Madaba Travel Guide

  the view
by machomikemd
 
  • the view
      the view
    by machomikemd
  • poser at St. George Church
      poser at St. George Church
    by machomikemd
  • Hippolytus Hall
      Hippolytus Hall
    by MM212
  • the famous cross at mount nebo
      the famous cross at mount nebo
    by machomikemd
  • Dead Sea Mud
      Dead Sea Mud
    by PierreZA
 

Pro

angiebabe profile photo

 fascinating history here - jewish and christian history living peacefully alongside Islam 


Con

triplehelix profile photo

 Dirty streets in the morning and traffic congestion 


In a nutshell

coceng profile photo

 The Dead Sea; The Sacred Mountain, The Mosaics ! 

 

Explore Madaba

Things to Do  

Church of Prophet Elias & Crypt of St Elianos

Church of Prophet Elias & Crypt of St Elianos, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  Located within the Madaba Archaeological Park are the ruins of the Church of Prophet Elias and its associated Crypt of Saint Elianos. Both contain mosaics with dedicatory inscriptions that date them to 595 AD and 607 AD. Although these mosaics are neither the most beautiful... 

Madaba Archaeological Park - Roman Cardo Maximus

Madaba Archaeological Park - Roman Cardo Maximus, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  Within the Madaba Archaeological Park lies a section of the Roman Cardo Maximus. In Roman times, this was the main thoroughfare through the town of Madaba and it was probably a colonnaded road, as was customary in the cities of the Roman east (similar to but perhaps smaller... 

Greek Orthodox Basilica of St George

Greek Orthodox Basilica of St George, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  One of several churches in Madaba serving various sects, the Greek Orthodox Basilica of St George is the most important due to the ancient mosaic floor it hosts. The floor, which dates from the second half of the 6th century AD and belonged to a Byzantine-period church, was... 

Madaba, the town

Madaba, the town, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  Although there is little to see beyond the churches, mosaics, and museum in Madaba, the town is still a pleasant place for a stroll. The main streets contain numerous shops, many of which serve local needs, while a few others cater to visitors by selling mosaics and other... 

Cathedral of St John the Baptist

Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  Visible from afar, this red tiled roof and spire belong to the largest church in Madaba, the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. It is a Latin church (i.e., Roman Catholic) built in the late 19th century on top of the highest hill in Madaba. Due to time constraints, I was... 

The Oldest Mosaic in Jordan

The Oldest Mosaic in Jordan, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  Discovered among other ruins at the nearby site of ancient Machaerus (now known as Mukawir), this section of a mosaic floor is the oldest thus far discovered in Jordan. It belonged to the Roman Baths of Machaerus, which were built in the 1st century BC during the time of... 

Madaba Archaeological Park

Madaba Archaeological Park, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  One of the highlights of the visit to Madaba is this small Archaeological Park-Museum in the heart of town. It contains archaeological finds from the Roman to the Abbasid periods, including the exquisite mosaics of the so-called Hippolytus Hall and those of the Church of the... 

Grand Mosque of Madaba

Grand Mosque of Madaba, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  Of a recent construction, this beauty is the Grand Mosque of Madaba. It was clearly inspired by Ottoman architecture and stands proud in a town with numerous churches and a glorious Christian past. It is a testament to the religious tolerance between Christian and Moslem... 

Hippolytus Hall & Church of the Virgin

Hippolytus Hall & Church of the Virgin, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  Located within the Madaba Archaeological Park, the ruins of the Church of the Virgin and Hippolytus Hall contain the most impressive mosaics in Madaba. They were discovered in 1982 along with the rest of the ruins in the surrounding area, which is now the museum-park.... 

Hotels  

Mosaic City Hotel

 212 Opinions

Mariam Hotel

 9 Reviews and 416 Opinions  This well known hotel does live up to everything I read about it before I went to Jordan. It is most... 

