Spending 2 days in Petra is ideal for exploring much of Jordan’s most iconic site. Known for its stunning facades and rich history, this visit is one of the highlights of my time in Jordan. Every corner of this ancient city left me in awe! It’s always incredible to stand before these monumental structures I’ve dreamed of seeing, much like experiencing Machu Picchu in Peru or the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. Here’s an itinerary to make sure you don’t miss a thing during your two-day stay in Petra.

Good to know before visiting Petra in Jordan

Eating and Drinking in Petra

Besides the street vendors who will be happy to sell you overpriced bottles of water and Coca-Cola, there are restaurants and cafes towards the end of the main road (around km 4). This is not the cheapest place to eat in Jordan. For my part, I had brought lunch to be independent and stop whenever I wanted.

Do you need a guide to visit Petra?

No. It’s your choice. I’m one of those people who prefer to explore on their own, with a paper guide in hand, rather than following a guide. Do I learn less and miss out on some good stories? Most likely. Despite this, my need to improvise is stronger than my need to know, and I very rarely take guides. All this is to say that the visit to Petra can be done with or without a guide. If you are limited on time, a guided tour can be a good way to show you as much as possible in a short time.

What to bring to Petra

Water, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes.

How many days in Petra

One day minimum, ideally two, to have time to see Petra’s must-see places.

Is it dangerous to visit Petra?

No, it is not dangerous to visit Petra. That said, Wadi Musa is the place in Jordan where I was stopped the most on the street. Nothing seemed hazardous to me, just a little irritating at times. I think it is linked to the very touristy aspect of the place. Refer to your government website for more information on the destination or the registration service.

When is the best time to visit Petra in Jordan?

As with the rest of Jordan, the best times to visit Petra are May, June, July, August, and September, when the weather is mild and less hot.

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2 Days in Petra Itinerary – Essential Guide

• Day 1: The entire Main Trail (From the main entrance to the Royal Tombs via the Siq and the Treasury).
• Day 2: Walk from Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) to the Visitor Center.

What is Petra?

The first time I saw an image of the ancient city of Petra was in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. That famous scene with the Grail left a lasting impression! However, Petra is much more than just a movie set. It’s an ancient Nabataean troglodyte city located in Jordan, renowned for its breathtakingly carved rock structures.

The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) and the Monastery (Ad Deir) are among the most iconic buildings on the site. Petra was once a bustling center on the caravan route, transporting incense, spices, and other valuable goods. Today, it stands as a significant archaeological and tourist destination.

How to visit Petra in 2 days

Petra is mainly visited on foot. The city is over 10 km² so you can walk for a long time. In addition to the main trail, which features the main attractions, several hikes offer opportunities to explore other monuments and enjoy different views of the facades. These trails are numerous, and you can easily spend several days on the site before you have covered them all. If many are content to walk the 30 minutes that separate the reception from Kahzneh, my intention in going to Petra was certainly not to stop there. You will see that these two days in Petra were jam-packed.

DAY 1: Hiking The Main Trail in Petra

For my first day in Petra, I took the main trail that starts from the reception of the Visitor Center. I wanted to explore the site like a real tourist, especially, I admit, to see Kahzneh, the famous Treasury of Petra. From the first steps, we notice the place’s popularity: the groups of tourists are numerous, and we have to make our way through them to get around. At the beginning of the trail, horsemen offer us a ride on horseback rather than walking. The main trail is 4 km long, so plan the same distance for the return. Make sure you have a map of the site so you don’t miss anything.

Al-Siq

Al- Siq is a relatively narrow canyon (between 3 and 10 m wide) of about 1.2 km that leads to Kahzneh. I found the passage magnificent with its orange walls.

Kahzneh (the Treasure)

I will remember my arrival at the Treasury of Petra for a long time. The facade slowly takes shape as we cross the last few meters of the Siq: a spectacular moment. The structure is so impressive that it almost made me forget the chaos that reigns. The tourist groups are very numerous, and several Bedouins (primarily children) hope to take us for a camel ride or to the Treasury from above, one of the best photo spots in Petra.

