Petra
One of the New Seven Wonders — the rose-red Nabataean city carved into desert cliffs. The Siq gorge narrows to 3m wide and 80m tall before revealing the Treasury's 40m facade. Only 15% of the ancient city has been excavated. The Monastery (Ad-Deir) is larger than the Treasury and requires 800 rock-cut steps — most visitors skip it, which is their loss. Petra by Night (Mon/Wed/Thu) is the most atmospheric experience in the Middle East.
Tours & Experiences
Browse bookable tours, activities, and day trips in Petra
📍 Points of Interest
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At a Glance
- Pop.
- 12K (site area)
- Timezone
- Amman
- Dial
- +962
- Emergency
- 911
UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World (2007)
Capital of the Nabataean Kingdom from 4th century BC — "rose-red city half as old as time"
The Siq gorge is 1.2 km long and narrows to 3 meters wide — the dramatic entrance to the city
The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) facade is 40 meters high — carved directly into rose-red sandstone
Only ~15% of the ancient city has been excavated — 85% remains underground
Located in southern Jordan, 240 km from Amman; nearest town: Wadi Musa
Top Sights
The Treasury (Al-Khazneh)
📌The most iconic image of Petra — a 40-meter rose-red sandstone facade carved in the 1st century BC as a royal tomb. The journey through the narrow Siq gorge culminates in a sudden, breathtaking reveal. Nothing prepares you for the scale.
The Siq
📌A 1.2 km natural fault gorge — the ancient processional route into Petra. Sheer 80-meter sandstone walls glow with layered colors; Nabataean water channels run along the walls; carved niches and inscriptions line the route. The approach is as spectacular as the destination.
The Monastery (Ad-Deir)
📌Larger than the Treasury (50m wide, 45m high) and requiring an 800-step staircut climb — most visitors skip it and miss Petra's most profound monument. Worth every step: the silence, the scale, and the desert view from the terrace are overwhelming.
Street of Facades & Colonnaded Street
📌The ancient city's main avenue — once lined with shops, temples, and a triumphal arch. The 800-tomb "Street of Facades" along the eastern cliffs shows the full scale of Nabataean funerary architecture.
Petra by Night
📌Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings the Siq and Treasury are lit by 1,500 candles — a silent, moving experience that transforms the already-extraordinary site into something genuinely spiritual.
High Place of Sacrifice
📌A 45-minute climb to a Nabataean altar on the ridge above Petra — panoramic views over the entire ancient city and surrounding wadis, plus a route through Lion Triclinium and Wadi Farasa on the return.
Off the Beaten Path
Petra by Night
The Treasury lit by 1,500 candles on Monday/Wednesday/Thursday evenings — $17 USD and the most atmospheric experience in the Middle East
Arrive at the Siq entrance exactly at 8:30pm when it opens; latecomers miss the best positions at the Treasury
The Monastery Hike
800 rock-cut steps to Ad-Deir — the largest carved monument in Petra. Most tourists skip it; you absolutely should not
Start at 7am before heat builds; the return route via Wadi Farasa is more beautiful than the main Siq
Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp
Stay overnight in the desert wilderness of Wadi Rum in a Bedouin tent under a star canopy — combine Petra and Wadi Rum for 2 days
Captain's Desert Camp and Rum Stars are well-regarded; book a 4WD sunset tour
Cave Bar, Wadi Musa
Purportedly one of the world's oldest bars, operating inside a 2,000-year-old Nabataean cave tomb at the Rose City Hotel
Go for the novelty of drinking in a 2,000-year-old rock-cut tomb; happy hour from 5–7pm
Insider Tips
Climate & Best Time to Go
Monthly climate & crowd levels
Desert climate at 900m elevation. Hot summers (May–September) with extreme midday heat. Ideal spring (March–April) and autumn (October–November). Winter (Dec–Feb) can be cold and surprisingly rainy — flash floods do occur in the Siq.
Spring
Mar–Apr59–77°F
15–25°C
Perfect: wildflowers; clear skies; peak season
Summer
May–Sep86–100°F
30–38°C
Very hot; start before 7am; afternoons brutal; lowest crowds
Autumn
Oct–Nov59–77°F
15–25°C
Excellent: cooling; good light; still busy
Winter
Dec–Feb41–59°F
5–15°C
Cool; possible rain; rare snow; flash flood risk in Siq; fewer crowds
Best Time to Visit
March–April is ideal: wildflowers, perfect temperatures, and manageable crowds. October–November is the second-best window. Summer is hot but doable with early starts. Winter is cold with possible flash flood risk.
