Petra Ancient City Travel Guide | Petra Attractions

Undoubtedly the biggest goal of our trip to Jordan was to visit Petra Ancient City. This beautiful ancient city, one of the new 7 wonders of the world, is a place that adorns the dreams of many people. It was a great feeling to see Petra, which is among the places we want to see before we die, with the eyes of the world. Aside from the ancient cities we have visited so far, Petra is one thing. It is such a magnificent place that we spent 2 days here, we tried to explore every inch of it, but we couldn’t get enough of it.

We visited the ancient city in detail and had very good experiences. If you are thinking about how to follow a route in Petra, you are in the right place. This is a very big ancient city. If you try to visit every point, I think you would need 5 days.

We took nearly 60 thousand steps and climbed hundreds of stairs in 2 days in total and got some very good tips. If you want to visit this place consciously, capture beautiful photos with a view of El-Hazne (Treasury) and learn everything about Petra, read on.

The post our 2-day Petra experience &; Petra attractions and Everything you need to know before going to Petra. In the first part, you will see the entrance of Petra and the details inside. Petra places to visit will be in this section. In the other part, what you need to know before going to Petra, you will see critical tips such as Petra entrance fee and details, the story and mystery of Petra, the best photo spots in Petra. Get ready, a full Petra article awaits you.

Note: Be sure to check out my Jordan Travel Guide before Petra. It will be very useful to read this article before going to Jordan (https://bujuyollarda.com/en/jordan-travel-guide/). You can watch our Petra Vlog in the 2nd part of my article. Don’t forget to subscribe while watching.😊

Petra Ancient City | 2 Day Petra Trip

Petra is located in Wadi Musa region. We travelled from Amman and reached Petra in the evening after seeing some places on the way. Since it was dark everywhere, we didn’t have much idea where we were coming from. But from the lights we realised that we were somewhere among the hills. Modern Petra is a very small settlement built on the hills. The region has developed quite recently due to the fact that the ancient city is here and of course tourism. Many hotels were built close to Petra Visitor Centre which is the entrance to Petra. We checked into the Petra Desert Dream hotel located 2 km away from this area and breathed the first air of Petra.

Petra’s weather is cooler than other places in Jordan. Especially in the evenings there is a wind blowing and chilling. Let me tell you from the beginning, be careful not to catch cold. Make sure you take something thick to wear in the evenings.

After a good rest in our hotel, we got up early in the morning to avoid the crowds and headed to Petra. We parked our car in the free parking area and arrived at the Petra Visitor Centre. There are many souvenir shops in this area. There is also a ticket office here. We bought a 2-day Petra entrance ticket from the ticket office as we had planned before and set off.

You are likely to have a small heart attack while buying the ticket. 😂 Why because Petra Ancient City’s entrance fee is 50 JOD per day. In other words, with today’s exchange rate, the TL equivalent is 1300 TL. Since we bought a two-day entrance ticket, we paid 55 JOD per person and took a cold shower. I think this was the place where we paid the most as an entrance fee so far. If you say it was worth it, it was more than worth it, but still too much. If you have a Jordan Pass, you don’t need a ticket, just go to the walkway and ticket checkpoint.

2 Day Petra Trip Plan

Petra Sightseeing Map (The red line is the main line, the road we followed on the 2nd day. To enter this road, you have to face the Treasury and go on the right side of El-Hazne. The numbers here and my numbers are not the same. I did not include unnecessary places in my list)

We spent 2 days in Petra by seeing these places. The first 3 places are at the entrance point so you will see them anyway. On the first day we wanted to see The Treasury, El-Hazne from all angles and for this we climbed all the hills. We explored almost all the photo spots and fell in love with Al-Khazna.

We passed by places numbered 4,5 and 6 in order to get to the point where you can see Al-Khazna from the top and we also saw these places. To get to the top, you have to climb a lot of stairs to the right of the Royal Tombs and go to the top. This road is quite challenging. Then we returned to the same road and completed the 1st day by taking the As-Siq road in front of El-Hazna.

On our 2nd day, we started on the same road and walked until Monastery (Ad Deir – place number 12 on the map). Most of the places to visit in Petra are located on this road. Therefore, I think you should walk this road in any case. On the 2nd day we started late and we were in the dark on the way back. It was a marvellous experience. It was very impressive to walk in Petra in pitch darkness.

On the way back, we came across the preparations for the Petra By Night event. An official there asked if we were going to watch it, and since we said no, they directed us to the entrance immediately. We saw Petra By Night even if it was just the tip.😂 By the way, Petra normally has many entrances according to Bedouins, but the main entrance is clear. There is also an entrance from the Monastery (last stop) side, but we didn’t want to use it because we had a lot of places to see on the way on the 2nd day.

On the 2nd day, we did not go to High Place of Sacrifice, which was on the list of places to visit in Petra, because they said it was okay not to go here. We also skipped the Byzantine Church because we were fed up with churches.

