
Hopefully, after your visit, you will also have such a positive feeling as we had when leaving Madaba to our next destinations.
BEST THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN MADABA
Most of the top attractions and must-visit places in Madaba is possible to see within a couple of hours when leisurely strolling the city.
But some of the top points of interest are beyond the city's limits.
Depending on your time, you can either visit Mount Nebo, the Dead Sea or Mukawir on a different day, but you can also incorporate it to your Madaba itinerary - the choice is completely yours.
We will mention several times Jordan Pass in this article. Make sure you will also read our post on why you need Jordan Pass for traveling around Jordan.
Here's our list of the best things to do and see in Madaba, Jordan, and its surroundings.
SAINT GEORGE’S CHURCH ALIAS CHURCH OF THE MAP
Are you wondering what is the place which put Madaba on traveler's map?
Well, you are about to find out.
The Greek Orthodox Saint George's Church is Madaba's well-kept gem, and the reason for tourists to stop by in the city, at least for a while. Saint George's Church, although according to our humble opinion is pretty from the outside, hides the true jewel inside.
Inside the church, on the floor, you can admire a large Byzantine mosaic which, to this date, is the oldest map of Palestine, but it also shows other places such as Jerusalem, Gaza, Dead Sea or Nile Delta.
The mosaic map is very remarkable, although it can be quite hard to understand the meaning of it and recognize all the places.
Therefore we recommend you either to buy a small brochure in the ticket office with a helpful description or we found a very useful description in Jordan Lonely Planet book.
Jordan is a country of mosaics, and later during our travels, we saw quite many of them, but the mosaic in Saint George's Church is for sure one of the best ones we've seen, and it is not only because it was the first one we visited.
Because of the main feature on the church's floor, Saint George's Church is often nicknamed Church of the Map.
After some time in Madaba, you will probably notice that there are quite many churches in otherwise very Islamic country. Actually, Madaba is an exception, because there is a quite large population of Christians.
And also Christians, who were in the 19th century expelled from Karak, found the mosaic when building their new homes on the remnants of an old Byzantine Church.
The entrance fee to Saint George's Church is 1 JD per person. This site is not included in the Jordan Pass, which you should purchase for your stay in the country anyway.
The church is usually open from 8 AM - 5 PM in the off-season (usually November to the beginning of April) and from 8 AM - 6 PM in the summer season.
ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK II & BURNT PALACE
Right after we left Saint George's Church, we continued to the first of the two archeological parks in Madaba.
Even though the name suggests you will emerge at a large park, both sites are actually pretty small, and you will need approximately 20 minutes for each place to fully appreciate what was left here.
Both Archeological Park I and II are included in the Jordan Pass, so you only need to write down your name and nationality to the book by the entrance.
Archeological Park II consists of ruins from the 6th century.
Here used to stand a residential mansion, which was destroyed by earthquake and fire (that's where the Burnt Palace got its name).
Wooden walkways will take you around the place which also consists of old Roman constructions such as water drainages or cisterns.
The Burnt Palace was most likely used by priests from the nearby Martyr's Church, and the main highlight here remains mosaic from Byzantine times.
At the entrance was an attendant, who let us in, and then walked around with us while showing us the sites and pointing out things we could see on a mosaic.
To be honest, his English was quite bad, and he did not tell us anything extra we could not read on the information sign, and then (unsurprisingly) he asked for a tip. If you do not require such service, politely refuse right at the beginning.
We read online that this site is closed on Saturdays, but it was open at the time of our visit, which was a big relief.
MADABA ARCHEOLOGICAL PARK I & VIRGIN MARY CHURCH
Madaba Archeological Park I is a bit different than Burnt Palace.
Yes, you will find here yet another mosaic (the 1st-century mosaic, which is the oldest mosaic found in Jordan), relics of Roman presence such as columns, and Virgin Mary Church, but this archeological site is a rather an open-air museum, so there is a collection of artifacts from a larger Madaba area.
What we found the most interesting was that the structures in Madaba were re-used in many periods.
Many Roman columns were used later for Byzantine and Islamic structures, and until today former Roman buildings can be found in today's buildings serving as crypts or vaults.
CARPET CITY
Jordan is a country well-known for carpets, and even if you do not plan on buying one, it is worth it to check it out.
There is a shop called Carpet City in one of the side streets, but you do not have to go inside to get a sense of what is going on.
It is impossible to avoid carpets, as both Archeological Parks are on a very busy touristy street with many shops selling carpets and other souvenirs.
VISITORS CENTER
Even if you do not need help with planning your time in Madaba, it is worth it to stop by in Madaba's Visitors Center.
It is on the way anyways, so you do not need to make a detour to get there. According to our opinion, it is not necessary to get to the Visitors Center right after your arrival.
Yes, you will find here a small two-room museum (free) inside with boards translated to English providing tourists with information on the history of Madaba, which is very helpful, but it is fine to read about it anytime during your visit.
Staff at the Visitors Center is friendly and will give you a small brochure where you can find more suggestions on what to do in Madaba.
