Thinking of visiting Petra, Jordan? From how to get there, prices, and what to wear, this guide will help you plan a better trip to Petra.
If you’re in a time crunch but do not want to miss seeing the breathtaking world wonder Petra, then you are in the right place. With so much to discover in Petra, one day is nearly not enough to explore its vastness. Still, you can witness the most important spots.
I only had half the day to visit Petra before planning to head over to Wadi Rum before it got dark. I found that although I didn’t get to stay in Petra overnight and explore most of its stop points, half a day felt like enough and I was satisfied enough to leave to the next place without feeling like I was missing out. I hope to guide you on the essential things you need to know before visiting Petra!
Best time to visit
March- May or September-November: The best time to visit Jordan is during the cooler months in Spring and Autumn.
July & August: Hottest months, avoid peak hours.
January, February: Can be as cold as 2°C and possibly rainy. However, much less crowds.
The best time to visit Petra is in the super early morning right when it opens or late afternoon when most people have already left. At these times you’ll avoid the biggest crowds and avoid some hours of the hot sun constantly beaming at you. Around 7am- 4pm is a good amount of time to start and end your trip.
Petra Hours
Petra’s Visitor Centre is open each day from 6am to 7pm during the summer and 6am to 5pm in the winter.
How To Get There
Private driver
If you’re not staying in Petra, there are plenty of private drivers that will take you everywhere you need to go for the entire day and wait for you while you enjoy these sights. This may be the best way so you’re not scrambling to find a ride last minute when you’re in a rush to get to the next spot. These drivers offer great service and will give you tips and recommendations for each location. Best way to find these drivers is through your hotel. The cost from Amman to Petra was around 70 JD and took around 3 hours. If you’re coming from Aqaba it is 2 hours.
Private or Group Tours
You can find private or group tours on GetyourGuide.com but this one we were planning to use
Public transit
AMMAN to Petra- You can take the JETT Bus from Abdali station in Amman. Leaves at 6.30am and arrives at Petra around 10.30am. Returns back to Amman at 5pm.
AQABA to Petra- Buses leave from the central market at different times.
Entry Fee
If you’re planning to stay one day, the entrance fee is 50 JD per person. You can buy your ticket there or you can show your Jordan Pass as a ticket.
You save money getting a Jordan Pass, which you get at the airport upon arrival. The Jordan Pass costs 70 JD, including a visa which is anyways mandatory (valued at 40 JD), a one-day ticket to Petra, as well as access to 40 other sites within Jordan. Some of these are Jerash, Amman Citadel and Wadi Rum, extremely popular sites.
Entry Fee for Petra at Night
The Petra By Night is definitely an experience, where they put candles to light up the treasury. It is only available three times every week, and costs an extra 15 JD.
Tour Guides Cost
A google search sometimes isn’t enough when diving into what significance each point has in such a vast place like Petra. Getting a guide is helpful because you really get to learn and be guided through what it was like back then, and all your questions can be answered as you go.
A big however, local tour guides, of course want to make their money and they will try to upsell and work with the local Bedouins to convince you to get on the donkeys, camels, and horses. Be firm on what you want and don’t want. Be clear on prices and make sure they don’t surprise you at the end with a crazy amount you have to pay.
If your tour didn't include a guide, the tour guide itself can cost you around 30 JD just to the treasury. However, if you choose to get on the animals at multiple different points it can cost you up to 100 JD.
Washrooms
There are only clean functioning washrooms right at the entrance so be sure to use that before starting your adventure. However, there are a few porta potty-like washrooms at different points on your hike. It will be presented on your map so be sure to pre plan just in case you miss it.
What to watch out for: Scammers
As soon as you walk in you will see men with horses, telling you to ride and not to worry it’s “FREE'' and included in your ticket. But that is a lie, they will ask you for something once you’re done.
Continuing from the previous points, if you don’t have a tour guide, you will find many Bedouins (usually young local boys) who are extremely pushy on getting you on their mules, horses, taking your picture professionally, and taking you to the top of the viewpoint.
At times it will be very tempting to get on an animal since you may be hot and tired from all the walking but at the end you may realize that they don’t necessarily treat the animals the best. They are of course just trying to make their money, but their friendly demeanor changes if you don’t tip or don’t want to do what they advise. Of course not all are like this but just be mindful of it. They can charge anywhere from 20 JD to 60 JD for animal rides on different routes.
Walking distance
How long does it take to get from Entrance to Treasury?
Around 30- 40 minutes
How long does it take to get from the Treasury to the top viewpoint?
1000 stair steps later about 1.5 hours
How long does it take to get from the Treasury to the Monastery?
800 stairs steps later about 1.5 hours
What to Wear in Petra for Woman
I didn't necessarily pack the best, due to my lack of research. So I made a guide on what I would've packed different, Ultimate Packing List for Jordan. Since Jordan is a more conservative country, dressing more modestly is respectful to their culture. If you’re looking to take cute Instagram pictures, I recommend wearing something like a long flowy dress under a light sweater or scarf. In your backpack, pack a pair of cute sandals to change into for pictures. Bringing a light big scarf is super helpful to cover up when not taking pictures. Making sure you're comfortable for a lot of walking is most important.
Essential items to bring to Petra?
Sunscreen
Hat
Sunnies
Scarf
Cash
Passport
Water & Snacks
Stops
The Siq - This narrow abstracted rock walkway will lead to the prize.
First glimpse of treasury - When close, your guide will make you close your eyes, so you can see nothing a few seconds before opening your eyes and being shocked with just how beautiful it is in person. No picture will do it justice.
Treasury - Camels will usually be right in front of you, and it will be bustling with people. Be present and enjoy this world wonder as much as you can.
Viewpoint - A million steps to the top you will be awarded with the most stunning view.
Hidden shortcut back down from the viewpoint - If you’re dreading having to walk back down all those stairs, there is another, kinda dangerous but exciting hidden shortcut. If you’re fit and adventurous, ask a local and head down the bulky rocks and you will reach the bottom in about 30-40 minutes. It's easier than it looks (kinda). You will feel like you can do anything once you finish.
What To Eat
After so much hiking, walking, and food talk with your local guide, at the end of your Petra trip you will be craving a delicious Jordanian meal. My guide recommended we try a dish called Mansaf which is lamb, with a yogurt sauce over rice. We went to a restaurant 5 minutes away called Sandstone Restaurant, and it was truly one of the best meals I ate in my life.
Another really cool option to really dive into their culture is to book a dinner with a local family through A Piece of Jordan. No better way to immerse in the Jordanian traditions than eating a home cooked meal.
What I Would Have Done Differently
I would have loved to see Petra at night if I had more time. You can see Petra at night only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. So you can plan your itinerary around these days! Having more days and time you can really explore a lot more amazing historical sites Petra has to offer. However the hikes can be extremely tiring so if you’re looking for one and done to just see the main ones, I honestly think it will be more than enough.
Conclusion
After spending half a day in Petra, I didn't really feel like I needed to go back for more. I was satisfied with just seeing the treasury, the viewpoint looking down at it and taking the cool shortcut no one knew about back down. Is Petra safe? It is safe, as long you are aware of scammers and know how to bargain so you won't be ripped off. Overall, the people are nice and you will feel safe walking around. It is an experience of a lifetime and would highly recommend it to everyone.
I hope this guide helped you in any way. Please let me know in the comments if it did. Let me know also if you went already and how was your experience, or if you plan on going!
Thanks for being here! <3
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