Our 2 day Petra trip was like this in general terms. We tried to make up for the 55 Jod per person. 😂 Apart from the entrance fee, you forget everything when you see Petra. No money comes to your mind. If you have time and if you are going to see Petra for the first time, I say you should definitely spend 2 days here. Let’s come to the details of Petra places to visit list.

Petra Attractions & Inside the Ancient City of Petra

Petra Ancient City Attractions Map (You can click on the numbers and zoom on the map)

Petra Attractions List

1. Djinn Blocks & Obelisk Tomb
2. As-Siq
3. The Treasury (Hazine)
4. High Place of Sacrifice
5. Tomb of Unayshu
6. Ancient Theatre
7. Royal Tombs
8. Nymphaeum
9. Byzantine Church
10. Great Temple
11. Qasr al-Bint
12. Lion Triclinium
13. The Monastery (Ad-Deir)

Yes, if the ticket procedures are completed, it is time to walk to Petra. Petra is a very big ancient city. As you can see from the map of the ancient city above, a day of walking awaits you. Let me explain why we bought a 2 day ticket to Petra.

The first reason is that we think that it would not be enough to spend one day in a place we will see for the first time in our lives. The second reason is that there is a very small difference between the 1-day entrance fee and the 2-day price. I am glad that we bought a 2-day ticket. Believe me, on the 2nd day we travelled with the feeling of seeing it for the first time. If you have time, it would be very good to buy a 2-day entrance ticket.

Note: If your time is limited and you have 1 day to Petra, I will also write what you need to do. You only need to spend high performance.

Djinn Blocks & Obelisk Tomb

After completing the ticket procedures at Petra Visitor Centre, we start walking. Immediately we come across a ticket control point. After showing the tickets and passing through this point, we continue walking. There are horse carriers on this road. The horse transport is done by bedouins, the present day natives of Petra. They are all insistent but they also understand no. Don’t get cross with Bedouins, just say Thank You or No and pass by. We even became buddies with some of them. I will tell you more about the Bedouins.😊

When you continue walking, you will see that the rocks are slowly taking shape. The first place you will see on this road is Djinn Blocks and Obelisk Tomb. This place is between the entrance point and the As-Siq road. Until now, 26 Djinn Blocks have been discovered in different places in Petra. The Bedouins believe that these are the dwelling places of the Djinn. The Djinn Blocks are huge stone blocks carved out of solid sandstone.

The walls have square shapes covered with intricate carvings. It is not known when and for what purpose they were built, but it is assumed that the Arabs used these rocks as a Kaaba. It is also possible that the blocks were intended as tombs for the rich and influential citizens of Petra. Djinn Blocks was a name given by later Arab settlers. The blocks were not damaged by later generations due to the belief that the blocks were the abode of jinn.

Another structure you will see in the place where the Djinn Blocks are located is Obelisk Tomb. These tombs were built by the Nabataeans in the 1st century BC as funerary symbols. The four pyramidal obelisks in the structure were probably built to represent the five people buried in the tomb. The obelisks were built on top of an old building known as the triclinium (dining room), where annual banquets were held to commemorate the dead. The location of the Obelisk Tomb is here.

As – Siq

Yes, we are entering the most impressive road of Petra, are you ready? This is As-Siq. You reach The Treasury by following this road with narrow corridors through the rocks. This road is very impressive. Siq was formed naturally by the cleavage of a mountain. It gives you the feeling that you have entered a mysterious place.

This narrow road, which continues behind curved rocks, is about 1.2 km long. Aqueducts on both sides of the road used to carry drinking water to the city. These canals were built in the last decades of the 1st century BC, together with a protection system against flash floods and asphalt roads.

The Nabateans, the founders of the ancient city of Petra, built many dams on the As-Siq road to prevent floods. You will see these dams while travelling on the road. At the same time, many relief sculptures were built on the road. These Nabataean statues, which mostly represent gods, are believed to be built very close to the canals because of the belief that water is sacred. The sculptures carved on the rocks are quite interesting.

In 1998, some excavations were carried out to lower the As-Siq road by more than a metre, which revealed a group of sculptures. There are also some underground chambers along the Siq, the function of which has not yet been clarified. According to archaeologists, these chambers were built to shelter the guards guarding the main entrance to Petra.

Feel the air of this place deeply while travelling on the As-Siq road. The shadow brought by the rocks and the wind blowing impresses you. The structure waiting at the end of the road is extra exciting. This road is a bit downhill. It is easy on the way but it can be difficult on the way back. Don’t forget to take a break in the shadows on the way back or you can choose golf carts on the way back. The location of the As-Siq road is here.

The Treasury (El Hazne)

Yes, we have come to the most striking point of the ancient city of Petra. We have come to The Treasury, i.e. El-Hazne, which has a magnificent architecture that you see in the photographs when it comes to Petra. It is a masterpiece like a masterpiece that rises like sunlight from the corridors of Siq. Praises are not enough to describe it. You stop and look at it, and as you do, you fall in love with it.

