
Petra in Jordan is always appearing on top travel lists – the top ten places to see in your lifetime, the new seven wonders of the world. But unlike some places which feature on those lists, it’s actually fairly easy and not too expensive to visit Petra. There’s accommodation ranging from tented camps to five-star resorts, there’s good public transport or it’s simple to drive yourself around, it’s safe and the people are incredibly friendly and welcoming.
So if you want to visit Petra, which is the best way to do it? While plenty of companies offer organised tours, it’s also an easy place to visit independently. Here’s everything you need to know when planning a trip to Petra – including how to get there, the closest hotels, the best times to visit, and even the best places for a drink after a long day exploring.
Read more: A one-week Jordan itinerary
Everything you need to know to visit Petra, Jordan

Where to stay in Petra
A whole town – Wadi Musa – has grown up to cater for visitors coming to Petra. The town has hotels of all types and budgets, which start right next by the entrance and stretch up into the hills, as well as plenty of places to eat, souvenir shops and travel agencies.
Luxury: The Mövenpick Resort* is just across the street from Petra. It’s a big five-star hotel with over 180 rooms and seven restaurants, bars and cafés on site, as well an outdoor pool and a roof terrace with amazing views where there’s often live music at sunset.
Mid-range: The four-star Petra Guest House*, is a close as you can get to Petra, located right next door to the visitor’s centre. It has a mix of rooms and self-contained chalets overlooking the mountains around Wadi Musa, along with a restaurant, terrace and cave bar.
Budget: If you have a car then the hotels a bit further away up on the hillside are good value and come with stunning views. The Rocky Mountain Hotel* is a simple, family-run guesthouse with free tea and coffee on the roof terrace and free shuttles to Petra.

How to get to Petra
If you’re staying in the centre of Wadi Musa, Petra is just a short walk away. Or the hotels further out often run a free shuttle to the visitor’s centre a couple of times a day, though it does mean you’re limited to fixed times. Otherwise there are plenty of taxis outside the visitor’s centre, especially in the afternoons, and you’ll pay about JD5 within Wadi Musa.
If you are driving to Petra, it’s 236km (around 3 hours) from the Jordanian capital Amman to Petra via the faster Desert Highway or 255km (4.5 hours) via the slower but more scenic King’s Highway. Or from the coastal resort of Aqaba to Petra is a 126km drive (2 hours). There’s a free car park in Petra opposite the bus stop just in front of the Petra Moon hotel.
This bus stop is also where you can catch the JETT buses to Amman and Aqaba if you’re travelling around Jordan by public transport. Or if you are limited on time and looking for a convenient way to get to Petra, there are tour packages including transport and tickets available from Amman* and Aqaba* in Jordan or Eilat* and Tel Aviv* in Israel.

How much do tickets for Petra cost?
Petra is one of those places where the longer you stay the better value it is. A one-day ticket costs JD50 (£53/$70) per person, but a two-day ticket is only JD55 and a three-day ticket JD60. Children under 15 get free entry. These are the prices if you are staying in Jordan; if you’re on a day trip and not staying in the country overnight then the price is JD90.
You also pay JD90 if you visit Petra on the day you arrive in the country, but if you go back the next day you can get a JD40 refund. You can buy tickets at the visitor’s centre by cash or credit card. You can also pick up maps, guide books and hire a guide (JD50–100).
If you’re going to be visiting other sites in Jordan, you also can get a Jordan Pass which includes entry to Petra plus 40 other sites and museums around the country, including Jesash, Amman Citadel and Wadi Rum. The passes costs JD70 for one day entry to Petra, JD75 for two days or JD80 for three days, and you can buy them online.

When is the best time to visit Petra?
The best time to visit Jordan is during the spring and autumn – April, May, October and November – as it’s dry, not too hot and the crowds are smaller. Summers can get hot, with August average temperatures from 17–34°C (67–93°F), and not much shade on site. January is the coolest and wettest month, with average temperatures from 2–14°C (36–57°F).
Petra’s ticket office is open every day, from 6am to 6pm in the summer and from 6am to 4pm during the winter. The site closes around sunset and the quietest times to visit Petra are usually in the early mornings and late afternoons.
Petra is also open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays nights when the Siq and Treasury are lit by candles for the Petra by night tour. Tickets cost JD17 (£18/$24) and the tour starts at 8.30pm and finishes around 10.30pm. It’s really popular so I’d recommend hanging back so you can experience the magic of the Siq away from the scrum of visitors.

What should I wear?
You’ll be walking over sandy and rocky ground and covering a few miles, so walking shoes (or sturdy sandals if you don’t mind picking the odd stone out) are the best bet. There’s very little shade around the site, so a hat or scarf is useful, and don’t forget plenty of sunscreen.
You see people wandering around Petra in all sorts of clothing – from full-on hiking gear to vests and shorts. As Jordan is a Muslim country I felt happier covered up with a long-sleeved cotton top and trousers (early mornings can be cool in spring and autumn). It’s not necessary for women to cover their hair, though a scarf makes a useful shield from the sun and dust.

How much walking will I have to do?
Petra stretches over a massive 60 square kilometres so you’ll end up doing a lot of walking. If it gets too much then there are camels, donkeys and horses to do the hard work for you.
