Top Things to do in Petra - Wadi Musa
Top 10 Things to do in Petra - Wadi Musa, Jordan
Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Travelers have fascinating places to explore here, including the breathtaking 2,000-year-old Treasury, the narrow Siq gorge (the main entrance to Petra), and the High Place of Sacrifice.
Restaurants in Petra - Wadi Musa
1. Petra World Heritage Site
Overall Ratings
5 based on 9 reviews
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Petra (ancient capital city of the Nabataean people) recently proclaimed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Reviewed By Chan M
It's a great place to see. Lots of walking. Many different places to see within Petra. The free horseback ride that comes with the ticket does not account for the tip. The carriage ride has a set price with expected tip. For young kids, expect to use some form of animal transportation. My son loved the donkey ride from the basin to the Treasury. The trails are not stroller friendly.
2. The Treasury (al-Khazna)
Overall Ratings
5 based on 3 reviews
Be prepared for the breathtaking sight of this 2000-year-old monument which resembles a Greek temple with an urn at the top that was once reputed to hold priceless treasures.
Reviewed By FLworldwanderer - Florida
The impressive eastern entrance leads steeply down through a dark, narrow gorge called the Siq ("the shaft"), a natural geological feature formed from a deep split in the sandstone rocks and serving as a waterway flowing into Wadi Musa. At the end of the narrow gorge stands Petra's most elaborate ruin, Al Khazneh (popularly known as and meaning "the Treasury"), hewn into the sandstone cliff. While remaining in remarkably preserved condition, the face of the structure is marked by hundreds of bullet holes made by the local Bedouin tribes that hoped to dislodge riches that were once rumored to be hidden within it. Expect large crowds, when you arrive here, and, everyone once their photo taken. Vendors offer photo on camels, and food & drink are sold here as well. Recommend hiring a knowledgeable guide, and wear comfortable clothing and good hiking shoes/boots. Hope this helps with your first visit.
3. Monastery (Al Dayr)
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By TravelDreams - Portland, OR
I got there by donkey. Going up was easy and I was the only person in front of the Monastery, amazing! From there I went to a viewpoint for tea and coming back, the monastery was packed. Going back downhill with a donkey was not a wise choice for me. No falls, but scary!
4. Siq
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
The main entrance into Petra is this narrow gorge bordered by cliffs over 300 feet high.
Reviewed By Tatijana P
I couldn’t wait to walk the Siq visiting Petra. I just expected each step I took to see the Treasury but it’s much longer than I expected. It’s a gradual downhill the whole way so when you come back out to exit it will likely take nearly twice as much time.
It’s super busy midday so try to go fast if your arriving then and take The time to enjoy it later in the evening or early morning
5. The Royal Tombs
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 333 reviews
Reviewed By Ramadama - New Providence, New Jersey
The Royal Tombs are burial sites for the kings. I really enjoyed the views from a distance but as I got closer the sandstone looked even more beautiful with all of the colorful striations. It is an uphill climb to get the tombs but worth it. Once there you can walk inside the caves and see the beautiful colors on the walls and ceilings. This is another jewel in this site. The only negative at the site are the various vendor tables that mar the purity of the monuments. I wish they did not allow these vendors to set up shop so close to the monuments.
6. High Place of Sacrifice
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 823 reviews
Reviewed By Stine D - Soenderborg, Denmark
Start early, before it get's too warm and too crowded. Hike the entire distance, starting by the Roman teatre and finishing by the restaurants in "maintown Petra". The view from top is beautiful and continuing the hike along the "backside" of Petra is most definately woth it. Bring sturdy shoes and enough time. Easy hike that anyone capable of walking can go.
7. Street of Facades
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 326 reviews
This street is lined with tall tombs carved into the mountainside.
Reviewed By kamakshi2015 - Bengaluru, India
In Petra you come across the mind blowing beauty of the the rocks and the engravings and the carved out sculputures . The magnitude is felt at the scale of these walls which are testimony to the passion and the art of people of the era . A sheer beauty ! Need a good pair of walking shoes and a good sports clothing to go around exploring this great place.
8. Al-Beidha - Little Petra
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 870 reviews
Guests are all welcome , No fees , not tickets , We are all proud to advertise it with no entrance fees ,, What you have to do is to come , if you have a rental car , it is easy to find , From Petra / Wadi Musa . If you don't have car , contact us to arrange a car for you . it is a place you must experience in Petra , you can explore it within 2 hours and less . Guests are all welcome from all nationalities . It is open from 6:30 until sunset , after sun set 15 minutes , then you will enjoy little Petra from that Mountains ! Little Petra or Baidha are 15-20minutes drive .
Reviewed By Christine G - Lanark, United Kingdom
We visited this site before walking from Little Petra to Petra. While it does not have the splendour of Petra, it does have a charm of its own. There are fewer people so you can enjoy it relatively undisturbed. It's well worth a visit.
9. Petra Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 298 reviews
THE PETRA KITCHEN is a delightful way to round out your Jordan travel experiences. Like any home kitchen, THE PETRA KITCHEN is a relaxed, informal atmosphere where you'll gather to prepare an evening meal, working alongside local women under the supervision of our chef. Each evening meal includes soup, cold and hot mezza and salads, and a main course-all typical Jordanian dishes. You will have get an inside glimpse of the secrets behind the famous regional cuisine of the Levant. THE PETRA KITCHEN offers an evening of learning, fun and a very special dining experience, with each dish gaining the special flavor of a reward well-earned. Great care has been taken to make THE PETRA KITCHEN a truly Jordanian experience-right down to the furnishings, all crafted in Jordan, the tableware, all produced by the Iraq al Amir Women's Co-operative, and the aprons and table linens, all hand-embroidered by the Jordan River Foundation. The regular price of 35 JD / per person. includes the cuisine course, meal and all non-alcoholic beverages as well as take-home recipes for all dishes prepared that evening. Special 5-night cuisine classes are also available, where in addition to the nightly sessions you will make shopping trips to the local markets with our chef. The 5-night classes include special arrangements for hotel accommodations, visits to Petra, and discounts on food products and other gift items available at THE PETRA KITCHEN and the MADE IN Jordan gallery.
Reviewed By scandy2016 - New York City, New York
I spent 2 nights in Petra and came here one night with a group of friends for a cooking class. I was absolutely blown away. What a wonderful concept. We all pitched in to help prepare the meal which consisted of several traditional dishes. We then sat down to dinner and ate the food that we had prepared ourselves. Not only was everything delicious but we were also given the recipes for all the dishes so that we could try them out at home as well! The best of this experience, however, was the interaction with the staff. The chefs worked with us directly and the owner of the establishment was also involved and present the entire time. They really showed us a good time and helped to create a wonderful memory that we will always carry with us. You absolutely must try this cooking class if you are staying in Petra! You will love it and you will have a wonderful and memorable time!
10. Byzantine Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 236 reviews
Amazingly, the ruins of this 6th or 8th century church were not discovered until the 1990s.
Reviewed By Chinapjs - Washington DC, District of Columbia
Of all the places you can visit at the Petra site, this is the only one I saw that had mosaics and they were very nice. There is also a baptismal font. Worth a visit if you are not really pressed for time
