Petra
Petra, the rock-carved capital of the ancient Nabataeans in southern Jordan, is one of the world's great archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Reached through a narrow sandstone canyon, its temples and tombs — the Treasury and the Monastery above all — were cut directly into rose-coloured cliffs more than two millennia ago.
March–May, September–November
Mid-range
Typical cost profile for visitors
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Finding Petra
Reading Petra
01Three Days in Petra: The Complete Route
The Treasury is only the opening act. A three-day plan that covers the Siq, the Monastery, the high places and Little Petra — without wrecking your legs.
02From Market to Table: A Food Day in Petra
Beyond the Treasury lies another Petra ritual: falafel breakfasts in Wadi Musa, lamb slow-cooked under desert sand, and tea sweet enough to power the climb to the Monastery.
03Petra: Walking into the Rose-Red City
Through the Siq to the Treasury and up 800 steps to the Monastery — how to walk Jordan's carved Nabataean capital properly.
04Petra at First Light and Last: The City Before and After the Tour Groups
Between roughly 9 and 3, Petra belongs to the bus tours. Come at dawn and stay past the golden hour, and the rose-red city belongs to you.
05Petra on a Budget: How to Do It Well for Less
Petra's ticket is one of the priciest in the world of ancient sites — but almost everything around it can be done cheaply. A practical guide to seeing the rose-red city without the gold-plated bill.
Petra, framed