Petra

How many days: 2

Spend your first day walking through the Siq to the Treasury, then continue towards the Street of Facades, theatre and central archaeological area. Take your time with the main route rather than trying to rush between landmarks.

Use the second day for the Monastery hike, Royal Tombs and additional viewpoints if your fitness allows. Two days gives you a much fuller experience than a brief visit. Stay nearby in Wadi Musa so you can start early and avoid unnecessary travel.

What to do in Petra

Walk through the Siq

Follow the narrow sandstone gorge that forms Petra's famous entrance. Its towering rock walls make the approach part of the experience.

See the Treasury

Admire Al-Khazneh, Petra's most recognisable rock-cut façade. The monument is especially striking when it first appears at the end of the Siq.

Hike to the Monastery

Climb the long stepped route to Ad Deir, one of Petra's largest monuments. Allow plenty of time and bring water.

Explore the Royal Tombs

See a series of impressive rock-cut façades above the main valley. Their scale and details are easier to appreciate up close.

Walk along the Colonnaded Street

Explore part of Petra's ancient urban centre. The remains reveal that this was a functioning city, not simply a collection of tombs.

Visit the Great Temple

Walk through the extensive archaeological remains in Petra's central area. They provide insight into the city's monumental architecture.

See the Roman-style theatre

View the large theatre carved into the rock. Its setting illustrates the scale of public life in ancient Petra.

Climb to a designated viewpoint

Follow an authorised trail for elevated views over Petra's monuments and sandstone landscape. Avoid unofficial cliff-edge routes.

Explore Little Petra

Visit Siq al-Barid, a smaller archaeological site north of the main city. Its rock-cut spaces offer a quieter perspective on Nabataean life.

Visit the Petra Museum

Explore displays explaining the region's history and archaeological discoveries. It adds useful context before or after walking through the site.

What to eat and drink

Try mansaf

Taste Jordan's traditional dish of lamb, rice and a fermented yoghurt sauce. It is particularly associated with hospitality and shared meals.

Enjoy a Bedouin-style meal

Try dishes prepared with rice, meat or vegetables and served communally. It offers a connection to the region's food traditions.

Eat fresh flatbread

Enjoy warm bread with hummus, labneh or other simple accompaniments. It makes a good breakfast before exploring.

Sample maqluba

Try a layered rice dish with vegetables and sometimes meat, turned upside down for serving. It is a comforting regional favourite.

Enjoy grilled kebabs

Choose seasoned grilled meat with rice, bread and salads. It is a straightforward evening meal after a long walk.

Drink sweet mint tea

Take a break with traditional tea, often served with mint. Keep drinking water separately throughout your visit.

Getting around

Petra itself is explored primarily on foot, with long distances and uneven surfaces between monuments. The main entrance is beside Wadi Musa, where accommodation, shops and services are concentrated. Parts of the town are walkable, but steep hills can make even short journeys tiring after a day inside the archaeological site.

Taxis and arranged transfers connect Wadi Musa with other parts of Jordan. Local transport options can be limited, so confirm arrangements in advance. Inside Petra, use official routes and check current rules for any authorised transport assistance. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, and you should not rely on being able to shorten every route.

Good to know

• Petra involves substantial walking, steps and uneven ground. Assess your fitness before choosing longer trails.
• Start early to avoid the strongest heat and allow time for the return walk.
• Bring drinking water, sun protection and suitable footwear.
• Flash floods can occur in narrow desert valleys after heavy rain. Follow official closures and warnings.
• Stay on authorised trails and avoid unofficial viewpoints near steep drops.
• Check the official site for entry arrangements, permitted routes and any additional access requirements.