If you are planning on going to Jordan, no doubt you plan to visit Petra. This Petra travel guide will give you tips on the best time to arrive, the best photo ops and the scams that you should avoid. If you are looking for a more comprehensive list of Jordan please read through the must-see places in Jordan.
Jordan is an expensive country to travel to and the Jordanian Dinar is actually higher than the dollar so you lose money which is painful. However, Petra being one of the Seven Wonders of the World makes the expense worthwhile in my opinion. The area surrounding Petra is not big. Petra itself is huge and requires a good amount of walking so be prepared to do some serious walking. Bring water and travel light.
Table of Contents
Petra Travel Guide
Why is Petra so Popular?
Petra is an archeological phenomenon that dates back to the 4th Century BC and it was conquered by the Romans in 100 AD. The Bedouin people still live in Petra and you will see their homes as you tour the site. You will find children running and vendors selling their wares. Seeing Petra for the first time is an amazing experience when you imagine what it must have taken to build the structures that are still standing. This will include the Treasury and the Monastery which are the most prominent buildings within Petra.
How to Get There:
Petra is about 3 hours from Amman. Some people prefer to do day trips but I think to get the most out of Petra you need to spend at least one night. The food in Wadi Musa is quite good for such a small city and I really enjoyed it. Rent a car when you arrive in Amman and drive yourself to Petra. I think you get more value this way than doing a guided tour.
You could choose to use public transport if renting a car is not an option and there are buses that go to Petra from Amman. Buses run from at 6.30 in the morning and the last departure is at 5 pm from Petra. If you are feeling super nice about yourself, you can hire a private transfer but this tends to be an expensive option.
Where to Stay:
I would recommend staying either at an Airbnb or a hotel. Hotels are expensive making the Airbnb option more viable. If you have the money though star at the Marriott or at the Movenpick. They are both excellent options and their amenities make the price tag worthwhile.
Plan Your Visit:
Petra opens at 6am and closes at 6pm but in the winter they close earlier at 4pm.If you are like me and want to avoid having people in your photos plan on being there when they open. We arrived at opening time and already there was a small line forming for people who had the same idea. By the time we were finishing our sightseeing it was so crowded it felt like an amusement park. So, go early to avoid the crowds and the heat!
Petra by night is only held on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and starts at 8:30 pm. There is no point of getting there before they open because you’ll just have to wait. If you really need to seat close to the front, then I suggest walking fast once they open the gates.
You can choose to have a guided tour or not. I suggest getting a guide and they will run to you and offer different prices. These guides will show you the best routes for taking photos and you will need this, trust me. The hike up to get the views from up top is sketchy at best. The guide that we had helped us climb the treacherous route and he was extremely helpful. As always make sure you bargain!
How Much Does It Cost:
It costs different amounts to get in based on how many days you want to go. Remember that this price is separate from doing Petra by Night which will cost an extra 17JD. Petra is by no means cheap and this Petra travel guide will show you that below. You will feel the pain when you pay for your tickets at the entrance. I remember thinking to myself, “Is it really necessary for me to see it?” I think after seeing it myself it is 100% worth it.
Currently the entry prices to Petra are:
- 50 JOD for a 1-day ticket about $70
- 55 JOD for a 2-day ticket about $78
- 60 JOD for a 3-day ticket about $85
As you can see getting into Petra is not cheap. However, if you purchase the Jordan pass that’s if you are in Jordan for 4 days and 3 nights you can leverage it to save money. You need to bring your passport or a form of ID to purchase a ticket.
What to Wear and Carry:
I suggest dressing comfortably because Petra is a long hike. Just getting to the Treasury which is the first major site takes 30-45 minutes and that’s walking at a good pace. I wore comfortable shoes and loose dress because of the heat. A hat can come in handy but I didn’t bring one and I was fine!
If you can carry your water and plan to buy more because you will need it. I was such a sweaty mess. Wear your sunscreen especially in the summer months because the sun is blistering hot! Don’t forget your camera gear and a small bag for all your things. If you use the Jordan pass, they will most likely need your passport to buy the tickets so don’t forget that.
The Major Sites:
I am including the sites that I thought were absolutely a must to see. After walking to the Treasury and then hiking to the Monastery I was done. I didn’t need to see anything else because they major sites pretty much covered it for me. In the heat and the crowds all the other stops felt like overkill.
- The Siq – It’s so humbling to walk through this are and then suddenly the Treasury is right in front of you.
- The Treasury – Remember from the entrance it is a 30-45 minute walk so come prepared. You will be hassled by the wannabe guides but you do not need them until you get to the Treasury where you’ll need them for the viewpoints. Be careful though those Bedouin men are known for being tricky especially to solo female travelers.
- The Treasury Viewpoints – Use the guides for this. It’s too treacherous to climb by yourself.
- The Monastery – This is a long uphill hike but there are steps. It will take 1.5-2 hours to walk there. This doesn’t make it easier, but the views are amazing, so I definitely recommend taking the hike.
Hopefully this mini Petra travel guide is useful to you.
Related Posts:
MUST-SEE PLACES IN JORDAN; YOU CANNOT SKIP
