Things to Do in Petra, Jordan for a First Visit
I will never forget the exact moment I stepped out of the Siq. After walking through that narrow gorge for what felt like forever, the red facade of the Treasury suddenly filled the gap ahead of me, and I understood why people describe Petra as one of the great wonders of the ancient world. The Nabataeans carved this entire city out of rose-colored sandstone more than two thousand years ago, and much of it survives. I spent three full days here and still felt I had only scratched the surface. If you are planning your own trip, here are the things to do in Petra that made the biggest impression on me.
Walk the Siq at First Light
Get to the entrance before the gates open. The Siq, a canyon that twists for more than a kilometer, is at its most atmospheric in the early morning when the crowds are thin and the sunlight filters down in pale ribbons. I walked it slowly, trailing my hand along the walls and looking for the remnants of water channels that carried fresh water into the city. At the end of the canyon the Treasury appears through a slit in the rock, and no photograph prepares you for the scale of it.
Stand in Front of the Treasury
The Treasury is the facade that greets every visitor, but it deserves more than a passing photograph. I sat on the rocks opposite it for the better part of an hour just watching the light change the color of the stone from pink to orange to a deep ocher. Archaeologists believe it was actually a royal tomb rather than a storehouse, despite the name. Early in the day you can have the view largely to yourself before the convoys of visitors arrive.
Climb to the Monastery
The Monastery is Petra’s biggest surprise because it demands so much effort to reach. The route takes you up about eight hundred stone steps carved into the mountainside, and I will be honest, my legs complained for most of it. The payoff is enormous. At the top, a facade even larger than the Treasury stands in silence above a high plateau. I arrived in the afternoon, which meant I shared the space with only a handful of other hikers and a few goats.
Hike the High Place of Sacrifice
For the best views in the whole site, take the trail that climbs to the High Place of Sacrifice. The path snakes up the western cliffs and passes tombs carved into the rock along the way. From the summit you can look down across the entire valley, with the old city laid out below like a map. The descent on the far side brings you past the lion fountain and the Garden Temple, so the walk makes a satisfying loop.
Explore the Royal Tombs
Across from the main street of the ancient city, a series of elaborate tombs is carved into the cliff face. The Urn Tomb, the Palace Tomb, and the Corinthian Tomb form a dramatic line, and I recommend walking their full length. A set of stairs leads up to the Urn Tomb’s colonnaded courtyard, where you can sit and take a break while looking out over the ruins below.
See the Theatre and the Facades Street
Follow the main wadi past the Treasury and you enter what is effectively Petra’s high street. Here you will find the Roman Theatre cut directly into the hillside, which could once seat several thousand people, and then a stretch of tomb facades that line the road on both sides. I reached this area on my second day, and it helped me understand how genuinely large the city was in its heyday.
Walk the Colonnaded Street
Past the theatre, the paving changes and you reach the Colonnaded Street, the heart of Roman era Petra. On one side lies a marketplace, and on the other the Temenos Gate leads up toward the Qasr al-Bint, the only freestanding temple in Petra to survive in anything like its original form. I found this part of the site less crowded, which was a relief after the bottleneck at the Treasury.
Climb Behind the Treasury for the Views
One of the most rewarding side trips is the scramble up behind the Treasury. A marked trail switchbacks up the sandstone to a series of overlooks where you can look straight down at the monument below. I went for sunset and watched the crowd in the canyon shrink to a few tiny figures while the whole valley turned gold. Bring water; there is no shade on the way up.
Save Half a Day for Little Petra
A few kilometers up the road, Little Petra offers the same carved city experience without the crowds. Its proper name is Siq al-Barid, and a few painted facades sit at the end of the canyon. I walked the short gorge there in about an hour and felt it was the perfect warm up for the main site. Many tours bundle it with Petra, and I would not skip it.
Watch the Sunset and Visit at Night
End your day outside the visitor center, where local Bedouin families serve sweet mint tea and flatbreads while the sun drops behind the mountains. I sat with a group of travelers and swapped hiking stories as the sky turned pink. After dark, Petra by Night lights the Siq with candles a few evenings each week, a version of the site so different it almost feels like a second visit.
Practical Tips for Visiting Petra
Wear sturdy shoes because the ground is uneven and dusty. Take twice as much water as you think you will need, and remember that the site accepts the Jordan Pass, so sort that out before you arrive. Start early, pick your biggest hike first, and give yourself at least two days to see the whole place without rushing.
