Petra is one of the most visited places in Jordan and should be a part of any Jordan itinerary. Spending a day in Petra will be a long and busy day, but it will be filled with lots of amazing sites to see along the way. The Indiana Jones movie series is modeled after Petra, so it is an archaeologist’s dream. The following are some of the best tips for visiting Petra.
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A Brief History of Petra
Petra is an ancient archaeological city in the Southern part of Jordan, located in a basin surrounded by mountains. The earliest findings in Petra date back to 7000 BC. Many of the main buildings were carved during the second century. The Nabateans were one of the Bedouin tribes of the area and were one of the initial settlers in the area.
During the Roman times, the area grew, and Petra became its capital. Many of the emperors visited the area and it expanded up until the Byzantine era. During that time, the trade routes were reestablished and much of Petra was destroyed by an earthquake.
Throughout the years, Petra was occupied off and on, but the Middle Ages saw a lot of curiosity for the ruins. In the 1800s, Petra became more of a tourist attraction, leading to the site it is today.
When to Visit Petra
Spring is the best time to visit Petra as the weather will not be the stifling heat that summertime brings and you will avoid the rainy season. No matter what, prepare for a long and warm day, so begin the day early to avoid the crowds and hotter temperatures. One of the best tips for visiting Petra is to go when it is as cool as possible!
How to Get to Petra and Wadi Musa
Amman is the closest international airport to Wadi Musa. From there, it is about a 2.5-hour drive to Wadi Musa. From Wadi Musa, it is also a 2-hour drive to Aqaba where there is another airport.
We opted to fly into Amman and drive to Wadi Musa from there. Follow Route 15 for about 100 miles. From there, take Route 826 to Route 35 until you arrive in Wadi Musa. Everything is very clearly marked along the route.
Where to Stay in Wadi Musa
There are quite a few great places to stay in Wadi Musa. One of the most popular places to stay is the Petra Guest House Hotel as it is right at the entrance to Petra. We opted to stay at the Petra Corner Hotel as it was a really good price and just a short walk to the Petra entrance. The owner of the hotel was really nice and helpful, and it came with breakfast each day. Alternatively, check out the Petra Marriott Hotel.
Wadi Musa had a lot of hotel options, but I recommend staying at one within walking distance of Petra just for easy access to the site. TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Wadi Musa hotels here! Other options include the following hotels. Tourism Street is the main street visitors should stay on. You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price or try to price match a hotel.
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Petra?
If you have the Jordan Pass, your pass includes a one-day ticket to Petra. You can also opt to grab a two or a three-day pass if you prefer. I highly recommend this option as a one-day ticket to Petra costs $70. A two-day ticket is $77 and a three-day pass is $84. One of the best tips for visiting Petra is to buy the Jordan pass!
What to Wear in Petra
Petra is in the middle of a desert-like community and also in a Muslim country. You will want clothes that are comfy, conservative, and block the heat. For women, I recommend comfy and light-flowing pants or breathable workout leggings as you will be hiking. A light shirt and a hat are also preferable. Make sure to have comfortable walking or hiking shoes.
Top Tips for Visiting Petra
Petra is a fantastic experience, but these tips for visiting Petra will make your trip even better!
Stay on Tourism Street
One of the best tips for visiting Petra is to stay on Tourism Street, the main street in Wadi Musa. Although you may be tempted to stay at one of the luxurious hotels that overlook Wadi Musa, you will be sorry if you do not stay within walking distance of Petra. It just makes for a more convenient experience and offers the ability to walk to many shops and restaurants. Thus, staying on Tourism Street is a smart choice and also will save you some money!
Don’t Visit as a Day Trip from Amman
While some people visit Petra as a day trip from Amman, I recommend staying at least one night in Wadi Musa in order to get the full Petra experience. If you visit as a day trip from Amman, over half the day will be spent diving as it is a 3-hour drive each way. Unless you get up very early, it will be difficult to beat the crowds in the morning. Also, this makes for a very long day, and I just would not recommend it.
