Top Things to Do in Madaba
Madaba is adjacent to Amman, the capital of Jordan, hence you can hop from Amman to visit Madaba without much inconvenience. The city of Madaba is called the City of Mosiacs owing to the ancient mosaics of the city’s map. To visit Madaba Mosaic Map is one of the top things to do in Madaba, Jordan. The mosaics date back to around 500 A.D. and are spread across various historical Madaba attractions. There are several shops & galleries in Madaba which will get you a mosaic souvenir and also create a custom mosaic for you. Arabella Workshops for Mosiacs is well known among them. Another historical Madaba attractions are the ruins left behind by the Roman Empire seen at Madaba Archeological Park. Umm ar-Rasas used to be a Roman town and a Roman military camp before that. The ruins are best known for the stone arches which are among top archeological things to see in Madaba. There are several Churches among Madaba attractions including Church of St. George, Church of Apostles, Church of Moses, Church of Martyrs, and St. John the Baptist Church to name a few. Many of the places to visit in Madaba have religious significance and some are even referred in the Bible. Hence, many people visit Madaba for religious fulfillment as well. In the Bible, Madaba is referred to as Medeba. The mosaic map which is now a sightseeing in Madaba, is considered to be the oldest map of the Holy Land. This map features city of Jerusalem, Jericho, and Ashdod. There are five byzantine churches for sightseeing in Madaba with such ancient mosaic maps. The next important religion places to visit in Madaba is the Mount Nebo. Mount Nebo is not only a tourist attraction in Madaba, it is the place where Moses received visions of the Promised Land. You will also find Memorial Church of Moses among historical & religious tourist places in Madaba. Another very religiously significant among Madaba attractions is the Fortress of Machaeurs also called Mukawir Castle. This is the castle where Saint John the Baptist was beheaded. Both Mukawir Castle & Mount Nebo are popular tourist attraction in Madaba owing to the beautiful view of the landscape and especially the Dead Sea. Form Mount Nebo you get an even wider & panoramic view. The view from top of Mount Nebo is the best among things to see in Madaba. Not everyone can see the promised land, but the picturesque view is not something you would want to miss. Speaking of views of nature, there are several natural retreats and spring among tourist attraction in Madaba. The most popular is the Wadi al Mujib. This beautiful oasis in the desert land has some amazing hiking trails and waterfalls. There also several great camping spots in Wadi al Mujid for adventurous things to do in Madaba. You can also get bike tours, jeep tours, and camel tours besides hiking & trekking to explore Madaba. You can book these adventurous Madaba tours online or find one in the city. But the most popular among things to see in Madaba is the Dead Sea. A water body where you can effortlessly float. Many believe the Dead Sea to have medicinal properties as well. You can access the Dead Sea from the Amman beach or the Dead Sea Panorama beach. You can also have an incredible road trip along the coast of the Dead Sea via the Jordan Valley Highway. There is shop called Holy Treasures Centre which sells various products made from the Dead Sea water, salt, & soil. Be sure to check it out when you visit Madaba. If you are looking to shop for carpets in Madaba you can hit Carpet city, an entire market dedicated to carpets & rugs. There are many reasons to visit Madaba, find which reason fits your bill and plan your itinerary accordingly.
Table of Contents
Things to do in Madaba, Jordan
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Madaba, Jordan
- Madaba Mosaic Map
- Fortress of Machaerus
- Greek Orthodox Basilica of St. George
- Church of the Apostles
- Dead Sea Museum
- Madaba Archeological Museum
- St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church
- Al Hakaya Museum
- Memorial Church of Moses
- Madaba Museum
- Church of the Martyrs
- Moses’s Spring
- Parco Archeological Museum
- Church of SS Lot & Procopius
- Umm ar-Rasas
- Dar al Saraya
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Places to Visit in Madaba, Jordan
- Mount Nebo
- Ma’in Springs
- Abarim Mountains
- Dead Sea
- Herodus Spring
- Wadi al Mujib
- Wadi Ibn Hammad
- Wadi Jadid
- Wadi al Hidan
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Places to visit in Madaba, Jordan
- Mujib Dam
- Al Wadi Resort
- Dead Sea Spa, Hotels & Resorts
- La Storia Tourism Complex
Shopping in Madaba, Jordan
- Arabella Workshops for Mosiacs
- Carpet City
- Samarah Mall
- Holy Treasures Centre
- Hanania Silver Shop
Beaches in Madaba, Jordan
- Amman Beach Dead Sea
- Dead Sea Panorama
Offbeat Places & Adventure Things to do in Madaba, Jordan
- Desert Jeep Tour
- Madaba Hiking Tour
- Camel Tour
- Hiking tour
- Trekking tour
- Desert camping
- Hot Spring tour
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Madaba, Jordan
- Adonis Restaurant & Cafe
- Haret Jdoudna
How to Reach Madaba, Jordan?
By Air
The nearest airport for Madaba travel is the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman. You have multiple travel options by road from then onwards to pursue things to do in Madaba Jordan.
By Road
You can take public busses or taxi for Madaba travel, but if you fancy a road trip along the desert or parallel to the dead sea, you can hire a private car with a drive or drive yourself when you visit Madaba. There also several Jeep tours available from Amman itself which you can book online or even from the Airport. These tours come with a selection of Madaba attractions for you to choose from.
By Water
Madaba is a coastal governarate, but unfortunately it is only coast adjacent to the Dead Sea. So there are no water routes to visit Madaba.