KING HUSSAIN MOSQUE
There are quite many mosques in Madaba, but one of them particularly caught our eyes because of its golden roof and golden tops of its minarets.
King Hussain Mosque is in the city center, and we walked around it on our way to St. John Church.
We were not sure if we can go inside as non-muslims, but the best views of the mosque are actually from above from the tower of St. John Church.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
We almost missed St. John Church as it was getting late, but fortunately, the site was still open, and we could admire this early 20th-century church built on a several thousand old rudiments.
The church is private, and the entrance fee is by donation.
You decide how much is appropriate to give, but in general, we found 1 JD in Jordan is a norm. The church has a museum in the vaulted underbelly, but the true highlight for us was a short but steep climb to the church's belfry.
Be careful as the stairs are narrow and rickety, but you will be soon awarded by bird-eyes views of Madaba.
MADABA MUSEUM
A pleasant museum consists of several buildings, and every part is dedicated to a different period or different kind of art.
We arrived here after the opening hours, but the attendant was very friendly and offered us he will stay there for us longer, and even unlocked some of the best exhibitions.
We've for sure seen better-kept museums, but the atmosphere here was very peaceful and we learned more about Madaba's history. If you are short on time, you might prefer visiting the Jordan Musem in Amman.
The entrance fee is included in the Jordan Pass.
CHURCH OF THE APOSTLES
Church of the Apostles is yet another Madaba's top attractions.
The church is famous for twelve apostles figures inscribed on the walls of the church.
You will also find here very beautiful well-preserved mosaics depicting things important for everyday life in Byzantine times. The church has a very unusual architectural style, so stay here for a while and enjoy every bit of this place.
The entrance fee is also included in the Jordan Pass.
THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH
On the way between Madaba Museum and Church of the Apostles is another church, Catedral Church.
The thing is, what you can see here are rather scattered remains of the church, and hadn't it been for a sign, we would have thought we are just passing around very badly damaged building.
This is not the top thing to do in Madaba, do not bother if you are pressed for time, but you can for sure incorporate it smartly in your itinerary.
MOUNT NEBO
Mount Nebo is one of the holiest places in the area, and even if you are not a believer, we strongly advise you to put Mount Nebo in your travel itinerary.
Mount Nebo is less than 15 minutes drive from Madaba, so it is very easy and not time-consuming to get there.
If you do not have a car, there is no public transport going to Mount Nebo, so you can hire a driver in Madaba, or join one of many Madaba and Mount Nebo Tours from Amman which include the visit of both sites.
Mount Nebo is allegedly a place from where Moses saw the Promise Land.
Even if it hadn't been true, nothing would change the fact that this site is gorgeous.
When the weather is clear, except for the sea you can see Jordan River, but also Bethlehem and Jerusalem on the Israeli side.
On the top of the hill are a serpentine cross sculpture and a modern church (built on archeological foundations from the 4th century) with several mosaics inside.
The Moses Memorial Church on the top of Mount Nebo is to date one of our favorite churches we've ever visited.
The entrance fee to the complex surrounded by olive trees is 2 JD per person.
DEAD SEA
One of the top natural wonders in Jordan, the Dead Sea, is less than an hour away from Madaba, therefore many travelers decide to stay in the city and visit the salty sea on a half-day trip.
If you are not a beach bum, we think an hour or two by the shores of the Dead Sea is absolutely enough since you can not swim in the water that long, but of course, it is possible to reserve your stay in one of many luxurious resort hotels and relax a bit.
The Dead Sea is not super-famous only because of the huge concentration of salt, but it also lies below sea level. Dead Sea shores are 430.5 metres below sea level.
Now I can tell this is Martin's happy place as he usually suffers in places over 3000 meters above sea level as we had experienced when trekking around Annapurnas or hiking in Peru.
MUKAWIR
Only 45 minutes drive from Madaba lies Mukawir, small ruins on the top of the hill featuring beautiful views over the Dead Sea.
We definitely recommend you to do this side trip.
At first, we were quite skeptical, but in the end, Mukawir was one of our favorite stops in Jordan. Not because of the ruins, but because of the wonderful panorama.
Mukawir lies just off King's Highway, so you can plan your visit for the day you will be actually driving it.
But if you have extra time in Madaba, it might be a good idea to travel to Mukawir, since the highway offers quite many highlights for only one day and it would be a shame to miss it out.
This site is not included in the Jordan Pass, the entrance fee is 1.5 JD per person.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT MADABA
Although Jordan is a year-round destination, the best time to visit Madaba is either spring (March to May) or autumn (September through October).
During these months you can expect pleasant temperatures, it does not rain that often and the sky is mostly clear.
We arrived in Madaba in early March, and had perfect weather, although in the evening it was a bit more chilly, than we had expected.
Summer is also a popular time to visit, but temperatures are way too high for a comfortable walk in the city and for sightseeing. But if you do not mind hot weather, you will enjoy cloudless days and there is also a very low chance of rain.
Winter in Madaba (December till February) is short, but it can get colder than you would have expected. But still, the traveling can be pleasant once you will arrive well-equipped.
