Visit Petra, Jordan: Ruins of the Lost City of Petra

Complete Guide to Visiting Petra, Jordan – Everything You Need to Know!

Petra is known as “The Rose City” due to the carved rose-colored stone, and “The Lost City” because it was, well, lost for hundreds of years. Today, it is one of the “New” Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating back to the third century BC as the capital city of the Arab Nabataeans, Petra was home to some 20,000 Nabataeans at its peak. It is today one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world! It was also chosen by the Smithsonian Magazine as one of the “28 Places to See Before You Die”.

The ruins of Petra in Jordan are a majestic archaeological wonder to behold – not just because of their massive size and intricate designs – but also to consider exactly how they were carved. You can see small etch markings lining the sheer rock face of the Treasury. Imagine men precariously perched 120 feet up, painstakingly scratching away at the sandstone.

Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: Leading camels at the Treasury, Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

Site excavations have been ongoing since the early 1900s and over 800 monuments have been identified and listed. Surprisingly, archaeologists have explored less than half of the site to date!

If seeing the spectacular ruins of Petra isn’t already on your Bucket List, it should be! And we’ll help you get there. How long do you need to see Petra? Where to stay? How to buy a ticket? – just follow this complete guide to Petra, Jordan. You’ll be sure to uncover all that the Lost City has to offer!

Short on time and don’t want to read the whole article? Here are a few recommendations:

  • Purchase the Jordan Pass well in advance of your trip
  • Opt for the 2-day Petra ticket option
  • Skip Petra by Night (unless you’re determined to get ‘that photo’)
  • Wear shoes and bring a hat or a scarf to shield you from the intense sun
  • Start your day at 6 am so you can finish by 2 pm. Then spend the rest of the day relaxing by the pool
  • Don’t skip the other amazing cities and ruins that Jordan has to offer!

And don’t forget to check out our web story: Ultimate Guide to ‘The Lost City’ of Petra, Jordan!

Petra, Jordan Travel Basics

How to Get to Petra

The closest city to Petra is Wadi Musa. This is where you’ll need to book your accommodations.

From Amman, there is one JETT bus daily at 6:30 am to Wadi Musa. If you prefer to travel like a local, there are several minibusses to consider. They depart throughout the day (when they are full) from the South Bus station. Most taxi drivers in Amman don’t speak English. You can ask someone at your hotel to write instructions down for you in Arabic. You can also take a taxi all the way from Amman to Petra for around 70-100 JD. Be prepared to bargain hard!

From Aqaba, there are many JETT buses departing from Aqaba to Wadi Musa daily. Click here for a complete schedule.


Best Time to Visit Petra

Petra is open year-round although tourists flock to the area during the spring and fall when temperatures are mild. Summer can be unbearably hot, and January and February are the coolest months and get occasional rain. Regardless of the time of year, the high elevation means the evenings are chilly so don’t forget a sweater!


Where to Stay in Wadi Musa

When it comes to booking a hotel in Wadi Musa be sure to consider location, location, location! Follow our guide to explore Petra and start every morning bright and early. Proximity to the Petra gate is key to getting some additional zzz’s.

Best Hotels Near Petra, Jordan: Movenpick Resort Petra

Mövenpick Resort Petra

 If you’re looking for the best of the best accommodations that Wadi Musa has to offer, then the Mövenpick Resort Petra should be at the top of your list. It is a luxurious 5-star hotel located directly across the street from the entrance to Petra. Gorgeous rooms, a picture-perfect pool, and spectacular city views await your arrival. You’ll love relaxing by the pool after your long, exhausting morning spent exploring the Lost City.

Check Prices on Booking.com


Best Hotels Near the Entrance of Petra, Jordan: Petra Guest House Hotel

Petra Guest House Hotel

The only way you can stay closer to Petra is to snuggle up with a Bedouin in their cave – Petra Guest House Hotel is actually inside the Petra site! Sadly they don’t offer a pool, but the giant breakfast spread, awesome cave bar, and unbeatable location more than makeup for it. Make sure you reserve early as this hotel books up weeks in advance.

Check Prices on Booking.com


Best Hotels near Petra. Jordan: Petra Palace Hotel

Petra Palace Hotel

 The best bang for your buck in Wadi Musa may be the Petra Palace Hotel – you’ll still be a short two blocks from the entrance to Petra but at a fraction of the price of the other two options mentioned above. The rooms are large but a bit dated but for the price you really can’t beat it! When you’re not wandering (sweating) around Petra you can escape the heat with a dip in their lovely pool.

