St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church
St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church
St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church
4.5
About
On December 7, 1967 the Vatican recognized the historic Catholic Church in Madaba, belonging to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, as a Shrine of the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist and urged visitors and pilgrims to visit this sacred site.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Plan your visit
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
55 within 3 miles
Attractions
23 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- babykongLondon, United Kingdom1,285 contributionsWorth visiting!I really enjoyed my visit to St.John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, also known as Church of the Beheading of John the Baptist - which is one of the stops on the self guided walking tour of Madaba Archaeological Park. It was quite surreal walking into a Roman Catholic Church in a Muslim country and hearing recorded church organ music on repeat! I did see signs requesting there be silence in the church, but not one visitor took a blind bit of notice. Then by stark contrast, in the vaults underneath the church there is the Acropolis Museum, complete with recorded Middle Eastern music! I enjoyed exploring the vaults and seeing the various items on display. You can also climb the steps of the bell tower, though you don’t really get much of a view at the top as there are four windows to look out of, but the views are obscured by metal fences. Definitely worth visiting the church itself and the vaults underneath.Visited April 2024Traveled soloWritten April 22, 2024
- Nicolas_CdX66Saint-Jean-Pla-de-Corts, France2,119 contributionsPanorama of Madaba and cultural visitPleasant visit for 1 JOD (not included in the Jordan Pass): frescoes, tunnels with caverns under the site providing freshness and explanations on the hidden cult at the time. Renovated, spacious, bright church where the office is celebrated. A must-do is to climb the bell tower despite the narrowness and steepness of the stairs to reach the bells and the narrow panoramic balcony over Madaba. Nice visit to recommend.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 6, 2024
- EmaRoroOnTheRoadParis, France2,011 contributionsBeautiful church to visitSublime church to visit if you are in the city. Its location is not included in the Jordan pass and will cost you 1JOD per person. Allow a good half hour to visit it from the crypt to its bell tower where you will have a sublime view of the city and the surroundings.Visited December 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten December 25, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
474 reviews
Excellent
259
Very good
169
Average
38
Poor
5
Terrible
3
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
EugeneLA
Los Angeles, CA471 contributions
Jan 2022
This church in Madaba is cool with an interesting history and unusual artwork. Admission is only 1 JOD - buy tickets in the adjacent visitors center, and read up on the history of the church and check out the old photographs
The church itself is beautiful. It's only a little over a hundred years old, but then you visit under and above the church and that's where the amazing extras turn this church into a five-star must-see.
Below is the "acropolis" where you can see some interesting finds under the church, along with art and shrines dedicated to St John the Baptist. There are a collection of replica mosaics of the best mosaics around Madaba here, and a neat recreation of a Moabite tent. Above the church you can climb to the bell tower for views.
EXTRA: If you're a practicing Roman Catholic and want to attend mass on weekends, they're very welcoming to visitors. Services on Sunday are at 7:30am, 9:30am, and 6pm. Services on Saturday are at 5pm in the winter, 6pm in the summer. And at the sign of peace, say "Salaam".
The church itself is beautiful. It's only a little over a hundred years old, but then you visit under and above the church and that's where the amazing extras turn this church into a five-star must-see.
Below is the "acropolis" where you can see some interesting finds under the church, along with art and shrines dedicated to St John the Baptist. There are a collection of replica mosaics of the best mosaics around Madaba here, and a neat recreation of a Moabite tent. Above the church you can climb to the bell tower for views.
EXTRA: If you're a practicing Roman Catholic and want to attend mass on weekends, they're very welcoming to visitors. Services on Sunday are at 7:30am, 9:30am, and 6pm. Services on Saturday are at 5pm in the winter, 6pm in the summer. And at the sign of peace, say "Salaam".
Written January 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CasaRoscoe
Ottawa, Canada272 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
The church dates from the late 19th Century. Inside the visitor centre was a fascinating exhibition of photographs dating from 1902 to 1911 that showed priests and nuns standing with all the local schoolchildren, and one can get a good idea of how children looked and dressed at that time. The small basement museum was underwhelming. The best fun, though, was climbing the bell tower on its rickety metal stairs to obtain a great view over the city.
Written March 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
19Eric57
Uccle, Belgium2,560 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
We did not set out to visit this church. But St George's Church was under construction, so we had to improvise. AND the place is worth the (modest) price paid at the entrance. 4 things not to miss, the church itself, the museum room (and photographs), the crypt and the catacombs and, finally, the climb to the bells in the tower. We hoped to have a 360° view point but were blocked on the climb by the narrowness of the place....We all have good memories of this visit.