Restaurants  

Haret Jdoudna: The place to eat in Madaba

Haret Jdoudna: The place to eat in Madaba, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  For lunch or dinner, Haret Jdoudna is probably the best place to eat in Madaba. It is housed in a charming old stone villa in the heart of town, built using a few recycled Roman-period materials, with a beautiful courtyard. It also contains a small shop selling local arts... 

Mat'am ad-Diffatayn (the Two Banks Restaurant): Falafel specialty

Mat'am ad-Diffatayn (the Two Banks Restaurant): Falafel specialty, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  This local eatery serves delicious falafels and other simple Middle Eastern mezze. It is a no-frills place with tables, and a great place for a quick inexpensive meal. It is located on Talal Street, a short distance from St George Church. 

Transportation  

Getting to Madaba

Getting to Madaba, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  Madaba is located about 45 minutes by car/taxi from Amman. It is also a quick 30 minute taxi ride from the airport. My first visit to Madaba in December 2010 was when I had several hours at the Amman airport and decided to leave the airport and come to Madaba for a quick... 

The Costs of taxi from Madaba to sites

The Costs of taxi  from Madaba to sites, Madaba

 Doctor38 Says:  These trips are organized by the Mariam Hotel. The trip orignate from Madaba unless stated other wise. This is the coast of transportation. Entrance fees will have to be paid @ the sites. If a guide is needed this could be arranged by the Hotel1)Pick up from the airport to... 

Shopping  

Several: Shopping in Madaba

Several: Shopping in Madaba, Madaba

 PierreZA Says:  Madaba is a very good place to buy authentic Jordanian handicrafts. Madaba is well known or its carpets and rugs, as well as mosaics.There are many shops around the Church of the Map, so take you time and compare prices before you buy anything. MosaicsRugsCeramics Haggle 

Madaba handicraft Center: Excellent Handicraft Center in Madaba

Madaba handicraft Center: Excellent Handicraft Center in Madaba, Madaba

 dominosf Says:  The shop includes a workshop for mosaics as well as a retail outlet with a large selection of locally made crafts from Jordan including Jewelry, rugs, hadn-painted ostrich eggs, traditional clothing and ceramic tables and smaller items. The employees are very hospitable and... 

Local Customs  

Keeping Mosaic Art Alive...
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

MM212 3829 reviews
Mosaic Workshop, Dec 2010

Madaba is proud of its mosaic tradition and is striving to keep the art alive. In 1992, the Madaba Institute for Mosaic Art & Restoration (MIMAR) was founded by the government to help train locals in mosaic art and restoration. A few ateliers scattered around town make interesting mosaic artefacts that could be a great souvenir or gift to bring back home.

Updated Aug 5, 2012

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Warnings and Dangers  

bait and switch number two

bait and switch number two, Madaba

 joanrichards1234 Says:  I was in Madaba in october and I spent a significant amoutn on four items. My package arrived around Christmas and it is not what I ordered, not the quality. I have asked them to fix it or return my money and I will countact the tour guide and the tour group to warn them. If... 

madaba handicraft center

madaba handicraft center, Madaba

 aldaoudemad Says:  I would like to tell our friends how can a big gift shop do that when they have over 6 m USD of inventory i just cant believe such stories just to inform you that we ship out of Jordan from our shop over 2 m usd yearly we never had a problem at all but some they would like... 

Off The Beaten Path  

The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  Some 40 minutes by car from Madaba and 1200 metres lower is the amazing natural wonder known as the Dead Sea. It is a salty water lake that fills the bottom of the Jordan Rift Valley and separates Jordan from Palestine and Israel. It is well worth making a day trip to the... 

Mount Nebo

Mount Nebo, Madaba

 MM212 Says:  Ten minutes by car northwest of Madaba is the spectacular site of Mount Nebo. It is located on a hill at the edge of a cliff, just before the descent into the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, with breathtaking views over Palestine. On a clear day, one could see Bethlehem,... 

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Map of Madaba