History · Petra · Jordan
7 historic sites to see in Petra
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), Royal Tombs and The Monastery (Ad Deir). Together the 7 picks below take roughly 7–9 hours across 3 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 7–9 hours
- Areas
- Petra Archaeological Park, Little Petra camps and Visitor Centre area
Historic sites in Petra
Historic site · Petra Archaeological Park
1.The Treasury (Al-Khazneh)
Its name comes from a legend that treasure was hidden in the urn at the top, which is pockmarked by bullets fired to break it open. It featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Kids
Historic site · Petra Archaeological Park
2.Royal Tombs
Carved into the face of Jabal al-Khubtha, the Royal Tombs include the Urn Tomb, with its vaulted terrace later used as a Byzantine church, the small Silk Tomb with swirling bands of red, yellow and white sandstone, the Corinthian Tomb and the multi-storey Palace Tomb.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Views
Historic site · Petra Archaeological Park
3.The Monastery (Ad Deir)
Viewpoints a short walk beyond look over Wadi Araba towards the Negev.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours including the climb
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Views
- Active
- History
- Outdoors
Historic site · Petra Archaeological Park
4.Street of Facades and the Theatre
Tomb chambers were sliced through when the upper seating was cut.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Architecture
Historic site · Petra Archaeological Park
5.Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint
Restaurants and toilets near the end of the street mark the start of the Monastery climb.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Architecture
Historic site · Little Petra camps
6.Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)
A climb inside the Painted Biclinium reveals rare 1st-century ceiling frescoes of vines, flowers and birds. The Neolithic village of Beidha is nearby.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Visitor Centre area
7.Petra Museum
It makes a useful introduction before entering the site or an air-conditioned break afterwards.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Petra Archaeological Park | The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), Royal Tombs, The Monastery (Ad Deir), Street of Facades and the Theatre and Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint | 30 minutes + 1 hour + 2–3 hours including the climb + 45 minutes + 1 hour |
| Little Petra camps | Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) | 1–1.5 hours |
| Visitor Centre area | Petra Museum | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 1 free, 1 low cost, 5 expensive. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is The Monastery (Ad Deir); group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Petra Archaeological Park): The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) → Royal Tombs → The Monastery (Ad Deir), at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Petra Archaeological Park, Little Petra camps and Visitor Centre area): Street of Facades and the Theatre → Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint → Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) → Petra Museum, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- July: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 0 rainy days, quiet crowds. Hottest month, with strong sun in the open valley; visit at dawn and late afternoon.
- August: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 0 rainy days, quiet crowds. Hot and dry with little shade inside the site; carry plenty of water.
- December: highs of 13°C (55°F), about 4 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold, short days with occasional rain; quiet trails and lower prices.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Visitor Centre area — Hotels right at the entrance gate at the bottom of Wadi Musa
- Little Petra camps — Bedouin-style tented camps among the rocks north of Petra
More of Petra
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Petra?
The Treasury (Al-Khazneh). The facade that appears at the end of the Siq is about 40 metres high, carved from the cliff in the 1st century AD, probably as a royal tomb.
+Which of these are free in Petra?
Little Petra (Siq al-Barid).