Major city · Jordan
Petraالبتراء
Give Petra two full days: one for the Siq–Treasury–Monastery route, one for the High Place of Sacrifice and the Treasury from above. One day only if you must.
Petra is the Nabataean capital carved into sandstone, entered through a 2 km canyon called the Siq. It is a full archaeological site, not a viewpoint: the walkable core alone is 8–10 km of trails and stairs, and the Monastery climb adds 800 steps. Almost everyone sleeps in Wadi Musa, the town at the gate, and buys a timed multi-day ticket rather than trying to see it in a few hours.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JOD
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (35–38 °C (95–100 °F) and no shade), and flash-flood days in the canyonsavoid Jul–Aug (95–100 °F (35–38 °C) and no shade), and flash-flood days in the canyons
- Airports
- AMM · AQJ
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 4
- Jordan ↗Get the visa or the Jordan Pass only on official channels; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Jordan ↗Yellow taxis must use the meter; if the driver refuses, use a ride-hailing app instead.
- Jordan ↗In Ramadan, eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight is not accepted; hotels and tourist restaurants serve.
- Jordan ↗Do not pack a drone: import without a prior permit is refused and the drone is held at the border.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Petra911 ▾
- Police, ambulance and fire911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Petra, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Jordanian dinar (JOD) is divided into 1,000 fils (or 100 piastres); one dinar is a high-value note.Jordan-wide
- SIM or eSIMZain, Orange and Umniah sell tourist SIMs at Queen Alia arrivals; passport registration is required.Jordan-wide
- Tap waterTreated at source but stored in rooftop tanks; drink bottled or filtered.Jordan-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge; many mid-range places add 10%.Jordan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/F/G/J. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Jordan-wide
- SafetyPetra is heavily policed and safe for tourists by day.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; squat toilets at some bus stations.Jordan-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, ambulance and fire
- Sundays & holidaysFriday is the main weekend day: government offices, banks and many downtown shops close, some open after midday prayers.Jordan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportAMM Queen Alia International, Amman (About 3.5 h by road to Wadi Musa; JETT bus from Amman takes about 3.5 h.).
- Getting aroundInside Petra you walk, or hire a donkey, camel or cart for set segments — prices are negotiated, not fixed.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or tea in Wadi Musa1–3 JD
- Street or quick mealSimple meal (falafel, shawarma, mansaf plate)3–10 JD
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi within Wadi Musa1–2 JD
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week8–15 JD
- Museum or sight ticketPetra entry, 1 day (overnight visitor)90 JD for same-day visitors who sleep outside Jordan50 JD
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personJOD 8
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per roomJOD 55
- High-end bedGuesthouse or hotel double room, a night, per roomJOD 130
A day, not counting the bed: Budget JOD 30 · Mid JOD 60 · High JOD 120
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- AMM Queen Alia International, Amman (About 3.5 h by road to Wadi Musa; JETT bus from Amman takes about 3.5 h.) · AQJ King Hussein International, Aqaba (About 2 h by road; shared minibus and taxi options exist.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Feb
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Mar
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Apr
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
May
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Jun
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jul
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Aug
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Sep
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Dec
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)), coolest Jan (4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C) low), wettest Jan (6 rain days), driest Jun (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Petra: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
6 rd
Feb
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
6 rd
Mar
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
5 rd
Apr
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
3 rd
May
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1 rd
Jun
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
0 rd
Jul
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
0 rd
Aug
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
0 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
0 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
2 rd
Nov
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
3 rd
Dec
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
5 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Inside Petra you walk, or hire a donkey, camel or cart for set segments — prices are negotiated, not fixed. In Wadi Musa, most hotels run a free shuttle to the gate; otherwise it is a 15-minute downhill walk or a 1–2 JD taxi. There is no public transport inside the site.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
- Amman full guide190 km (118 mi)118 mi (190 km) north of Petra
From Amman: Car or bus 3–3.5 h each way · Full day, but an overnight is strongly preferred
- Cairo full guide410 km (255 mi)255 mi (410 km) west of Petra
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Wadi Rum
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h
Shared minibus or your tour operator's transfer, about 2 h
Desert camp night; arrange the pickup the day before.
