Petra Jordan Travel Guide: How To Visit The Lost City

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The lost city of Petra Jordan is emerging as one of the most popular places to visit in the Middle East. It’s relatively safe and affordable, and there are some amazing things to see.

Petra is an incredible ancient city carved into the rocks in southern Jordan, and the ruins inside Petra Jordan can be explored by walking on foot or riding a camel.

It’s a bucket list item for sure, and this Petra travel blog and map will show how you can do it on your own, with or without a tour, and with a very modest budget and minimal planning. Read on!

What Is Petra Jordan? What Is The History?

Petra is a lost archaeological city in Jordan where ancient buildings were carved into the rock walls as early as 400 BC.

The most iconic thing at Petra is the Treasury (pictured above), which is known in Arabic as Al-Khazneh. This view is famous because of all the cool photos that appear on Instagram.

But what most people don’t realize is that the Treasury is just one of the buildings. Petra was an actual city, and at one time, it’s thought that almost 20,000 people lived at this hidden city in the rock!

Petra, Jordan was abandoned in the early centuries AD, and became unknown to the world until it was rediscovered by a Swiss explorer in 1812:

Epic, huh? That’s why the monuments at Petra have been featured in Indiana Jones and other adventure movies.

I mean, just look at it!

Day Tours To Petra Jordan

First of all, if you’re on a tight schedule and want to skip the extra steps involved in arranging your own trip to Petra, or if you’d rather travel with a vetted tour company, there are options for doing that.

There are a number of companies that offer prearranged day tours to Petra Jordan, with pickup and dropoff at the airport included. They also have a 3-day Petra Jordan tour that includes Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, and more.

If you’d rather make your own arrangements and do everything yourself (which is ultimately a bit cheaper), then that’s covered next.

Where Is Petra Jordan?

Petra is located in southern Jordan, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) south of the capital city of Amman.

It’s carved into the rocky walls of a desert canyon just outside the nearest town of Wadi Musa.

How To Get To Petra Jordan

There is no airport at Petra, so international flights to Jordan will generally go to Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) in Amman city. You can shop for flights to Amman at Skyscanner.

The drive from Amman to Petra takes about 3-4 hours, and you can make the journey by car (more convenient) or bus (more affordable). I’ll explain these transport options in more detail below.

It’s also possible to visit Petra overland from Israel, and there are 1-3 day tours starting from Tel Aviv.

• Private Taxi

If you have a hotel booked at Petra, you can ask the hotel to send a driver to pick you up at the Amman airport and bring you there. My Petra hotel arranged this for me for the fairly typical price of 75 JD ($105 USD).

You can also find a taxi driver at the Amman airport to take you to Petra, but the prices will be similar.

Expensive, isn’t it? But this is the quickest and easiest option for getting to/from the lost city of Petra.

• JETT Bus

If you take the JETT bus, it’s 11 JD ($15 USD) for a one way ticket or 22 JD ($30 USD) for a round trip ticket. You can book the trip with them on their website.

Here is the bus schedule on the JETT website. You will also need a taxi driver to take you from the airport to the JETT office in Amman where the bus leaves from. Taxis are expensive in Jordan, so sadly this part may cost upwards of 20 JD ($28 USD).

I only took the JETT bus one way, when I went back to Amman from Petra. The bus was pretty comfy and really not hard to use at all.

If I ever visit Petra again someday, I think I would take the JETT bus both ways.

• Rental Car

Another option is to rent a car and drive yourself.

The roads and driving in Jordan are pretty tame compared to other countries in the Middle East, so this is a decent option to consider. Car rental prices are reasonable.

I haven’t driven a car in Jordan yet, but maybe I can cover that in a future Petra travel blog post.

       

Map Of Petra

Here’s a rough map of the area. You’ll get a copy of this same Petra Jordan map when you reach the visitor’s center.

The main path is pretty easy to follow, and you’ll most likely be in the company of other tourists, especially after the sun comes up.

The main trail distance (from the visitor’s center to the museum) is 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). More info on walking distances later.

There are restrooms and a couple of small restaurants on the main path inside Petra. The food is very overpriced, but the souvenirs are really neat and they can be a bargain if you haggle hard.

Visiting The Ancient City Of Petra

Hours of Entry

• Summer: 6 AM – 6 PM
• Winter: 6 AM – 4 PM

Entrance Fees

• Daytrippers (No Overnight Stay In Jordan): 90 JD ($127 USD)
• One Day: 50 JD ($70 USD)
• Two Days: 55 JD
• Three Days: 60 JD
• Jordan Pass: Free
• Children: Free (under 12)

You’ll need to show your passport or ID at the ticket office. You can pay by cash or credit card.