Mar–Apr
Crowds: HighPeak season; perfect temperatures 15–25°C; wildflowers in bloom; clear skies
Pros
- + Perfect weather
- + Wildflowers
- + Clear skies
Cons
- − Busiest period
- − Higher prices
May–Sep
Crowds: LowVery hot (30–38°C); extreme midday heat; start by 6am; lowest crowds
Pros
- + Lowest prices
- + Fewest tourists
- + Golden light at sunrise
Cons
- − Extreme heat
- − Heatstroke risk
- − Brutal afternoons
Oct–Nov
Crowds: Medium–HighExcellent second season; 15–25°C; cooling; good photography light
Pros
- + Great weather
- + Fewer crowds than spring
- + Beautiful light
Cons
- − Prices still moderate
- − Can be busy in Oct
Dec–Feb
Crowds: LowCool (5–15°C); possible rain and rare snow; flash flood risk; fewest visitors
Pros
- + Lowest prices
- + Fewest tourists
- + Dramatic moody skies
Cons
- − Cold nights
- − Flash flood danger
- − Some days unpleasant
🎉 Festivals & Events
Petra Marathon
AprilAnnual marathon through the ancient city — a remarkable race through the Siq and beyond
Petra Desert Marathon
SeptemberUltra-marathon through Wadi Rum and surrounding desert
Safety Breakdown
Very Safe
out of 100
Petra and Jordan are among the Middle East's safest tourist destinations. The site itself is extremely well-managed. Flash flood risk in the Siq and Wadi wadis is the main physical danger — check weather forecasts.
Things to Know
- •Flash floods: if rain is forecast anywhere in the region, do not enter the Siq — floods travel fast through the narrow gorge
- •Heatstroke: bring 2L water minimum; wear a hat; avoid the main Siq-Treasury-Monastery route between 11am–3pm in summer
- •Horses at the Siq entrance: you are not required to use them; ignore aggressive touts and walk in
- •Valuables: very safe; petty theft is rare; focus on negotiating fair prices rather than theft concerns
Natural Hazards
Emergency Numbers
Jordan Emergency
911
Petra Visitor Center
03 215 6044
Tourist Police
800 7000
Costs & Currency
Where the money goes
USD per dayQuick cost estimate
Customize per category →Estimates based on regional averages. Flight prices vary by season and airline.
budget
$60–100
Guesthouse in Wadi Musa, Petra entry via Jordan Pass, self-guided walks, falafel and hummus (Jordan Pass saves ~$50)
mid-range
$120–200
Movenpick Petra or Petra Guest House (at entrance), guided tour, Petra by Night, Cave Bar dinner
luxury
$300+
Petra Guest House suite, private guide for 2 days, Wadi Rum Bedouin camp overnight, helicopter tour
Typical Costs
| Item | Local | USD |
|---|---|---|
| ActivitiesPetra 1-day entry | JOD 50 | $70 |
| ActivitiesPetra by Night | JOD 12 | $17 |
| FoodFalafel / hummus meal | JOD 2–4 | $3–6 |
| FoodRestaurant dinner | JOD 10–20 | $14–28 |
| AccommodationGuesthouse in Wadi Musa | JOD 20–40 | $28–56 |
💡 Money-Saving Tips
- •The Jordan Pass ($70–80 USD) includes your visa fee AND multi-day Petra entry — almost always better value than buying separately
- •Stay in Wadi Musa guesthouses rather than the Movenpick — you're within walking distance of the gate
- •Enter at 6am when the site opens — beat the crowds and the heat simultaneously
- •Bring your own lunch and water — food inside the site is expensive
- •Combine Petra and Wadi Rum in a 2-night trip from Aqaba to maximize both sites
Jordanian Dinar
Code: JOD
JOD is pegged to USD at a fixed rate (~1 JOD = $1.41 USD). Widely accepted at hotels and larger restaurants; cash needed for market stalls and tips. ATMs available in Wadi Musa.
Payment Methods
Cards accepted at hotels and larger restaurants. Cash essential for market stalls, tips, and small purchases. ATMs available in Wadi Musa town.