A carriage ride from the visitor’s centre to the Treasury costs around JD20 (£21/$28). It’s an easy 15-minute walk downhill though so you might want to save the ride till the way back up as that final slog up the sandy path back to the entrance after a day’s walking is tough.
There are donkey and camel handlers all around the site if you want a lift at any other time. The donkeys up to the Monastery and for the hour’s walk from the old city to the Siq at the end of the day are the busiest, but there are plenty of them around so you should be able to negotiate on the price. There have been reports of some handlers mistreating their animals, so do be aware of this and check that they look healthy and well-cared-for.

Can I get food and drink at Petra?
Most hotels in Petra will supply a packed lunch if you ask the night before, and there is a line of stalls outside the entrance where you can pick up drinks and snacks like chocolate and crisps. Prices inside the site are higher so it’s worth stocking up before you go in.
Bottled water is widely available at stalls in and outside the site, but it’s a good idea to bring a refillable water bottle with a purification system so you can fill up with tap water, both to save money and to cut down on plastic waste which is becoming an increasing problem.
There’s a mixture of places to eat and drink inside Petra, from Bedouin tea stalls and simple kiosks to cafés, and there’s even a full restaurant near the museum called The Basin where you can have a buffet lunch and bottle of wine (you might need a camel to carry you after!).

What else should I know about visiting Petra?
Petra is well-equipped with toilets, with toilet blocks at the visitor’s centre, near the Theatre and museum. There are also portaloos at the start of the Siq and at a couple of cafés.
There are souvenir stalls all over Petra (and sellers can be pushy) but one worth a stop is a jewellery stall by the museum run by New Zealander Marguerite van Geldermalsen. She came to Jordan as a backpacker in the 1970s and ended up marrying a Bedouin who lived in a cave in Petra. She’s written a book about her experiences called Married To A Bedouin.
And finally, if you’re in need of a drink after a long day of walking, some of the nicest places to stop at on the way out are the Movenpick Hotel’s Arabian-style bar or the Cave Bar by the Petra Guest House – a 2000-year-old Nabataean tomb which has been turned into a bar.
Petra map

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143 Comments
Andrew Petcher
January 21, 2013 at 2:14 pmA lot of good advice that I will remember!
Lucy Dodsworth
January 22, 2013 at 1:06 amThanks Andrew, hope it comes in useful for you someday.
Aini Putri
February 9, 2015 at 1:22 pmHI, Im in Jordan now and planning to visit Petra from Zarqa. By the way, do you know how much it costs for Jordanian for staying a night? Because I’ll go there with my Jordanian friend and she thinks it’ll be epensive.
faranginasia
January 22, 2013 at 12:12 amGreat advice! I can not wait to visit there one day – you blog is fantastic!
Thanks!
Lucy Dodsworth
January 22, 2013 at 1:05 amThanks for visiting, and good luck with your new site and travels around Asia!
The Travelbunny
January 22, 2013 at 12:13 amExcellent advice – if I’m ever fortunate enough to get to Petra I’ll print this off and take it with me 🙂
Lucy Dodsworth
January 22, 2013 at 1:09 amThanks Suzanne, I absorbed so many articles and so much info I thought I’d put it to use!
Madhu
January 24, 2013 at 9:17 pmGood and comprehensive tips Lucy. Love the map 🙂
Lucy Dodsworth
January 25, 2013 at 1:43 pmThanks Madhu, I ended up carrying a few different maps as none of them had everything on, so I thought I’d try and draw my own version!
Jeff | Planet Bell
January 30, 2013 at 12:46 amNow is a great time to visit as tourism is down due to the drama in the neighboring countries.
Petra is my favorite of the ancient wonders, in part because there are some great hikes among the ruins that allow you to escape the crowds.
Lucy Dodsworth
January 30, 2013 at 3:02 pmVery true, I think a lot of people have been put off visiting but Jordan seemed perfectly safe to me and it would be a shame for people to miss out on seeing Petra.
giselleandcody
February 6, 2013 at 8:07 amGreat advice. We went with a tour group that left from Dahab, Egypt.
After about 10 minutes with the group we decided to leave and explore on our own.
So glad we did. The group didn’t even make it to the monastery.
Petra is such a beautiful place and everyone should go in their lifetime.
Lucy Dodsworth
February 6, 2013 at 6:08 pmDefinitely – it’s so much better to be able to escape and go and explore on your own.
TrvlGal83
April 27, 2013 at 9:26 pmIf you can, try to do the climb above the Royal Tombs to get the view of the Treasury from above. The climb was pretty tough but I made it to the first plateau in about 30mins (where the small hut is) there may be a Bedouin guy named Fawaz, he ivited me for tea which I did on my way back. To the left of his cave/hut is a path down to a hidden valley and you get a great view of the Al-Khazneh. My favourite part so far. I was a solo female and felt fine being there, passed about 3 Bedouin on my way all offered me horse/mule ride but were not pushy, offered me help “on the way bacK” if I needed… definitely do it if you can!!
Lucy Dodsworth
April 29, 2013 at 1:01 pmThat was one of the walks we would’ve liked to have done but ran out of time, I’ve seen some great photos from there though. Thanks for the tips!
Anita Mac
June 6, 2013 at 7:56 pmGreat tips Lucy! Jordan is so high on my bucket list – I hope to be putting your tips to great use!
Lucy Dodsworth
June 7, 2013 at 10:38 amHope you get to make it out there soon, sure you’ll love it!