We knew that we would encounter this view, but seeing this place with the eyes of the world affected us deeply. We sat on a bench and examined the Treasury for a long time. The patterns, motifs, sculptures are of immense beauty. Time stopped and we were literally mesmerised. It really draws you in and you feel detached from the world. Don’t think I am exaggerating, the atmosphere here is completely different.

After leaving the magic of The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), we started looking for photo spots. We took photos from all angles overlooking Al-Khazneh. We even went up a long road to the point overlooking from the top and we couldn’t get enough of the view from here. I will give details about the photo spots below.😊

Features of The Treasury:

Let’s look at the features and history of the beautiful The Treasury. This beautiful rock tomb is 25 metres wide and 39 metres high. It is estimated that it was built in the second half of the reign of King Aretas IV (9 BC – 40 AD), but it is not known who built the structure.

The exterior of Al Khazneh, richly decorated with floral and figurative elements, is very similar to the Ptolemaic palace architecture of Alexandria. It may have been built by Alexandrian stonemasons and sculptors.

The Arabic name Khazneh al-Fira’un” (Pharaoh’s Treasure, short: al-Khazneh) comes from the local Bedouin belief that the Egyptian pharaoh hid a treasure in the urn on the hill. For this reason, the stone urn was fired at many times in the hope that pieces of gold and precious stones would fall out. The figures on the structure have been destroyed over time for such reasons.

The frontage of El-Hazne is decorated with godly figures, animals and flowers of Nabataean, Greek and Egyptian culture. El-Hazne has many statues and figures from the Egyptian goddess Isis to the sons of Zeus. In ancient times, the Nabataeans expressed their gods as rectangular blocks. But the figures in El Hazne are very different from the traditional architecture of the Nabataeans. The Nabataeans, who were influenced by other cultures due to trade, showed all this cultural fusion in El-Hazne.

The columns of the tomb are Corinthian in style, and at the entrance are reliefs of Castor and Pollux, twin brothers from Greek and Roman mythology. In the centre above, a woman wrapped in cloth, probably the Egyptian goddess Isis, is depicted. Also at the top are six depictions of Amazon carrying axes, the Amazons being legendary warrior women honoured in prehistoric times.

In addition to these, griffons, eagles and two winged creatures known as “victories” and plants such as grapes and pomegranates are also included in the depiction. The tomb depiction also includes rosettes known as royal symbols, strengthening the possibility that the tomb belonged to a king.

In ancient times, it was believed that the Nabataean kings hid their fortunes in the sphere at the top of this temple, called the jewel of Petra. Since 2000 years, many of the statues have suffered the wrath of time and treasure hunters, but still retain their beauty. The strikingly beautiful El-Hazna has also been used in film scenes such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. There is no clear information about who and why Al-Hazna was built.

The Treasury’nin Yapımı:

As with all rock-cut structures of the Nabataeans, the construction of Al-Khazneh was started from above. First, the stonemasons created a narrow ledge across the entire width and then, following the preliminary drawings of the masons, they carved the architecture, decorations and interiors, level by level, wall by wall.

Two vertical rows of slots on either side of the façade served as climbing notches and as supports for scaffolding structures for working outside the building. Crushed stone and sand were used to level Khazneh’s large forecourt before it was paved. To prevent flooding, a channel was built on the rocky ridge above the Khazneh to drain falling water. According to estimates, Al-Khazneh could be built in about three years.

It was a legendary feeling to see this place that affected us to our fingernails. Even on the second day, we had the same feelings when we saw this place. I feel the excitement I experienced even while writing this article. It is really a place of great beauty.

High Place of Sacrifice

When you face El Hazna, on the left side there are places leading to photo points, there is no other place. On the right is the road to the Monastery. You will follow this road and go to the right and go deeper into Petra.

As I mentioned in my Petra trip plan, we left the Monastery for the 2nd day. We did not go to High Place of Sacrifice as a result of not being on the way and the recommendations we received. I don’t know if we did it well, but a Spanish couple we met in Wadi Rum who went here said that we made a very good decision. We were going to the Monastery anyway and we had a long way to go. So we didn’t want to waste time and I’m glad we did because we had the opportunity to spend the day at the Monastery.

Let’s come to the High Place of Sacrifice. You get here from the left before the theatre on the way to the Monastery. The road is 2 km and goes towards Wadi Farasa. You go up quite high here. Good performance is a must. The road takes about 45 minutes. There are 6 m long standing stones, altar area and figures. In the altar area, there is a large rectangular triclinium where those celebrating the sacrifice shared a common dinner.

As I said, we skipped this place because it is not on the road and it is located high up. Location here.

Tomb of Unayshu

We continue on the Monastery road again. On the right side of the road you will see the Tomb of Unayshu. There are many rock tombs and caves on this road. Bedouins are still living in these caves.

It is called Unayshu because of an inscription on the tomb. The tomb is 20 metres high and 12 metres wide. There is a funeral chamber inside. You feel different emotions when you enter here. You also come out immediately because of the smell of camel urine.😂

This is a place you can see on the way. It is on the right side on the way to the Monastery. When you continue from here, you will see the Royal Tombs.

