Why Honeymoon at Petra
Petra rewards effort, which makes it feel personal. The main path to the Treasury and the Colonnaded Street can get busy, but most visitors never climb the trails into the hills. If you do, you will find quiet tombs, long views over the valleys and the Monastery, a carved facade even larger than the Treasury, set on a mountaintop.
The light keeps changing, too. The cliffs shift from pink to orange to deep red through the day, so the same view looks different in the morning and at sunset.
Petra also leaves room for small rituals. Share tea at a Bedouin stall halfway up a trail, sit on the steps of the Roman-style theater or watch the sun drop behind the mountains from a high viewpoint. These are the moments that stick.
When to Go
The best times to visit are spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). Temperatures are comfortable for walking and climbing. The skies are usually clear.
Summer is hot and shade on the trails is limited. If you visit then, start at opening time and rest in the middle of the day.
Winter brings cold nights, rain and occasional snow. The site can close briefly after heavy rain because of flash flood risk in the Siq. On the other hand, crowds are smaller and the stone looks rich after rain.
Avoid the busiest holiday periods if you can. Always plan to enter early in the morning. The first hour after opening is the quietest time at the Treasury.
Where to Stay
Stay in Wadi Musa, the town that has grown up around the entrance to Petra. Staying close to the gate means you can enter at opening and return to your room for a rest.
The Mövenpick Resort Petra sits directly opposite the visitor center, with a rooftop terrace and a Middle Eastern style lobby. It is the most convenient upscale choice.
The Petra Guest House Hotel also sits beside the entrance and is known for its Cave Bar, set inside an ancient Nabataean tomb. A drink there after a day of walking is something of a tradition.
Further up the hill, several hotels have views over the valley toward the mountains. They are quieter but need a short taxi ride to the gate. Ask for a room with a terrace if you can.
Romantic Things to Do
Walk the Siq at opening time to have the Treasury almost to yourselves. Continue down the main path to the Royal Tombs, the theater and the Colonnaded Street.
Climb to the Monastery. The trail has several hundred rock-cut steps and takes about an hour each way, but the reward is a huge facade and a view across the valleys toward Wadi Araba.
Hike to a viewpoint above the Treasury, either on the Al-Khubtha trail or with a local guide on the route from the High Place of Sacrifice. Few visitors make this climb. Looking down on the Treasury from above is the view many couples rank first.
Petra by Night runs on certain evenings and lines the Siq and the Treasury square with hundreds of candles. It is atmospheric, though it can be crowded.
Little Petra, a short drive north, is free and much quieter.
Getting There and Around
Petra is about three hours south of Amman by car on the Desert Highway or around four hours on the slower, more scenic King's Highway. From Aqaba or Wadi Rum it is roughly two hours or less. JETT buses connect Amman and Wadi Musa. Many couples hire a private driver.
Inside the site, everything is on foot. The walk from the visitor center to the Treasury is about a mile. A full loop to the Monastery and back covers around eight miles. Wear good walking shoes and carry water.
Horse rides are offered from the gate to the start of the Siq. Donkeys and camels work inside the site. Animal welfare has been a concern here, so many visitors choose to walk.
Food and Drink
Wadi Musa has a range of restaurants, from simple places serving falafel, shawarma and grilled chicken to hotel dining rooms with full buffets. Try maqluba, a rice dish cooked with vegetables and meat then flipped upside down to serve. Also look for mansaf, lamb cooked in fermented yogurt sauce, which is Jordan's national dish.
Petra Kitchen, in Wadi Musa, offers evening cooking classes where you prepare a Jordanian meal and then eat it together. It is a fun shared activity after a day on the trails.
Inside the site there are a few basic restaurants and many tea stalls run by local Bedouin. Bring snacks and water for the longer hikes.
Alcohol is available in hotels and at the Cave Bar.
Honeymoon Tips
- Buy the Jordan Pass with at least two Petra days included.
- Enter at opening for a quiet Treasury and cooler temperatures.
- Wear broken-in walking shoes; the trails are rocky and steep.
- Carry plenty of water and sunscreen, even in spring and fall.
- Hire a licensed local guide for the first morning to understand the history.
- Plan the Monastery climb for mid to late afternoon, when more of the trail is in shade and the facade catches the light.
- Expect friendly, persistent offers of donkey rides and souvenirs. A smile and a firm no thank you is enough.
