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Petra
Petra · Ma'an Governorate, Jordan
After 1.2 km through the Siq, the Treasury suddenly appears between rose-red cliffs — the wonder of the Nabataean trading capital.
Know before you go
- Don't climb the temple façades or cliff faces
- agree prices first for camel, donkey or carriage rides
- 'Petra by Night' needs a separate ticket — don't buy from touts.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
The excuse of sacrificing a goat
In 1812 the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, travelling to Cairo under the name 'Sheikh Ibrahim', heard of ruins of an ancient city in a canyon near the tomb of Aaron (Moses' brother). Fearing that asking directly would arouse suspicion, he told his guide he wished to sacrifice a goat at Aaron's tomb, and was led through the narrow gorge. On 22 August he became the first modern European to see Petra with his own eyes.
Source: Wikipedia: Johann Ludwig Burckhardt; Wikipedia: Petra
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Petra was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom (c. 1st century BC–1st century AD); the Nabataeans controlled trade routes through frankincense and spices, and built a capital in the desert sustained by sophisticated water engineering. At the end of the Siq, the Treasury (Al-Khazneh) is about 40 m high, its entire façade carved straight out of the rock. The Monastery (Ad-Deir) up the mountain is even bigger, reached by more than 800 steps. Petra became a World Heritage Site in 1985 and was chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
Local customs
- Local Bedouin have guarded Petra for generations and now mostly work in tourism
- at night there is the candlelit 'Petra by Night' music show.
Religion & beliefs
- The Nabataean religion died out long ago, and modern Jordan is mainly Sunni Muslim
- the site is an ancient ruin, and ordinary respect is all that's needed.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Jordan: stay out of canyons in the rainy season
- From November to March, check the weather before entering a canyon, and wait at least a day after heavy rain
- If a flash flood comes, move to higher ground
- Entering a canyon after heavy rain
- Trying to wade through floodwater
In the rainy season, canyons can flood suddenly and are very dangerous; call 911 for rescue.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Jordan travel advice
Jordan: no drinking in the street
- Drink in bars, hotels or private homes
- Drinking in the street
It is illegal.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Jordan travel advice
Jordan: don't stay in Petra outside opening hours
- Enter and leave at the park's set hours
- If you have questions about ticket prices or extra charges, ask at the visitor centre first
- Staying in Petra Archaeological Park after closing
You may be arrested and prosecuted; visitors have been locked in the park overnight.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Jordan travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Don't climb the temple façades or cliff faces
- agree prices first for camel, donkey or carriage rides
- 'Petra by Night' needs a separate ticket — don't buy from touts.
Locals appreciate DO
- Bedouin guides know every stone of Petra and like to share tribal stories with visitors
- they take pride in their hospitality.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- The site is huge and the full walk is more than 10 km, so bring plenty of water, snacks and hiking shoes, and go in early to avoid the crowds and heat. The best photo spot for the Treasury is on the cliff opposite (locals will guide you for a fee — only if you're up to it). Check tickets on the official website
- a two-day ticket is better value.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
Must-try
- Mansaf
- Maqluba
- Kebabs with pita
Mansaf (lamb with rice in fermented-yoghurt sauce, Jordan's national dish), maqluba (upside-down rice pot), skewers with pita, hummus / mutabbal (aubergine dip), Bedouin tea / Arabic coffee
| Where to eat | The restaurant street in Wadi Musa town, around the Petra visitor centre, and simple-meal tents near the Monastery inside the site |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | Eat and take things with your right hand; don't refuse tea offered by a host outright; eat discreetly by day during Ramadan |
| Typical price per person | JOD 8–15 ≈ CNY 80–150 |
| Tips | Food inside the site is expensive and cash only, so bring your own water and food; mansaf is traditionally eaten by hand, rolled into balls — ask locals to show you how. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
Abdulla aljammal · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photos
Photos
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Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0
Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0
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