How To Visit Petra, Jordan | Tips & Tricks

Whether you are a fan of Indiana Jones, ancient civilizations, or travel, you’ve probably heard of the prehistoric Jordanian city of Petra. But while many have heard of Petra, only a few have experienced it firsthand. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World, it is one of the world’s most-visited ancient sites.

Petra has an amazing history and has earned the name “The Lost City” for good reason.

Petra is more than a beautiful background for photos! It was first referenced back in the Bronze Age in Egyptian campaign accounts and the Amarna letters. However, it didn’t start to really grow until the Iron Age when it became a home for the Old Testament’s Edomites who used the canyon’s natural water reservoirs as a stopping ground for merchants. Petra later fell under the control of the Nabataeans, one of several nomadic Bedouin tribes that roamed the Arabian Desert. Petra was a Bedouin trading center and the capital of the Nabataean empire for 500 years between 400 B.C. and A.D. 100.

Rome took control of Petra in A.D. 106 and built many of the buildings still visible in the ancient city (like the 6,000 seat theater and some of the city’s most impressive facades). It is estimated that more than 30,000 people lived in Petra during the height of its importance. However, in 363 an earthquake destroyed many buildings and crippled the vital water management system. Petra passed through the hands of the Byzantines, Crusaders, and Mamluks before becoming lost to the Western World in the 12th century. Yes. The entire city of Petra wasn’t known to the Western World for hundreds of years. It wasn’t until the early 1800s did Swiss explorer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, disguise himself in Bedouin costume and infiltrate the ancient rock city. Until then, only Bedouins would travel into the canyons and use the city as protection against the elements.

Petra is more than just a few buildings carved in stone. Today, archaeologists have only explored less than half of the site and they are constantly finding new buildings. Petra spreads out over 100 square miles. During our visit, we walked more than 10 miles inside the city exploring all the various buildings and tombs carved into the cliffs. 

Your journey begins at the Visitors Center in the town of Wadi Musa. From the entrance, you’ll walk one mile on a paved road through and through a sandstone 250-foot-high (76-meter-high) slot canyon known as the Siq that leads directly to Al Khazneh (the Treasury). Walking through the Siq is remarkable and the experience feels magical in many ways. To get the best experience, go early and take your time as you approach the Treasury.

Fun Fact: In the Hollywood blockbuster, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the movie’s fictional Canyon of the Crescent Moon was modeled after this slot canyon.

Unfortunately, the Treasury doesn’t host the holy grail or any treasure at all. It got the name “the Treasury” because of a giant urn carved above the entrance. Bedouin tribesmen living in and among the ancient ruins would try to shoot the urn with rifles because they believed it was full of treasure, but in reality, it is solid stone. Overall, the building is over 127 feet high and is nearly 82 feet wide. 

The Treasury is one of the most photogenic spots in the city. Get there early or stay late to get the best photo. The light shines upon the front of the facade during the morning, so the preference is to get there early.

From the Treasury, you’ll follow a path for 1.5 miles through another canyon to the “main” area of the city. As you go, you’ll see more tombs carved into the cliffs, but it isn’t until you get to the Roman road that you can see the Amphitheater, Royal Tombs, The Great Temple, Winged Lion Temple, and The Qasr al-Bint. All of which are worth exploring and are underrated. 

However, what you’ll probably be most interested in is finding the Monastery. Unfortunately, to get there, you have to climb up 850 steps. It’s only about a 40-minute hike if you’re in relatively good shape, but probably an hour or so if you take some breaks. If that’s too much, there are locals who offer rides via donkey.

Ad Deir is the Arabic name for “The Monastery” and it is the second most commonly visited monument in Petra. Once you arrive, turn right and you will see the amazing views. There is a little rest stop at the top, named “End of the World Coffee”, so you can buy some food and drink while you enjoy the view. The rock-cut façade of the Monastery is 154 ft high and 157 ft wide. The Monastery has appeared in several Hollywood movies, including Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

• Spend the night. Trying to do get to Petra and see all of it in a single day is a common mistake. Remember that Petra is four times the size of Manhattan. Stay the night in Wadi Musa (we loved Petra Guest House Hotel and their Cave Bar) the night before you start exploring to ensure you can get to the gate early. In a perfect world, stay the night after too (you’ll be pretty tired after walking around all day).

• Wear comfortable shoes. While donkeys, camels, and horse buggies can help you see the city, most of Petra’s sites are best reached on foot. Come ready to hike through cliffside paths, rock roads, and sand canyon floors. You don’t need hiking boots, but at a minimum wear tennis shoes.

• Bring cash. Funny enough, the prices and variety of scarves, jewelry, and other goods inside Petra were better than anywhere else we visited in Jordan. We visited markets in Jerash, Amman, and Aqaba and still found that we should’ve bought more of our gifts inside Petra! Also, the “guides” you meet inside the city will charge for providing you access to certain photo spots not accessible to the public. So if you want to shop or get some unique shots of Petra, bring cash ($100 USD should be enough).

• Skip the night tour. We’ve all seen the magical photos of Petra By Night. However, the actual experience is lacking. It is a long hike at night through the Siq to get to the Treasury. Then they perform a “show” for you which lasts about an hour or so. Afterward, they turn on tacky colorful spotlights onto the facade. After only about 30 minutes, they turn off the lights and blow out the candles. Without a professional camera and getting there early, you won’t get a good photo. Save yourself the $25 USD and get a good night’s sleep.

• Watch the weather. It gets very hot in the summer and very cold during the winter. We went during Christmas and had to bundle up in the morning (which meant we had to carry a lot of coats around with us during the full day of hiking). However, we heard horror stories of how hot it can get in the desert during the summer months. Try to go during Fall or Spring if you can.

Petra is 100% worth visiting. We agree with the Smithsonian that Petra is one of the places you must see before you die. Just keep these tips and tricks in mind as you make your plans!

As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own. Be sure to check out more destinations on the blog here!

Angie xoxo