How many days · Petra · Jordan
How many days do you need in Petra?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
2 days is the sweet spot for Petra, and 1 day is the minimum to see the main sights. One full day covers the Siq, the Treasury, the Royal Tombs and the climb to the Monastery at a brisk pace. Two days allows the High Place of Sacrifice, the Al-Khubtha viewpoint and Little Petra; a third day suits hikers heading to Jabal Haroun or entering via the back trail.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 2 days
- Minimum
- 1 day
- Day trips available
- 5
- Daylight
- 10.2 h (Dec) to 14.1 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Good | The Siq, The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), Royal Tombs and The Monastery (Ad Deir) |
| 2 days | Ideal | The Monastery (Ad Deir), Petra by Night and Street of Facades and the Theatre |
| 3 days | Relaxed | Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint, High Place of Sacrifice and Al-Khubtha trail and Treasury viewpoint |
| 5 days | Plenty | The highlights plus a day trip to Wadi Rum |
| 7 days | Plenty | A slow trip with day trips such as Wadi Rum and Shobak Castle |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Petra add up to roughly 19–25 hours of visiting time — about 3–4 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Jabal Haroun (Aaron's Tomb) (Full day), The Monastery (Ad Deir) (2–3 hours including the climb) and High Place of Sacrifice (2–3 hours).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| The Siq | 30–45 minutes each way | Petra Archaeological Park |
| The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) | 30 minutes | Petra Archaeological Park |
| Royal Tombs | 1 hour | Petra Archaeological Park |
| The Monastery (Ad Deir) | 2–3 hours including the climb | Petra Archaeological Park |
| Petra by Night | 2 hours | Petra Archaeological Park |
| Street of Facades and the Theatre | 45 minutes | Petra Archaeological Park |
| Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint | 1 hour | Petra Archaeological Park |
| High Place of Sacrifice | 2–3 hours | Petra Archaeological Park |
| Al-Khubtha trail and Treasury viewpoint | 1.5–2 hours | Petra Archaeological Park |
| Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) | 1–1.5 hours | Little Petra camps |
| Petra Museum | 1 hour | Visitor Centre area |
| Jabal Haroun (Aaron's Tomb) | Full day | Petra Archaeological Park |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 2 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 1 day | Focus on The Siq and The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) |
| With children | 3 days | Slower days and time for The Siq |
| With day trips | 4 days | Add Wadi Rum and Shobak Castle |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 10.2 hours of daylight) than in June (about 14.1 hours). Daylight varies little through the year, so plan by weather instead.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Petra with other destinations
Questions travellers ask
+Is 1 day enough in Petra?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 2 days is more comfortable. One full day covers the Siq, the Treasury, the Royal Tombs and the climb to the Monastery at a brisk pace. Two days allows the High Place of Sacrifice, the Al-Khubtha viewpoint and Little Petra; a third day suits hikers heading to Jabal Haroun or entering via the back trail.
+Is a week too long in Petra?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Wadi Rum and Shobak Castle.