Check Prices on Booking.com

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Where to Eat in Wadi Musa

  • For a fun and lively atmosphere and Western food in a cave try Cave Bar. It is located in the Petra Guest House Hotel right in front of the gate to Petra.
  • To eat delicious authentic Jordanian food, great prices, and the friendliest staff, check out Beit Al-Barakah Restaurant.
  • For a fun evening, why not take a traditional cooking class? Contact The Petra Kitchen to get it scheduled.

Petra Entrance Fees and Hours of Operation

Know Before you Go

  • At the time of writing, the conversion rate in Jordan is about $1.40 USD to 1 Jordanian Dinar (JOD) and 1.2 EUR to 1 JOD. We’ll be referring to currency in Jordanian Dinars so be sure to convert accordingly when budgeting for your trip!
  • Learn a few key phrases to get around Jordan. “Sale-em wall a come” is a nice way to say “hello” (technically it means something like “peace be with you”). “Shoo kran” is “thank you”. And “ma sell em” is “goodbye”.
  • Most of Jordan is incredibly conservative and women are expected to cover their shoulders and knees. However, Petra is a tourist destination so most of the visitors dress in typical hot-weather Western attire.
  • Check out all of our Tips for First-Time Travelers.
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Petra Entrance Fees

  • 1-day pass: 50 JOD per person (if you are not staying overnight in Jordan, then it will cost 90 JOD)
  • 2-day pass: 55 JOD per person
  • 3-day pass: 60 JOD per person
  • Petra by Night: 17 JOD per person

Included in the Price of your Petra Ticket

  • Entrance to the park
  • Use of bathrooms in the park (no need to tip unless you really want to)
  • A short horseback ride from the gate to the Siq entrance (although you’ll be expected to tip)
  • A guided tour along the main trail (offered every hour from 7 am until 4 pm)

Our recommendation: two days exploring Petra is just right to see everything without burning yourself out. We’d also recommend that you purchase the Jordan Pass prior to your visit to save some dough.


The Jordan Pass

What’s Included:

  • Your 40 JOD visa to enter Jordan if you purchase the pass prior to entering the country. You must stay a minimum of three nights (4 days).
  • Entrance to 40 tourist attractions in Jordan. But the most popular (and expensive) sites that are included are Petra, Wadi Rum, and Jerash.

Prices:

  • 70 JOD if you opt for a 1-day pass to Petra
  • 75 JOD if you opt for a 2-day pass to Petra
  • 80 JOD if you opt for a 3-day pass to Petra

Is it worth it? Yes! If you do just simple math and add up the cost of your visa (40 JOD) and the cost of a 1-day pass to Petra (50 JOD), you’re already at 90 JOD. The price for the Jordan Pass would be 70 in that case. So you’re already saving 20 JOD.

Plan to try to purchase at least a week in advance of your trip as their website can be persnickety. We were frantically attempting to purchase ours in the airport before our flight. However, we kept getting errors so unfortunately, we weren’t able to actually obtain one.


Petra Visiting Hours

Petra is open on a daily basis from 6am to 6pm during the summer (from March 29), and 6:30am to 4pm in the winter (from October 27). Petra by Night runs every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:30pm until 10:30pm.


Terms to Know

  • Siq – a narrow gorge. The main entrance to Petra is through a Siq that was formed by a natural geological fault split apart by tectonic forces (as opposed to water erosion). There are several other “siq” hikes in Jordan.
  • Nabataeans – the nomadic Arabs who built and inhabited Petra. They were known for their ability to carve structures into solid rock and their efficient water-collecting methods to create an artificial oasis in barren desert landscapes.
  • Bedouin – the Al B’doul Bedouin tribe claim to be descended from the Nabataeans. The Bedouin people have lived among the caves and tombs of Petra for over 170 years. They were forced to move to the nearby settlement of Umm Sayhoun when Petra became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Today they travel to Petra (many appear to continue to sleep within the site) every day to sell their wares, act as tour guides, and entertain tourists with camel and donkey rides.
  • Sandstone –  the rose-colored stone from which Petra has been carved.

