Where to stay in Petra

Which area of Wadi Musa?

Next to the gate

The convenient choice: walk in at opening time, come back for lunch and a rest, and return for the late light.

Good-value hotels in town

Family-run hotels with rooftop terraces and buffet breakfasts; most can arrange taxis and Wadi Rum transport.

Views and character

Resorts on the road to Taybeh look over the Sharah mountains towards Petra; Bedouin-style camps near Little Petra offer starry skies.

Tips for booking

• Spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November) are busiest — book a few weeks ahead.
• Winter nights are cold at about 1,000–1,300 m: check that rooms have heating.
• Many hotels serve dinner buffets; Wadi Musa also has plenty of simple restaurants.
• If you arrive by JETT, check whether your hotel is near the bus stop or the gate.

Petra with children

Families should stay as close to the gate as possible, so that children can rest at the hotel in the middle of the day. Children under 12 enter Petra free. Bring a lightweight carrier for small children — buggies struggle on the sandy paths — and plan shorter walks, perhaps the Siq, Treasury and Royal Tombs on day one and Little Petra on day two.

Which stay suits whom?

More well-reviewed hotels

Further Wadi Musa options with consistently strong guest reviews, from a long-running chain hotel on the hill to small family-run places near the centre.

Hotel, camp or both?

Most visitors sleep two nights in a Wadi Musa hotel and then move on to a camp in Wadi Rum, about 1.5–2 hours south by road. A third option sits in between: the Bedouin-style camps near Little Petra, about 15 minutes north of the gate, with tents or cabins, shared fire pits and darker skies. They suit travellers who want a taste of camp life without the drive to Rum, but you need a car or taxi each morning.

Hotels in the lower town are mostly mid-range and upscale; the upper town and the centre have the best value. Rooftop terraces are common, and many hotels serve a buffet dinner — useful after a long day on foot, because restaurants in Wadi Musa are simple and close fairly early outside peak season.

A sample two-night plan

• Day 1, afternoon: arrive, check in near the gate, buy your ticket or validate the Jordan Pass and walk the Siq to the Treasury for the late light (return before closing).
• Day 1, evening: Petra by Night if it is a Sunday to Thursday, or a cooking class at Petra Kitchen.
• Day 2: enter at 6 AM; Royal Tombs, Colonnaded Street and the Monastery before the heat; rest at the hotel in the afternoon.
• Day 3: High Place of Sacrifice or the Al-Khubtha viewpoint early, then Little Petra on the way to Wadi Rum or north on the King's Highway.