Choosing Where to Stay for Your Petra Visit
Stay in the town of Wadi Musa for walking distance to the Petra Visitor Center. Book accommodation in the 'lower' part of the town if you want to avoid a steep uphill walk after a long day of exploring.
- Locate the Visitor Center. All exploration begins at the main gate. Use Google Maps to verify that your potential hotel is within a 15-minute walk of the Petra Visitor Center to avoid relying on expensive taxis.
- Check the Elevation. Wadi Musa is built on a steep hillside. Look for hotels located on the main tourist street (Tourism Street) near the gate. If a hotel claims to be 'minutes away,' check if it is downhill or uphill; the walk back up after walking 15km in the park is exhausting.
- Verify Breakfast Inclusions. Most hotels in Wadi Musa include breakfast. Take this. You will be walking early and food options inside the park are overpriced and limited to basic snacks until you reach the Treasury or the Basin.
- Confirm Transport Logistics. If you are arriving by JETT bus from Amman, ensure your hotel offers a shuttle or is located within a $3 USD taxi ride of the bus station.
- Is it worth staying inside the park boundaries?
- There are no hotels inside the archaeological park itself. You must stay in Wadi Musa.
- Do I need a rental car?
- No. Wadi Musa is small and walkable. If you arrive by bus, you do not need a vehicle to get around town.