Visiting Petra: how long you need, the Monastery hike and how to avoid the heat

One long day lets you see the highlights: the Siq, the Treasury, the Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs and the Monastery. A second day lets you walk without hurrying, climb the High Place of Sacrifice and explore the back trails. If you only have a morning, see the Siq and the Treasury, and turn back by midday.

Siq walk

1.2 km, ~30 min

Treasury

At the end of the Siq

Monastery climb

~800 steps

One day

Highlights

Two days

Relaxed

Best season

Mar–May, Sep–Nov

1. 1Enter at opening, walk the Siq, and reach the Treasury in the early light.
2. 2Continue down the Street of Facades to the amphitheatre and the Royal Tombs.
3. 3Walk the Colonnaded Street and have lunch near the museum.
4. 4Climb to the Monastery, ideally in the afternoon when the light is good.
5. 5Return slowly, and rest in the shade.

Petra's entry fee is high for day visitors, but much lower for those who stay overnight in Jordan, and the Jordan Pass can combine entry fees with the visa fee for many visitors. Check the current rules before you book. A guide, if you want one, is arranged at the visitor centre or through a tour.

• ✔Visit in spring or autumn.
• ✔Start at opening time.
• ✔Carry plenty of water.
• ✔Wear a hat, sunscreen and sturdy shoes.
• ✔Hire a donkey for the Monastery if you need to, though think about animal welfare.

Past the Treasury, the Street of Facades is lined with tombs carved high in the cliff, and the Theatre nearby seated thousands of spectators. The Royal Tombs on the hillside, including the Urn Tomb and the Silk Tomb, are known for their multicoloured rock, with bands of red, orange and white sandstone swirling across the surface.

The Colonnaded Street was the heart of the city's trade in Roman times, and the ruins of the Great Temple show how grand the city once was. Climb the steps to the High Place of Sacrifice for a wide view over the valley and a sense of the Nabataean religion, with its altars and basins. Few people make the effort, and you will often have the viewpoint nearly to yourself.

Staying close to the gate saves the early-morning rush and lets you return for a midday rest. Dinner at a local restaurant, with hummus, grilled meats and mint tea, is a fine way to finish the day.

• ✔Hotels near the entrance: convenient for early starts, with options from budget to five-star.
• ✔Cave bars and local restaurants: try mansaf, Jordan's national dish of lamb with yoghurt sauce.
• ✔Rooftop dining: several hotels have views of the surrounding hills.
• ✔Bedouin camps nearby for a more rustic night.
• ✔Hammams: a traditional bath is a good way to recover after a day of walking.

Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and some of the Bedouin community live nearby and work as guides, horse handlers and vendors. Buy souvenirs and take rides on animals thoughtfully, ensuring the animals are well treated. Do not climb on the monuments, and avoid leaving litter.

Dress modestly, and carry plenty of water, because shops inside the site are limited. Our Wadi Rum guide can help you plan an overnight in the desert, and the Petra guide lists tours and itineraries.

On some evenings, a candlelit walk to the Treasury offers a very different atmosphere. Wadi Rum, a desert of red sand and rock, is about an hour and a half away, and combines well with Petra on a longer trip. See our Wadi Rum guide or the full Petra guide.