Location here.

Nabatean Ancient Theatre

Every ancient city has a theatre, but Petra does not have an Antic Theatre. We were quite surprised to see the theatre, which we usually encounter in antiquity, in Petra, the city of the Nabataeans. The semicircular auditorium of the theatre was carved directly from the rock of Jabal al-Madhbah and could accommodate eight thousand spectators.

It is thought that the theatre was built in the early 1st century AD during the reign of Nabataean King Aretas IV. After the Roman annexation in 106 AD, the remains of the theatre were restored and started to be used again.

The location of the theatre is here.

Royal Tombs

Yes, it’s time for the Royal Tombs. I mean the Royal Tombs. The Royal Tombs, sculpted on the facade of the mountains overlooking the Ancient Theatre, have a very impressive structure. In the absence of archaeological evidence, it does not make much sense to associate the tombs with the Nabataean rulers. Nevertheless, according to the latest researches, the tombs were built for the royal family.

There are 4 tombs in total. These tombs are Urn Tomb, Silk Tomb, Palace Tomb and Corinthian Tomb respectively. The interiors of the tombs are as impressive as their exteriors. The condition of the Corinthian Tombs is worse than the others. We climbed up the stairs and entered the Urn Tomb. It is really worth seeing.

Note: On our first day’s route, we had the goal of seeing the Treasury from the top. For this, you need to follow the long road to the right of the Royal Tombs. On the 2nd day, since the Monastery (the last stop) was the target, we passed this place and continued on our way.

Nymphaeum

The Nymphaeum was a large public fountain along the Colonnaded Street of Petra. The ruins of the Nymphaeum were located at the junction of two waterways dedicated to the nymphs and were probably one of the improvements made to the city after the Roman annexation. Today only the foundations remain, shaded by a tree. So it is assumed that this was a fountain.

Don’t expect much from this place because as I said, there is nothing but a small stunted tree and a few stones. Therefore, pass this place immediately and continue on your way.

Location here.

Byzantine Church

Petra is a city founded by the Nabataeans, but many civilisations ruled here afterwards. One of these civilisations was the Romans. One of the artefacts left here by the Romans is the Byzantine Church.

The church was built in several stages, starting in 450 AD. It was destroyed in the earthquake of 363 AD and was not repaired for around 600 years.

The most attractive part of the church is the mosaics. These mosaics are in each of the side aisles of the church and are thought to date back to the 6th century. In the mosaics you can see everyday objects, exotic and mythological animals, as well as personifications of the seasons, the ocean, the earth and wisdom. There is also a baptistery in the church.

The church is located here.

Great Temple

Our next stop on the way to the Monastery in the ancient city of Petra is the Great Temple. According to recent researches, it is estimated that this place was built as a representative royal reception hall rather than a place of religious worship. In the settlement next to it, places such as kitchen stables were found.

The Nabataeans built the Great Temple in the last quarter of the 1st century BC by cutting deep terraces into the bedrock of Katute Hill. It has a total area of 7560 m2.

The building was considerably enlarged in the middle of the 1st century AD and furnished with reliefs, frescoes, mosaic floors and stucco decorations. Of particular interest is the colossal colonnaded courtyard with its unique phile capitals, which also attracted our attention. Like most of the monuments in Petra, the Great Temple is decorated with stucco elements and colourfully painted.

After the Roman Empire put an end to the Nabataean Kingdom in the late 1st century AD, a small theatre and a bouleuterion (meeting place for the city council members) were built on this site.

The location of the Great Temple is here.

Qasr al-Bint

In the immediate vicinity of the Great Temple you can see Qasr Al-Bint. This is one of the best surviving buildings in Petra. Qasr al-Bint Far’un is known as “The Castle of the Pharaoh’s Daughter” by the Bedouins. According to the story, an evil Pharaoh gave the suitors of his virtuous daughter the task of supplying water to the palace. The two suitors completed the task simultaneously, diverting water from different sources on the hills surrounding the palace. The princess accepted the more humble of the two suitors, attributing her success to God.

There is no inscription or other clear evidence as to which deity the temple was built for. It is presumably built for the main Nabataean deity Dushara. It was built at the same time as the famous Nabataean temple Al-Khazneh (The Treasury), i.e. in the second half of the reign of King Aretas IV (9 BC – 40 AD). These buildings have similar decorations. Additions were made to this building during the Roman period.

Lion Triclinium

There is no end of buildings in Petra. The Lion Triclinium, one of the buildings closest to the monastery, is estimated to have been built in the middle of the 1st century AD.

The name comes from the two lions on either side of the entrance door, which are very worn. The high door opening, which looks like a keyhole, was formed by the erosion of a round window at the top.

The female heads in the outer areas of the frieze just above are remarkable. These are very similar to the heads of Medusa. But there is no clear evidence that it is Medusa.

Location here.