One Day is Plenty
Before my visit to Petra, most blogs and people said that one day at Petra was not enough. I personally think one day is plenty unless you are SUPER into archeology or are not okay with a long and full day. We spent 1.5 days in Petra, but we totally could have toughed it out into one day.
Bring a Daypack
Bringing a daypack is one of the top tips for visiting Petra. Although you can buy some water, snacks, and souvenirs inside Petra, I advise taking a daypack with anything you may want. Then you do not have to waste time stopping at stalls to get supplies. Instead, you can spend more time exploring the ruins!
Visit the Petra Museum
Obviously, people know Petra for the treasury and maybe the monastery. However, make sure not to skip the Petra Museum. This museum is located just outside of the main gates of Petra and is full of artifacts that have been found at the site. It also goes over the history of the area and gives a good overview of how it has changed over time. Best of all, the museum has really good air conditioning.
Hire a Guide to Take you to the Lookout or Not
When visiting Petra, you may want a good photo spot. For that perfect pic, you will want to visit the Insta-famous lookout spots. You can opt to hire a guide to take you up to any of the viewpoints. You can find these guides all throughout the park, especially near the treasury. We paid about $15 for our guide.
I found it worth hiring a guide so someone could guide me up to the top while giving me a short tour. It also includes the entrance fee to the lookout and a cup of tea or water. The guides also know the exact best spots and angles for the best photo.
However, if you are up for an adventure, you can easily get the lookout spot yourself and pay the smaller entrance fee upon arrival. As soon as you emerge from the Sig (the gorge path to the treasury), make a right. You will see a broken fence and what looks like a pile of rocks. You climb up on this and can follow the path along the rockface to the lookout points. Visitors will most likely see guides and other people walking along the trail.
Get there EARLY to Avoid the Crowds
One of my main tips for visiting Petra is to get there as early as possible! On most days, Petra opens at 6 a.m. This will ensure you will get the best pictures and have a lot of the place to yourself for a while. It also means it will be cooler, and you can go take a nap during the hottest part of the day. You can always re-enter later in the day if you so choose to as well.
Hire a Local Guide IF you want the history
I only slightly regret not hiring a guide to take us around Petra. I always enjoy exploring on my own better as I can go at my own pace and explore what I want. However, I regret not knowing exactly what I was looking at while at each stop. If someone made a podcast or an audio tour that would be helpful.
Hike to the Monastery
There is so much more to Petra than the treasury, so another one of my tips for visiting Petra is to explore other areas such as the Monastery. At the very edge of Petra lies Ad Deir or the Monastery. It is one of the largest monuments in Petra and dates back to the 2nd Century. Many people hike the “Backdoor to Petra” and enter through the monastery.
I slightly regret not taking this route as the hike up from the entrance gate is brutal. It is 850 steps up a steep cliffside to the Monastery. Many of the steps are uneven and you will literally be hiking through donkey poop to get to the Monastery. However, it is a pretty cool site to see once you get there.
Avoid the Donkeys
You can opt to hire a guide and donkey to get you around the park. However, I would avoid this option as the donkeys did not all look like they were well taken care of. I am not sure how much they cost, but I was fine hiking everywhere.
Wear Hiking Shoes
Having the best shoes possible for walking is another one of the best tips for visiting Petra. I was amazed at the number of people who did not wear appropriate footwear in Petra. When visiting Petra, visitors need to be aware you will be doing A LOT of walking.
From the entrance gate to the treasury is a one-mile walk and that is the closest of the main sites to see in Petra. If you complete the entirety of the main trail, it is a 5-mile round-trip hike. No matter what, you will be doing a great amount of walking through very dusty trails.
Buy Things at Stores with Posted Prices
You will see so many shops all around Petra with tons of souvenirs, t-shirts, Indiana Jones style hats, scarves, and more. Some stores had prices posted while others did not. I recommend buying from stores with posted prices, so you do not have to haggle. If you do not, be prepared to be seriously overcharged. One shop wanted 100 JD ($140) for a hat, two scarves, and a shirt. The salespeople can often be a bit aggressive too.