Door to door: 2.5–3.5 h
Minibus via Ma'an, or a direct minibus in the early morning
Red Sea base for a night or two after Petra.
Little Petra (Al-Beidha)
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Taxi or car, about 15 min north of Wadi Musa
Smaller carved site; often included on the way to Wadi Rum.
Dana Reserve
overnightDoor to door: About 2 h
Car or taxi on the King's Highway
Canyon walks and eco-lodges; needs its own night.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Wadi Musa town centre (near the gate)
Walking distance to the visitor centre, 5–15 min; best if you want the 06:00 opening without a taxi.Walking distance to the visitor centre, 5–15 min; best if you want the 6:00 AM opening without a taxi.
Wadi Musa upper town / Tourist Road
More hotels and restaurants, 15–25 min downhill walk to the gate or a 1–2 JD taxi.
Wadi Musa outskirts (Beidha road)
Quieter and cheaper, but you will need a car or taxi for every entry.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 25–45 JD excl. bed (ticket amortised over your stay)
- Mid
- 45–90 JD excl. bed
- High
- 90 JD+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × JOD 55 | JOD 110 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × JOD 60 | JOD 240 |
| Petra entry, 2-day ticket (overnight visitor)2 × JOD 55 | JOD 110 |
| Jordan Pass, 2 days in Petra2 × JOD 75 · check; waives the visa fee if you stay 4+ days | JOD 150 |
| Petra by Night2 × JOD 17 | JOD 34 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × JOD 10 | JOD 20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | JOD 66 |
| Trip total≈ JOD 183 per person per day, bed included | JOD 730 |
2026 estimate in Jordanian dinars; flights and the Jordan Pass excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Petra entry, 1 day (overnight visitor)90 JD for same-day visitors who sleep outside Jordan | 50 JD |
| Petra entry, 2 days / 3 dayspassport needed to prove your entry date | 55 JD / 60 JD |
| Jordan Pass (1 / 2 / 3 days in Petra)check; buy online before arrival | 70 / 75 / 80 JD |
| Coffee or tea in Wadi Musa | 1–3 JD |
| Simple meal (falafel, shawarma, mansaf plate) | 3–10 JD |
| Taxi within Wadi Musa | 1–2 JD |
| Guided tour inside Petracheck; price depends on route and hours | from 25 JD |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | 8–15 JD |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Animal handlers may claim the horse ride to the Siq is included in your ticket, then demand a large tip: agree a total price first or just walk the 15 minutes.
- Touts on some trails say a guide is mandatory. It is not, except where a route is officially closed.
- Buy tickets only at the official visitor centre; ignore anyone selling passes in town.
- Summer heat and the Monastery stairs are the real hazards: start at opening, carry 2–3 L of water.
- Canyons can flood after rain; follow staff instructions and do not enter Wadi Muthlim in wet weather.
Emergency numbers
- Police, ambulance and fire
- 911
Pocket card
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Petraالبتراء
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
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إلى هذا العنوان، لو سمحتTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, ambulance and fire911
Embassy
Most embassies are in Amman; the US embassy is in Amman (check the address). Consular help in Aqaba is limited.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Wadi Musa hotel → Petra gate, taxi: 1–2 JD
- Amman → Wadi Musa, JETT bus: about 10 JD one way, about 3.5 h
- Aqaba → Petra, taxi: about 55 JD one way
Say or show
- مرحبا — Hello (marhaba)
- شكرا — Thank you (shukran)
- كم السعر؟ — How much is it? (kam al-si'r?)
- لا، شكرا — No, thank you (la, shukran)
- أين المدخل؟ — Where is the entrance? (ayna al-madkhal?)
- أحتاج ماء — I need water (ahtaj ma')
Carry your passport: the ticket office checks your entry date and your name on multi-day tickets.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Petra. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (35–38 °C and no shade), and flash-flood days in the canyons · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contracts for AMM and AQJ: last transfer times, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: gate and Siq, Treasury and Street of Facades, Royal Tombs and theatre, Monastery and High Place.
- Place pages with verified opening hours and last entry, plus eat pages with last orders in Wadi Musa.
- Heat and flash-flood fixtures so gate status can go green or red.