The Monastery (Ad-Deir)

The 2nd most impressive place in the ancient city of Petra is undoubtedly the Monastery. It is difficult to reach, but to feel its mesmerising atmosphere is priceless. The red line on the map above leads to the Monastery. On the way here you can see almost all the places in Petra.

You reach it through narrow winding roads, passing by the stalls of Bedouins. If you are going up this road, choose the times when the sun is not at its peak. We went up here in the afternoon and it was quite comfortable. On the way back we were in the dark, but that was another adventure for us. The good thing about our late arrival was that there was no one in the Monastery.

If you are going to Petra and the Monastery, you should have a good walking performance. Different tracks such as stairs, hills, rocks, sands are waiting for you.

The Arabic name “Ad Deir” (Monastery) was given to it by the local Bedouins because of the crosses inscribed on the inner back wall during Christian use in the Byzantine period. The 47 m wide and 48 m high facade of the monument and the great hall behind it were carved into the mountain in the mid-1st century AD. A conical roof crowned on top of the structure is in the style of Al-Hazna.

It is presumed that Ad-Deir was not built for burial purposes. An inscription found nearby states that it was built for a wealthy band of brothers to hold symposiums (ritual feasts) in homage to the Nabataean King Obodas II (reigned 30-9 BC) and to deify him posthumously. It may also have been the site of large public religious events, together with the buildings on the hill opposite Deir.

Ad-Deir, which was used as a monastery during the Byzantine period, was used as a stage in the 2009 film Transformers. This is a really impressive place. We stayed at sunset and it was very nice. Although we couldn’t benefit from the sun for a while, being alone with the Monastery was priceless for us.

On the way back from the monastery we were in the dark. There was not a single tourist except us on the way back. Thanks to the flash of our phones, we could see in front of us and walk. All the Bedouin stalls selling souvenirs on the road were closed. We saw that the lights were on in one stall. We sat with the Bedouins who decided to spend the night here, drank tea with mint sugar and chatted with them. They are really very friendly people. It was a very interesting day. It was engraved in our memory with all its details.

When we approached Al-Hazna on our way back, Petra by Night was about to start. The officials who saw us immediately directed us to the entrance. We said goodbye to Petra by leaving the As-Siq road in the light of candles. It was a marvellous experience. You should definitely see the ancient city of Petra once in your life.

Know These Before Going To Petra Ancient City

Petra, one of the new 7 wonders of the world, is an ancient city built by carving stones between tall rocks. The rocks in the Petra region have a very soft structure and can crumble immediately. This city is also called Rose City, Red City because of the redness of the rocks.

Petra is a marvellous ancient city. In 1985, it was included in the Unesco World Heritage list, and in 2007 it was selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, which it richly deserves. The ancient city, which took about 500 years to build in stages, is spread over a very large area. There are still unexplored places here. New discoveries are being made from satellite images.

Petra has been the scene of many films with its exquisite landscapes. Popular films such as Indiana Jones The Last Adventure, Mortal Kombat, The Mummy is Back, Transformers Revenge of The Fallen, Spiritual Warriors were shot in Petra. You feel the beautiful mystical atmosphere when you visit this place.

Yes, we wrote What You Need to Know Before Going to the Ancient City of Petra, which we wrote based on our experiences below. It has valuable information. If you are planning a trip to Petra, your job will be quite easy.

Petra Ancient City Vlog

Where is Petra Ancient City?

The ancient city of Petra is located on the borders of Jordan, a Middle Eastern country. As a region, it is located in Wadi Musa. At the entrance of the ancient city of Petra is modern Petra. This region is a newly developing place and there are many hotels in this area. Located among the hills, Petra Ancient City is 250 km from Amman, one of the important cities of Jordan, and 130 km from Aqaba. The location of the entrance to the ancient city of Petra on the map here.

How to get to Petra Ancient City?

Of course, you should go to Jordan to reach the ancient city of Petra. Jordan does not require a visa from Turkish citizens. You can easily enter here with your passport. The easiest way to get to Jordan is by plane. Check out this my article for cheap flight tickets.

There are 2 cities where you can go with direct flights from Turkey. One of them is the capital Amman and the other is Aqaba. We bought a ticket to Amman because we were going to visit almost all of Jordan, so the distance was not important for us. Normally Aqaba is closer to Petra, but whether Aqaba ticket or Amman ticket depends entirely on you and your travel plan. Be informed that Aqaba tickets are more expensive.

You will be very comfortable if you rent a car to reach Petra after Aqaba or Amman. For the bus option other than the car, you can choose the buses of Jett company.

When to go to Petra Ancient City?

If you ask when to go to Petra, I can say that summer and spring months are the best time. Even the most beautiful months are May and September. It may not be healthy to walk in the summer in very hot weather. Since Petra is located between the mountains, there are plenty of shady places, but the arid climate heat can still be effective. Therefore, you may prefer the spring months.

Do not choose very wet periods for Petra. Puddles in Petra can be dangerous in extreme rainfall. In winter, the weather is cold. When we asked, we were told that the last time it snowed in Petra was 6-7 years ago. In summary, spring months are the most ideal for Petra. Of course, there is no time for a cheap flight ticket, you will buy it when you find it. Therefore, if you find a cheap ticket, the time you go is not important.

