Quick Answer
- Tickets: 50, 55 or 60 JD for one to three days if you sleep in Jordan; 90 JD for a day trip without an overnight.
- Jordan Pass: 70 to 80 JD with one to three Petra days, 40+ sites and the visa fee waived after a two-night stay.
- Best time: March to May and September to November; winter hours 06:30 to 17:00 from 2 October 2026.
- Where to stay: Wadi Musa, ideally near the Visitor Centre.
- Getting there: JETT from Amman at 06:30, about 3 hours by road; about 2 hours from Aqaba.
At a glance
- Best time
- March to May, September to November
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
- Currency
- Jordanian dinar (JOD)
- Language
- Arabic; English widely spoken
- Visa
- Fee waived with a Jordan Pass
- Getting around
- JETT bus, taxi or hire car
Petra is a city carved into rose-coloured sandstone by the Nabataeans more than 2,000 years ago, and it is far bigger than the famous Treasury photo suggests. The decisions that shape the trip: which ticket, how many days, where in Wadi Musa to sleep, and what the season does to the walk. Prices and hours below were checked on 10 October 2026.
When is the best time to visit Petra?
Spring and autumn are the official recommendation: Visit Petra names March to May and September to November as the mild seasons. Summer is hot and shadeless once you leave the Siq; winter is cool, quieter and occasionally wet.
There is no published official normal for Wadi Musa itself, so the table uses the two stations either side of the route from the WMO’s World Weather Information Service: Amman, which shares Petra’s highland pattern of cold, wet winters, and Aqaba on the Red Sea, the other gateway.
| Month | Amman high / low | Amman rain days | Aqaba high / low | What it means at Petra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | 14°C / 5°C | about 8 | 22°C / 10°C | Cold mornings, rain possible, thin crowds |
| January | 12°C / 4°C | about 11 | 21°C / 9°C | The coldest, wettest month: pack warm layers |
| February | 14°C / 4°C | about 11 | 22°C / 10°C | Still wet; sunny days are crisp and clear |
| March to May | 17–28°C / 6–14°C | 2 to 8 | 26–35°C / 13–21°C | The best walking weather, the busiest season |
| June to August | 31–32°C / 17–19°C | none | 38–39°C / 24–25°C | Start at opening time, rest at midday |
| September to November | 20–31°C / 9–17°C | 0 to 5 | 27–36°C / 15–23°C | Warm days, cooling nights, a second peak |
Winter has its own hours. From 2 October 2026 to 1 March 2027 the site and Visitor Centre open 06:30 to 17:00; from 2 March they return to 06:00 to 18:00. Shorter days mean the Monastery climb and the walk back need an early start.
How much are Petra tickets in 2026?
Petra’s pricing turns on one question: are you sleeping in Jordan? The rates below are Visit Petra’s official fees for foreign visitors.
| Ticket | Price | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| One day (staying at least one night in Jordan) | 50 JD | Children under 12 free in the daytime |
| Two days | 55 JD | Consecutive days only |
| Three days | 60 JD | Consecutive days only |
| One day, not staying overnight in Jordan | 90 JD | The day-tripper rate |
| Jordan Pass Wanderer / Explorer / Expert | 70 / 75 / 80 JD | 1, 2 or 3 consecutive days at Petra, plus 40+ sites |
| Petra by Night | 30 JD | Not in any day ticket or Jordan Pass; under-10s free |
The Jordan Pass is usually the better buy. Run by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, it waives the tourist entry visa fee if you buy it before arrival and stay at least two nights (3 days), and it adds entry to more than 40 other attractions. Buy it online before you fly; Petra tickets can also be bought at the Visitor Centre in Wadi Musa or through the Petra Pass site.
Optional extras inside the site are priced by the authority too: club car rides cost 10 to 25 JD depending on the route, and a licensed guide for the main trail starts at 50 JD.
Where should you stay for Petra?
Sleep in Wadi Musa, the town that wraps around the entrance. Being at the gate when it opens is the single best way to see the Siq and the Treasury before the tour groups arrive.
| Area | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Near the Visitor Centre | Walking to the gate at opening time, Petra by Night | Higher prices, busy in season |
| Central Wadi Musa | Local restaurants, more budget choice | A short taxi ride or a downhill walk to the gate |
| Upper Wadi Musa (the hill above town) | Views over the valley, quieter, often cheaper | You depend on taxis or hotel shuttles |
| Around Little Petra | Silence, starry skies, a camp-style night | A drive from the main entrance each morning |
First time? Pick a hotel within walking distance of the Visitor Centre, especially if you want Petra by Night or a dawn start. Compare hotels in Wadi Musa near the Petra gate
How do you get to Petra?
Most visitors fly into Queen Alia International Airport near Amman; Aqaba, on the Red Sea, is the southern alternative.
Jordan uses the dinar (JD). Mobile data helps with maps and bookings; download offline maps of the site before you go.
