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City guide

Petra

Petra, originally known to its inhabitants as Raqmu, is an ancient city and archaeological site in southern Jordan. Famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit systems, Petra is also called the "Rose City" because of the colour of the sandstone from which it is carved.

Type City

Why go

  • Ancient rock-cut historical city in Jordan.
  • Served by Ein Yahav Airfield (EIY).

History

Petra, originally known to its inhabitants as Raqmu, is an ancient city and archaeological site in southern Jordan. Famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit systems, Petra is also called the "Rose City" because of the colour of the sandstone from which it is carved. The city is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Restaurants & places to go

Coffee Shop, Cafe · Coffee Shop cafe · Tourism Street, Wadi Musa · blk.jo
Indoor
Regional, Restaurant · Features: vegan options · beitaltaybeh.com
Indoor
Burger, Restaurant · Burger restaurant · instagram.com
Indoor
Regional, Restaurant · Regional restaurant · petrakitchen.com
Indoor
Regional, Restaurant · Regional restaurant · thousandand1night.com
Indoor
Restaurant · restaurant · al-qantarah.com
Indoor

43 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Ein Yahav Airfield (EIY) 42 km to the centre
Sapir, D, IL — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Ein Yahav Airfield (EIY); 2 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Petra. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Tours & experiences

Sightseeing
Air Tour