Viaggiando con Bea
June 19, 2013 at 11:10 pmLucy your post is really fantastic and Petra is one of the place I should visit.
Thank you for all your suggestions, sorry for my English.
Bea
Lucy Dodsworth
June 21, 2013 at 10:43 amThanks Bea, Petra is such a dream destination isn’t it?
Janice Heck
December 2, 2013 at 4:28 pmI spent only a day at Petra but just loved it. It was a very slow day, not long after the missile strikes in Israel last year, so many travelers had canceled their plans (including two of our small group). We had the place just about to ourselves. It was cold, so we enjoyed hot peppermint tea in the Bedouin cave that’s on the main track. My friend bought some of the metal and bead jewelry from a Bedouin kid. (Good salesperson…he found the big spender in our group!) You must visit the restroom (modern) on the main track. It is built into a cave and had the most gorgeous natural stone ceiling with waves of colored veins in the rock.
Because the crowds were small, the cart drivers were anxious for riders. We were glad to accommodate, and it was a blast. They raced through the Siq, sometimes playing daredevil with other drivers. It’s a hold-your-nose experience, but well worth the fun. We laughed the whole way down to the Treasury. I’d love to go to Jordan again and spend more time…especially at Petra and Jerash…and a few other places, too. I wrote about Petra on my blog.
Lucy Dodsworth
December 23, 2013 at 7:03 pmPetra is such a fascinating place, I’m so glad I made the trip out there. We were there a little later than you I think and it was still fairly quiet but I hear it can get very overrun in peak season. Nice to be able to soak it all up without being too packed and rushed!
therubyred
December 23, 2013 at 3:51 pmThis is brilliant information! Thank you! I am planning on visiting next month!
Lucy Dodsworth
December 23, 2013 at 7:03 pmThanks – hope you have a fantastic trip and hope it comes in useful!
therubyred
December 29, 2013 at 9:36 amThank you! Look forward to reliving ancient History!
Katie
January 31, 2014 at 3:19 amHi Lucy, Love your blog and your passion for travel & adventure! My husband and I just came across your article on Petra (we are planning a 2 day trip to the site) and we were SO IMPRESSED by all of your notes & travel tips. Many thanks for sharing and I hope that you have a very exciting trip planned for 2014.
Lucy Dodsworth
February 3, 2014 at 6:39 pmHi Katie, so glad to hear that the article was useful to you! Hope you have a fantastic trip to Petra, it’s a really amazing place.
cory
February 10, 2014 at 8:00 amLucy – is end of February a bad time to go (weather wise)? Thank you!
Lucy Dodsworth
February 10, 2014 at 12:09 pmHi Cory, we were there in mid-November which should have similar conditions to late February – generally it was sunny and dry when we were there, warm in the sun (18-20 degrees) but cool in the shade and can get cold at night. We had one cloudy day with some spot of rain but it’s generally quite dry.
Tina
February 18, 2014 at 2:45 pmThanks for that! You’ve summarized all the information I’ve read in one succinct article! Just wondering if you were to do one day from noon till 6pm then another day 6am-6pm (stopping for lunch) would we see everything (or the biggest and best at least). Just trying to work out if we should do the third day 🙂 thanks heaps
Lucy Dodsworth
February 18, 2014 at 4:53 pmSo glad that it has come in useful! We did two days and managed to see most of the things we wanted too, so I would imagine that especially with your long second day then two days should be enough for you too. Have a great trip!
Michelle McAlister
March 7, 2014 at 9:04 pmWhen I was in Petra I saw two cases of animal cruelty there with the donkeys. One was chained by an extremely short chain to a fence and whipped and yelled at for no reason as he stood there. He was just standing there chained up (meaning, not trying to be moved). The other was left in the sun with a tight plastic muzzle over his mouth for 9 hours! I was there. He couldn’t move and was there in the sun with no water or shade for 9 hours. It really altered my opinion of Petra.
Fellow tourists, please report mistreatment of donkeys to the Petra Archaelogical Park and Heritage Society. They want to hear from tourists visiting Petra about any signs of crutely toward the donkeys working there (neglect, excessive whipping, hitting, punching, leaving in the sun for long periods).
Email them at: info@pra.gov.jo or at http://www.pdtra.gov.jo
Lucy Dodsworth
April 17, 2014 at 10:32 pmThat sounds terrible – we didn’t see anything that bad but there were a few boys whipping their donkeys. Thanks for the tip about contacting the Petra Archaelogical Park and Heritage Society, very useful for people to know.
Mary
April 17, 2014 at 4:26 amHi Lucy,
Thanks for this post! I’m from D.C. but I will be in Italy in June and I would really love to go visit Petra. I have to work during weekdays but I’m free on the weekends. Do you have any advice/travel tips for me so I can go see Petra? Thank you in advance.
Lucy Dodsworth
April 17, 2014 at 10:39 pmHi Mary, Petra should be just doable in a weekend if you don’t mind a lot of travel – you can even do a day tour from Amman, though I would recommend staying overnight if you can to see a bit more. So you could arrive in Amman Friday night, travel to Petra on Saturday morning (about 3-4 hours) and spend the afternoon there, then have Sunday morning at Petra before heading to Amman for your flight back. Hope that helps!
amychesser
April 21, 2014 at 5:42 amGood read! I loved Petra, one of the fun parts of the day for me was the bedouins in particular the ones who tried to get me to ride one of the donkeys up to the monastery. They had funny sales lines like “it’s a desert ferrari” and “donkey comes with airconditioning”.