- Activate before you fly: data works on arrival
- Plans for 200+ countries from a few dollars
- Keep your number; no physical SIM swap
What should you not miss in Petra?
| Sight | Effort | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| The Siq to the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) | Easy, about one hour from the Visitor Centre | Go at opening time for an empty Siq |
| Street of Facades and the Royal Tombs | Easy | Best in afternoon light |
| The Monastery (Ad-Deir) | Moderate: hundreds of rock-cut steps | Start the climb by late morning in winter |
| High Place of Sacrifice | Moderate, steep stairs | Views over the whole valley |
| Petra by Night | Easy, about two hours | Sunday to Thursday from 20:30, 30 JD |
| Little Petra | Easy | A separate site a short drive from Wadi Musa; ticket office closes at 14:00 in winter |
The Monastery climb. The Jordan Tourism Board rates the Ad-Deir trail as moderate. It starts at the far end of the main trail and climbs hundreds of uneven rock-cut steps to the Monastery facade. Take water and proper shoes, and leave enough daylight to walk back out through the Siq before closing time.
Petra by Night. Visit Petra lists it Sunday to Thursday, from 20:30 to about 22:30, starting at the Visitor Centre. You need a valid daytime ticket or a Jordan Pass to buy the 30 JD evening ticket.
Eat well in Wadi Musa. Look for mansaf (lamb with rice and a yogurt sauce), maqluba and fresh flatbread in the town’s family-run restaurants, and carry snacks and plenty of water into the site, where food stalls are few and prices are higher.
What goes wrong at Petra?
- Flash floods in the Siq. The Siq is a narrow canyon that can flood fast after heavy rain. In November 2018 a warning system installed in 2014 sounded for the first time and visitors were evacuated to higher ground. If the sirens sound or staff tell you to move, climb away from the valley floor immediately.
- Underestimating the distances. The walk from the Visitor Centre to the Treasury alone takes about an hour, and the Monastery is far beyond it. Plan a full day and wear walking shoes.
- Buying the wrong ticket. Two- and three-day tickets must be used on consecutive days, and the day-tripper rate of 90 JD applies if you do not stay a night in Jordan.
- Assuming the Jordan Pass covers Petra by Night. It doesn’t; buy the evening ticket separately.
- Packing for desert heat in January. Highland winters are cold, with occasional heavy rain; bring a warm layer and a waterproof jacket.
How many days do you need in Petra?
Two days is right for most people. Spend the first on the Siq, the Treasury, the Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs and the Monastery climb, then come back for Petra by Night if it is a Sunday to Thursday. Use the second for the High Place of Sacrifice, Little Petra and a slower look at the Treasury in early light. One day is possible if you are at the gate at opening time; keen hikers can use a three-day ticket. For Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and Amman, our best time to visit Jordan guide covers the whole country month by month.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to visit Petra in 2026?
Visit Petra lists 50 Jordanian dinars for one day, 55 for two days and 60 for three days for visitors who stay at least one night in Jordan. Day-trippers who do not spend a night in Jordan pay 90 dinars for one day. Two- and three-day tickets must be used on consecutive days, and children under 12 enter free in the daytime.
Is the Jordan Pass worth it for Petra?
Usually, yes. The Jordan Pass costs 70 dinars with one day at Petra, 75 with two consecutive days and 80 with three, covers more than 40 other sites, and waives the tourist visa fee if you buy it before arrival and stay at least two nights (3 days). It does not include Petra by Night, which needs its own ticket.
When is Petra by Night?
Petra by Night runs Sunday to Thursday, starting at 20:30 from the Petra Visitor Centre and lasting about two hours, according to Visit Petra. Tickets cost 30 dinars, children under 10 go free, and you need a daytime Petra ticket or a Jordan Pass to buy one.
How many days do you need in Petra?
Two days is the sweet spot. Day one covers the Siq, the Treasury, the Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs and the Monastery climb; day two leaves time for the High Place of Sacrifice and Little Petra, or a slower second look in the early light. One day works if you start at opening time, and a three-day ticket suits keen hikers.
Where should I stay when visiting Petra?
Stay in Wadi Musa, the town at the entrance to Petra, so you can walk to the Visitor Centre and be at the gate when it opens. Hotels near the Visitor Centre save the most time; those higher up the town are often cheaper and rely on short taxi rides.
Is Petra open in winter?
Yes. Winter opening hours run from 2 October 2026 to 1 March 2027, with the site and Visitor Centre open 06:30 to 17:00. Expect cold mornings and occasional heavy rain: flash floods can close the Siq, and a siren system installed in 2014 warns visitors to move to higher ground.
Start planning your Petra trip
If you are only passing through on a day tour, the ticket is the one decision that matters. If you are staying, fly into Amman, buy the Jordan Pass before you land and book two nights in Wadi Musa for a spring or autumn week, or a quiet winter one.
Find cheap flights to Amman | Compare Petra hotel prices
Planning the wider trip? See our best time to visit Jordan guide for Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and Aqaba, and the hotels hub.
