How to get from Amman to Madaba – Ultimate Day Trip Guide
Amman, Jordan is a city full of culture and history and deserves to take a high place on everyone’s bucket list.
However, if you are travelling all the way to Jordan, it would be a shame to just stick to the one city when there are so many awesome places to visit throughout this incredible country.
On our visit to Jordan, we loved the day trip we took to Madaba, a small city to the south of Amman that is famous for its many archaeological sites.
How to get to Madaba from Amman
The good news if you are looking to travel from Amman to Madaba is that they are incredibly close to each other, and it won’t take you long to travel the 20-mile distance.
Taxi
The simplest way to get from Amman to Madaba is by grabbing a taxi. The journey will only take around 35 minutes and will likely cost around 20 JD.
Because this is such a popular day trip, your hotel will have lots of experience in arranging drivers for this so speak to them about it before looking for taxi’s yourself.
Bus
A more budget friendly option is to take a bus from Amman to Madaba. The buses depart regularly from Amman’s central station and the journey takes about an hour. While the bus ride is an affordable way to travel, there is no set timetable so you will have to have some flexibility in your itinerary.
Tour
If you want to get even more out of your day trip from Amman to Madaba then you should consider booking a dedicated tour from places such as Viator.
We used a private guide when we visited Madaba and having someone with the extra knowledge made the trip very special. The trip also included stops at Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea which saved time over visiting them all on separate days.
Best things to see in Madaba
Despite its small size, Madaba has an amazing history which has made it one of the most visited cities in Jordan.
Once you arrive in Madaba city centre you are within walking distance of many of the main tourist sites meaning you can get through the main attractions all in the same day.
Here’s our list of the top things to do in Madaba:
The Madaba Map
The Madaba Map is a fascinating piece of Byzantine art and is considered to be the oldest mosaic map of the Holy Land in the world.
The map dates back to the 6th Century and is located on the floor of the Church of Saint George within the centre of Madaba.
Although some parts are missing now, it’s thought the original piece contained over 2 million individual tiles!
Madaba Archaeological Park
Just round the corner from the Church of St. George is the intriguing Madaba Archaeological Park.
While it is not the biggest museum in the world, there are still plenty of interesting pieces to see that paint a picture of what life in ancient Madaba was really like.
We enjoyed seeing all the unearthed mosaics and it really makes you think what is still hidden beneath our feet.
Mount Nebo
Although this one requires a short detour out of the city centre it definitely needs to be on the list. Mount Nebo is located a few miles away from Madaba and has massive religious and historical significance.
According to religious texts, Mount Nebo is said to be the place where Moses climbed and was rewarded with views out over the Promised Land. When Moses eventually died he was also said to have been buried somewhere on the mountain but no one knows exactly where.
When you arrive you, and if the weather is clear, you too will be amazed and the stunning views you get over the surrounding countryside.
How long should you spend in Madaba
Madaba is a captivating city and you could easily spend days walking through the twisting side streets discovering all of its secrets.
However, because of its small size, closeness to Amman and the short distance between its attractions it makes the perfect stop for those on a tight itinerary.
All in, we would recommend budgeting six hours for the entire trip as that allows you to get a good flavour of what Madaba has to offer.
Tours
Going on a guided tour of Madaba and other sites in the surrounding area is a great way to make the most of your trip – why not take a look at some of the most popular tours:
Accommodation
If you want to extend your trip in Madaba then you are in luck as there are plenty of accommodation types to fit every budget:
Booking.com