What to Expect Once You’re Inside the Petra Gate

  • A lot of dust. Your feet and the bottoms of your legs will be covered in it. Shoes are highly recommended.
  • Extreme heat. You can buy water from loads of vendors throughout the park but you should be sure to pack sunscreen. A hat or a sunbrella would help as well.
  • Trash. We were surprised that such a beautiful, protected (and expensive) area would be covered in so much trash. Just remember that the Bedouin people actually live in many of the caves here. It’s probably very difficult to properly dispose of all the waste that is generated.
  • A variety of smells. While there are several toilets available throughout the park, it seems that many people prefer to urinate (and worse) in the caves that you’ll be exploring throughout your time here. Be prepared for a stinkfest and be careful where you walk when you’re inside.
  • Bedouin people trying to make a dinar. You can’t walk more than 20 feet without a local offering you a camel or donkey ride or a “locally made” good for sale. Be sure to ask the price before accepting a ride or taking a photo with one of the locals that are clearly dressed for a photo op.
  • A clash between the Bedouin people and the local guards. While the park has plenty of rules that tourists are expected to follow, it seems that pretty much anything goes for the Bedouin people. For example, there is a hike off to the left of the Treasury that clearly has a sign saying “no entry” but you’ll get offers from Bedouins to take you up for a fee (we paid 10 JOD but the price started at 25). But if you get caught by one of the guards while going up or coming down you’ll get a scolding (just tell them you are coming from The High Place of Sacrifice). You’ll also likely get offers to stay overnight in a cave although the official rules clearly state that it is forbidden.

Must-see Petra Ruins

  • Al Khazna (aka “the Treasury”) – it’s the first ruin that you will see once the Siq opens up. It is the most famous and photographed ruin in Petra.
Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: View of the Treasury through the Siq, Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys
  • Ad Deir (aka “the Monastery”) – it’s one of the largest and best-preserved monuments in Petra. The hall was later converted into a Christian chapel and crosses were carved into the rear wall. There are 800 steps that must be climbed to see the Monastery. The trip is exhausting but worth it. You can opt for a donkey ride if you don’t feel comfortable making the trek.
Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: Views of the Monastery, Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys
  • The Royal Tombs – four amazing facades adjacent to each other and considered to be tombs. They were likely used for a variety of purposes. The tombs include The Urn Tomb, the Silk Tomb, Corinthian Tomb, and Palace Tomb.

Best Viewpoints in Petra

  • “The Best World View” tent at the top of the Al-Khubtha Trail
Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: Views from above of the Treasury at Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys
  • The High Place of Sacrifice
  • The “View” tent on the mountain overlooking the Monastery

Eating and Drinking Options in Petra

  • Basin Tent and Nabataean Tent are both restaurants offering hot food.
  • Water, tea, coffee, soft drinks, and juice are offered at multiple tents throughout the park. Prices generally range from 1-2 JOD per drink.
  • Most hotels offer a “boxed lunch” for a small price that includes a sandwich, juice, fruit, and other snacks. They can be available for you to pick up at the front desk at any time that you request.
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Complete 2-Day Petra Itinerary

Day One

Plan to arrive at the park just before 6 am to purchase your two-day ticket. If you have the Jordan Pass, you can head straight to the gate. Don’t be surprised if the ticket attendant is a few minutes late.

Shortly after you enter the site you’ll be greeted by several men offering you a horseback ride to the Siq. Technically this ride is free but you’ll be expected to tip the man leading the horse around 5 JOD. The hike is rather short, about a mile from the gate, so we didn’t see very many people taking advantage.

The walk into Petra is at a slight downhill incline which is lovely on your walk-in but exhausting on your walk-out. Take your time along the trail. Be sure to look around you while you walk – you’ll notice many small ruins all along the way. Also, note the natural aqueducts lining the trail that supplied the city with water.

The canyon walls of the Siq will narrow and soon the magnificent Treasury will come into view. This magnificent structure was originally built as a mausoleum and crypt but the Arabic name Treasury derives from several legends involving pirates and treasure. Also fitting as it was featured as the final resting place of the Holy Grail in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Even though you’ve got an early start, there will no doubt already be a few people here taking photos. Take your time here getting the shots you want, it only gets crazier as the day progresses.

Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: Petting a camel at the Treasury, Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

Once you’ve had your fill of the Treasury from the ground, it’s time to head to the top of the mountain behind you to check out the views from above. Walk straight there – this hike is 2.2 miles and steep so it is better to do it early to avoid the mid-day heat.

The map from the Visitors Center shows that the Al-Khubtha Trail requires a guide but it’s easy to do on your own. It is well marked and highly trafficked so you should have no issues finding the “World Best View” tent at the very top (which you’ll come to immediately after the tent touting “The Best View” – it’s not). The owner is a super friendly guy and this tent is his livelihood so buy a delicious (cardamon) coffee and soak in the views right on the edge of the cliff!

Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: "World Best View" of the Treasury, Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

After taking way too many photos of the Treasury from above and enjoying your coffee break in the shade, head back down the same way you came. Explore the ruins that you passed by in your rush to get up the mountain. The Royal Tombs are four amazing facades adjacent to each other and include The Urn Tomb, the Silk Tomb, Corinthian Tomb, and Palace Tomb. The Silk Tomb is easy to spot from the rich, dramatic color of the sandstone. 

Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: Explore the Royal Tombs in Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

The Street of Facades turns into the Colonnaded Street and you’ll stroll along both to see the Theater (which could seat 3,000 people), the Market Area, and the Great Temple. But don’t start the long trek up to the Monastery just yet, save that exhausting hike for tomorrow. 

You’ll likely be done by the early afternoon so head back to your hotel for a much-needed siesta and a dip in the pool! If you plan to come back later on the same day, be sure to mention it to the men at the ticket booth so they will remember you.


Day Two

Again, start your day bright and early at 6 am. As you probably noticed yesterday, the early hours of the morning in Petra provide cooler temperatures and fewer crowds making the entire experience significantly more enjoyable. After again oohing and awing at the Treasury, walk down the Street of Facades to the sign on the left pointing you in the direction of the High Place of Sacrifice Trail.

Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: View from the High Place of Sacrifice, Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

The High Place of Sacrifice (al-Madhbah) is one of the highest accessible viewpoints in Petra and offers spectacular views of the ancient city 560 feet below. The purpose of this place was for religious ceremonies and possibly even human sacrifice.

Rather than turning back the way you came, continue to the steps leading off the back of the mountain into Wadi Farasa which turns the hike into a two-hour loop ending at the Qasr al-Bint at the base of the Monastery Trail hike. This loop hike will take you to far less trafficked architectural wonders that most tourists miss during their visit.

Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: Views over Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

However, before you begin your descent into the valley below, take note of the two obelisks that instead of simply being placed there, the entire side of this mountain-top was leveled around them to leave them sticking up. An amazing (and seemingly unnecessary) undertaking to say the least. They most likely represent the two chief male and female Nabatean deities; Dushara and Al-Uzza.

Along this loop trail take note of the Lion Monument carved into a wall along the stairs which likely served as some sort of fountain with water flowing out of its mouth. You’ll also see the Garden Triclinium, the Roman Soldier Tomb, and a tomb that lacks a decorated facade but has a uniquely carved interior – this is not common for other Petra tombs and the reason for it is unknown.  

Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: Garden Tomb, Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

Once you reach the Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint, you’ll continue on up the Ad-Deir (Monastery) Trail. You’ll be climbing around 800 steps to reach the top so if you are feeling weary you can opt for a donkey ride from one of the many touts wandering around at the base of the trek. There is a tent offering beverages and snacks with a prime view of the Monastery if you want to rest your feet at the end of this grueling hike.

Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: Posing in front of the Monastery, Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

If you have more energy, head up to the “View” tent on the mountain above you for tea and a chat with a sweet Bedouin teenager and views of both the Monastery and the canyon below.

Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: Views of the Monastery, Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

You’ve had a long day of hiking! If you’ve missed anything in the past two days or have any last-minute souvenirs to purchase, do it all on your way back to the Siq.


Petra by Night

Visitation Hours

Offered Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights starting at 8:30 pm and ending at 10:30 pm.


Entrance Fees

  • Petra by Night is not included in your ticket to Petra and costs an additional 17 JOD per person.
  • You do not need a reservation to attend Petra by Night as there is no cap on the number of people allowed in on any given night.

What to Expect at Petra by Night

Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: The Treasury at Petra by Night, Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

To give you an idea of what to expect, I am going to recount our experience during Petra by Night. Keep in mind that we visited during the month of October which is considered high season in Jordan and there were probably 300 other people in attendance that evening.

We saw a video in the Visitors Center that made it appear that the first people to get to the Treasury would be seated on the sand in the front row and then subsequent visitors would sit in rows behind. So we assumed that if we got in first-ish, we’d get the best views of the Treasury lit up by the candles scattered in front.

So we decided to begin waiting in line at the gate entrance at 8 pm to ensure a good spot. When we arrived there were no others there but shortly after the throngs of tourists began to arrive, and by 8:15 pm, the line was massive. At around that same time the “guide” began leading the mile trek to the Treasury after tickets were checked.