Petra Ancient City Story

Petra Ancient City is a city carved into red rocks. The rocks met with art and a visual feast emerged. The fact that films such as Indiana Jones were shot here has made Petra even more popular. Petra is a huge ancient city spread over an area of 1036 square metres and there are still mysterious and newly discovered places.

Before it was conquered by Rome in 106 AD, Petra was the city of the Aramaic-speaking Nabataeans who made their living from trade in the region. The city existed as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom between 400 BC and 106 AD. The name of the Nabataeans is known as the nation that resisted the humiliation of Antigonus, one of the heirs of Alexander the Great in 312 BC. The Nabataeans were quite advanced in water technology. Thanks to this, Petra was frequented by caravans and nomads.

Since Petra is located at the intersection of Arabia, Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean, the Nabataeans were highly developed in trade. The city experienced its heyday exactly 2000 years ago. After the Roman invasion, trade in Petra came to a standstill. Again, the city was completely abandoned after the earthquakes in the region.

After it was abandoned, Petra was inhabited by Bedouins, who lived there in silence to prevent the destruction of the city. Rediscovered in 1812 by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, Petra has gained worldwide popularity and welcomes hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

Ancient City of Petra : The Lost City of Islam

There are many unknown mysteries about Petra. Some claims are even quite striking. Petra was once the cross centre of the Pagan Arabs. Kaaba culture was quite common among the Arabs before Islam. There were 26 cabins in Arabia before Islam. As you can guess, one of these cabins was in Petra. Surprisingly, the qiblah of many old mosques was facing Petra, not Mecca. In addition to mosques, churches and synagogues were also built facing Petra.

The Arabs call Petra Bekka . It is quite close to Mecca. There is also a verse in the Qur’an stating that the elephants attacked the Kaaba. It was impossible for elephants to live in the Arabian peninsula due to water shortage. The fact that Petra is rich in water and elephant motifs are embroidered in many parts of the city leads to the belief that the situation described in the Qur’an took place in Petra.

There are still many things that preserve its mystery. There will always be rumours that Petra is the Lost City of Islam. Petra is a mysterious city not only for Islam but for many religions.

Ancient City of Petra and Bedouins

Petra and Bedouins are inseparable. You will see them at every point after you enter Petra. This is their place. These people live in the ancient city of Petra and struggle for life here. When we ask how are you, still alive is on all of their mouths. 😊When you look at their faces, they have the look of Jonny Deep in Pirates of the Caribbean. kohl-rimmed eyes, long hair, dark skin…

These people make their living from here. Some of them serve horses and donkeys, some of them sell jewellery buckles at the stalls, some of them try to take you to good spots for good photos, and some of them sell cold drinks in the hills. You will see Bedouins in the hills in the most unexpected places. Bedouins are the real owners of Petra. These men know this place better than anyone else.

How should you treat the Bedouins ? As I said, these people make their living from tourists in Petra. Sometimes they can be insistent but they understand no. Therefore, avoid giving harsh reactions. Say no, thank you and pass on.

We made friends with Bedouins both in the photo spots and on the way back from the Monastery. There is really a different world behind the appearance of these men. We witnessed that some of them came to Turkey. They all want to offer tea with mint sugar. They told us that they make their living from here and that they were very affected by the recent inflation problem.

Some of them are polygamous and some are on the eve of marriage. They all know each other and are relatives 😊 They love to help at every point. Jordan was the most beautiful country for us in terms of human relations. We told the Bedouins about the concept of unfortunate Bedouin in Turkish. On the contrary, they said that they consider themselves lucky. These people enjoy life. We liked Bedouins very much.

Petra Ancient City Entrance Fee

Yes, the most dramatic title of this article may be Petra Ancient City entrance fee. We knew this fee before we went, but we felt this pain a lot while paying. I can’t tell you how sad I saw Üstün in front of the box office.😂 Yes, it is an expensive ruin, but as I explained above, it is a fee that is worth it. This fee was a fee that was completely recorded as income to the state. Unfortunately, the Bedouins living in Petra did not get any share from this fee.

You can pay for the entrance to the ancient city of Petra either by buying a ticket at the ticket office or with the Jordan Pass. The 1-day entrance fee at the ticket office of the ancient city of Petra is 50 JOD. 2-day entrance fee is 55 JOD, 3-day entrance fee is 60 JOD. As you can understand, Petra is one of the ruins with the most expensive entrance fee in the world.

Apart from buying a ticket at the box office, you can enter the ancient city of Petra with the Jordan Pass as mentioned above. To get 2- or 3-day entry with the Jordan Pass, you should buy the Jordan Explorer or Jordan Expert tariffs. You can find details about Jordan Pass in my article Jordan travel guide.

