Major city · Jordan
Madabaمادبا
Give Madaba one night, not two: mosaics and Mount Nebo fill a half day, and it works as a first or last stop, 25 km from the airport.Give Madaba one night, not two: mosaics and Mount Nebo fill a half day, and it works as a first or last stop, 16 mi from the airport.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JOD
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot, dry), Dec–Feb nights
- Airport
- AMM
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 4
- Jordan ↗Get the visa or the Jordan Pass only on official channels; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Jordan ↗Yellow taxis must use the meter; if the driver refuses, use a ride-hailing app instead.
- Jordan ↗In Ramadan, eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight is not accepted; hotels and tourist restaurants serve.
- Jordan ↗Do not pack a drone: import without a prior permit is refused and the drone is held at the border.
Madaba is a small market town of about 80,000 people on the King's Highway, 35–40 km from Amman and 25 km from Queen Alia airport. Its 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land, a cluster of mosaic-floored churches and Mount Nebo 9 km away make it the natural first or last night of a Jordan trip, or a half-day stop between Amman and Kerak.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Madaba, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Jordanian dinar (JOD) is divided into 1,000 fils (or 100 piastres); one dinar is a high-value note.Jordan-wide
- SIM or eSIMZain, Orange and Umniah sell tourist SIMs at Queen Alia arrivals; passport registration is required.Jordan-wide
- Tap waterTreated at source but stored in rooftop tanks; drink bottled or filtered.Jordan-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge; many mid-range places add 10%.Jordan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/F/G/J. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Jordan-wide
- SafetyMadaba is a calm, small town and feels safe on foot in the centre by day and early evening.
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; squat toilets at some bus stations.Jordan-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, ambulance and fire
- Sundays & holidaysFriday is the main weekend day: government offices, banks and many downtown shops close, some open after midday prayers.Jordan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportAMM Queen Alia International (About 25 km; taxi or Uber to the centre, roughly 20–30 min).AMM Queen Alia International (About 16 mi; taxi or Uber to the centre, roughly 20–30 min).
- Getting aroundThe centre is walkable in 15–20 minutes end to end.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or tea1–2 JD
- Sit-down mealSit-down mezze and grill dinner8–20 JD
- Street or quick mealFalafel or shawarma sandwich1–3 JD
- Metro or bus rideAmman–Madaba bus or minibus0.65–1.20 JD
- Museum or sight ticketSt George's Church entry1 JD, free with the Jordan Pass
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personJOD 5
- Mid-range bedDouble room, small hotel, a night, per roomJOD 35
- High-end bedDouble room, small hotel, a night, per roomJOD 70
A day, not counting the bed: Budget JOD 25 · Mid JOD 55 · High JOD 110
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- AMM Queen Alia International (About 25 km; taxi or Uber to the centre, roughly 20–30 min)AMM Queen Alia International (About 16 mi; taxi or Uber to the centre, roughly 20–30 min)
Weather and climate
Madaba: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
13°C55°F
4°C39°F
9 rd
Feb
14°C57°F
5°C41°F
8 rd
Mar
18°C64°F
7°C45°F
6 rd
Apr
23°C73°F
10°C50°F
3 rd
May
28°C82°F
14°C57°F
1 rd
Jun
31°C88°F
17°C63°F
0 rd
Jul
33°C91°F
19°C66°F
0 rd
Aug
33°C91°F
19°C66°F
0 rd
Sep
31°C88°F
17°C63°F
0 rd
Oct
27°C81°F
14°C57°F
2 rd
Nov
20°C68°F
10°C50°F
5 rd
Dec
15°C59°F
6°C43°F
8 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is walkable in 15–20 minutes end to end. In-town taxis run at a flat fare rather than the meter, so agree the price before you get in; Uber also works, including to Mount Nebo. A taxi to the bus station is worth it with bags.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Mount Nebo
goDoor to door: About 30 min each way
Taxi or Uber, 9 km northwest on the Dead Sea roadTaxi or Uber, 5.6 mi northwest on the Dead Sea road
Entry 2 JD, not covered by the Jordan Pass; 30–45 minutes on site, best in late afternoon light.