Lucy Dodsworth
April 21, 2014 at 1:09 pmThanks – yes they definitely have a great banter going on!
Tim
April 24, 2014 at 5:38 pmYou are getting around Lucy. I have not yet been to Petra but my brother has and raved about it. Your way of writing is very easy to read and imagine being there which is a talent and I look forward to you next post. All the best, Btw, are you writing a basic piece on it’s history? Tim
Lucy Dodsworth
April 24, 2014 at 5:48 pmThanks Tim, though this one is from a little while back! Loved it out there though, so much to see. I did quite a few Petra posts, but the most useful one history-wise is probably this one: https://www.ontheluce.com/2012/12/06/exploring-petra-following-the-siq-to-the-treasury/
Aggy (@dewtraveller)
April 25, 2014 at 3:19 pmGreat advice Lucy! Will definitely bookmark this for when I finally get the chance to go there!
Lucy Dodsworth
April 27, 2014 at 12:50 pmThanks Aggy, it’s a fascinating place, hope you do get to visit sometime!
Cathy Sweeney
April 27, 2014 at 7:23 pmVery helpful. I don’t have any set plans yet, but do hope to visit Petra sometime, so a first-timers guide is perfect for me. The book by Marguerite van Geldermalsen might be very interesting – I’ll have to check into that. Thanks for the tip about her and her shop.
Lucy Dodsworth
April 28, 2014 at 11:25 amYou’re welcome Cathy, Marguerite van Geldermalsen’s book is really interesting, gives a very different perspective on Petra and Jordan.
Wes
May 3, 2014 at 7:13 pmFirst off, FAB blog. love it. I’m a travel junkie just like you! Im going in june (its ok I absolutely LOVE the heat) and I’m just curious about how much time you feel is enough? I’m planning on 2.5 days in petra (first day leaving early AM a bedo camp in Wadi Rum) and as well as petra by night one of the nights. with leaving early AM from wadi rum which is around 1.5 hours or so id get there as soon as i can and then that leaves me two full days at petra before I’m off to a resort on the dead sea. Because you have been there, done that, i was wondering if you think that the 2.5ish days I’ve allocated to Petra would be sufficient. Im a huge travel junkie (36 countries and counting) and I rarely can convince myself to visit a place twice (with few exceptions) and I just want to get your opinion on if you think id be able to cover all the ground I need to! Also, you mentioned you stayed at the rocket mountain hostel/hotel….its currently my top choice, would you recommend it?
Lucy Dodsworth
May 7, 2014 at 10:14 amHi, yes I’d say 2.5 days in Petra should be enough – I did two days and managed to see all the main sites, and with a bit of extra time you could add in some of the hikes too. If you get there early it shouldn’t be too hot and you can miss some of the worst of the crowds. The Rocky Mountain Hostel was great – very good value, rooms were simple but have everything you need and the roof terrace and balcony were fabulous, we had a great meal there too. Hope you have a fantastic trip!
ali zaman
May 7, 2014 at 8:19 pmI love your blog thank you.
Lucy Dodsworth
May 7, 2014 at 9:34 pmThanks so much!
Heather
May 10, 2014 at 4:01 amHi, I too enjoyed Petra so much,that I am going back next May. I noticed our entry ticket was a day and night ticket. Can you stay in there overnight or just visit at night?
Lucy Dodsworth
May 13, 2014 at 9:21 pmI don’t believe you can stay overnight and the night-time tour was a separate trip with an extra cost when I was there, so that’s quite strange – maybe it means day/evening?
Paulo Santos
June 6, 2014 at 1:04 pmHi. Great blog and great tips for Petra. I am thinking to visit Petra in the beginning of July. I know that is too hot, right? And do you think that one day is too much to visit Amman? I am thinking to do a 3 day trip. Arrive on thursday visit Amman and maybe in the same day travel to Petra. So i would have friday and saturday morning to visit Petra. Do you think that is enough?
Lucy Dodsworth
June 11, 2014 at 4:32 pmHi, yes it’ll definitely be hot then! It’s probably be a good idea to get up early and look around the site when it opens, then avoid the hottest part of the day and come back later on. One and a half days should be enough to see the main sites of Petra. Hope you have a great time!
Abu baker Jadwla
June 11, 2014 at 12:19 pmGreat Blog I love it ,I will be there in the next week thank you for your precious advices 🙂
Lucy Dodsworth
June 11, 2014 at 4:32 pmThanks so much, hope you have a great trip!
Ismail N
June 17, 2014 at 9:26 amThank you for sharing the map, it really helps me a lot in understanding the sites. Petra is in my bucket list.
Lucy Dodsworth
June 22, 2014 at 1:09 pmYou’re welcome! I found it a bit hard to get my head around what was where before I went so hope it helps.
Rinki
July 26, 2014 at 12:25 pmHi Lucy, Your blog on Petra is of immense help. I am trying to put together a trip to Petra. I have few questions? Did you book a private vehicle from Amman and drove all the way to Petra or took local vehicle from the hotel to move between Petra, Wadi rum and Amman? The site guides should we take from travel agent or get one from the tourist center?
Could you share which travel agent you used in Jordan?
Lucy Dodsworth
July 28, 2014 at 10:42 amHi Rinki, I didn’t use a travel agent at all but booked everything myself. We hired a car from the airport in Amman and drove all the way to Petra (the roads were good and it took about 6 hours via the scenic Kings Highway but it about 4 hours on the more direct Desert Highway). We booked our car in advance through Sixt but there are lots of car hire companies there. If you want to hire a guide in any of the sites there are guides at the tourist centre, or you can pre book a tour with a company like Viatour. Hope you have a great trip!
Rinki
July 28, 2014 at 12:19 pmThanks Lucy
Michael Sanders
October 14, 2014 at 6:13 amGreat information on Petra, thank you so much. Love the map!
Anne
November 5, 2014 at 9:39 amThanks for your posts on Petra! I used them to help me book my trip for next week! =)
Lucy
November 5, 2014 at 4:26 pmThat’s great – hope you have a fantastic trip!
Millen
November 14, 2014 at 8:35 pmWas in Petra in November 2014. I also saw very bad cases of animal abuse (donkeys being electrocuted with tazers, exhausted horses having to race up and down the site, very young children beating animals) Despite the beauty of the site I felt sicknened by the cruelty and the greed of the locals. Petra should be seen but I will avoid any animal ride.
Lucy
November 17, 2014 at 2:03 pmThanks for the update, things didn’t seem so bad (at least visibly) when I was there but it sounds like they have got worse and that people would be best avoiding the animal rides. I’m updating this article soon so will add a note to warn people.
Kumar
January 9, 2015 at 1:49 amHi Lucy,
I am thinking of visiting Petra in February. Will it be a good time?
Lucy
January 9, 2015 at 12:35 pmHi Kumar, I visited in November which should have similar temperatures to February – generally it was sunny and dry when we were there, warm in the sun (18-20 degrees) but cool in the shade and cold at night. We had one cloudy day with some spots of rain but it’s quite a dry region.
anjungnusantarai
February 12, 2015 at 6:01 pmDear Lucy,
I will be attending an event at Beit Zaman Hotel in Petra but I got confused as google map is showing the hotel in two opposite location – one close to the treasury and the other one near the al-Anbat Hotel. Do you know which one is the correct location for it?
However, as Beit Zaman is expensive and I just need a backpacker-level lodging, can you advice if staying at a hotel like the Cleopatra would allow me an easy walk to the Beit Zaman, and equally to the Old Petra, or not?
Thanks for any advice.
Sarah
March 27, 2015 at 9:44 amThanks for the info.. I actually had no idea it was so easy to get to & there were so many facilities in the area. Yes this is definitely at the top of my bucket list and yes I will get there one day… your information will definitely come in handy when I do 🙂
Lucy
March 27, 2015 at 11:50 amThanks Sarah, yes I was surprised how developed the area is – but I guess it’s one of the world’s most spectacular sights! Hope you get to make the trip out there someday.
Marion
April 7, 2015 at 1:18 pmHi Lucy, we have booked to go to Petra in August 2015 which will be very hot! If we buy a two day ticket can we go to the site early each day and later on each day? Do we need a guide or is it obvious where to go? We aren’t into anything too adventurous , would just like to see the main sites. When you get to the end of the main trail, we presume you have to walk all the way back – no taxis to take you back?!!!!
Lucy
April 8, 2015 at 9:54 amHi Marion, yes if you have the two-day ticket you can come and go as much as you like. In August it’s definitely a good idea to go early in the morning then avoid the worst of the heat and go back again in the afternoon. There are lots of guides available but I didn’t use one – if you have a good guidebook it’s easy to see the main sites. There are no vehicles within the site but if you get to the end and can’t face the walk back there are plenty of donkeys and camels available! Hope you have a great trip.
ambitiouswanderer
April 8, 2015 at 9:24 amAs you said, this is so on my list of places to visit! Your guide advice will be thankfully used!
Lucy
April 8, 2015 at 9:52 amThat’s great – hope you get to make the trip sometime soon!
Nikki
October 1, 2015 at 3:29 pmLooks amazing! I’d really love to go one day 🙂
Lucy
October 3, 2015 at 4:55 pmIt’s a really magical place!
localtripsnetala
October 10, 2015 at 12:05 pmHi,
Great Article , if you want to Go to Petra from Amman you either hire a driver and a car , or go from Abdali station at 6:30 Am all year round, also there is a local bus from the south station it goes when it is full only from Morning till after noon ,
Have a safe Trip
MFairleigh
October 18, 2015 at 6:17 pmCould approximate distances be added to the map? I have difficulty walking so need to know what I’m getting into. Thanks. Love all this infol.
traveller from Russia
November 11, 2015 at 8:40 pmThanks for the article. It was more informative and clear than info from the oficial Petra website )))
Lucy
November 12, 2015 at 2:49 pmThanks so much – hope it comes in useful and enjoy Petra!
Right Travel
January 11, 2016 at 9:56 amI love this article. Really you described it very well. Thanks for the post..!
Lucy
January 11, 2016 at 3:00 pmThank you!
Savita
January 27, 2016 at 9:00 pmThanks for a great article Lucy. I’m just planning my visit now for May. Could you tell me how long it would take to visit the Monastery on day 2 from the Visitor’s Centre at the entrance? Day 1 will be visiting everything up to the museum. Could we ride donkeys as far as the museum on day 2 and then walk up to the Monastery or would you recommend another alternative? Any help you can provide would be so great!
Thank you!
Savita
Kemal Kaya
May 20, 2016 at 8:31 amPetra is there for ever. I went there last year from Aqaba to Petra by a private car and a driver it is only 3 hours in a very nice scenic road trough the kings high way. Petra is a must see place.
Lucy
May 22, 2016 at 3:13 pmPetra is a fantastic place to visit – really enjoyed travelling the King’s Highway too.
Janice Swan
September 6, 2016 at 1:08 amWould you be able to give me your contact for the private car and driver. Will be visiting Petra in Oct.
Bette
May 28, 2016 at 12:29 amWe arrive just after midnight at amm after flight from Ca what does one recommend go direct to Petra or….. Transport choice at that hour?
Also anyone know how we get from Petra to go to Eilat via borders transport options $$?
Lucy
May 29, 2016 at 11:39 amHi, if you are arriving late you could hire a driver to get you down to Petra (about 2.5 hours by the direct highway). Otherwise if you stay overnight in Amman you can use the buses or a driver and travel via the King’s Highway which is really scenic. It will depend on how much time you have to spend. Onwards to Eilat you can get a taxi from Petra to the border – there’s some useful info on this site (though it’s mainly about the reverse journey) http://www.touristisrael.com/get-eilat-petra/15380/
Janice Swan
September 6, 2016 at 1:11 amI love your blog. Its very useful! WOuld you be able to recommend a driver. We are looking for one for my 5 days visits to Petra in October. Flying in from New York to Amman.
Gokhan Degirmenci
July 20, 2016 at 6:39 amThese are good tips! I didn’t rent a car while I was in Jordan but will keep these in mind since I definitely want to return there with my daughter.
Gale
August 25, 2016 at 5:37 pmThis is super useful. Thanks so much for sharing! Very much looking forward to our first trip to Jordan in a couple weeks 😀
Sioned
October 6, 2016 at 10:37 amHi Lucy, my friend and I are visit petra this coming Monday. We only have one full day and land in Amman Sunday evening. Would you suggest hiring a car and driving straight to petra Sunday night?
Also is it possible to fit the dead sea and sightseeing in Petra into ine day?
Any advice would be helpful!
Sioned
Lucy
October 6, 2016 at 1:26 pmHi Sioned, if you are really pushed for time then yes it’s probably best to get a car and drive straight down to Petra, that way you can be there for when it opens and see as much as possible. The main highway is much quicker, but if you want to check out the Dead Sea then you can come back along the King’s Highway and make a quick stop if you have time. Have a great trip!
Liz
November 13, 2016 at 12:19 amGreat advice. Staying with friends in Amman and will be visiting Petra in a few days. Thanks. Liz from Dorset in the UK
Lucy
November 13, 2016 at 6:43 amHope you have a great trip!
Ehsan
December 13, 2016 at 11:54 pmDear Lucy,
This is our first time in Jordan. Ive not yet booked hotel in Amman and was thinking whether it will be better to stay in Petra hotels instead. Since i am traveling with my wife who will not be willing to walk more than one km. so i was thinking to drive from Amman and stay at one of the hotels at Petra to sea as much as possible.
Lucy
December 14, 2016 at 9:28 amHi Ehsan, Petra’s covers a big area so I think it would be a good idea to stay as close as possible to the entrance to the site (also Amman is around 3 hours from Petra so if you’re coming for a day it’s going to be a very early start). There are horses and carriages to take you down to the Treasury and then camels and donkeys for the rest of the site too so it’s possible to cover quite a bit of ground even if you don’t want to walk far.
Chloe Gunning
March 7, 2017 at 9:45 amGreat blog – I’m just planning a trip to visit in a couple of weeks! Thanks Lucy 🙂
Lucy
March 8, 2017 at 3:17 pmHave a fantastic time, it’s an amazing place!
Minh
July 13, 2017 at 12:25 amDo you recommend hiring a guide? Or am I better off buying a Lonely Planet book and just explore myself? I typically like to do off the beaten path stuff and away from group. But not sure if I would get lost in Petra if I go hiking on my own?
Thank you
Lucy
July 14, 2017 at 2:47 pmHi, if you are sticking to the main trails then you should be fine with a guidebook but if you want to go properly off the beaten track then a guide would probably be a good idea – it’s such a big area that they should be able to advise you as to the best parts to see too. Hope you have a great trip.
ioananegrea
October 1, 2017 at 10:07 pmThe best place to exchange money in Petra?
Lucy
October 2, 2017 at 7:40 pmSorry afraid I’m not sure (I changed mine in Amman) but there are a couple of ATMs in Wadi Musa.
faizul
November 23, 2017 at 2:53 pmhey Lucy.. i was wondering.. the one day ticket only applies from 6am to 6pm is it ??? what about nite at petra do I have to buy another ticket for that or shut I just buy a 2 days tickets and that will cover up till late nite ??
Lucy
November 24, 2017 at 9:48 amHi, the Petra by Night candlelit session is a special event so you need to buy a different ticket for that – it’s 17 JD and is on every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 8.30pm
Elizabeth
March 18, 2018 at 11:47 amHow much does it cost to visit petra if you are only there for the day?