Know These About Petra Ancient City Entrance Fee

• Have your passport with you when buying a ticket.
• Tickets can be bought in cash or by credit card. The crooks charge 2% commission on credit cards.
• Children under 12 are admitted free of charge.
• The Jordan Pass does not include the “Petra by Night” event.
• To attend Petra by night, it is necessary to buy a separate entrance ticket. Don’t think that you can be clever. 😂
• 2-day or 3-day tickets are consecutive. There are no free days in between.
• With the Jordan Pass, you can only enter through Petra’s visitor gate.

At the ticket office, if you want to visit Petra with golf carts, you can see the prices of these as well. If you say that you can’t walk much, the prices of golf carts are below.

Petra Ancient City Visiting Hours

The Ancient City of Petra and Visitor Centre is open to visitors every day from 06:00 – 18:00 in summer and from 06:00 – 16:00 in winter. The centre closes around sunset. We were in the dark on the 2nd day on our way back from the Monastery, but it was not a problem. If you are not going to stay in Petra caves, you will exit anyway.😂

So is it good to visit Petra very early in the morning at the opening in terms of avoiding the crowds? Although many bloggers say that you should come early in the morning to avoid the crowds, I say that Petra is not good very early in the morning, as of the period we went. Yes, it is good for the crowd, but bad for the light that gives life to the photo.

Since Petra is located between the mountains, the sun comes to El-Hazna after 11 o’clock. Therefore, there is not much point in going early. We went early, it was not overcrowded but the sun did not hit El-Hazne. But still the decision is yours. If you are willing to get up at 5 am, Petra is waiting for you. If you have allocated 1 day for Petra, get up early.

Petra by Night

Petra and El-Hazne are beautiful during the day and beautiful at night. When I say night, of course it is illuminated. Treasury, in other words El-Hazne, is illuminated on some days of the week and an exquisite view emerges. Not only El-Hazne but also As-Siq road is illuminated with hundreds of candles. The total number of candles lit is 1500.

On the 2nd day, we saw Petra Night on the way back from the Monastery. But when the attendant saw that we were coming from the Monastery road, he asked if we were going to participate in the event. When we said we were not, he directed us to the entrance and accompanied us a lot. So we couldn’t boil. Anyway, we said at least we saw a little bit and we left. When we saw the tripadvisor comments about the event, we got very cold from the event.

Entrance to Petra by Night costs 17 JOD. Children under 10 years old are admitted free of charge. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office in the Visitor Centre. If you are inside, you must either go to the ticket office or buy a ticket from the inside.

Details About Petra By Night:

• The night cannot be booked in advance.
• You must have a valid regular entrance ticket for Petra by Night.
• You can buy Petra by Night ticket from the Visitor Centre between 19.30-20.30. If you are inside the ancient city, someone will somehow arrange tickets.
• You need a good camera for night photography. You need a long exposure.

If you have 1 day in the ancient city of Petra

Yes, let’s come to the answer to the question of what to do if you have allocated 1 day for Petra. Since we bought a 2-day entrance ticket, we visited Petra comfortably. If your time is limited and you have allocated 1 day for Petra, what you should do is to take photos at a few points of El-Hazne and then head towards the Monastery.

As I explained in detail above, you will already see many buildings on the Monastery road. Therefore, I think you should definitely take this road. Do not visit the photo point that sees El Hazne from the top, you will get very tired. I think it is not necessary. If you say I will take 40 thousand steps, I cannot say anything. As a photo point, you should choose the point on the right side facing Petra. This point is more successful in terms of photography.

If you have 1 day, it would be advantageous to start the day early. The monastery road takes about 2-3 hours round trip. Time flies by while taking a break, resting, watching, reading. The most difficult thing is the way back. Since As-Siq is a little slope, you have a lot of difficulty on the way back. You can use donkey or horse service to save time.😂

Petra Ancient City The Treasury (El-Hazne) Photo Spots

Yes, the most striking part of the ancient city of Petra is El-Hazna or Al-Khazna. When you see this beautiful place, you immediately want to take a photo in front of it, but then you see dozens of people. Then the Bedouins come and show you beautiful photos from the upper front and you say yes, I should go up. Now let’s come to the details of these photo spots.

Let me tell you from the beginning that I will tell you the locations with your face towards Al-Khazna so that you do not get confused right and left. There are many view points overlooking El-Hazne. We experienced 3 of these points. Two of them are accompanied by Bedouins and you can reach them in a short time like 5 minutes, the other one is free of charge and you can take the long way yourself. This free road is located at the top of the hill.

First of all, if you ask whether the right side or the left side of the toll and shortcut locations, I think the angle on the right side is better. The angle on the left is not very beautiful and the way there is more troublesome. If your time is limited, I think you should choose the right side and take photos from here. If you have more time and want to have photos from all angles, there is no problem.

Now let me tell you how to get to the points overlooking Al Hazna from above. At this point, bedouins enter the scene. We wanted to go up ourselves but they told us that this was forbidden. We thought they were trying to extort money. However, when we chatted afterwards, we realised that this situation is real. These viewpoints are reached by climbing rocks, there are no proper steps or roads. For this reason, the state only allows you to climb these places with a guide. If the policemen waiting in front of El Hazne see someone climbing without a guide, they fine the Bedouins. Some were even imprisoned for 15 days.

