Petra is one of the oldest cities in the world, and has attracted over a million visitors in recent years. Carved into sandstone cliffs, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and featured in over 20 films. It is also one seven wonders of the modern world, and a must for any trip to Jordan. More than the Treasury, it’s an ancient city, still alive with merchants and animal keepers. From sunup to sundown, spend a day or more in this magical place. Here are the top things to do in Petra.
What’s Petra?
Petra is actually the Petra Archaeological Park, which includes 264,000 acres. The iconic building most visitors associate with Petra is called the Treasury. It’s one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Built at the crossroads of the Arabic, Egyptian and Syrian-Phoenician trade routes, the Nabataeans carved a city of elaborate facades out of solid sandstone. The exact date of construction is unknown, though it could be as early as the 4th century B.C.
As a symbol of trading wealth, Petra flourished, though abandoned by 700 AD. Petra remained a secret, only known to a few animal herders for centuries. It was rediscovered by the West when a Swiss Explorer visited in 1812.
22 BEST Things to Do in Petra
Stop By the Petra Museum
Learn about Petra
Stroll The Bab As Siq
The Bab As Siq Dam
Walk down The Siq
Marvel at The Treasury
Walk Down The Street of Facades
See the High Place of Sacrifice
Gaze at The Theatre
See The Royal Tombs
Walk Down The Colonnaded Street
Stop at The Nymphaeum
See The Church Complex
Walk By The Great Temple
Visit the Qasr al-Bint
Spot The Lion Triclinium
Grab Lunch at the Basin Restaurant
Climb to The Monastery
Ride a Donkey
Enjoy Petra At Night
Go to the Cave Bar
Take a Hammam
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Why is Petra Special?
South of the Dead Sea and north of the Red Sea, the mountainous area surrounding Petra was a trade route. The native people were Arabic nomads, or Bedouins, called the Nabataeans. They controlled a network of oases vital for survival.
As a result, the Nabataeans prospered and began to build monuments and tombs to demonstrate their wealth. The exact date of Petra’s construction is unknown, though thought to be as early as the 4th century BC. During the 1st century, at the height of the Nabataean culture, 20,000 people lived there.
The Romans conquered the area in 106 AD, and the area declined soon after. The trade route changed as water routes were used more than overland routes. Petra was lost for over a thousand years and known only to local Bedouins who herded animals in the area.
Then, in 1812, a Swiss Explorer rediscovered Petra after the local Bedouin showed him the fabled lost city. In 1839, a Scottish painter sketched the area and returned to Britain with tales from the Bedouins.
In 1917, British Officer T.E. Lawrence, or Lawrence of Arabia, helped to lead the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire through the area around Petra. Eventually pushing the Ottomans out in Aqaba, at the Red Sea.
Interest surged in the area, and in 1929, four scholars excavated and surveyed Petra. Two British scholars, along with a folklore expert from Palestine, conducted the study. It is still being surveyed, and the majority of the site is still to be studied.
In 1985, the United Nations designated Petra a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ushering in the age of tourism. In 2007, Petra was declared one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, along with the Great Wall of China and Machu Picchu.
The Petra Museum
Visitors can tour the Petra Museum before or after their visit. It includes artifacts that were discovered in the archaeological site. It includes an overview of the site and digs deep into its history.
The Petra Museum also gives visitors more details on the people who lived in the area.
Located just outside the Petra Archeological Park. Open daily from 8:30 to 8:30 p.m. from April to October, then open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from November to March. It is free to enter.
The Bab As Siq
Once passing the main gate, most visitors take the Bab As Siq to enter the Petra Archeological Site. The main entrance is a large area with a collection of gift kiosks and tour guides available for hire.
If it’s your first visit, walk through The Siq. It is the Gateway to the Slot Canyon. This slot canyon has sandstone walls on each side and a dramatic reveal of the Treasury.
The Bab As Siq Dam
It rains in the desert, and when it does, it needs to be contained so as not to flood. The Nabataeans were masters at rainwater collection and flash-flood water diversion.
Near the entrance of the Siq, the Nabataeans protected the temples in Petra. The Bab As Siq Dam and tunnel protect the ancient city from floods while harvesting rainwater for later use.