Tipping Guide
10%; not always included — check the bill; appreciated
JOD 5–10 for site guides or full-day guiding
JOD 1–2 per bag for porter; JOD 2–3/day housekeeping
Round up; not mandatory but appreciated
How to Get There
✈️ Airports
Queen Alia International Airport(AMM)
240 km north of Petra (Wadi Musa)3 hr drive south (Kings Highway scenic, or Desert Highway direct) or JETT tourist bus (~$15, departs Abdali bus station 6:30am daily)
✈️ Search flights to AMMKing Hussein International Airport (Aqaba)(AQJ)
130 km south of Petra2 hr drive north — better option for combining Petra with Wadi Rum
✈️ Search flights to AQJGetting Around
Inside Petra, walking is the only way. Getting to Petra from Amman or Aqaba requires a car, bus, or tour. The JETT bus is the budget option from Amman.
On Foot
Free (included in entry)The only way to experience Petra — the entire site is foot-access only (with some horse/camel for mobility-limited visitors)
Best for: All visitors — the only option inside the site
Horse (Siq entrance)
JOD 10–20Horses are available at the entrance for the 800m to the Treasury — unnecessary for healthy walkers
Best for: Visitors with limited mobility
Donkey (High Place)
JOD 15–25Donkeys available for the steep High Place of Sacrifice climb — optional
Best for: Those who prefer not to climb on foot
Rental Car
JOD 25–50/dayEssential for reaching Petra from Amman, Wadi Rum, or Aqaba; AVIS and Hertz operate in Amman
Best for: Flexible travel between Petra, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba
JETT Tourist Bus
JOD 10–12 one-wayDirect tourist bus Amman→Petra (3 hr, ~$15 USD each way); departs Abdali bus station 6:30am
Best for: Budget travelers from Amman without a car
🚶 Walkability
Very high inside Petra Archaeological Park — everything is accessed on foot
Travel Connections
Wadi Rum
UNESCO desert wilderness; Lawrence of Arabia and The Martian filming location; Bedouin camps
Aqaba
Red Sea resort; diving and snorkeling; border crossing to Eilat/Egypt
Dead Sea
World's lowest point; float in hyper-saline water; luxury spa resorts
Amman
Jordan's capital; Jordan Museum; Roman citadel; international flights
Entry Requirements
Most Western nationalities can get a Jordan visa on arrival at the airport or border ($56 USD for single entry). The Jordan Pass ($70–80 USD) includes the visa fee AND multi-day Petra entry — it's almost always the better value for tourists.
Entry Requirements by Nationality
| Nationality | Visa Required | Max Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada | Yes | 30 days | Jordan Pass (~$70–80 at jordanpass.jo) includes visa + 1–3 day Petra entry; best value for tourists |
| Visa on arrival | Yes | 30 days | $56 USD at AMM or AQJ airports; single entry; buy separately if not using Jordan Pass |
Visa on Arrival
Tips
- •The Jordan Pass is almost always better value — it covers the visa fee AND Petra entry
- •Passport must have at least 6 months validity beyond your stay
- •Carry a return or onward ticket — may be requested at immigration
- •No visa required if transiting Jordan for less than 24 hours at AMM airport
Shopping
Wadi Musa (the town outside Petra) has shops selling Jordanian crafts: Bedouin silver jewelry, hand-painted sand-art bottles (miniature Petras in colored sand), Arabic coffee, and Dead Sea products.
Wadi Musa Town
Market StreetThe main shopping strip outside the Petra gates — craft shops, souvenir stalls, and local market
Known for: Sand art bottles, Bedouin jewelry, Dead Sea products
Petra Visitor Center Area
BoutiqueBetter-quality craft boutiques near the main entrance with fixed prices
Known for: Quality Nabataean-inspired jewelry and artisan crafts
🎁 Unique Souvenirs to Look For
- •Sand art bottles — colored desert sand forming Petra landscapes inside glass bottles; a unique local art form ($5–20)
- •Bedouin silver jewelry — necklaces, bracelets, and rings with desert motifs from local craftspeople ($10–60)
- •Arabic coffee (Qahwa) — cardamom-spiced green coffee beans; the ceremonial Bedouin tradition ($5–15)
- •Dead Sea products — mineral mud, salts, and creams; significantly cheaper than airport prices ($8–30)
Language & Phrases
| English | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / Welcome | Marhaba / Ahlan | mar-HAH-bah / AH-lahn |
| Thank you | Shukran | SHOOK-rahn |
| Let's go / Come on | Yalla | YAH-lah |
| God willing (used for any future plan) | Inshallah | in-sha-AH-lah |
| No problem | Mafi mushkila | MAH-fee MOOSH-kee-lah |
| Do you want coffee? | Biddak qahwa? | BID-dak KAH-wah |
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