The walk to the Treasury was quite strange. We started at the front but after 10 minutes or so, we began being passed by eager photographers charging ahead (ignoring the instructions from the “guide” to walk two-by-two behind him). It felt like we were all in a sort of run/walk/elbow-your-neighbor-out-of-the-way for the entire mile and I seriously doubt that any of us enjoyed the candle-lit walk.

Guide to the Lost City of Petra, Jordan: The Siq at Petra by Night, Petra, Jordan by Wandering Wheatleys

By the time we emerged from The Siq we grabbed a spot on the carpet in the front row right next to a photography tour that had already been there for about 30 minutes. We were pretty excited that we had such a great spot – right in the middle with an unobstructed view of the Treasury!

After about five minutes of fiddling with our camera settings and snapping a few photos, we noticed that our “guide” began shuffling the late arrivals into the center of the candles – thus creating several rows of people right in front of us! So much for arriving early to get the best seat, the best seats actually went to those to got there late and probably didn’t have a frantic walk from the gate.

We then had about 20 minutes of picture-taking time while the “guide” yelled “no flash!” over and over again before the start of the show. The show consisted of a long flute (or something resembling it) performance and then an unintelligible story from the “guide” that ended in asking us all to close our eyes and make a wish. When we opened them, the Treasury was lit up in colorful spotlights – perfect for cell phone selfies but not great if you are there for photography purposes.

We were all allowed “free time” to get up and roam around to take photos. They also opened up the souvenir stand nearby in case anyone was in urgent need of a new scarf or Treasury-shaped trinket.

People started slowly leaving and finally, at 10 pm, they turned off the strobes (but not the fluorescent lights from the souvenir stand). We finally had our chance to snap some photos! But also at 10:00 on the dot, they started yelling that the show was over and that everyone needed to leave. We were lucky that the photography tour stuck around and we set up the camera near them and kept telling the aggressive cleaning crew “just one more photo, just one more”. Finally, at 10:15 pm, we had no choice but to start the trek out.


Was Petra by Night Worth it?

Were we able to sneak in some amazing photos? Yes. Would we ever go again? No.


A Brief History of the Lost City of Petra

Dating back to the third century BC, Petra was the capital city of the Arab Nabataeans, home to some 20,000 Nabataeans at its peak. Later, it was occupied by the Romans. Controlling commercial trade routes that passed through it, Petra became a major trading hub for frankincense, myrrh, and spices and flourished. The addition of sea-based trade routes and a crippling earthquake in 363 AD led to the downfall of the city which was eventually abandoned.

By the middle of the 7th century, Petra was largely deserted and was a “Lost City” to all except the local Bedouin people who moved into the abandoned ruins. A Swiss explorer named Johannes Burckhardt rediscovered Petra when he posed as an Arab and found a Bedouin guide to take him inside. Excavation began and more and more structures continue to be unearthed to this day.

We hope you have an amazing visit to the “Lost City” of Petra, Jordan!


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About the Author:

  • Valerie Wheatley

    Val grew up in Portland, Oregon but moved to Oahu on a whim back in 2013. She sold her house and all of her belongings and bought a one-way ticket. Since then she’s taken two around-the-world trips and has visited 60-ish countries while living out of a duffel bag.

    Val started documenting the Wandering Wheatleys travels back in 2013 as a way to update friends and family about her whereabouts and to relay humorous daily interactions. The only readers were her mom and her mother-in-law but that didn’t stop her!

    These days you’ll find Val dreaming up future trips, creating new travel content, managing a team of amazing travel enthusiasts, and chasing around her two adorable but naughty kids.

14 thoughts on “Complete Guide to Visiting Petra, Jordan – Everything You Need to Know!”

  1. This post has been extremely helpful in getting a full perspective on Petra. I know know why one should devote a few days to exploring the city and its amazing monuments, What a great viewpoint from Al-Khubtha trail! I’m sure it would be getting very very busy.

  2. My Feet Will Lead Me

    Great Petra guide. I missed the place of high sacrifice. But loved the Monastery and treasury overlook hikes. I had a totally different experience at Petra by Night and found it totally magical. We arrived a little later and didn’t rush down the siq and hung towards the very back wall to take pics the entire time. I loved that they served tea. In the middle I also took my Tripp’s into the siq and took pics looks towards the treasury. I felt alone with the sound of the flute and it was almost spiritual. Great write up though!

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