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Petra

Wadi Musa · Jordan

Background

World Heritage since
1985
Type of site
Cultural
Nabataean heyday
1st c. AD

Inhabited since prehistoric times, this Nabataean caravan city between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea was an important crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia. UNESCO says Petra is half built, half carved into the rock, surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges, where ancient Eastern traditions blend with Hellenistic architecture.

Settled by the Nabataeans in the 4th century BC and their capital from the 2nd, Petra flourished in the 1st century AD, when the Treasury was carved and the population reached about 20,000. Rome annexed it in 106; an earthquake in 363 and new sea routes brought decline, and the city was lost to the West until Burckhardt reached it in 1812. Wikipedia counts close to a million visitors a year.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 7000 BCEarly farmers settle at Beidha, north of Petra
  2. 4th c. BCThe Nabataeans settle Petra
  3. 1st c. ADThe Treasury is carved; the city is at its height
  4. 106Rome annexes Nabataea as Arabia Petraea
  5. 363An earthquake destroys many structures
  6. 1812Johann Ludwig Burckhardt reaches Petra in disguise
  7. 1985Inscribed as World Heritage

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    The Siq
    The 2-km sandstone gorge, with the remains of the Nabataean water channels.
  2. 2
    The Treasury
    Al-Khazneh at the end of the Siq; there at opening and you may have it almost to yourself.
  3. 3
    Street of Facades and Royal Tombs
    The tombs and the theatre beyond the Treasury.
  4. 4
    The Monastery
    Ad Deir, 800 steps up.
  5. 5
    High Place of Sacrifice
    The hilltop altar on the back trail via the Garden Tomb.
  6. 6
    Little Petra
    The smaller site at Siq al-Barid with a painted ceiling.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Stay the Night in Jordan
Wikivoyage: day visitors from abroad pay 90 JD; those who overnight in Jordan pay 50 to 60 JD for one to three days. Bring your passport.
Start at 6am
The gates open at 6; the Treasury is empty early and the light reaches it mid-morning.
Feet, Donkeys and Camels
The only transport inside is on two feet or four.
Two Days
Wikivoyage suggests two days: the Siq, Treasury, city and Monastery, then the back routes and the High Place.

Siq to Monastery

From the GoGo Petra guide · Open the Petra Guide ›

  1. 06:30
    The Siq90 min
    The gorge.
  2. 08:00
    The Treasury45 min
    Al-Khazneh.
  3. 09:00
    Royal Tombs2.5 hrs
    The theatre and the tombs.
  4. 12:30
    Ad Deir Monastery3 hrs
    800 steps up.
  5. 20:30
    Petra by Night2 hrs
    The Treasury by candlelight on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Jan (45 mm), driest Jun (0 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
Wadi Rum is 77 km south; the Negev incense cities are 50 km over the border, and Masada 110 km.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 326 · Wikipedia: Petra · Wikivoyage: Petra (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Petra guide · UNESCO listing