Petra by Night: what to expect and is it worth it

On three evenings a week, the Siq is lined with candles and the Treasury square is filled with rows of lanterns in the sand. Bedouin musicians play flute and rababa while the facade glows above. It is beautiful, it is popular, and it is not for everyone. Here is what it is, when it runs and how to decide.

When Petra by Night runs

• Days: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
• Start: 20:30, from the visitor centre
• Ticket: 17 JOD per person, separate from your day ticket

If you only have one night in Wadi Musa, check which day of the week it falls on before you book your hotel. Arriving on a Tuesday means no Petra by Night.

What happens on the night

You gather at the visitor centre and walk down through the Siq in the dark. The path is lit only by candles in paper bags, so the walk itself is a large part of the experience: the canyon walls close in overhead and the noise of the town disappears.

At the Treasury, you sit in front of the lit facade. Bedouin flute and rababa are played in the sand. When it ends you walk back the same way. Nothing beyond the Treasury is open at night.

Who it suits — and who should skip it

Go if

• You are staying in Wadi Musa and it falls on one of your nights.
• You want to see the Siq without daytime crowds, carts and heat.
• You enjoy atmosphere and music more than sightseeing.

Skip it if

• You have just walked to the Monastery. The night walk adds the Siq twice more on tired legs.
• You dislike crowds. Busy nights can mean hundreds of people and phone screens in the candlelight.
• Your budget is tight. 17 JOD on top of a 50 JOD day ticket adds up for a family.

How to book

Ask at the visitor centre or your hotel how to buy your Petra by Night ticket and whether it is running that evening. Check visitpetra.jo for changes before you plan around it, especially around public holidays and Ramadan.

What to bring

• A torch or phone light for the walk back, kept low so it does not spoil the candles for others.
• A warm layer. Desert nights are cold, especially from December to February, and you will be sitting still on the sand.
• Closed shoes. The Siq floor is uneven and hard to see in the dark.
• Water and a small bag.

Photos and etiquette

The light is very low, so expect grainy phone photos unless you have a steady hand. Keep flash off: it ruins the scene for everyone around you and adds nothing to the photo. Stay seated during the music, and keep children close on the walk in and out.

Is it worth it?

For most people staying overnight, yes — once. It is not a substitute for seeing Petra by day, and it is not an adventure: it is a calm, staged evening in an extraordinary place. Go with that expectation and you will enjoy it. If you want the Treasury without crowds, the better answer is being at the gate at 06:00 the next morning.

Ticket prices for day visits are in the Petra entrance fee guide, and photos of the night visit are in the gallery.