Historic Site · Wadi Musa, Jordan
Petra
Petra is an ancient city and archaeological site in southern Jordan. Built c. 801 BC. It drew 1,142,000 visitors in 2019.
Photo: Azurfrog via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Wadi Musa, Jordan |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic Site |
| Built | c. 801 BC |
| Elevation | Elevation: 800 m |
| Annual visitors (2019) | 1,142,000 |
| Coordinates | 30.3289° N, 35.4403° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Petra is known for
Petra is an ancient city and archaeological site in southern Jordan.
About Petra
Petra is an ancient city and archaeological site in southern Jordan. Famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit systems, Petra is also called the "Rose City" because of the colour of the sandstone from which it is carved. The city is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History
By 7000 BC, some of the earliest recorded farmers had settled in Beidha, a Pre-Pottery Neolithic settlement just north of Petra. Petra is listed in Egyptian campaign accounts and the Amarna letters as Pel, Sela, or Seir. The Iron Age lasted between 1200 and 600 BC; in that time, the Petra area was occupied by the Edomites.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Petra website — the official site has the current visiting information.
Best time to visit
March to May and September to November — mild weather for walking the site.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Wadi Musa |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Ovda International Airport (VDA) |
| Distance from the airport | 39.9 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Ramon International Airport (ETM) · Eilat, Israel · 48.8 miles away
- King Hussein International Airport (AQJ) · Aqaba, Jordan · 55.6 miles away
- Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) · Amman, Jordan · 101.7 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
Where to stay nearby
Places to stay near Petra, with a link to each place's own site.
- Mövenpick Resort Petra · Wadi Musa
Resort at the entrance to Petra
- Petra Marriott Hotel · Wadi Musa
Hotel on the hills above Wadi Musa
Where to eat nearby
Places to eat near Petra, with a link to each place's own site.
- My Mom’s Recipe Restaurant · Wadi Musa
Jordanian home cooking in Wadi Musa
- Al Wadi Restaurant · Wadi Musa
Restaurant near the Petra entrance
More landmarks in Jordan
More historic sites
Frequently asked questions
What is Petra?
Petra is an ancient city and archaeological site in southern Jordan.
Where is Petra located?
Petra is in Wadi Musa, Jordan. Its coordinates are 30.3289° N, 35.4403° E.
How do I get to Petra?
The nearest town is Wadi Musa, and the nearest airport is Ovda International Airport (VDA), about 39.9 miles away (straight line).
When is the best time to visit Petra?
March to May and September to November — mild weather for walking the site.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5788 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://www.visitpetra.jo/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
- https://www.visitjordan.com/ — Official tourism / managing-body page — best time to visit.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.