If you hold a Jordan Pass (highly recommended for most visitors!), then you don’t have to pay an entrance fee.

More information about Petra fees can be found on the official Jordanian tourism website.

Dress Code

There’s no strict dress code at Petra, since it’s not a temple or mosque.

With that said, Jordanian culture is relatively conservative, so wearing modest clothing in public is a good idea and I would highly recommend it.

That would mean wearing something that covers your knees and shoulders.

Distances & Walking Times

Here are some rough estimates for distance and walking times by foot.

They can change of course, depending on your fitness level and how many photo stops you make along the way.

• Visitor’s Center to Siq: 1 km (15 minutes)
• Siq to Treasury: 1 km (15 minutes)
• Treasury To Monastery Trail: 2 km (30 minutes)
• Monastery Trail: 1.5 km (30 minutes)
• Main Trail (Visitor’s Center to Monastery Trail): 4 kilometers
• Visitor’s Center to Monastery: 5.5 kilometers

You can reference the Petra map earlier in this travel blog to see where to find each of these places.

Camel/Donkey Rides At Petra

If fitness is an issue, you can pay to ride a horse, carriage, camel, or donkey for different segments of the Petra trail. I never used these, because the prices are just unreasonable.

When I went in 2018, they were asking a firm 20 JD ($28 USD) for a camel ride. For comparison, you can ride a camel at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt for 1/10th the price!

On the other hand, if you’re just itching to get your pic taken sitting on a camel in front of the epic Treasury of Petra, then this is your chance.

Best Things To Do & See At Petra

At this point, you’re probably wondering what are some of the “must see” places in Petra Jordan.

This is not a complete list of every single rock, tomb, and interesting thing to see in the lost city of Petra, but these are just some of the highlights that stood out to me during my time there. Remember, no matter how awesome you think Petra is, trust me, you will get tired of looking at rock buildings after awhile.

One day at Petra is enough time to see most of the places on this list, but probably not all of them, so you’ll want to prioritize the things that look most appealing to you. Two days is plenty of time to see all of these.

These are listed in basic chronological order, with a few deviations from the main path where it’s necessary (Monastery and upper viewpoints).

• The Bab al-Siq

This is an open road in the desert, stretching from the visitor’s center until the Siq (entrance to Petra). The name is Arabic for ‘gateway to the Siq’.

On the roadside you’ll pass some of the first carved monuments of the day, with some cool rock houses that look like they belong to Fred and Barney in the Flintstones.

There are some Bedouin guys standing around here giving ‘free’ horse rides to the Petra entrance, but the catch is that they will expect (and demand) a big tip afterwards. Just tell them no thanks and keep walking.

• The Siq

The Siq is the ancient entrance to the city of Petra.

This is a long, narrow pathway (basically like a Utah slot canyon) that leads you to the hidden city. The steep walls on either side of this path are really impressive, and right away they make you feel tiny.

You can ride a horse drawn carriage through the Siq, again for a fee, but I don’t see much point unless you’re just very tired (maybe on the way back). Granted, the path is not completely flat, but it’s not steep or exhausting either.

• The Treasury

As you exit the end of the Siq, you’ll be greeted by a majestic carved monument called the Treasury (Al Khazneh). This facade is easily the most famous view inside Petra Jordan.

Surprisingly, there’s nothing inside Petra’s treasury. It’s an empty square chamber with a flat ceiling. Tourists generally can’t go inside Al Khazneh, either, but the outside is good enough to keep you busy taking photos for quite awhile.

The best lighting is early in the morning, when the rocks are a dark purple color. Later in the day, the rocks will change to a brown or bright orange color (in direct sunlight), and this looks a lot different. Both views are nice, but they’re very different. Try to see both if you can.

• Above The Treasury

There are three different upper viewpoints where you can look down at the Treasury from the rocks above.

All of these views are fantastic, but they require a little bit of explanation to find. I’ll be writing a follow-up Petra travel blog post for this as well.

If you don’t mind paying a local tour guide, they can take you to any of these viewpoints easily with a short hike.

• The Street of Facades

After you get done gawking at the Treasury, you’ll enter the Street of Facades. It’s lined with various carved tombs and other monuments. There are a lot of these, and some of them are skippable if you’re just wanting to see the highlights of Petra.

• Tomb of Unayshu

This is a well preserved tomb, and one of the biggest carvings on the eastern side of the Street of Facades.

Most people seem to skip this section, but it’s worth a look if you have time! I think these are some of the best buildings in the Petra city ruins.

• The Amphitheater

As you continue walking on the Street of Facades, you’ll pass an amphitheater on the left.

This is a Roman-style theater that was built in the 1st century AD. You can’t go inside, but it’s easy to take photos of it from the street.