The Siq
A narrow gorge, or slot canyon, is the dramatic gateway to The Treasury. It is a natural phenomenon, the result of a slit in the sandstone.
It is relatively flat and 1 km long (.6-mile). Little has changed in the slot canyon over the centuries, so it is an excellent introduction to the complex.
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The Treasury
Positioned at the end of the Siq, the dramatic relief feels like a Hollywood moment. As the national symbol of Jordan, it is recognizable to most who visit Petra.
Known as the Al Khazna in Arabic, it is the most magnificent monument carved by the Nabataeans. It is the hand-carved rock façade that the Nabataeans carved the monument from the top down, 39.5 meters (127 feet) tall.
The Bedouins believed a pharaoh hid a treasure in the urn at the top of the structure. There are bullet holes from one attempt to retrieve the treasure.
It is a mausoleum, and archaeological research found three royal tombs dating to the First Century BC. It is worth noting that visitors can go inside the Treasury.
I recommend you take your time and absorb the site. It is much more dramatic in person than in photos and video. In this area, there are camel photo ops.
My Visit to Petra
Has a movie ever inspired you to travel across the world? In the late 80s, I sat in a movie theater watching Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and saw The Treasury for the first time. I knew I had to see it.
Fast forward 30 years, and I found myself walking along the Siq, 10,000 miles from home. Standing in the shadow of The Treasury, chills covered my body. I felt a little like Indiana myself, dusty and dressed for adventure.
With an audible wow, the journey of a lifetime settled upon me as I stood in its shadow. For the best experience, I saw The Treasury in the soft light of the morning.
After studying The Treasury and taking what seems like a million photos, I took the path to the right to discover its ancient city. Petra is part active archaeological dig, part tourist destination and a thriving ancient city.
However, residents have moved to the nearby Wadi Musa (the nearby tourist town). Petra is still a hub as camel handlers hawk their services. Merchants set up stalls selling souvenirs, like tiny carved camels and postcards. Tour guides lead groups, explaining the significance in every imaginable language.
I recommend you take your time and spend at least one full day exploring Petra. For my trip, I had a guide for the entire excursion. Many in Petra speak English.
The Street of Facades
The Treasury is the big reveal. However, Petra is more than the Treasury. The path widens after the Treasury.
The next section of the Siq is known as the Street of Facades. It features more rock facades of the Nabataean tombs. This area features 40 more tombs and homes. Some of the openings, visitors can enter.
High Place of Sacrifice
The Nabataeans performed animal sacrifice. High above the Street of Facades, the rock façade was used for religious ceremonies.
Visitors can climb to see this area. It features a shallow indentation on Jebel Madbah with a channel for the pool to drain away.
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The Theatre
The next site on the route might look Roman, but the Nabataeans built it. The semi-circular stair-stepped seating area rises up from a stage area.
The Theatre is carved into the rock instead of stacking rocks to make the steps. It is thought that the Theater was constructed in the first century CE. This area was built after earlier tombs.
The Royal Tombs
As travelers continue along the route, pass the Theater. The next site is the Royal Tomb. There are four side-by-side tombs in the Jebel Al Khubtha.
Westward facing, the tombs glow in the afternoon sun. They include the Urn, Silk, Corinthian and Palace Tombs.
The Colonnaded Street
Initially built by the Nabataeans around 106 CE, marble-clad sandstone columns originally lined the 6m-wide (19 feet) opening, which served as a road, lined with shops. This area is still the main throughfare.
The Romans refurbished the street during their occupation. The Nymphaeum is at the beginning of Columnaded Street.
The Nymphaeum
Along the original Colonnaded Street, the ruins of a semi-circular public fountain remain. It was a gathering place where people got water.
The area was a shopping district in ancient Petra, as it was the meeting place of Wadi Musa and Wadi al-Mataha. Near the remains of the fountain, a 400-year-old pistachio tree is located.
The Church Complex
As a crossroads, people came through this area for centuries. This area housed three churches: The Ridge Church, Blue Chapel, and Petra Church
Built by the Byzantines in the 5th century CE, the churches were built on previous Nabataean tombs. It was destroyed by fire and earthquakes.
Great Temple
Built in the first century BCE, this is one of the major architectural monuments in Petra and a sacred site. Originally 18m (59 feet) high, the enclosure was 40m by 28m (131 by 91 feet).
