Petra Hotels
For the maximum safety of the city, the entire tourist infrastructure has been moved to the neighboring town of Wadi Musa, which is just a few minutes walk from Petra. The city has many hotels of different levels, including 4-5 “stars”.
The cost of living in guest houses and small three-star hotels is from 15-25 JOD per night. Almost all rooms are equipped with modern furniture and a private bathroom, as well as free Wi-Fi.
It is best to go to Petra with an overnight stay: one day may not be enough for an inspection. Due to the constant influx of tourists, it is better to book a hotel in advance.
According to wholevehicles, the most expensive hotel in the city is Movenpick Resort Petra, located just 50 meters from the main entrance to Petra. It features several in-house restaurants, a fitness center and a rooftop garden, and rooms start at JOD 100 per night. The best view of the mountains opens from the windows of the Rocky Mountain family hotel.
What to try
There are food vending machines and small shops all over Petra where you can grab a quick bite and buy hot or cold drinks. By the way, it is better to stock up on drinks in advance: on hot summer days, a traveler may need up to 4 liters of water.
There are few restaurants on the territory of Petra, mainly they serve dishes of oriental, Mediterranean and international cuisine. The average score in Petra Magic or Silk Road is 20-40 JOD. In a more modest Sun City with an open terrace and hookahs, it is much cheaper: 4-20 JOD per person.
Much more cafes and restaurants – in the nearby village of Wadi Musa. Be sure to try Arabic unleavened bread “hobz”, bean paste “fuul” and the famous falafel – deep-fried bean balls.
For the most desperate gourmets – the Bedouin dish “mansaf”: a lamb served whole (with its head) with a side dish of rice and nuts.
Entertainment and attractions of Petra
Petra is not just a city, but a unique archaeological park with many attractions, so at the entrance you will have to buy a ticket for 55 JOD (for 1 day) or for 60 JOD (for 2 days). An important nuance: tourists arriving in Jordan for just a day must pay almost twice as much for entry, 90 JOD. You can hire a guide at the Tourist Center, major hotels offer a portable audio guide for 10 JOD per day. If you wish, you can download it to your mobile, but for this you will need to purchase a Jordanian SIM card.
The cost of an entrance ticket to Petra is 55 JOD.
The Petra Gate is a winding Siq, a sandstone canyon about 2 km long. The picturesque road is decorated with bizarre stone sculptures and carved rock bas-reliefs. On the sides you can see the remains of terracotta pipes used for water supply since the time of the ancient Romans.
At the exit of the gorge is the majestic palace of El-Khazneh (Treasury, or Treasury), 42 m high. It was carved into a solid rock in the 1st century, an urn was installed on its top, in which, according to legend, countless treasures were once kept. According to one version, they belonged to the Egyptian pharaoh, according to another – to robbers who attacked caravans. One way or another, traces of bullets are still visible on the urn: many wanted to test the theory.
The next stop is the Façade Square, where rock-cut temples and tombs are located one after the other. At the end of the street is the Roman amphitheater, which can accommodate about 7 thousand spectators. It was built by the Nabateans and later expanded by the Romans. Performances are held here today, but, of course, much less frequently than in ancient times.
Just a few minutes walk from the amphitheater (up the hill) are the Royal Tombs, impressive in their size. For whom they were intended – has not been clarified so far.
Another famous attraction of Petra is the monastery of Ad-Dair, a Nabataean rock temple built in the 1st century AD. e. To see this monumental building 45 meters high with your own eyes, you will have to overcome more than 800 steps. The hike takes a little over an hour, but it is also possible to ride a donkey (although this is not much faster and more convenient).
The building of Ad-Dair can be seen in the blockbuster Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.
There are more than 800 historical objects in Petra. Among them are the High Place with altars for sacrifices, Mount Jebel Haroun, the Palace of the Pharaoh’s daughter and other majestic monuments of nature and architecture.
A special pleasure for tourists is a night visit to Petra. Tours run from 20:30 to 22:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. At night, Petra appears before travelers in the light of hundreds of candles, accompanied by traditional Bedouin music.
During the night tour, you will certainly be offered delicious local tea, which is especially pleasant to drink while sitting on a rug in the Treasury.
- Are there excursions from Hurghada to Petra
