Petra Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Petra. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• 2-Day Tour: Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea From Amman

• From Amman: Petra and Wadi Rum Private/Group Full-Day Tour

• 3-Day From Amman: Petra, Wadi Rum, Mt. Nebo, Dana, Red & Dead Seas

• From Amman: Private or Group Full-Day Tour to Petra

• Full Day Private Trip to Petra, Wadi Rum

Entrance fees to Petra start from 50 dinar for international visitors, 30 dinar for visitors from Arab countries, 10 dinar for Jordanian residents, and 1 dinar for Jordanians. Standard tickets are for one day, while 2-day tickets cost 55 dinar, and 3-day tickets cost 60 dinar. Upgrades with added cost include guides, certain viewpoints, and transportation.

Yes, Petra is certainly worth visiting, as it's widely considered one of the world's most scenic and famous archaeological sites. The facade of its Treasury, carved from remote cliffs, is Jordan's most recognizable attraction, and the surrounding rocky landscape is also incredibly picturesque. Beyond its scenery, Petra offers great cultural and historical value, not to mention impressive feats of engineering, thanks to its water system.

Per one customer who booked the From Amman: Private or Group Full-Day Tour to Petra, "Petra is simply spectacular, and is completely worth the drive from Amman. My driver, Mohammed, was a gentleman and is a very experienced driver. The drive from Amman is 3 hours; however, the pleasant conversations with Mohammed made the time pass quickly. I highly recommend this trip."

You need at least two days for Petra, but three or more days is even better. The site is huge, and with only a day, you may feel rushed—and you may not have time to visit the Treasury—even if you’re a fast walker.

It depends. Tickets for one, two, or three days are available, and the per-day rate decreases depending on how many days you visit. Overseas visitors pay more than Jordanian nationals, and visitors on day tours from Israel pay more than those staying at least one night in Jordan.

No, you do not need a tour of Petra, but it’s strongly encouraged. If you try to come independently, local guides will probably bother you, nonstop. Expect even more unasked-for attention if you’re a woman traveling alone.

The best time of year to visit Petra is in the late fall or early spring when the weather is usually pleasantly warm in the daytime. The May–September season gets too hot for some people’s comfort, while winters can be a tad chilly (but rarely unbearably cold).

Walking from the parking area to the Monastery of Petra via what’s known as the Siq takes 20 minutes to half an hour. Some people enter by donkey or even camel. Once you’re at the site, expect to spend a lot of time walking from point to point. For example, if you want to see the impressive views from the High Place of Sacrifice, you’ll have to walk at least 40 more minutes.

The best day of the week to visit Petra is either Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday. After the sun sets on these three days, the pathway leading to the site known as the Siq—and the famous monastery at the site entrance—are beautifully illuminated by candlelight.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Petra. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Amman:

• Wadi Rum

• Jerash

• Mt. Nebo

• Dead Sea

• Amman Citadel

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Amman.