Written November 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LaNyonsaise
West Midlands, UK1,081 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Although the church is fairly modern, there are some fascinating archeological features to explore that make the modest entry fee of 1JD (not included in the Jordan Pass) worthwhile. There are ancient tunnels, a well and a water channel below ground and a sanctuary dedicated to St John the Baptist. The photographic display in the ticket office was very interesting showing Madaba in the early 20th century and the pupils of the school looking very serious but the mosaic nearby is a replica. Only the most nimble should consider climbing the vertigo inducing bell tower, which finishes in a slender ladder and has a flimsy rail around the platform, despite the prospect of a fine view of the town.
Written May 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
abroadwithashley
Minneapolis, MN1,739 contributions
Dec 2020
The catacombs under St. John the Baptist Church were easily our favorite part of our day out in Madaba. A collection of different underground sites - some merely dirt pits and others (like the shrine of St. John the Baptist) a bit more gruesome and strange, the underground sites unfold like a ride at Disney World. It was a lot of fun to try and guess what we might encounter next underground, and since we had the place to ourselves, we had plenty of time to explore. Once you are finished you can make your way back up into the main sanctuary and then up the bell tower to the highest view in Madaba. One of us had a bit of vertigo on the way up, and we wouldn’t recommend going all the way up into the top of the tower (the ladder is held in place by rusty wire), but the view was fantastic and made an excellent top off to the site. Make sure to make this a top priority stop.
Written January 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
daesquiv
San Jose, Costa Rica627 contributions
Mar 2020
Church has a very interesting museum in which you will need to go to the underground part of the church to see the ancient well, and go all the way up to the tower. The climb is not really that hard, at the top you can hardly fit in the viewpoint although it has pretty nice views of the city.
Entrance fee 1JD
Entrance fee 1JD
Written March 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hamelin
Paris, France6,404 contributions
Apr 2024 • Family
sincerely the viqiste of the tower is already dangerous when there is no one there....I can't imagine if there are people there!!!! really avoid unless you are absolutely alone (like us on a Sunday morning before prayer....). but really I don't understand why the tour of the tower is open to the general public as the risk of accident is so real.

Written April 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Darshana Ratnayake
Amman, Jordan2,069 contributions
Aug 2020 • Friends
Another awesome and well historical church in madaba city . Just a 500m from tje city center . 1JD entrance fee . Then you go underneath the church .. thats great experience . Many historical events of st john can see inside. Then we go the top of the bell tower. Thats a 360 panaroma view of the whole madaba city
Written August 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jean B
1 contribution
Dec 2023 • Friends
The welcome we had was lovely and as we went into the chapel we were overwhelmed by it beauty. The priest gave an amazing homely and was so devout on the alter. He came out and spoke after the Mass. my little great niece and nephew age 5 were with my friend and I and father bless them both. I can't wait to go back to St John the Baptist chapel in Perth. A wonderful experience for us all. Thank you and God bless.
Written December 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
montse64440
Bordeaux, France18 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Very beautiful little church, different from the others in the area.
I recommend++++ especially the crypt and the bell tower which allows you to have a 360° view.
I thank my excellent Driver-Guide Mohammed (from See Jordan) for introducing me to this place!!!
I recommend++++ especially the crypt and the bell tower which allows you to have a 360° view.
I thank my excellent Driver-Guide Mohammed (from See Jordan) for introducing me to this place!!!

Written October 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Does anyone know the symbolism of the four birds on the main altar?
Written April 13, 2019
This was a pretty good site I found on the subject, hopefully this helps. Type in "The Spiritual Meanings of Birds" Trip Advisor will not allow websites. Look for the site Thoughtco, talks about Angels represented as birds.
Written April 16, 2019
Where can I find the mass schedule?
Thanks.
Written January 19, 2019
Hi redsxgrl5,
Do a search for the following below, I am unable to attach the link due to TripAdvisor guidelines.
It has the mass schedule and a lot of great information on Madaba, like places to eat, to stay, and things to do.
madaba phpbag content/shrine-beheading-saint-john-baptist-0
Written February 5, 2019
There is a well inn the lower part of the church. What is the significance of the well? Was it was where Rebekah got the water for Abraham’s servant?
Written September 3, 2018
Well. If you believe, it very well might be. Who is to tell?
Written September 13, 2018
Showing results 1-3 of 3
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing