L'Heure du Voyage
The facade of the Treasury at Petra emerging from the Siq at daybreak
๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ด Jordan ยท ุงู„ุจุชุฑุงุก ยท UNESCO

Petra: what to see, where to stay, 2026 tips

A Nabataean city carved into pink sandstone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven wonders of the world, Petra reveals the Siq, the Treasury and the Monastery. Here's how to visit it in 1 or 2 days from Wadi Musa.

๐Ÿ“ See ๐Ÿ“… When to go ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ Itinerary

Petra at a glance

Status

UNESCO

Site

Wadi Musa

Ideal stay

1 to 2 days

Ticket / day

~50 JD

From Amman

~3h drive

Walking/day

8-12 km

Current climate

Best season

Photo : Alex Vasey / Unsplash

In brief

Petra in brief

  • 1

    Plan one to two days, not half a day

    The site spans 60 kmยฒ and is very hilly. One day for the Siq, the Treasury and the Monastery, a second for the tombs and the High Place of Sacrifice.

  • 2

    The Jordan Pass is almost essential

    It includes entry to Petra and waives the visa fee for a stay over three nights. Without it, count around 50 JD for a one-day ticket.

  • 3

    Wadi Musa is the base village

    All the hotels, restaurants and the site entrance are here. Sleep on-site to enter at opening, ahead of the groups.

  • 4

    Good shoes change everything

    800 steps to the Monastery and rocky trails everywhere. A hat, water and sunscreen are essential even in spring.

  • 5

    Petra by Night is worth the late evening

    The Siq and Treasury lit by candlelight on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Separate ticket, a unique mood but it can get crowded.

Must-see

What to see in Petra?

โ˜… #1 ๐Ÿ“

The Siq

A 1.2 km entrance gorge between 80m walls that suddenly opens onto the Treasury.

โฑ 30-45 min ๐Ÿ’ฐ Included Must-see
โ˜… #2 ๐Ÿ“

The Treasury (Al-Khazneh)

The iconic 40m facade carved into pink sandstone, the very image of Petra.

โฑ 1 h ๐Ÿ’ฐ Included Must-see
โ˜… #3 ๐Ÿ“

The Monastery (Ad-Deir)

A colossal facade at the top of ~800 steps. Vast views and fewer crowds than the Treasury.

โฑ 2-3 h ๐Ÿ’ฐ Included Photo spot
โ˜… #4 ๐Ÿ“

Royal Tombs

Four monumental facades cut into the eastern cliff, stunning in late afternoon.

โฑ 1 h ๐Ÿ’ฐ Included Must-see
โ˜… #5 ๐Ÿ“

High Place of Sacrifice

A ritual platform atop a steep staircase, with a 360ยฐ panorama over the city.

โฑ 2 h ๐Ÿ’ฐ Included Off the beaten path
โ˜… #6 ๐Ÿ“

Nabataean Theatre

An 8,500-seat amphitheatre carved into the rock, later enlarged by the Romans.

โฑ 30 min ๐Ÿ’ฐ Included On the way
โ˜… #7 ๐Ÿ“

Petra by Night

The Siq and Treasury by the glow of 1,500 candles, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

โฑ 2 h ๐Ÿ’ฐ 17 JD At night
โ˜… #8 ๐Ÿ“

Colonnaded Street

The Roman artery of the lower city, lined with temples and the Qasr al-Bint.

โฑ 45 min ๐Ÿ’ฐ Included On the way
โ˜… #9 ๐Ÿ“

Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)

A free annex site 10 km away, with a rare painted Nabataean ceiling. Often deserted.

โฑ 1 h ๐Ÿ’ฐ Free Off the beaten path

Choose your district

Where to stay in Wadi Musa?

Central Wadi Musa

The heart of the village, near restaurants and JETT buses. Hotels of every range. From โ‚ฌ30/night.

โ˜… Recommended

Near the site entrance

A few minutes' walk from the Visitor Center. Ideal for entering at opening. From โ‚ฌ55/night.

Practical

The heights of Wadi Musa

Hotels with valley views, quieter. Shuttle to the site often included. From โ‚ฌ45/night.

Views

Upscale resorts

A few 5-star and charming lodges on the outskirts. Spa and big views. From โ‚ฌ140/night.