I’m trying to figure out if the jordan pass is worth it for me, given that even with it, i’d be charged 40JD on leaving Jordan.
Thanks
Lucy
March 19, 2018 at 5:26 pmYes if you are just in Jordan for the day and not staying overnight the cost is JD 90 versus 50 if you are staying at least one night – I’m not sure how rigorously this is enforced though, it seemed to mainly large tour groups who were asked when we were there.
bv70
April 16, 2018 at 10:47 amHi Lucy, great insights. Tks very much. A quick one. Im travelling to Jordan with my wife and 2 boys – 9 and 11. We will be in Amman for 2 nights and then plan to travel to Petra and on to Wadi Rum. We planned to spend an entire day in Petra. Would you recommend we travel the night before to Petra. Also should we stay in Wadi Musa or Petra and start early for the Petra walk say around 7.30 am post breakfast. Does that make sense ?
Lucy
April 20, 2018 at 2:09 pmHi there, yes I think it’s a good idea to stay overnight so you can get into Petra early (especially if you’re travelling in the summer as it can get very hot in the middle of the day and there isn’t much shade). Many of the main Wadi Musa hotels are within easy walking distance from the entrance of Petra so you’d be able to get in at 7.30am before it gets too busy. Have a great time!
Darby
May 2, 2018 at 5:25 pmThank you very much for the info! The map is a wonderful touch, you always bring so much insight!
Lucy
May 8, 2018 at 10:41 amThanks so much – I do love a map!
Leti Snow
June 14, 2018 at 5:11 amHi Lucy, am planning a trip next month. I would like to do Petra, staying in Wadi Musa for the nite. I would like to do a couple of nites in bubble camp tents in Wadi Rum. Also interested in staying in a resort near the Black Sea such as the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea on Sweimeh Dead Sea Road, 18186 Sowayma, Jordan for a nite or two and lastly Jerusalem.
I can’t decide if it’s easier to start by flying into Tel Aviv and visiting Jerusalem first or if I should fly into Amman first and fly out of Tel Aviv.Am not familiar at all with the area. I can tell by the maps clearly where every place I want to visit is located. Just need insight if I should do Israel first or Jordan first. Please any insight will be helpful.
Lucy
June 14, 2018 at 8:38 amHi, it looks like a fairly circular route (Amman > Petra > Wadi Rum > Red Sea > Jerusalem > Tel Aviv or vice versa) which is straightforward in either direction, so I would base it on where you can get the best flight times and prices into and out of as there doesn’t seem to be much to choose between the two directions. Hope you have a great trip!
Ravi Ravi
August 8, 2018 at 10:06 pmHi Lucy,
Thanks for all the information, its extremely useful.
I’m planning to go on a family road trip across Jordan, starting from Amman and covering Jerash, Ajloun castle, Petra, Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and Aqaba across seven days. I would like to hire tour guides, but only at the respective destinations. I’m currently only finding tour guides with full service, like transportation and entry fee. We’d like to drive to each of these destinations on our own, purchase an entry ticket (or use our Jordan Pass) and only pay for a guided tour of the location by an English guide for the entire group.
Is there a visitor center at each of these locations so we can hire a tour guide?
Thanks.
Regards,
AR
Lucy
August 8, 2018 at 10:16 pmHi, there are visitors’ centres at Petra, Wadi Rum and Jerash so you should have no problem hiring a guide at any of them. Aljoun Castle is a lot smaller so there may not be guides available. There’s not really a central visitors’ centre for the Dead Sea but you can easily do that yourself – either staying at one of the hotels there or visiting one of the public beaches. Similar with Aqaba as it’s a beach resort.
Ravi Ravi
August 9, 2018 at 4:28 pmThanks for the quick response, Lucy. Will keep that in mind.
Jay
September 19, 2018 at 9:45 amHello, this is very informative. I do have a few questions. I fly into Amman late on a Thursday Night. I would like to get to Petra so I can have an early start Friday morning. I am thinking about renting a car. Is this wise since it would be at night? I’m torn with staying in Amman or Petra. I would like to also visit the dead sea. I only have 2 days. I fly out Saturday. Please help I am at a complete lost at what to do.
Lucy
September 28, 2018 at 2:15 pmHi, renting a car definitely makes things a lot easier – I wouldn’t do the drive at night though as there are a lot of speed bumps on the roads, so you may be better off picking up your car on Thursday night staying overnight in Amman near the airport and leaving really early in the morning – that was you can be at Petra fairly early still and can have the day/evening and the next morning there.
Mary
December 15, 2018 at 9:22 amBrilliant blog. Planning to visit next week.
Lucy
December 17, 2018 at 11:24 amHope you have a wonderful time!
Nikola
February 1, 2019 at 2:08 pmHey, what day is busier – Sunday or Monday? I guess Sunday because it is a weekend but maybe Monday is more because of the Petra by night? I am planning to go end of March so i guess it will be anyway crowded 🙂 but still, as i have both options i would choose one which is less crowded.
tx!
Nikola
Lucy
February 3, 2019 at 8:09 pmHi, Monday is apparently one of the quietest days of the week but Sunday isn’t too bad either (Friday/Saturday are the busiest).
Nikola
February 3, 2019 at 11:46 pmTx!
