How to Get from Amman Airport to Madaba (or Vice Versa)
Are you planning your trip to Jordan? Your first concern might be how to get from Queen Alia International Airport in Amman to Madaba, which is often the first stop on every Jordan itinerary. In this travel blog, we share with you tips on how to get from Queen Alia Airport to Madaba or vice versa, and information on whether it is best to drive by car, take a taxi, travel by bus, or reserve a shuttle.
When traveling to Jordan, Queen Alia International Airport in Amman will most likely be your getaway to the country.
But although at first, it might seem that from the airport you should travel to Amman, the capital city of Jordan, straightaway, have a brief look on a map.
After a few seconds, you will realize that not Amman, but another wonderful destination, Madaba, which is often nicknamed the mosaic capital of the world, is much closer to the airport.
Therefore, when we started planning our Jordan itinerary, it made sense to us that not Amman, but Madaba will be the first place we visit in this small kingdom in the Middle East.
There are many options on how to get from Queen Alia International Airport (also known as Amman Airport) to Madaba or from Madaba to the airport.
To make your travels and first moments in Jordan easier, we've decided to write this post aiming to provide you with tips on how to get from the airport to Madaba and vice versa.
There are several options, and you can easily choose a possibility which suits the best your travel style and travel budget.
Madaba lies 22 kilometers from the airport, and the journey should take you 30 to 40 minutes maximum.
Here is the list of ways how to get from Queen Alia International Airport to Madaba.
RENTAL CAR
Jordan is a small and compact country, and because of the scarce public transport, most of the visitors decide to explore it by car.
Renting a car is very popular here (we chose this option ourselves), therefore this system is extensive and absolutely easy.
The best thing you can do is to rent a car at the airport right after your arrival (there are several providers), and then you can navigate yourself around Jordan.
Also, buy one of the Zain tourist sim cards with 40 GB of data. This will allow you to navigate yourself around Jordan without ever getting lost. You will find mobile operators kiosks just a few steps from the rental companies.
Here we will share with you more tips on renting a car and driving in Jordan
But back to our main focus. How to get to Madaba by car?
Once you get keys, set Madaba as your destination in your GPS navigation.
Usually, the fastest route takes approximately 26 - 30 minutes (the middle one), and even though driving in Jordan sometimes requires a lot of patience and attention, we found driving from the airport to Madaba easy.
First, drive along Airport Road for 2.2 kilometers, then turn to Zeid Ben Harethah Street and stay there for almost 20 kilometers. This road will lead you to Madaba, and then you have to continue depending on where is your hotel located.
For us, the most difficult part was the last approximately three kilometers, because traffic was crazy, and we had to get used to the fact that most of the drivers make up the rules on the go.
But in the end, we safely made it to Madaba by our rental car. And what is so special about Madaba? Well, it’s home to Church of the Map among other awesome places.
Make sure you will check first with your hotel whether they provide free parking for your car, although it is usually possible to park on the street.
BUS
At the moment, there is no bus line connecting Madaba and Queen Alia International Airport.
Although it might seem weird, it is how it is.
The only way to get from the airport to Madaba by bus is to use the airport bus to Amman and then change to a bus to Madaba.
But it would be a major detour, and you would have spent a lot of precious time in public transport instead of by exploring Madaba.
Therefore, we think this option is not really worth it.
Some adventurous travelers reported that it is possible to take a taxi to Madaba Bridge (which is still 15 kilometers away from the airport), and from here flag down a bus to Madaba.
But it seems to us too much hassle when we compare it to money saved, plus it will definitely take longer to get to the city.
TAXI
Another option on how to get from Queen Alia International Airport to Madaba is by taxi. You have several possibilities here.
First, it is possible to arrange transport with your hotel as every accommodation we checked offers this service for a fee.
Second, you can find a taxi driver directly at the airport. The price for the ride varies, but you should not pay more than 20 JD, the reasonable price would be anything between 15 - 18 JD.
Do not be afraid to try to haggle the price a little bit down.
A slightly more expensive option is to reserve a taxi service in advance.
This might be the preferred way for travelers who love to have everything planned ahead and for those, who hate negotiating the price. You can check out the service from Amman airport to Madaba or from Madaba to Amman airport.
No matter how tired you might feel after arrival in Jordan, try to be awake (you have to when self-driving) during transfer between Queen Alia International Airport and Madaba.
If you are, like us, coming from Europe or the USA, you have just appeared in a completely different world, and even the short drive from the airport proves it.
Have your camera ready as you will need it to capture the scenery, sheep, goats, and mosques along the way.
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!
WHERE TO STAY IN MADABA
Madaba has quite a small and compact historical center, so look for a hotel there. The right selection of the hotel will make your sightseeing much easier.
If you have an early morning flight or on the other hand you will arrive in Jordan late at night, you might consider staying in a hotel near the airport.
In this paragraph, we've handpicked the best hotels near the airport and in Madaba for your comfortable stay.
Airport | Amman Airport Hotel - This hotel is close to the airport which is convenient, and you will find here comfortable rooms, which is basically everything you need here.
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.
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.
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.