It rains more in winter in Jordan than during the rest of the year, so we recommend you to pack an umbrella.
Based on our experience, should we travel to Madaba again in the future, we would have again opted for March as the weather was pleasant, and we did not meet that many travelers in the city, because the most popular month for a visit is still April.
WHERE TO STAY IN MADABA
Most of the hotels in Madaba are conveniently located near the top attractions, so everyone can find the perfect place to stay based on a budget.
If you won't find here a hotel according to your likings (which we doubt), you still can look a bit further as the Dead Sea is only a short drive away.
On the shore of the Dead Sea, you have a higher chance to find more luxurious options.
We've handpicked the best three hotels for every budget category in Madaba to make your search easier.
Budget | Madaba Hotel - This recently renovated hotel offers great service for budget travelers. One of the top features is the location, only meters away from Madaba's best attraction, St. George's Church.
Mid-range | Grand Hotel Madaba - We stayed in this hotel, and for the price, we possibly could not choose a better place. Rooms are clean, the bathroom is modernly furnished and the selection of breakfast is great. This hotel is about five minutes walk from the city center and offers parking on the street. The staff in the hotel was friendly and super-helpful. We can only recommend this hotel to you.
Mid-range | Mosaic City Hotel - Great location, friendly atmosphere, tasty breakfast, and helpful staff are the main features in this hotel. It is worth it to ask for a room with a balcony facing the garden.
WHAT TO PACK FOR MADABA
The major religion in Jordan is Islam, which means tourists should dress respectfully, and have knees and shoulders covered.
In the beginning, we were not entirely sure what to pack for Jordan, but later we found out we can wear basically what we usually do during our travels with some small exceptions.
Madaba is quite a popular tourist destination, so people living in the city are used to travelers and different cultures, and when you dress respectfully, no one will ever stare at you or harass you on the street (in case you are solo female traveler).
Even when it is too hot outside, it is not appropriate to wear shorts or a short dress.
Nowadays there are so many permeable clothes out there that you won't feel too hot, even when wearing pants. Jeans are perfectly fine too.
T-shirt with a short sleeve is ok, but we would not wear tank tops though. Wear comfortable shoes, we had one pair of sneakers for the entire holiday.
Evenings can be a bit chilly (when visiting Madaba in winter, days are not warm as well), so pack a fleece jacket and have a waterproof jacket ready as well.
Tap water in Madaba is not drinkable, so bring your reusable water bottle. A small comfortable daypack where you can keep your travel camera and valuables is also a must.
HOW TO GET AROUND MADABA
Madaba is that kind of city where you can get around on foot.
Accommodate yourself in a hotel in the city center, park your car, and forget you have it for a day.
Traffic in Madaba can get crazy, and even a receptionist in our hotel told us that by walk we will get to St. George's Church in five to ten minutes or in thirty minutes by car.
Even if you usually prefer to get around places by car, it is not worth it here.
We even did not notice any public transport service in the city center, so if you start feeling tired, a taxi is your only option.
If you plan on visiting Mount Nebo or Mukawir, two sites not that far from Madaba, you will have to get there by car, taxi, or with a tour.
HOW TO GET TO OR FROM MADABA
For us, Madaba was the first place we visited in Jordan, that's why we arrived in the city straight away from the airport in our rental car.
We highly recommend you to rent a car as it makes traveling around Jordan so much easier and convenient.
As we met in Madaba many familiar faces from our plane, obviously we were not the only ones who decided to get from Queen Alia International Airport to Madaba first, instead of traveling to the capital city of Amman.
But for those of you who have planned the Jordan itinerary differently, no worries.
Madaba is well-connected with other destinations, and if you have your rental car, you can easily get from Madaba to King's Highway, the Dead Sea, or Amman.
If you plan on traveling around Jordan by public transport, it is still possible to get to or from Madaba, although chances are you will have to get to Amman first (most of the buses terminate in the capital city), and then take a frequent bus to Madaba, which takes around 45 minutes.
Otherwise, if you do not have a car, taxis are plentiful in Madaba, and you will not have a problem getting to your next destination, but this option is obviously more costly, and it makes more sense in case you travel with a group of friends.
Mariam Hotel runs a bus to Petra along King's Highway including a few stops, but it is necessary to contact them in advance and ask if they have enough people to run the service for your desired date.
If Madaba does not entirely fit into your plans, but you still would like to visit it, check out one of many available tours who have the city on an itinerary.
For inspiration, search GetYourGuide or Viator.
SAFETY IN MADABA
We walked around Madaba both day and night, and consider it a safe city. We never felt uncomfortable, not even when we walked after dark in not so touristy streets.
Locals in Madaba are used to tourists, but they behave respectfully, and they are not that pushy as some people working in the tourism industry in similar countries can be.
Use your common sense, and you will be alright.
Our Tip: It seems that almost everyone in the city is a guide.
We were many times approached by men who started telling us a history of a particular building we were looking at, and in case you are not interested in services like this, it is better to politely interrupt them after the first sentence.
Otherwise, they will act as guides and later require a tip.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