The Street of Facades

After the Treasury, the atmosphere calms down. The groups that came only for this construction turn back, the main trail widens, and there is more space to admire the places. I liked this area of ​​Petra; you can observe all the cutting work on the stone itself.

The Nabatean Theatre of Petra

Then we arrive at the Nabatean Theatre. I found it particularly spectacular from above while hiking on the Al-Khubtha trail.

The Royal Tombs

The Royal Tombs area was one of my favorite places during my 2 days in Petra. The facades are fantastic. You can visit some of them, but they are, frankly, more impressive from the outside than from the inside. The smell was also often quite off-putting.

The Petra Museum

As you leave the site, immediately on your left is the Petra Museum —a must-see! There is a lot of interesting information there, both about the region and the site’s history. I also found it was an excellent opportunity to cool off in the air conditioning after a hot day in the sun!

DAY 2: Hiking to the Monastery of Petra

I warn you, this is a long (and beautiful) day of walking! For this second day in Petra, I chose to go to Little Petra (see the section below to know how to get there) and to take the transport organized by the park to start the Back Door hiking route to the Monastery.

There are two ways to get to the Monastery in Petra:

• The first is by taking the Ad-Deir trail (2.5 km), which is just after the Main Trail
• The second is by taking the Back Door hiking route to the Monastery (5.5 km), which connects Little Petra to the Monastery.

I did both trails and wrote about them in my text on hikes to do in Petra.

Ad Deir (the Monastery)

The Monastery is another iconic structure in Petra. Since it is a several-kilometre walk to reach the site, it is much less crowded than Al-Khazneh. I found it beautiful and impressive, and I think it is a must-see in Petra.

Ad Deir trail

I then took the Ad-Deir Trail back to the Main Trail. The advantage of arriving by the Back door to Monastery Trail and leaving by the Ad Deir trail is that you go down the long staircase of 800 steps rather than going back and forth. This lets you see two areas at once while saving a little energy.

Return to the Main Trail

Back on the Main Trail, I took the opportunity to visit what I had not been able to see the day before: the Byzantine church, the Street of Facades, the remains of a Nymphaeum, and the sanctuary of Qasr al-Bint. Afterwards, I walked the 4 km of the Main Trail again and went back over the attractions of the day before to find the exit and rest my feet.

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How to visit Siq al-Barid ( Little Petra )

There are shuttles available from the Petra Tourist Office that run back and forth between the office and Little Petra . The service is included in your Petra day ticket, and the shuttles depart approximately every 20-30 minutes.

Don’t believe anyone who tells you there are no shuttles and that you have to take a taxi. When I was looking for the famous shuttles, most people offered me their taxi service instead (even an employee at the site’s information desk). I had to go to the office to get the correct information. Don’t hesitate to go there if you can’t find it; these employees are there to limit access to unofficial tourist guides, among other things.

Where to take the shuttle to Little Petra

The shuttles are located behind the reception, immediately to the left before heading towards the Main Trail. They are not marked, so they can be challenging to spot.

How long to go to Little Petra

The site itself is not that big, and 30-45 minutes is more than enough to go around it. As for getting around, find out about the Back Door to Monastery hike.

Is Petra By Night worth the trip?

Petra By Night is a sound-and-light show that takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 8:30 pm. If you’re interested in this type of event, I suppose it might be worth going.

Where to stay in Petra

I stayed in one of the new rooms at the Petra Town Check-Inn hotel in Wadi Musa. The location was perfect (I could access the Petra site on foot), and the owner was all smiles and super helpful. While not exceptional, the room was decent, and the breakfast was satisfactory. If you prefer, there are also a few options within walking distance of the site, such as the highly rated Petra Boutique Hotel or the Mövenpick Petra.

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