Where to Stay in Petra: Best Places Near the Entrance
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Looking for the best places to stay in Petra? You’re in the right place! Petra is one of the best days out in Jordan, and knowing where to stay is important.
If you’re visiting Jordan for the first time, you’ll know that the ancient city of Petra is one of the most popular places to visit, and is a bucket-list Wonder of the World. An ancient city inhabited by the Nabateans over 2000 years ago, just walking around Petra was one of our favourite days of our Jordan trip.
It’s important to know that Petra is located in the town of Wadi Musa, which turned out to be one of our favourite towns in Jordan. As well as being home to the ancient city, it has an abundance of life and culture to be explored. You’ll also have the chance to try delicious traditional Jordanian food!
But a few things confused us when we were planning our trip to Petra. Where did we stay? Did we need to stay close by? How far is the nearest town? Can we stay actually in Petra?
So, let’s discuss the best places to stay in Petra, and answer all of these questions to ensure you can have a successful Jordan trip!
Visiting Jordan? You might also like:
- Is Petra Worth Visiting? A Must-Read Before You Go!
- Driving in Jordan: The Ultimate Car Hire Guide
- Tipping in Jordan: Everything You Need To Know
- What to Wear in Jordan (That Isn’t Ugly)
Where to stay in Petra: A Summary
If you’re visiting Petra, you need to book at least one night’s accommodation in the town of Wadi Musa. Wadi Musa is the closest town to Petra, and is where most tourists stay (as it’s difficult and expensive to stay in the hotels within the Petra site).
Wadi Musa is full of restaurants, bars, hotels and hostels. Wherever you stay in Wadi Musa will either be a short taxi ride or a short walk to the Petra entrance.
Quick facts about Petra
🚗 Petra is around 150 miles south of Amman, and roughly a 2.5-hour drive. If you’re visiting Jordan for the first time, I recommend hiring a car to get around. Unsure about driving in Jordan? Check out my detailed post about driving in Jordan here.
🐪 Petra is located in the town of Wadi Musa. If you’re staying near Petra overnight, you will book accommodation within Wadi Musa.
😮 Petra is over 263km2 and most of the site is still yet to be discovered. If you’re planning a day trip to Petra, you can easily walk over 20km.
⏰ The best time to visit Petra is either early morning (6am-8am) or late afternoon (3pm-6pm). These are the quietest times in Petra, and the best way to avoid the crowds.
🪨 The walk to the famous and most photographed Treasury is 35 minutes from the entrance. The Monastery, another well-known building, takes at least 2 hours to reach from the entrance.
💸 As you enter Petra, you will be offered horse rides and guidance to high photo-taking viewpoints by locals and Bedouin people. These locals expect to be paid in tips. Not sure how to tip in Jordan? Check out my detailed post on tipping in Jordan here.
Where to stay in Petra: for backpackers
🌎 For backpackers in Petra, stay at either the Petra Boxtel Hostel or the Nomads. Both are perfect for meeting new friends and other backpackers to explore Petra with.
➡View all other Petra hostels here.
Where to stay in Petra: within a 5-minute walk of the Petra entrance
The Petra Moon Hotel is close to the Petra visitor centre, and a double room includes breakfast. It has a swimming pool, good wifi and comfortable rooms. Perfect for first-timers visiting Petra!
➡ Book your stay at Petra Moon Hotel here.
Located within a 5-minute walk of Petra’s entrance, Silk Road is the perfect place to stay if you’re a backpacker wanting luxury on a budget! All rooms come with a full buffet breakfast and access to the spa and wellness centre. Some even have large windows overlooking the red dusty mountains.
➡ Book your stay at Silk Road Hotel here.
Where to stay in Petra: for couples
If you’re looking for somewhere close to Petra’s entrance which is cheap and includes breakfast, Petra Sky Hotel is a great option for couples.
Parking is on-site, the rooms are clean and it has good wifi. We were also able to book our Petra at Night tickets here, and the hotel is located next to local and traditional restaurants, cafes and shisha bars.
➡ Book your stay at Petra Sky here.
Where to stay in Petra: for luxury travellers
Movenpick Resort is one of the most luxurious hotels near the Petra entrance. Located directly opposite the site, the Movenpick has some of the best sunset views in Wadi Musa, as well as a rooftop restaurant and bar.
Movenpick also has a gym, fitness centre, minimarket, sun terrace, garden and a takeaway breakfast option if you are visiting Petra early.
➡ Book your stay at Movenpick Resort here.
