Petra travel guide

Why Petra is worth the journey

Nothing quite prepares you for the moment the narrow walls of the Siq open and the facade of Al-Khazneh, the Treasury, glows in front of you. Petra is not a single monument but a whole ancient city spread across valleys and mountain tops in the Sharah range of southern Jordan: more than 800 recorded monuments, royal tombs cut into cliff faces, a theatre, temples, cisterns, dams and processional ways up to high places where the Nabataeans worshipped.

The Nabataeans grew rich controlling the caravan routes that carried incense, spices and textiles between Arabia, Egypt and the Mediterranean. Their capital reached its height around the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD, before Rome annexed the kingdom in AD 106. Earthquakes, above all the one of AD 363, and shifting trade routes slowly emptied the city, and for centuries it was known mainly to the local Bedouin. The Swiss traveller Johann Ludwig Burckhardt reached it in disguise in 1812 and made it famous in Europe.

Today Petra is managed by the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) as the Petra Archaeological Park. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. Several Bdoul families who once lived in the caves now run the stalls, donkeys and teahouses inside the park, and many of the guides you meet grew up in the area.

Ad Deir, the Monastery, sits high above the main valley — about 800 rock-cut steps up.

How many days do you need in Petra?

One day shows you the highlights along the main valley; two days lets you climb to the viewpoints that make Petra special; three days is for hikers and photographers who want the back trails, Jabal Haroun or the 'back door' walk from Little Petra to the Monastery.

• One day (8–10 hours on foot): Siq → Treasury → Street of Facades → Theatre → Royal Tombs → Colonnaded Street → the Monastery climb → back. Expect 20+ km of walking and plenty of steps.
• Two days: add the High Place of Sacrifice trail (down past the Lion Fountain and Garden Tomb), the Al-Khubtha trail to the viewpoint over the Treasury, and Little Petra in the afternoon.
• Three days: add the Little Petra–Monastery 'back door' trail, the Jabal Haroun pilgrimage to Aaron's Tomb or a guided Wadi Al-Muthlim / Wadi Siyagh route (guide required for some routes).

Tickets are priced to reward staying: the 2-day ticket costs little more than the 1-day one, and a multi-day Jordan Pass covers consecutive days. See our full plan on the things to do in Petra page.

Tickets, the Jordan Pass and opening hours

As of November 2026, the published entrance fees for foreign visitors who spend at least one night in Jordan are JD 50 (1 day), JD 55 (2 days) and JD 60 (3 days). Visitors who come for the day without an overnight stay in Jordan — typically on a cross-border trip from Eilat or Sharm el-Sheikh — pay JD 90. Children under 12 enter free. Fees are set by the authorities and can change, so confirm on visitpetra.jo or with the Visitor Centre.

The Jordan Pass bundles Petra with more than 40 other sites and costs JD 70 (Jordan Wanderer, 1 Petra day), JD 75 (Jordan Explorer, 2 consecutive days) or JD 80 (Jordan Expert, 3 consecutive days). Buy it online before you arrive, keep the PDF or QR code on your phone and show it at the gate together with your passport.

Petra opens at 6 AM; the Petra authority's published summer hours are 6 AM–6 PM local time, and winter closing is earlier (around 4–5 PM in recent seasons — the official page was not reachable in November 2026, so confirm at the Visitor Centre). The UK government warns that visitors have been arrested for staying in the park after hours, so plan to be back at the gate before closing.

1 / 2 / 3-day ticket

JD 50 / 55 / 60 (overnight visitors)

Day visitors (no night in Jordan)

JD 90

Jordan Pass

JD 70 / 75 / 80 — includes Petra

Petra by Night

JD 30, Sunday to Thursday, 8:30–10:30 PM local time; not in the Jordan Pass

Little Petra

Free to enter

The essential sights at a glance

From the Visitor Centre the path follows the Bab as-Siq past the Djinn Blocks and the Obelisk Tomb to the entrance of the Siq, a 1.2 km gorge with Nabataean water channels cut into its walls. At its end stands the Treasury, about 40 metres high and probably the tomb of a Nabataean king (often linked to Aretas IV). The valley then widens into the Street of Facades and the Theatre, with the Royal Tombs — the Urn, Silk, Corinthian and Palace tombs — lined up on the cliff to your right.

