Visiting Petra, Jordan: everything you need to know before you go
- Jul 15
- 5 min read
Visiting Petra is an absolute must when travelling through Jordan. In fact, it's probably one of the main reasons you're planning a trip there in the first place and for good reason.
As one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Petra is one of the most impressive archaeological sites you'll ever visit. To make the most of your experience, there are a few things worth knowing before you go. In this guide, I'll share all of our tips for visiting Petra, including how to get there, how many days you'll need, and how to avoid the biggest crowds.
How to get to Petra
From Amman to Petra
Petra is located around 2.5 to 3 hours south of Amman by car. The easiest way to get there is by renting a car when you arrive at the airport. Having your own vehicle gives you complete flexibility and makes it easy to continue exploring the rest of Jordan after your visit.
From Aqaba to Petra
If you're arriving in Aqaba, for example by cruise ship or domestic flight, Petra is also easy to reach. The drive takes just under two hours, making it perfect for either a day trip or an overnight stay.
Several organised tours depart from Aqaba, but if you want more time to explore Petra at your own pace, renting a car is definitely the better option.
From the Dead Sea to Petra
Most resorts along the Dead Sea are located on the northern shore, making this the longest drive to Petra. From there, expect a journey of just over three hours. If you're staying further south, your drive will naturally be shorter.
Just like from Amman or Aqaba, travelling by rental car is by far the easiest and most flexible way to reach Petra.
Petra opening hours
Petra is open every day of the year.
Summer (April–October): 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Winter (November–March): 6:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Your visit starts at the Petra Visitor Centre, where you'll also find the main parking area.
If you're staying in Wadi Musa, you can simply walk to the entrance in just a few minutes.
Petra Tickets & the Jordan Pass
I highly recommend purchasing the Jordan Pass before travelling to Jordan. Not only does it include entrance to Petra, but it also covers admission to more than 40 attractions across the country. If you buy the pass online before arriving in Jordan and stay for at least three consecutive nights, your tourist visa fee is also waived.
When purchasing the Jordan Pass, you'll need to decide in advance whether you want one, two, or three consecutive days of access to Petra. This choice can't be changed later, so it's worth thinking about beforehand.
How many days do you need in Petra?
We recommend spending at least two full days exploring Petra. If we were to visit again, we'd actually choose a three-day ticket. Petra is enormous, and having an extra day allows you to explore the quieter trails at a more relaxed pace without feeling rushed.
Whatever you decide, make sure at least one of your visits starts as early as possible. Arriving right when Petra opens makes a huge difference and allows you to experience some of its most famous sights before the crowds arrive.
Tips for visiting Petra
Walk through the Siq early in the morning
Our number one tip is simple: arrive early. We arrived at 5:45 AM, just before the gates opened, and were able to enter Petra at exactly 6:00 AM. From the entrance, it's still a pleasant walk before you reach the famous Treasury. Although the route itself is beautiful, we deliberately walked at a faster pace to arrive among the very first visitors.
The final section takes you through the narrow sandstone canyon known as the Siq. Catching your first glimpse of the Treasury through the canyon walls is an unforgettable moment.
Visit both the Treasury and the Monastery
After spending plenty of time at the Treasury, we continued towards the Monastery. Many visitors never make it this far, but in our opinion, the Monastery is every bit as impressive as the Treasury and possibly even more spectacular because it's much quieter.
The walk from the Treasury to the Monastery takes approximately 1.5 hours and includes a fairly steep climb with many stone steps. When we arrived, there were hardly any other people around. Sitting opposite the Monastery is a small café where you can enjoy a drink or a snack while admiring one of Petra's most iconic landmarks.
If you continue walking a little further beyond the Monastery, you'll also find some incredible viewpoints overlooking the surrounding mountains. We spent more than an hour here before returning to the Treasury around midday. By then, the area around the Treasury was completely packed with visitors, making it almost impossible to take photos without crowds.
The route between the Treasury and the Monastery also passes several beautiful tombs, viewpoints, and ancient ruins, so don't rush the walk—there's plenty to see along the way.
Spend a second day exploring more of Petra
On our second day, we returned to explore Petra at a slower pace. This time we visited the viewpoint overlooking the Treasury from above and spent more time exploring sites near the entrance, including the Street of Facades and the Roman Theatre.
Unfortunately, heavy rain arrived later that day. Because Petra lies deep within a valley, rainwater quickly flows into the archaeological site. Although rainfall is relatively rare, flash floods can occur, and parts of Petra may temporarily close for safety reasons. As a result, we ended up leaving earlier than planned.
Best time to visit Petra
Petra can be visited throughout the year, but the experience varies depending on the season.Summer temperatures can become extremely hot, making long walks through the archaeological site quite challenging. Winter is much cooler, and while temperatures are comfortable for hiking, rain is more likely between November and February.
The best months to visit are generally March to May and September to November, when temperatures are pleasant and rainfall is minimal. Although heavy rain is uncommon, even a small amount of rainfall can lead to flash floods because Petra sits at the bottom of a valley. On rare occasions, the site may temporarily close to protect visitors.
Where to stay near Petra
The best place to stay is Wadi Musa, the town located directly next to Petra.
You'll find a wide range of accommodation here, including guesthouses, apartments, boutique hotels, and larger resorts. Most hotels are within a 10-minute drive or walk of the visitor centre, making it the perfect base for exploring Petra over multiple days. Wadi Musa also has plenty of cafés and restaurants, making it easy to enjoy lunch or dinner after a long day of sightseeing.