Where to stay in Petra: luxury on a budget
La Maison is one of the best lower-budget hotels within a short walking distance of the Petra entrance. It has free parking, a buffet dinner and the option to have a packed breakfast if you’re planning on leaving for Petra early.
➡ Book your stay at La Maison here.
Where to stay in Petra: best unique stays
Similar to the desert bubble tents in Wadi Rum, there are bubble tent accommodations in Petra. Most of the bubbles are transparent, meaning you can watch the night sky and stars whilst enjoying your stay at Petra. This specific hotel has private jacuzzis and a full breakfast buffet each morning.
➡ Book your stay at the Petra Bubble Luxotel now.
Recommended budget for staying in Petra
Accommodation in Wadi Musa isn’t too expensive. We stayed for 2 nights and only spent £60 ($70) per night for a private room and private bathroom.
If you buy a Jordan Pass before arriving at Petra, your daily entrance fee is included. The only thing you’ll need to buy on the day is food and water.
However, if you’re looking to visit Petra at Night, you’ll need to purchase a separate ticket. You can get this from your hotel or a local shop for £18 ($20) per person.
The restaurants in Wadi Musa are reasonably priced, with you being able to dine out in the higher-end restaurants for around £20 ($25) per person – although this does not include alcohol. However, we didn’t actually drink any alcohol in Jordan. Whilst it’s not a dry country, we didn’t see many people drinking alcohol, and not many venues will serve it.
Where to stay in Petra: FAQs
1) Can you stay in Petra?
You’re not able to stay on site unaccompanied. But you can book a traditional Bedouin cave or tent stay if you want to fully immerse yourself in the local culture!
➡ Check out accommodation within Petra here.
NOTE: You still need to pay a Petra entry fee when staying at these hotels, but this may be included in your accommodation price. Be sure to check when booking.
2) Where is Petra, Jordan?
Petra is in Jordan, in the southwestern part of the country. It is around a 90-minute drive from Wadi Rum, or a 3-hour drive from Amman, the capital city.
If you’re looking to spend more than a day in Petra, you will need to book a hotel in the surrounding town of Wadi Musa. You can then take a taxi or make the short drive to the Petra visitor centre.
3) How many days do you need in Petra?
This really depends on how much of Petra you want to explore. For us, one day was enough. We spent 8 am – 6 pm walking around Petra, and saw all of the buildings we wanted to see. However, if you would like to cover more ground and hike to buildings further from the entrance, you may want to buy a 2-day ticket.
4) When is the best time to visit Petra?
☀️ If you visit Petra during the summer months (June to August), expect high temperatures and stifling, hot weather. Days in Jordan in the summer are exceptionally sunny and dry.
🌸 🍁 Autumn and spring are the best times to visit Petra. Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) have cooler temperatures and evenings.
5) Can you stay in the caves at Petra?
Only if you book a designated hotel that allows you into the caves. There are no hotels or hostels in Petra, apart from the traditional Bedouin cave stays. You are not allowed to stay in Petra overnight unaccompanied.
6) What tours should I do in Jordan?
Looking to book a tour in Jordan? Tours are one of the best ways to see the hidden gems of the country you are visiting. If you’re travelling during peak season, I highly recommend pre-booking your tours to ensure you don’t miss out!
When travelling, we use this company to book our tours. Tours include skip-the-line tickets to the world’s most iconic attractions, walking tours by top local experts, immersive food and beverage tours, cooking and craft classes, bucket list experiences, and niche offerings you won’t find anywhere else!
Some of the best tours in Jordan include:
- Scuba diving in the Red Sea ➡ BOOK NOW!
- Private Petra tour with transfers ➡ BOOK NOW!
- Day trip to the Dead Sea from Amman ➡ BOOK NOW!
➡ Check out more tours for your trip here!
7) Do I need a SIM card to travel around Jordan?
Yes, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive.
ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!
8) Do I need a car to travel around Jordan?
Driving in Jordan is safe and straightforward. Some of the main attractions are a distance away from each other, so to maximise your time in the country, you may want to hire a car.
If you’re looking to hire a car in Jordan, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in Jordan now!
Where to stay in Petra: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about where to stay in Petra. When you’re planning a trip to Jordan, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Jordan content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
Visiting Jordan? Check out my other posts below:
- Is The Jordan Pass Worth It? A Must-Read Before Purchasing!
- Tipping in Jordan: Everything You Need To Know
- Driving in Jordan: The Ultimate Car Hire Guide
- Jordan 7 Day Itinerary: A Perfect Trip to the Middle East
- Is Petra Worth Visiting? A Must-Read Before You Go!
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