The Colonnaded Street leads to the Great Temple and the Qasr al-Bint temple, the city's main sanctuary. From the restaurant area a stepped path climbs to Ad Deir, the Monastery, whose facade is even larger than the Treasury's. Above the Theatre, a separate trail goes up to the High Place of Sacrifice; another, on the opposite side, to the Al-Khubtha viewpoint that looks straight down on the Treasury.

Little Petra (Siq al-Barid), about 15 minutes by car north of Wadi Musa, is a small suburb of the city with a rare painted ceiling in its biclinium. It is free and makes a calm afternoon after a big Petra day.

Petra by Night

From Sunday to Thursday evenings the Siq and the square in front of the Treasury are lit by around 2,000 candles. The show runs from 8:30 PM to about 10:30 PM local time; since May 2025 the original candlelit walk has been combined with projection mapping and narration on the Treasury facade. As of November 2026 the official site, petrabynight.jo, lists the ticket at JD 30 per adult, free for children under 10, sold at the Petra Visitor Centre (online booking was marked "temporarily unavailable"). You also need a valid daytime Petra ticket, and Petra by Night is not included in the Jordan Pass. Days can change around holidays, so confirm at the Visitor Centre.

It is atmospheric rather than a sight in itself: you only walk to the Treasury and back. Combine it with a daytime visit, ideally on the evening of your first day. Tour operators also run Petra by Night trips from Amman.

Candles line the path to the Treasury during Petra by Night.

Getting to Petra

Most travellers drive or take a bus from Amman (about 3 hours on the Desert Highway), come up from Aqaba (about 2 hours) or continue from Wadi Rum (about 1.5–2 hours). JETT runs a daily tourist coach from Amman to Wadi Musa, and minibuses leave from Amman's south bus station when full. Taxis and private drivers are easy to arrange through hotels. All the details, with times and options, are on our getting to Petra page.

Where to stay: Wadi Musa

Wadi Musa is the town that has grown up around the entrance. Hotels range from simple family-run places within walking distance of the gate to resorts on the Taybeh road with views over the mountains. Staying close to the Visitor Centre makes the 6 AM start easy and lets you go back to rest in the middle of the day. Compare the areas on our where to stay in Petra page.

Practical tips

• Wear proper walking shoes: the paths are sandy, rocky and full of steps. Bring at least 2–3 litres of water per person in summer.
• Donkey, mule, horse and camel rides are offered inside the park. Horse rides along the first stretch are included in the ticket price (tip expected). Choose animals that look healthy, avoid riding on steep steps and walk where you can — animal welfare groups and the authorities have been working to improve conditions.
• A licensed guide from the Visitor Centre adds a lot to the first morning; you can book one at the ticket office or with your hotel.
• Petra is in the mountains: winter mornings can be close to freezing and snow falls in some years, while summer afternoons in the valley are hot. Check our best time to visit Petra.
• Modest dress is appreciated in Wadi Musa and in Bedouin areas; shoulders and knees covered is a good rule.

See all on GetYourGuide

Guided

Petra: 3-hour private guided tour with hotel pickup

3 h

A licensed guide for the main valley from your Wadi Musa hotel: the Siq, the Treasury and the Royal Tombs, with the stories behind them.

Check availabilityBook via GetYourGuide

Petra

Full-day tour to Petra from Amman

≈ 13–14 h

Return transport from Amman with time inside Petra for the Siq, the Treasury, the Street of Facades and the Royal Tombs. Entry ticket or Jordan Pass needed — check what is included.

Check availabilityBook via GetYourGuide

Petra by Night

Amman: Petra by Night tour with optional day visit

Evening / 2 days

Transport to Petra timed for the candle-lit Petra by Night programme, with an optional daytime visit first.

Check availabilityBook via GetYourGuide

Tour listings are on GetYourGuide. Prices, times and cancellation terms are shown live on each listing and can change; JordanTravel.com may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Safety and the regional situation

Jordan is generally calm and Petra welcomes visitors daily, but the wider Middle East remains tense as of November 2026. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel only to within 3 km of the Syrian border — far from Petra — and warns that regional escalation can bring short-notice flight cancellations and airspace closures. Check the latest UK FCDO, US State Department or your own government's advice before you travel, keep your travel insurance valid and read our Jordan travel tips.

Plan your visit to Petra

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