Unfortunately, this area is subject to earthquakes. The Great Temple was destroyed early on; however, the area was used for some time. Visitors can walk between the remains of the columns and get a feeling of its scale.
Qasr al-Bint
Known as the Palace of the Pharaoh’s Daughter, this is a square monument on a pedestal. Measuring 27 m by 27 m (88 feet square), a flight of 26 marble stairs leads to the monument.
Priests were the only people allowed inside the Qasr al-Bint. Dushara, a major Nabataean god, was worshipped here.
The Lion Triclinium
This triclinium showcases the intricate Nabataean rock-cut architecture. It features two lions decorating the outside of this chamber.
This area also features a frieze of triglyphs and metopes, with the head of Medusa on each end. It was used for feasts, and visitors can use the seven steps to reach the area.
Take a Break at the Basin Restaurant
For lunch, I dined at The Basin Restaurant along the Colonnaded Street in Petra. I enjoyed a table outside on the shaded patio, though indoor dining is available. It offers a buffet of Middle Eastern classics and desserts.
This is the best place to eat during your day trip to Petra. There are also restrooms in the area. Remember to tip the restroom attendants.
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The Monastery
Similar to the Treasury, the Monastery is larger. It measures 50m wide and 45m high (164 x 147 feet). Built in the third century BCE as a Nabataean tomb during the reign of King Rabel II, it was also used by the Byzantine Empire centuries later.
To reach the Monastery, you will have to climb over 800 steps. There is a restaurant before the stairs to the monument.
During my trip, our group took donkeys to the Monastery. You can walk too. I recommend taking a break before heading up.
Ride a Donkey to The Monastery
Conserve your energy and take a donkey up the nearly 1,000 steps to visit the magnificent Monastery as it glows in the afternoon sun. With an experienced guide leading the way, the donkeys climb the steps on sure-footed hooves.
During my ride, I had a donkey named William Shakespeare who led a young guide (I think my guide was 18). The trip isn’t for the faint of heart, with the combination of worn steps and sheer cliffs on one side of the stairs. It is equal parts exhilarating and terrifying. The heart-pounding ride felt like a workout. The guide, used to occasional female riders, reassured me with an “It’s OK, lady.”
Don’t miss The Monastery, even with the trip up the steps. It is more impressive than The Treasury. Most day visitors see The Monastery in the amber light of the late afternoon. After all, it requires the hike along The Siq, The Colonnaded Street and up the steps,
With skies the shade of bluebird, the Nabataean classical architectural features pop in the afternoon sun. As a reward, I enjoyed a cup of mint tea at the tea shop in the shadow of the Monastery.
Know Before You Go: For experienced riders only, not advised for small children or nervous riders. There are portable toilets at the top.
Petra At Night
If you can, see Petra in the amber glow of 1,500 candles while listening to traditional music. As I sat in the sand at the foot of The Treasury, I took the opportunity to study the monument, maybe to remember the details for a lifetime.
Petra, under the veil of candlelight, is magical, though it’s not a substitute for exploring during the day. If you have limited time in Petra, don’t try to do both in one day.
Petra-at-Night is an additional ticket; 30JD (Jordanian Dinar) for adults and kids under 12 are free. Purchase tickets at the visitor center. Gates open at 8:30 p.m., and the program lasts for two hours. Bring a flashlight as you will continue down the Siq, and it is dark in places.
During my visit to Petra At Night, I took a dinner break back at my hotel.
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Shopping in Petra
During my visit, I picked up some souvenirs. I recommend the personalized sand bottles for kids. Artisans will add their names to a traditional bottle of sand art.
Take home a taste of Jordan; I bought Jordan’s national spice, Za’atar. A proprietary mixture, though, most blends include thyme, oregano, marjoram, sesame and salt.
I found several merchants selling scarves or bracelets. However, if they are not interested in their wares, a simple thank you will get them to walk on.
How Many Steps?
Count those steps; it might be the top day of your trip. The steps add up quickly, so if you or someone in your group has mobility concerns, consider hiring a horse cart.
During my visit, I walked from Petra’s entrance through the Siq all the way to the Basin Restaurant. Then, I hired a donkey to ride up the nearly 1,000 steps to The Monastery. I walked back down.