Bedouins accompany you to go up to these places and you pay money to these people. Do not forget to bargain even if they open their mouths from 10 to 5. To go up from where El-Hazne is, you pay Jod to both Bedouins and Bedouin families living above. We bargained and said we were Turks and went up for 2 Jod. We drank mint tea for 1 Jod and took lots of photos. At this point, find the bedouin named Qassap and say that Burcu sent us from Turkey and get a discount. I thought of you even there.😂

Let’s come to the top. As I explained in the title of places to visit in Petra, you go here from Royal Tombs. This road is quite long and has a lot of stairs. You go up on your own without the need for a guide. You don’t pay money either. It is quite a tiring track but the view is legendary, it is definitely worth it. You will see a Bedouin tent 10 minutes before you reach the view point. We took a breather here and continued on our way.

There is a Bedouin tent at the view point. You can already see the view right from the tent. At that moment all the tiredness flies away. You feel that it is worth walking so much. At the other view points, you can see El Hazne quite closely, but from here you can see it from quite high up. You do not have to drink anything in the tent. If you have visited Petra for 1 day and your time is limited, you can skip this place. The choice is yours.

Apart from these places, there are other places to take photos with a view of Al-Hazna, but we decided not to overdo it. For example, there were those who went up the hill on the left side accompanied by Bedouins, but left side is more dangerous be informed. There is no need to exaggerate too much for a good photo. These are our experiences. If you find Qassap, say hello. I had his number but I lost it. I’m sure he’ll remember if he sees us.

Things to take with you when travelling to Petra

When visiting the ancient city of Petra, you should be prepared at every point. There is a long walking track waiting for you. Therefore, it is very important to come here prepared. Below is a list of things you should have with you while visiting Petra.

What you should have with you when visiting Petra:

• 2 litres of water per person. I’ll give you a tip to put it in the freezer at night and drink cold water all day long. Just don’t get sick.
• Snacks (We bought snacks from Tr, we took them with us)
• Sun cream
• Have some coins with you
• Shawl, hat, glasses
• Backpack
• Have a sturdy walking shoe
• Powerbank and your phone (Although the phone sometimes does not work, it generally works)
• Get a map of Petra at the ticket office
• Beforehand, download the VisitPetra app on your phone (it doesn’t work very well, but it works)
• There is a WC facility, do not worry

Things to Consider in the Ancient City of Petra

Based on our experience, I wanted to write what you should pay attention to in Petra. Pay attention to these points and have a trouble-free trip.

• Since there is a lot of animal transport in Petra, watch out for faeces on the road. In El-Hazna, our nostrils fell off because of camel urine and the smell of ammonia in the air. Therefore, be careful while walking on the road.
• It’s forbidden to go inside Al-Hazna.
• There are still people living in the caves in Petra. Therefore, do not enter every cave.
• Petra also has an entrance from the Monastery side but we have no experience in this area. If you want to enter the Monastery, you can also use this way. If you experience it, we will wait for your experiences in the comments section.
• WC facilities are available in many places, don’t worry. WC everywhere in high places 😂
• Do not rub shoulders with Bedouins. Just pay attention to what I have written above about the photo-taking points. If they insist, just say no. There are also normal police in Petra, for your information.
• Starting the day early is entirely up to you. It doesn’t matter if you are late. I tried to write everything above. If you are going to get up early for the photo, don’t forget to take the sun into account.
• Take what I wrote above with you.

Important Sources Related to the Ancient City of Petra

• https://zamaniproject.org/site-jordan-petra.html (There are many things about Petra on this site. You can even see a 3D drawing of the buildings.
• https://www.visitpetra.jo/ (up-to-date information about Petra here)
• https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/326/ (Unesco website)
• https://universes.art/en/art-destinations/jordan/petra/ (very detailed information about Petra and buildings)

Where to Stay in Petra ?

I wrote and wrote about Petra. I think I have a solid Petra travel guide. Now let’s come to the answer to the question Where to stay in Petra. We stayed at the Petra Desert Dream hotel in Petra, which is only 2 km from the entrance of the ancient city. This is an immaculate and clean hotel. Everything is new and very attentive. Hael, the owner of the hotel, is a really cool guy. He offers you all kinds of information very easily. He also took us to a photo point with a view of Petra, which was legendary.😊

Hael’s brother Baker was also very kingly. They were very hospitable, very caring people. The cosyness, comfort of the hotel, everything was perfect. There was a buffet breakfast and dinner. Everything was very tasty. The hotel has a modern view of Petra and it is very beautiful.

If you come to Petra, you can choose this hotel with peace of mind. Say hello to Hael from us. 😊

Petra Desert Dream Hotel Contact Details:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petra_desert_dream/
• Location: Petra Desert Dream
• Phone: 00962776320509

Petra Ancient City F.A.Q.