• The Royal Tombs

This is a series of tombs on the right side of the Street of Facades. The style looks similar to the Treasury, but these buildings are unfinished and not as nice.

If you follow the trail that goes around the backside of these tombs, you can go see the Treasury and other parts of Petra from above.

• The Colonnaded Street

The Street of Facades eventually blends into the Colonnaded Street.

This was a paved street that in old times probably served as a market lined with shops and sellers. The gate and some of the columns are still standing.

• The Great Temple

Joining the Colonnaded Street, these are the ruins of a big temple in what used to be the city center of ancient Petra. There’s a big staircase and the remains of an open air plaza.

There are great views of the mountains in the distance, so definitely make a quick stop here, at least.

• The Monastery

The monastery is one of the most underrated parts of Petra Jordan. It’s bigger than the Treasury, and much less crowded.

Unlike the Treasury, which is carved directly into the rocks, the Monastery almost looks like a freestanding building.

If you hike straight to the Monastery first thing in the morning, you may even have it to yourself for hours.

• The High Place of Sacrifice

This was a panoramic viewpoint above Petra city where religious sacrifices of animals and incense were offered.

It’s a 30-60 minute hike to the top, and the views are worth it! Just come prepared for heat, and bring plenty of water.

Hotels In Petra Jordan

If you would like to spend more than one day at Petra (which I’d recommend), then you’ll need a hotel or other place to stay.

There are no hotels “in” Petra, since it’s a protected archaeological site, but you can stay in the nearby town of Wadi Musa, which is within walking distance of Petra.

Wadi Musa is not a big town, but it’s been built up by tourism at Petra, so there are plenty of good hotels and restaurants to choose from.

Where I Stayed

I stayed at Rocky Mountain Hotel near Petra for 26 JD ($37 USD) per night, and it was a pretty good bargain compared to the other hotels I’ve tried in this area (Jordan is not the cheapest country to travel).

Rocky Mountain is a 20 minute walk to Petra, or you can use the hotel’s daily shuttle service. Jane, the hotel owner lady, was kind enough to drive me to Petra herself and pick me up later. She’s a New Zealander and obviously works very hard.

The hotel also helped me arrange my Wadi Rum jeep tour from Petra. All in all, it was just what I needed, and the staff were very helpful with arranging transfers, meals, and other things.

Prices may fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal.

Petra By Night

This is a night show where the Treasury of Petra is lit up by 1,500 candles and some songs are played. It lasts 2 hours and runs every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM.

I decided to skip this because a lot of people say it’s overpriced and disappointing, and I had already seen the Treasury on two separate visits. Now, as a travel blogger and semi-serious photographer, I kind of kick myself for not doing it.

If you’re into photography, it could be a good opportunity to take some cool photos of the Treasury lit up by candles. Otherwise, the general consensus seems to be that it’s poorly executed and not worth the entry price for most people. I wish the Jordanian tourism authorities would take some lessons from the folks who made the outstanding night show at Abu Simbel in Egypt.

The entrance fee for Petra By Night is 17 JD ($24 USD) for adults, and it’s NOT included in a regular Petra day ticket. Kids under 10 go free. More info can be found at the official Jordanian tourism website.

Is Jordan Safe?

Yes, I think Jordan is pretty safe.

Nowhere in the world is completely safe, but Jordan is a stable country that gets millions of tourists per year.

Terrorist attacks are possible, but that’s true anywhere. They don’t seem to be any more common in Jordan.

In the age of terrorism I would try to avoid hanging out in big crowds while traveling here, but again, that’s a basic safety tip that goes for just about anywhere nowadays.

Personally, I would rate Jordan much safer than Egypt, for example.

Read More: Safety in Jordan

Best Time To Visit Petra

Petra Jordan is nice any month of the year, but the best time to visit is in the spring (March – May) or fall (September – November). I went in early October and it was very pleasant. In the middle of summer, Petra can be very hot — up to 86 F (30 C).

Either way, the best time of day to visit is very early, before sunrise. Not only will you skip the crowds and heat, but you’ll also get a headstart on your day, and photos of the Treasury will look cooler. My favorite photos at Petra were taken shortly before the sunrise.

It’s the best time of day for photographing the Treasury because the rocks are a dark purple color. Later in the day, the rocks will change to a brown or bright orange color (in direct sunlight), and this looks a lot different. Both views are nice, but they’re very different. I’d recommend seeing both phases if you can.

You can also check the live webcam at the Treasury to get an idea what the lighting will look like at certain times of the day.

More Petra Travel Blog Posts

Thanks for reading this Petra travel blog! Hopefully it’s helpful for planning your own trip.

Don’t forget to check out my complete Jordan Travel Guide and also my guide for the Wadi Rum desert, which is just a short distance from Petra!

Happy travels!