Vito
February 18, 2019 at 8:31 pmGreat Post—Love your site—do you recommend driving to Petra from Amman (I drive in Beirut so I am use to more chaotic driving) or is it better to hire a driver. We will be staying 2 nights in Petra. Thank you
Lucy
February 25, 2019 at 2:05 pmWe found the driving in Jordan to be fine – other than a bit hectic in Amman but that was more due to the huge number of roundabouts and us getting lost! The roads weren’t too busy either.
Laura
March 1, 2019 at 4:03 pmGreat post! I will visit Petra in April with four other friends and we want to hike up Mount Aaron. I read that a guide is needed for that. Do you have any recommendation on where to book such a guide and do you know what it might cost?
Lucy
March 5, 2019 at 9:44 pmHi you should be able to book a guide at the Petra Visitors’ Centre – I’m not really sure about prices but have seen 100 JD quoted.
Jenn Li
April 2, 2019 at 10:37 amI stumbled across your blog as I was doing some research on planning a trip to Petra. Thank you! In September I’m planning to walk part of the Jordan Trail from Dana to Petra (5 days). Do you recommend staying a couple of days in Petra itself? I would like to fit in seeing Wadi Rum, Aqaba and the Dead Sea. Is that itinerary doable in 10 days?
Lucy
April 15, 2019 at 8:27 pmHi yes that should be doable in 10 days as the distances aren’t to great – I’d stay at least one night in Petra so you can get a full day there, and if possible do the Petra by Night tour as it’s really spectacular.
Monica
April 24, 2019 at 6:06 amThank you for the info! I plan on heading there without a tour group so I have more time to explore. Got our hotel in Petra booked but my boyfriend is concerned that we are required to have a guide help us cross the boarder. I can’t find anything official and have read accounts of other travels crossing on their own. Is this just a rumor so tour groups can make more money?
Thank you!
Jennifer Low
July 23, 2019 at 10:15 pmMy husband and I are seniors. We have been so excited to spend the day in Petra. We are cruising and will be on a ship’s excursion. We are in good shape for our 70’s but I am a little worried about the terrain. Is it rough, steep?
Thank you
Lucy
July 30, 2019 at 1:11 pmHi Jennifer, the main pathway isn’t too steep and the paths are fairly well made, it can be a bit stony and sandy so you’ll probably want to have decent supportive shoes but it’s not too bad. There are a few walks (like the one to the Monastery) that have steps up but the gradients are mainly fairly gentle. Have a great trip!
Keith Kellett
August 1, 2019 at 12:01 pmWe visited in 2002, when things were a bit volatile in the Middle East … except for Jordan. Nevertheless, they were charging half price to all attractions for non-Jordanian visitors. Or guide was Sami Hasanat, who went on to found Jordan Inspiration Tours, which we heartily recommend.
Lucy
August 1, 2019 at 9:12 pmHow things have changed! The site is so popular now that they’re starting to struggle with overtourism at certain times of year.
Travel Blogger
August 16, 2019 at 4:54 pmThis is so inspiring. That shot with the candles is magical!
Lucy
September 2, 2019 at 2:30 amThank you – it was a really wonderful experience!
Henry Lee
August 22, 2019 at 1:27 pmWe are going to Petra in November, 2019. We were going to walk around on our own, but the tour company who set up the hotel is telling us that “the rules have changed, and now you are required to have a guide in Petra”. I cannot find anywhere on the internet to verify whether this is true, or if the company is just trying to sell us a guide. Do you know the rules, or where I can find them? Thanks.
Lucy
September 2, 2019 at 2:24 amHi, I haven’t heard anything about a change of rules and that sounds like a pretty unlikely one – there are so many visitors there wouldn’t be enough guides! There are guides at the visitors centre you could hire if you decide you need one but it does sound a bit like they are trying to sell you a tour (you could ask them to point you in the direction of the official announcement about it to see what they say?).
Yoanda Hom
October 16, 2019 at 8:46 amHi, we will be on a cruise and are going to Petra in November, 2019 with only 1 day there(Aqaba). One of the excursion being offered is a private car with no guide for USD $400+ and with a guide for USD $700+. Is it easy to hire a private car once we docked or best to go with the cruise line? And with a guide or without a guide? Thanks
Lucy
October 16, 2019 at 12:07 pmHi it would be worth getting some quotes from car hire firms in Aqaba as it’s likely to be cheaper and better availability if you can book in advance – $400US for a day seems a lot for a car, and you can always hire a guide when you arrive at Petra if you decide you want one.
Lyna
January 10, 2020 at 7:27 pmHi!
You had mentioned visiting in the autumn and spring…could you be more specific for which months? Autumn and Spring in New Zealand is different than Autumn and Spring in America!
Lucy
January 16, 2020 at 3:01 pmHi, Jordan is in the Northern Hemisphere so their spring and autumn would be the same as Europe and North America.
Muhammad Ahsan
June 1, 2020 at 6:39 pmPetra has some of the most exquisite sites. Theirs cultural and traditional heritage is most unique and beautiful. I love the photos.
Lucy Dodsworth
June 3, 2020 at 8:37 pmThanks, it’s a brilliant place, so interesting!
Vaishali Bhatt
July 4, 2020 at 1:37 pmUnforgettable place… I want to revisit this place after this pandemic…
Lucy Dodsworth
July 23, 2020 at 1:21 pmMe too – would love to see more of Petra and the whole region.