Umm ar-Rasas
goDoor to door: About 1 h each way
Car or taxi southeast via Dhiban, about 30 kmCar or taxi southeast via Dhiban, about 19 mi
UNESCO site with the large Church of St Stephen mosaic floor; little shade, bring water.
Hammamat Ma'in
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min each way
Car or taxi southwest, about 30 kmCar or taxi southwest, about 19 mi
Hot springs and pools; the resort day pass costs more than the public baths — check current access.
Machaerus (Mukawer)
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h each way
Car or taxi southwest, about 30 km, bypassing Hammamat Ma'inCar or taxi southwest, about 19 mi, bypassing Hammamat Ma'in
Hilltop Herodian fortress, 1 JD entry; rough last stretch of road.
Kerak
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Bus or car south on the King's Highway
Crusader castle on the way to Petra; pairs well as a southbound stop.
Dead Sea
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Car or taxi west, 35–40 kmCar or taxi west, 22–25 mi
Resort beaches charge day-use fees; public access points are limited.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
King Talal Street / church cluster
Walk to St George's, the Archaeological Park and restaurants; dorms and small hotels.
Al Muhafada Circle
Quieter mid-range hotels with parking and pools, 10–15 min walk from the mosaics.
Bus station area (east, by the highway)
Only if you leave early; little to see and traffic noise.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 20–35 JD excl. bed
- Mid
- 45–70 JD excl. bed
- High
- 100 JD+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, small hotel1 × 1 night × JOD 35 | JOD 35 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × JOD 55 | JOD 110 |
| Airport taxi to Madaba centre, one way1 × JOD 12 | JOD 12 |
| Uber airport to centre, one way1 × JOD 6 | JOD 6 |
| In-town taxi, one trip1 × JOD 1 | JOD 1 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × JOD 10 | JOD 20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | JOD 18 |
| Trip total≈ JOD 101 per person per day, bed included | JOD 202 |
2026 estimate in Jordanian dinars; flights and the Jordan Pass excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Falafel or shawarma sandwich | 1–3 JD |
| Sit-down mezze and grill dinner | 8–20 JD |
| Coffee or tea | 1–2 JD |
| St George's Church entry | 1 JD, free with the Jordan Pass |
| Archaeological Park ticket (park, museum, Apostles Church) | 5 JD, free with the Jordan Pass |
| Mount Nebo entry | 2 JD |
| Amman–Madaba bus or minibus | 0.65–1.20 JD |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- In-town taxis often skip the meter: fix the fare before you ride.
- St George's closes to visitors during services.
- Mount Nebo entry is a separate small fee and is not covered by the Jordan Pass.
- Summer afternoons are hot and shade is scarce at the archaeological sites.
Emergency numbers
- Police, ambulance and fire
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Madabaمادبا
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
إلى هذا العنوان، لو سمحتTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, ambulance and fire911
Embassy
No embassies in Madaba; most are in Amman, about 35–40 km north.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → Madaba centre, taxi: about 12 JD, 20–30 min
- Airport → Madaba centre, Uber: about 6 JD
- In-town taxi: flat 1 JD; agree before boarding
- Madaba → Amman, bus: 0.65–1.20 JD, about 1 h
Say or show
- مرحبا — Hello (marhaba)
- شكرا — Thank you (shukran)
- كم السعر؟ — How much is it? (kam al-si'r?)
- وين الكنيسة؟ — Where is the church? (wen al-kanisa?)
- الحساب لو سمحت — The bill, please (al-hisab law samaht)
- لا شكرا — No thanks (la shukran)
Carry small notes for church and site fees; cards work in mid-range hotels and larger restaurants.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Madaba. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, dry), Dec–Feb nights · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for AMM: taxi and Uber bands, late-arrival fallback, one-night rung.
- Walking cluster map: St George's, Archaeological Park, Madaba Museum, Church of the Apostles, St John's bell tower.
- Place pages with verified hours and fees for St George's, the Archaeological Park and Mount Nebo.
- King's Highway southbound fixture: Madaba → Mount Nebo → Kerak → Petra with realistic door-to-door times.