Petra, “the lost city” in Jordan, was on my bucket list for a long time! Not only is it one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, the caves, temples and tombs that are carved in the white and red sandstone speak wildly to the imagination. Petra still keeps a lot of secrets. Only 15 percent of the city is uncovered, which is the part you can visit today. This means that 85 percent is still hidden underground. Petra must have been massive since the area that is open to the public, is already quite extensive! That’s why a good preparation to visit the city is really necessary. There are so many trails and architectural gems to see, that it can be overwhelming to decide what to do. That’s why I share my personal experience and advise with you in this “How to visit Petra” travel guide!
How to visit Petra: everything you need to know
The history of Petra (in short)
Petra once was a thriving city built by the Nabataeans with innovative irrigation, transport and storage systems. It began to prosper as the capital of the Nabataean Empire around the 1st century BC. But once the Romans took over, the city lost its glory with the extra help of earth quakes and the upcoming sea trade. Its remaining inhabitants abandoned the city around 700 AD and Petra remained empty for centuries until Swiss explorer Johann Burckhardt rediscovered it in 1812. I will be forever grateful for his discovery!
Where is Petra and how can you get there?
Petra is situated at a village called Wadi Musa about 250 km from Amman, Jordan’s capital city. You can take a bus or a taxi in Amman, but I chose to do a road trip and rent a car since there are plenty more things to see in Jordan (you can read more about that here). There are hotels at Wadi Musa who offer shuttles from the airport, but it takes about 3.5 hours to get there and it’s not the most pleasant drive. A taxi or shuttle is also very expensive if you compare it to the price of a rental car.
Where and how long should you stay?
I chose the Petra Mövenpick Hotel (book here) simply because the visitor center of Petra is right across the street (literally just a few steps). It has a swimming pool, clean spacious rooms and very friendly staff (they helped me to get my delayed luggage faster). Also the breakfast was heavenly! There is plenty of choice and they even got waffles!
I recommend staying at least 2 nights. If you look at a map of Petra, you’ll notice Petra is quite big. Exploring Petra in one day is not enough to get a full experience (I’ll come back to that later).
How much does it cost to visit Petra?
Prices depend on whether you stay in Jordan or not. If you visit Petra from abroad and you won’t spend at least one night in Jordan, a ticket for one day will cost 90 JD (104 € / 127 $). If you do stay at least one night in Jordan, prices are cheaper:
one day: 50 JD / 58 € / 71 $
two days: 55 JD / 64 € / 78 $
three days: 60 JD / 70 € / 85 $
Petra by night is not included and will cost an extra 17 JD (20 € / 24 $).
If you stay a minimum of 3 nights in Jordan, I recommend to buy the Jordan Pass online. It will cost you 80 JD (93 € / 113 $) if you take the Jordan Expert Pass, which includes a three day ticket to Petra (60 JD), free entry to over 40 attractions in Jordan and your entry visa fee (40 JD).
How to visit Petra at its best?
Actually there are only three important things you must remember; you’ll have to wake up early, you’ll need more than one day and avoid high season! Waking up early and avoiding high season is necessary if you want to escape the crowds and the hot temperatures. Petra is the most popular place to visit in Jordan and temperatures can rise sky high because you are in the desert. Getting there at opening time (6.00 am) is ideal! You’ll get Petra completely to yourself (with just a few other early birds) and you can do the hikes while temperatures are still manageable. Petra is also quite big so you can’t see everything in just one day. Plan at least two days to visit Petra. Read more about planning two days in Petra here.
What to wear in Petra?
Jordan is a muslim country, but they are very open minded. You’re not obliged to wear a headscarf. Do remember to show respect to the country and its people. I always wore a loose pants and a top. It’s OK to show your arms at touristic sites such as Petra, but avoid decolletés and shorts.
Also keep in mind that you will walk a lot in Petra! The trail through the Siq is already 1.5 km. The main trail is about 4 km with an additional 2 km if you add the hike with the 1000 steps to the Monastery. There is only one way in and out, so you’ll be doing a lot of kilometers! Make sure to wear decent closed shoes, not sandals because the tiny rocks and sand will annoy you. Long dresses or skirts aren’t comfortable either if you’re planning to do the hikes or a lot of stairs. I also recommend a backpack.
What to see and do in Petra?
If you follow the main trail you’ll get to see the biggest part of Petra with buildings such as the Treasury (known from the Indiana Jones movie “The Last Crusade”), the Street of Facades, the Theatre and the Royal Tombs. If you continue this trail and walk up the 1000 steps you’ll also reach the Monastery. But besides the main trail, there are plenty of other hiking options. I added the Al-Khubtha Trail to get the most awesome view on the Treasury from up above and another unofficial one to get another view on the Treasury and to do a short cut to the High Place of Sacrifice. A more detailed post about the best views of Petra you’ll find here.
Where to eat and drink in Petra?
You’ll find a lot of “bars” at Petra, which are bedouin tents with drinks and snacks. At the end of the main trail, near the museum there’s even a buffet restaurant. Also when you do the hikes up above the rocks, you’ll find bedouin tents offering cool drinks (you wonder how they do the hike every day, probably on their donkey)! If you wonder where to have a great meal in Wadi Musa after your day in Petra I definitely recommend “My Mom’s Recipe”! Take place at the “à la carte” part of the restaurant, which is a rooftop terrace with the most pretty decor!
Book your stay near Petra here!
If you like the pictures in this “How to visit Petra: everything you need to know” article, I suggest to follow my Instagram account where you can find a lot more!
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