Month guide · Petra · Jordan
Petra in May
What May is really like in Petra: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Susanahajer, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Petra. Expect average highs of 27°C (81°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 1 rainy days and roughly 13.7 hours of daylight. Warm to hot afternoons; start early to climb to the Monastery before the heat.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 27°C (81°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 1
- Daylight
- About 13.7 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Petra: days average 27°C (81°F) against a yearly average high of 23°C (73°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 1 of its 31 days. Compared with April (22°C (72°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 30°C (86°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:44
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 19:25
- Daylight
- About 13.7 hours
Spring (March–May). Wildflowers and mild, dry weather; the most popular time to visit, with the busiest trails in April.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in April). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Jordan Independence Day — national holiday (25 May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Experience · Petra Archaeological Park
Petra by Night
Walk at the front or back of the group for the quietest Siq, and bring a torch for the uneven path.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- After dark
- Couples
- Iconic
Historic site · Petra Archaeological Park
Street of Facades and the Theatre
Beyond the Treasury, the valley widens past rows of tombs with stepped crow's-foot tops, then reaches a theatre cut into the mountainside, which the Nabataeans carved and the Romans later enlarged to seat several thousand people.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Architecture
Historic site · Petra Archaeological Park
Colonnaded Street, Great Temple and Qasr al-Bint
Rest in the shade near Qasr al-Bint before starting the Monastery steps, and refill your water there.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Expensive
- History
- Architecture
Historic site · Little Petra camps
Little Petra (Siq al-Barid)
About 10 km north of Wadi Musa, this short canyon was probably a Nabataean suburb for caravans, with rock-cut houses, water cisterns and temples.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
What to pack
For highs near 27°C, lows near 14°C and 1 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Petra?
One of the best months to visit Petra, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are March–April and October–November. Compare every month.
Petra in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Petra?
It is one of the best months to visit Petra. Warm to hot afternoons; start early to climb to the Monastery before the heat.
+How warm is Petra in May?
Average highs are around 27°C (81°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Petra in May?
Expect rain on about 1 days of the month, so it is usually dry.