Spend the Night in Wadi Musa
Many people just stop at Petra for the day as a day trip from Aqaba or in between a drive from Amman to Aqaba. I highly advise against this. There were a lot of cute little places in Wadi Musa, and I felt you did not get a true Petra experience unless you stayed for the night. It also makes for an even longer day and makes it difficult to get there when Petra first opens. Thus, staying the night in Wadi Musa makes for another great tip for visiting Petra.
Wear Appropriate Clothing
One of my biggest pet peeves when traveling is people who are not respectful of the local culture. This includes wearing appropriate clothing! Yes, Petra is going to be insanely hot and hiking in shorts and a sports bra would be preferable. However, remember Petra was once a sacred site for many Muslims! Cover your shoulders and knees!
There are a TON of Bathrooms
I always worry about the bathroom situation, but there is no need in Petra. There are bathrooms available all over the place, and they were all pretty decent as well. They were clean and had toilet paper, so that is good enough in my book.
There are Restaurants Inside Petra
I initially did not think there would be places to get food inside of Petra. However, I was very wrong. There are plenty of restaurants you can eat at inside the site, and the prices were all pretty reasonable. We opted to eat outside of the park once we were finished, but it was nice to know there were a plethora of options.
Know When Petra By Night Is
Petra By Night is a separate ticket that can be bought on site 17 JD ($23). This enables visitors to see a light show and Petra during the evening hours. It is every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 8:30pm. If this is something that interests you, make sure to plan your trip accordingly.
Best Places to Eat in Wadi Musa
Although Wadi Musa may have been a smaller town, there was no shortage of amazing places to eat. You will not be sorry stopping at the following places to grab a bite to eat.
Petra Night Restaurant
Cost: $$
Hours: 11am-12am
Petra Night Restaurant serves typical Middle Eastern and Arabic cuisine. It has a nice outdoor terrace that overlooks Tourism Street and the surrounding area. Make sure to try one of the lemon mint slush drinks to help you cool off after a day in the heat.
My Mom’s Recipe Restaurant
Cost: $$
Hours: 10am-10pm
My Mom’s Recipe Restaurant is the perfect place to stop after spending some time in Petra. This restaurant is located on the top floor of the building, so it does offer a nice view of the area. Visitors can choose from a variety of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes. Make sure to order some hummus or baba ghanoush.
The Cave Bar
Cost: $
Hours: 3pm-12am
The Cave Bar is part of the Petra Guest Hotel, located right near the entrance to Petra. Although the atmosphere was a little creepy since it is technically a 2000-year-old tomb, visitors should stop to grab a drink and food here. They offer a wide variety of spirits and mixed drinks.
They also offer a small food menu, or on select nights, they have an all-you-can-eat buffet for 10-12 JD. The buffet included kebabs and a variety of small-plate Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-style foods. It was the perfect stop to unwind after a day in Petra.
Final Tips for Visiting Petra and Wadi Musa
Petra is a fantastic experience that should be a part of any Jordan trip. There are so many tips for visiting Petra that will make your experience even better. We spent a week exploring Jordan and then headed to Malta afterward. Make sure to spend time in Aqaba, the Dead Sea, and Amman during your trip to Jordan.
8 thoughts on “17+ Fabulous Tips for Visiting Petra: A First Timers Guide to Spending A Day in Petra, Jordan ”
I would certainly enjoy the outdoor markets in Petra! This trip looks so fun, educational, and cultural. Thanks for all the great information.
Petra was so educational and fun to explore!
This sounds like an amazingly full day! Definitely making a mental note to shop from tables with posted prices, I’m the worst at haggling 😀 Thank you for sharing, looks amazing!
It was a long day but so worth it. I’m so bad at haggling too!
Petra really looks like a dream! I hope I’ll be able to visit one day! Thanks for all the info, I’ve pinned it for the future!
It was so beautiful. I hope you can visit.
Wow there is so much more to Pete’s than I thought!
Petra has always been on my bucket list, but you just gave me more reasons to visit and stay and experience it.