Getting around · Petra · Jordan
Getting around Petra
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Susanahajer, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Inside Petra you walk: the main trail from the Visitor Centre through the Siq to Qasr al-Bint is about 4 km one way, and the Monastery adds an 800-step climb. Wadi Musa is small, with taxis and hotel shuttles connecting the town, the gate and Little Petra. Not for Petra itself, which is walked.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- AMM, AQJ
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- Petra multi-day ticket
Ways to get around
Walking
Walking is the only way to see Petra properly. Expect 15–20 km on foot for a full day including the Monastery, much of it on sand, rock and uneven steps.
Wear shoes with good grip; polished sandstone steps can be slippery.
Taxi
Taxis in Wadi Musa run between hotels, the gate and Little Petra; agree the fare before setting off.
Bus
JETT coaches link Amman with Petra in about 3–4 hours, and minibuses run from Amman and Aqaba, though schedules are limited and fill early.
Car
A hire car makes it easy to combine Petra with Wadi Rum, Shobak Castle, Dana and Aqaba. The Desert Highway from Amman is the fastest route; the King's Highway is slower but far more scenic.
Tickets and passes
Petra multi-day ticket
Entry tickets are sold for one, two or three consecutive days; the two- or three-day options give time for the hiking trails and cost only a little more than a single day.
Jordan Pass
A bundled sightseeing pass that includes Petra and many other sites such as Jerash and Wadi Rum; check its current conditions on the official site.
From the airport
Queen Alia International Airport near Amman is about 3 hours by car from Petra along the Desert Highway, and King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba is about 2 hours away. There is no airport at Petra; private transfers, hire cars, taxis and coaches cover the journey.
Do you need a car?
Not for Petra itself, which is walked. A car or driver is very useful for getting there and for combining it with Wadi Rum, Shobak, Dana and the King's Highway.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Wadi Rum | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car | Car, taxi or organised tour |
| Shobak Castle | About 45 minutes by car | Car or taxi |
| Dana Biosphere Reserve | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car or taxi |
| Aqaba | About 2 hours by car | Car, taxi or minibus |
| Kerak Castle | About 2 hours by car | Car along the King's Highway |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Petra?
Not for Petra itself, which is walked. A car or driver is very useful for getting there and for combining it with Wadi Rum, Shobak, Dana and the King's Highway.
+How do you get from the airport to Petra?
Queen Alia International Airport near Amman is about 3 hours by car from Petra along the Desert Highway, and King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba is about 2 hours away. There is no airport at Petra; private transfers, hire cars, taxis and coaches cover the journey.
+What is the best way to get around Petra?
Walking: Walking is the only way to see Petra properly. Expect 15–20 km on foot for a full day including the Monastery, much of it on sand, rock and uneven steps.