Luxury

Getting around

Getting to and around Petra

๐ŸšŒ

JETT bus from Amman

Daily direct Amman-Petra link. Comfortable and cheap, about 4h. Book the day before.

๐Ÿš—

Rental car

Desert Highway or the more scenic King's Highway. 3 to 4h from Amman.

๐Ÿด

Horse, donkey, camel

On-site short rides on offer (often pushy). The Siq is easily done on foot.

๐Ÿš–

Local taxi in Wadi Musa

To reach the entrance from your hotel or go to Little Petra. Agree the price first.

Climate & crowds

When to visit Petra?

Ideal Fair Avoid

01

Jan

02

Feb

03

Mar

04

Apr

05

May

06

Jun

07

Jul

08

Aug

09

Sep

10

Oct

11

Nov

12

Dec

Spring

March to May ยท 18-28ยฐC, dry ยท Ideal, perfect temperatures to walk all day

Autumn

Sept to Nov ยท 20-30ยฐC, clear skies ยท Ideal, the heat has eased, golden light on the sandstone

Summer

June to Aug ยท 32-38ยฐC, very dry ยท Fair, start at dawn, leave the site at midday

Winter

Dec to Feb ยท 5-13ยฐC, possible rain ยท Avoid, cool and a flash-flood risk in the Siq

How much

Petra budget (per day)

Backpacker

โ‚ฌ55

per day

  • ๐Ÿจ Hostel: โ‚ฌ18
  • ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Local meals: โ‚ฌ12
  • ๐ŸŽซ Ticket (Jordan Pass)
  • ๐Ÿ’ง Water & snacks
Recommended

Comfort

โ‚ฌ120

per day

  • ๐Ÿจ 3-4โ˜… hotel: โ‚ฌ55
  • ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Restos & dinner: โ‚ฌ25
  • ๐ŸŽซ Petra by Night: 17 JD
  • ๐Ÿš– Shuttles & taxi

Premium

โ‚ฌ260

per day

  • ๐Ÿจ 5โ˜… resort: โ‚ฌ160
  • ๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Refined tables: โ‚ฌ45
  • ๐ŸŽซ Certified private guide
  • ๐Ÿš— Private transfer

Our tested itinerary

Petra in 2 days

Day-by-day program.

1

Day 1, from the Siq to the Monastery

  • 6.30am Enter at opening, the Siq without the crowds
  • 7.30am The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) in soft light
  • 9am Theatre and Colonnaded Street
  • 11am Climb to the Monastery (Ad-Deir)
  • 4pm Royal Tombs in late afternoon
2

Day 2, heights and annex site

  • 7am High Place of Sacrifice via the staircase
  • 10am Secondary trails and viewpoints
  • 1pm Lunch in Wadi Musa
  • 3pm Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)
  • 8.30pm Petra by Night (Mon, Wed, Thu)
Detailed itinerary โ†’

Around

Day trips from Petra

๐Ÿ“

Wadi Rum

2h away ยท Sandstone desert, camp under the stars

๐Ÿ“

Little Petra

20 min away ยท Free annex site (Beidha)

View over the white hills of Amman from the citadel ๐Ÿ“

Amman

3h away ยท The capital and its seven hills

๐Ÿ“

Dead Sea

2h30 away ยท Float on the way back

FAQ

Petra FAQ

How many days to visit Petra? +
One day lets you see the Siq, the Treasury, the Monastery and the royal tombs with a lot of walking. Two days give a comfortable pace, with time for side trails like the High Place of Sacrifice and Petra by Night.
How much is entry to Petra in 2026? +
About 50 JD for a one-day ticket, 55 JD for two days. The Jordan Pass includes entry and waives the visa fee for a stay over three nights, which almost always makes it worthwhile.
Where to stay to visit Petra? +
In Wadi Musa, the village bordering the site entrance. Sleeping there lets you enter at opening, ahead of the groups, and enjoy Petra by Night in the evening.
Is the Monastery hard to reach? +
You climb roughly 800 rock-cut steps, about 45 minutes to 1 hour up. The path is doable at an easy pace with good shoes, water and a hat.
Do you need a visa for Jordan? +
Yes for most nationalities, but the Jordan Pass includes the visa for a stay over three nights and covers entry to Petra. See our Jordan visa guide.

Marie Laurent โœ“

ยท

Southeast Asia specialist

Last updated: June 6, 2026.

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