Donkeys and camels can be hired at any point along the way. I recommend it for adults and older kids, especially if you visit Petra in one day.
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Where’s Petra
Located 240 km (150 miles) south of the capital, Amman and 120 km (75 miles) north of Aqaba on the Red Sea. The Petra Archaeological Park includes 264,000 acres. A ticket is required to visit, and if you stay in Jordan for at least one night, a discounted ticket is available.
Petra is open every day. Summer hours are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Winter hours are from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adult admission is 50 JD for one day, 55 JD for two days and 60 JD for three days. Kids under 12 are free.
For visitors touring Petra without a Jordan hotel stay (cruise passengers) the admission is 90JD. Carry your passport; you may have to show it.
Where to Eat in Petra
During my visit, I ate breakfast at the Marriott’s Dushara Restaurant, which offers a selection of Arabic and Western options. This is also where I stayed, and it served a buffet for breakfast. Located at Queen Rania Al Abdallah Street Wadi Mousa, 21163.
For lunch, I dined at The Basin Restaurant along the Colonnaded Street in Petra. I enjoyed a table outside on the shaded patio, though indoor dining is available. It offers a buffet of Middle Eastern classics along with dessert.
For dinner, I dined at the Mövenpick Resort Petra’s Al Saraya Restaurant. With an extensive daily buffet, I found Western, Asian and Arabian entrees for dinner. Conveniently located across from the entrance of Petra, the Mövenpick offers a place to dine before walking to Petra at night. It is located at Tourism St, Wadi Musa 71810.
For drinks, including cocktails, visit the Cave Bar, located next to the entrance of Petra. It’s a bar carved into the rock that serves cocktails, Arabic coffee and Mint Tea. Its address is The Cave Bar, Wadi Musa, and it is located near the Petra Museum.
Take a Hammam
For my trip to Jordan, I wanted to experience a hammam or Turkish Bath. The ritual was introduced to the Middle East by the Romans, and there are several places in Petra for a Hammam. For convenience, I went to The Petra Marriott Hotel, where I was staying.
After disrobing in a Western changing room, complete with lockers, I entered the warm room, the first in a series of steam rooms. The tiled rooms offered benches on all sides, and bathers sat and inhaled the steam. This helps people decompress as they breathe deeply.
After a few minutes in the warm room, I moved to the hot room. There, I instantly started to sweat, releasing toxins from my pores, similar to a redwood steam room, except wet.
Finally, my masseuse guided me to a bathing room, where I climbed onto a stone slab. She poured soapy water infused with moisturizers over me, then took a loofah to my skin. After scrubbing my skin vigorously, she revealed a newer, softer me.
After rinsing, I enjoyed a massage before returning to the steam room. I recommend this after a long day of hiking and best enjoyed with friends.
Where to Stay in Petra
During my visit, I stayed at the Petra Marriott Hotel. With a view of the desert and an extensive breakfast buffet, it exceeded my expectations for lodging in the Middle East.
With rooms appealing to Western travelers, I found all the comforts of a Marriott room, including Western bathrooms, in-room safes and in-room beverage service.
During my stay, I ate at the Dushara Restaurant with a breakfast buffet. In the evening, I enjoyed a sunset cocktail on the back balcony overlooking the mountains.
Located on Queen Rania Al Abdallah Street, the Petra Marriott Hotel requires a ride to the gates of the ancient city of Petra.
ProTips
Wear comfortable shoes, like hiking boots or athletic shoes. Hiking is required.
Bring a hat and wear clothing to protect your skin from the sun.
Carry local currency for camel or donkey rides. Tips for the restroom attendant are appreciated.
Is it Safe to Travel to Jordan?
According to the U.S. State Department, “While Jordan itself is relatively stable, due to high tensions in the region, the security environment remains complex and can change quickly.” Follow the U.S. State Department for up-to-date information.
You can also register for its STEP, Safe Traveler Enrollment Program, which sends out text alerts if the conditions change on the ground. Traveler insurance is always a good idea at any time, especially for international trips.
My trip is probably like your trip. I explored Jordan for eight days with a full travel day on both ends. I visited Jordan in late October.
This article was created after a hosted trip by the North American Jordan Tourism Board. This post contains affiliate links.
