Petra is without a doubt a fascinating, unique and special to visit while in Jordan. The “city built in the rock” has been on every travellers watchlist since the beginning of times. Apart from being featured in the famous Indiana Jones movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, this magical Wonder of the World is an important part of human history. Even though it dates back over 2500 years, the site has been under the wing of UNESCO just for the past 30 years or so. Given its fame, you’d never think that just this year the number of visitors managed to break the 1million milestone, an incredibly small number in comparisons to the 7-8million/year visitors of the Taj Mahal.
What really is Petra?
I have to admit that before deciding to plan out a trip to Jordan, my idea of Petra (and believe me I wasn’t alone) was just a massive gorgeous entrance façade built inside the rock, nothing less, nothing more. And I couldn’t have been more wrong!!!
The site of Petra is huge, it extends over an area of 265 square kilometres and to give you an idea, just the entrance path is about 1.2km long. Most importantly the photo spam pretty much anywhere from social medias to online guides is nothing but a tiny fragment of the real thing.
Generally speaking Petra can be divided into 7 different areas: Visitor Center, Siq, Treasury, High Place, Royal Tombs, City Complex and Monastery.
Navigate through the site
The Beginning
Entrance trail just after the visitor center
Visitor Center
This is literally the entrance of the site which consists of a large market-like plaza, some shops, a museum and several ticket offices. Parking is available for all vehicles even though most people get here by public transport.
Inside the Siq
The Siq (Canyon)
The only path from the visitor center to the heart of the site will lead you right into the Siq, a beautiful natural canyon where the famous Treasury is located. From the visitor center it takes around 15-20min relaxed walk to the Siq and then around the same to the Treasury. Along this path you’ll see some minor buildings as well as the beautiful gateway to the Siq (Bab Al Siq).
The Middle
The main attraction of Petra, the Treasury
The Treasury
This is the most famous part of the site that almost always appear in the iconic Petra photos. It’s located close to the end of the Siq and completely surrounded by high canyon walls.
The theatre and High Place/altar trail
The High Place (Altar)
Just as the canyon starts to open up, you’ll find yourself surrounded by several constructions, often old native houses, a theatre and a path leading to the High Place (High Place of Sacrifice Trail) where sacrifices used to take place back in the days. All this will be found on the LEFT (west) of the main trail.
The Royal Tombs
Similarly, right on the other side of the canyon walls, you’ll start to see some gorgeous façades which are the entrance of the royal tombs. There are several tombs and in some of them you’ll also be allowed to go inside; additionally, from here you can also follow a path (Al-Khubtha Trail) that leads up to a peak from which you can overlook the Treasury from above. All this will be found on the RIGHT (east) of the main trail.
The End
The colonnade leading to the city complex
The City Complex
Just as the canyon disappears behind, you’ll find yourself in a valley where the old city center of the local civilisation used to live. This city complex, similar to Amman’s Citadel, include ruins of the Nymphaeum (a fountain), a Church (more recent), Great Temple (stunning place which is among the biggest monuments of the whole site), a fascinating Colonnaded Street and another temple (Qasr al-Bint).
The beautiful Monastery
The Monastery
In my opinion the most beautiful place overall, this Treasury look-alike also known as Ad Deir is located at the end of challenging Ad-Deir Trail. Once at the end of the city complex, the trail will start to climb up toward the mountains up until the very top where the Monastery is located. Along the trail you’ll see several local shops (souvenirs and non-), lookout points and even a couple of proper snack bars.
**Check Here the Essential Hiking Guide to Petra!**
Tickets & Times
Ticket Types
You can buy tickets for Petra depending on how many CONSECUTIVE days you want to spend visiting the site. One-Day tickets costs 50JOD/pp, Two-Day tickets costs 55JOD/pp and Three-Day tickets costs 60JOD/pp; for more information visit the official website. For people just visiting for the day from Israel the fee is set to 90JOD. Read more on how Jordan Pass include the Petra ticket.
Night Show
The Petra Night Show is held only three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and the cost for the show is 17JOD/pp. Usually there are two time slots, 7.30pm or 8.30pm and the amount of tickets sold is limited.
The tour involve some live music, a tea and some average explanation, nothing too outstanding though, for a total of 1h-1h30max of visit. In all honesty, the show itself is kinda of meh and I wouldn’t do it again but it was amazing to see Petra by night! More info at the official website here.
Opening Times
During the summer period the site is open from 6am to 6pm, whilst in winter the closing time is anticipated at 4pm. By closing time it means nobody else will be allowed to enter but you can still be wandering around the site even at night if you manage to enter before closing time.
Petra by night
Guided Tours & Best Spots
Horses, Carriages & Guides
There are plenty of guides offering their services and locals offering to take you on a horse ride around. If you really wish to take a guide, we suggest asking for it at the visitor center and not randomly around the site in order to have the best rates and a great quality service (50-100JOD). On the other hand, any ride on horses or donkeys offered by the locals should be kindly refused. Not only rates will vary depending on your nationality or will to bargain (even though official rates are in place) but the conditions under which the animals are kept are simply horrible. Please don’t support this type of tourism!
Best Sunrise & Sunset
The best sunrise can be enjoyed from the Treasury or the city complex. Even though the canyon walls of the Treasury are pretty high you’ll still have a chance to see a beautiful soft light over all the buildings. The best sunset can be seen from the Monastery, that said if you’re planning to do this remember that is very likely you’ll have to walk back in the dark.
How to get to Petra
From/to Amman
Tourist Bus: There’s only one daily bus from JETT Bus Station (Abdali Station) that leaves at 6.30am and arrives at Petra at 10-10.30am. The same bus heads back to Amman at 5pm (summer) and 4pm (winter). This service runs on a daily basis.
Local Bus: You can also get local minibuses from the Southern Bus Station in Amman from 9am to 4pm and in Petra from 6am to 1pm heading back to Amman.
From/to Aqaba
You can get local buses (times vary greatly) from Aqaba city center for just 10JOD or get a taxi for 50JOD to Petra city center. Alternatively, you can also get a local minivan at 9am to Wadi Rum (only 8JOD) and from there take a cab, often shared with other people, for another 10-15JOD to Aqaba.
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This is so far the best information I have got on Jordan. I am visiting Jordan in the last week of Feb and this is my first time in Jordan. I was hoping you can help me further.
Hey glad you found the info here useful for organizing your trip. There are also other articles about Jordan on the blog but should that not be enough, feel free to send me an email at connectedhorizons@yahoo.com or contact me through the facebook page.