Mount Nebo: view of the Promised Land, opening hours and ticket price
Mount Nebo is where, according to the Bible, Moses looked out over the Promised Land before he died. From the summit, at about 800 m above sea level, you see the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho and, on a clear day, the rooftops of Jerusalem. The site holds a Franciscan memorial with very fine Byzantine mosaics. It is about 10 km from Madaba and 40 km from Amman; allow about 1 hour on site.
Highlights
The Memorial Church of Moses
A Byzantine church (4th century, later enlarged) restored by the Franciscans, with remarkable floor mosaics, notably in the diakonikon (6th century).
The memorial and the view
The platform near the serpentine cross looks towards the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea; visibility depends greatly on weather and haze.
The bronze serpent
A modern serpent-cross sculpture recalls the biblical desert episode, in front of the viewpoint.
The interpretation centre
Mosaics rescued from other sites, Roman milestones and Iron Age pottery explain the history of the place.
Practical info
Tips
- Entry: 3 JD for non-Jordanians, paid at the ticket office, preferably in cash; tickets cannot be bought online. Most guides say Mount Nebo is not included in the Jordan Pass, but some say the opposite: check before paying. The site is a place of worship: dress modestly and take your hat off in the church. The view depends mainly on a clear sky: in hazy weather it will be disappointing. Mount Nebo is visited with Madaba, 10 km away, and combines with the Bethany site and the Dead Sea: see the Madaba, Mount Nebo and Dead Sea tour. Back to Amman.
How to get there
From Amman, about 40 km (about 45 minutes by car on the Desert Highway). From Madaba, about 15 minutes by car: shared taxi (about 1 JD per person) or private taxi (about 5 JD one way, 8 JD return with an hour of waiting, according to a recent guide). Free parking at the entrance. If you prefer to drive, you can rent a car for the day.
Opening hours
Nearby
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