How to Visit Petra: Hours, Tickets, One Day vs Two & What to Know

Petra opening hours

Petra runs longer summer hours and shorter winter hours, with the exact cut-off shifting a little by season — broadly, expect the site to open early morning and close around sunset, with winter afternoons closing noticeably earlier than summer evenings. The last entry is well before the closing time, and staff do move visitors toward the exit as closing approaches.

Staying inside after the gate closes is not an option unless you've booked Petra by Night, a separate evening ticket that runs on specific nights of the week and covers a candlelit walk to the Treasury rather than the full site.

Petra ticket prices

The jump from a 1-day to a 2-day ticket is 5 JOD — small enough that if there is any chance you'll want a second day, buying it upfront costs almost nothing extra. The 90 JOD same-day rate only applies if you enter and leave Jordan itself on the same day (a day trip across the border rather than an overnight stay), so almost no one visiting as part of a normal Jordan trip pays it.

The Jordan Pass bundles Petra entry with Jerash, Wadi Rum, the Amman Citadel and roughly 40 other sites, and can also waive the tourist visa fee if bought before arrival and you stay at least three nights — see the country guide for the maths on when it's worth it.

• Best places to visit in Jordan — the Jordan Pass math

One day or two?

One day covers the headline route: the Siq, the Treasury, the Street of Facades and the Royal Tombs, with enough time left to reach the Roman theatre. What a single day rarely allows is the climb to the Monastery — a roughly 800-step trail from the Basin that most rushed day-trippers skip, and which many visitors who did skip it later regret.

Two days is the more honest answer if the Monastery matters to you, or if you simply want to walk at a normal pace rather than a route march. Given the 2-day ticket costs only 5 JOD more than the 1-day ticket, the extra day is cheap even if you only use part of it.

Do you need a guide?

A licensed guide is not required to enter or move around the site — the main route is well marked and impossible to get lost on. What a guide adds is context: reading the tomb facades, understanding the Nabataean water system, and knowing which side paths are worth the detour.

Guides can be arranged in advance through a tour operator or at the visitor centre gate on the day. Rates are set per group rather than per person and are negotiated on the spot, so agree the price and the route (how much of the site, whether the Monastery is included) before you set off.

The food and drink cost trap

Once you're inside the gate, food and drink options are limited to a handful of stalls along the main route and one restaurant near the Basin — and prices there run well above what the same items cost in Wadi Musa, the town just outside the entrance. There's no restriction on bringing your own water and snacks in with you, and doing so is the easiest way to avoid paying site prices for what you'd otherwise pack for a day hike.

Refill points inside the site are limited, so bring more water than you think you'll need, especially if the Monastery climb is on your list — it's a genuine hike, not a stroll.

Scams and overcharging to watch for

• Animal rides: horses, donkeys and camels are offered along the route, sometimes framed as "free" or included. Agree the price, the distance and where the ride ends before you get on — the common trap is a free ride in and a large demanded tip to get off.
• The Monastery "shortcut": touts sometimes claim the walk to the Monastery takes far longer on foot than it actually does, to sell a donkey ride. The walk is a genuine climb but is manageable for most reasonably fit visitors at a normal pace.
• Unofficial photo-spot fees: on some of the cliff ledges opposite the Treasury, locals occasionally ask for a fee to access the viewpoint. No one is officially authorised to charge for access to any part of the site — if in doubt, walk on.
• If something feels off, the tourist police post near the main gate is the place to report it; staff there generally speak English.

FAQ

How many days do you need for Petra?

One full day covers the main route — the Siq, Treasury, Street of Facades and Royal Tombs — but skips the roughly 800-step climb to the Monastery. Two days is the more comfortable answer, and costs only 5 JOD more on the ticket.

Do I need to hire a guide at Petra?

No — the main route is clearly marked and easy to follow without one. A guide adds historical context rather than being necessary for navigation. If you want one, arrange it at the visitor centre gate or in advance, and agree the price and route upfront since rates are set per group and negotiated on the spot.

Can I bring my own food and water into Petra?

Yes. There's no restriction on it, and it's worth doing — the stalls and restaurant inside the site are priced well above what the same items cost in Wadi Musa just outside the gate.

What are the most common Petra scams?

Animal-ride upsells (a "free" ride in, then a demanded tip to get off), inflated claims about how long the Monastery walk takes on foot to push a donkey ride, and unofficial fees for access to photo viewpoints opposite the Treasury. Agree prices in advance and report problems to the tourist police post near the main gate.