Comparison · Amman vs Petra · Jordan
Amman vs Petra
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: David Bjorgen, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Choose Amman for Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife; choose Petra for The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) and The Siq. Amman is generally less expensive, and the two are about 186 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 186 km
- Less expensive
- Amman
- Best time for Amman
- March–May and October–November
- Best time for Petra
- March–May and October–November
Side by side
| Amman | Petra | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Jordan | Jordan |
| Known for | Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre and Rainbow Street | The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), The Siq and The Monastery (Ad Deir) |
| Best time to visit | March–May and October–November | March–May and October–November |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 2 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $110–$200 | $130–$250 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | August, 33°C (91°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 12°C (54°F) | January, 12°C (54°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 1 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | AMM | AMM, AQJ |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Amman for…
Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Jordan's capital spreads across a series of hills, or jabals, around a compact downtown (Al-Balad) where a 6,000-seat Roman theatre faces the Citadel and its Umayyad palace. Above downtown, Rainbow Street on Jabal Amman and the leafy lanes of Jabal…
Choose Petra for…
The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) and The Siq. Petra was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom, a trading people who carved temples and tombs into the sandstone cliffs of southern Jordan from around the 1st century BC. Visitors enter through the Siq, a 1.2 km gorge that ends at the facade of the Treasury…
Top sights compared
| # | Amman | Petra |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amman Citadel | The Siq |
| 2 | Roman Theatre and Odeon | The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) |
| 3 | Jordan Museum | Street of Facades and the Theatre |
| 4 | Downtown souqs and Grand Husseini Mosque | Royal Tombs |
| 5 | King Abdullah I Mosque | Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint |
Food compared
| Amman | Petra |
|---|---|
| Mansaf | Mansaf |
| Falafel | Maqluba |
| Hummus and ful breakfast | Zarb |
| Knafeh | Galayet bandora |
Which is cheaper?
Amman is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $110–$200 per person there, against $130–$250 in Petra (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Amman on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Amman and Petra are about 186 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Amman and 2 in Petra.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Amman or Petra cheaper?
Amman is usually less expensive: about $110–$200 a day mid-range against $130–$250 (estimates).
+Is Amman or Petra better for a first trip?
Pick Amman for Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife, or Petra for The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) and The Siq.
+How far is Amman from Petra?
About 186 km in a straight line.