Where to Stay in Petra: Hotels in Wadi Musa

Wadi Musa is the town you stay in when visiting Petra. There is no accommodation inside the archaeological site itself — the Bedouin community that once lived within Petra was relocated to the town decades ago. Every hotel, guesthouse, and hostel is in Wadi Musa, which sprawls down the hillside for about 3 kilometres above the Petra Visitor Centre entrance.

The critical factor in choosing where to stay here is proximity to the entrance gate. The closer you are, the earlier you can start and the more walking you avoid at the beginning and end of an already physically demanding day. A day in Petra involves 10–15 kilometres of walking on average. Guided Petra tours departing from Wadi Musa hotels are worth booking before arrival, particularly during spring and autumn when private guides fill quickly.

The Geography: Why Proximity to the Entrance Matters

The Petra Visitor Centre is at the bottom of Wadi Musa, at the end of the road down from the town. The road runs roughly north-to-south, with the town and most budget/mid-range hotels at the top (north) end and the entrance at the bottom (south). The Mövenpick is literally opposite the entrance gate — it takes under 2 minutes to walk from the hotel lobby to the ticket office.

Hotels in the upper town are 1–2 kilometres from the entrance. That is a 15–20 minute walk downhill before you even start the Siq. After 8 hours in Petra, the same walk becomes considerably harder. Most upper-town hotels run a free shuttle to the entrance — ask when booking.

Luxury: Top Hotels in Wadi Musa

Mövenpick Resort Petra

The Mövenpick is the best-located hotel for visiting Petra, full stop. It sits directly opposite the Petra Visitor Centre entrance on Wadi Musa’s main road, which means you can be inside the site within minutes of leaving your room. The building is a traditional Ottoman-style structure with a handsome lobby and a rooftop terrace that catches the evening light.

Rooms are well-sized and the breakfast is one of the better hotel breakfasts in Jordan — important when you need to fuel up before a long day of walking. The rooftop restaurant does good mezze and grills in the evening with views over the valley.

The proximity advantage is significant: being able to enter Petra at 6am (when the gates open), spend a full day, leave by mid-afternoon, rest at the hotel, and return the next morning without taxi logistics makes the Mövenpick a genuine operational choice, not just a luxury splurge.

Approximate rates as of 2026: JOD 150–260 per night for standard rooms. Peak season (March–May, September–October) rates are at the top of this range and often sell out 4–6 weeks in advance.

Petra Marriott Hotel

The Petra Marriott is a large 4-star hotel in the upper part of Wadi Musa, roughly 1.5 kilometres from the Petra entrance. The hotel has a pool, multiple restaurants, and the quality and reliability expected from the Marriott brand. The shuttle service to the entrance runs regularly and is free for guests.

Approximate rates as of 2026: JOD 130–220 per night. Better value per room than the Mövenpick but the location advantage is gone.

Mid-Range: The Best Balance in Wadi Musa

Petra Guest House Hotel

The Petra Guest House occupies a genuinely unusual position in Wadi Musa’s accommodation landscape: it is the only hotel located inside the Petra entrance zone, within the archaeological site perimeter. The hotel was converted from a historic cave dwelling and caravan stop — part of the structure is literally cut into the sandstone.

Location-wise, it is unbeatable: the hotel sits immediately behind the Petra Visitor Centre, meaning guests walk approximately 30 seconds to the ticket office. The property is also home to the Cave Bar — a 2,000-year-old Nabataean rock-cut tomb that has been converted into a bar, one of the more unusual drinking venues anywhere in the world. Drinks cost approximately JOD 5–10 as of 2026 and the bar draws visitors from hotels across Wadi Musa in the evenings.

The rooms are comfortable but not luxurious, and the cave-adjacent rooms are cool year-round due to the sandstone walls. Some find this atmospheric; others find it dark.

Approximate rates as of 2026: JOD 80–140 per night. The unique location commands a premium over what the physical rooms alone would justify.

Seven Wonders Hotel

The Seven Wonders sits approximately a 10-minute walk from the entrance gate on the main road through Wadi Musa. The hotel is comfortable rather than dramatic, but it delivers reliable mid-range quality — the included breakfast is well-reviewed and better than most comparable properties. Rooms with a view toward the hills are worth requesting.

Approximate rates as of 2026: JOD 45–70 per night.

Petra Moon Hotel

The Petra Moon is a popular mid-range option in the upper town, about 5 minutes’ walk (or a 2-minute taxi ride) from the Petra entrance. The hotel has a rooftop terrace with views over the valley toward the entrance, and runs a free shuttle to the entrance in the morning.

The staff are helpful with trip planning — arranging drivers for the Kings Highway, advising on Wadi Rum camp bookings, and flagging whether Petra by Night is operating during your stay.

Approximate rates as of 2026: JOD 65–100 per night, with breakfast often included. Represents good value in Wadi Musa for the quality.

Budget: Petra on Less

Rocky Mountain Hotel

Rocky Mountain is the default recommendation for budget travellers coming to Petra. It is basic — shared bathrooms in some room configurations, functional but not plush rooms — but it is clean, reliable, and has been serving backpackers and independent travellers for many years.

The rooftop terrace has good views over the valley and is a sociable spot in the evening for meeting other travellers. The staff are knowledgeable and have contacts with local guides for full-day Petra tours if you want interpretation beyond what the site itself provides.

Approximate rates as of 2026: JOD 25–45 per night for private rooms; dorm beds occasionally available around JOD 12–18.

Location: Upper Wadi Musa, approximately 1.5 km from the entrance. Free shuttle runs in the morning.

Al Anbat Midtown Hotel

A clean and well-run budget option in the middle section of Wadi Musa. Better quality than the cheapest options but still significantly less expensive than mid-range. Good location relative to the local restaurants and shops in the town.

Approximate rates as of 2026: JOD 30–55 per night.

Cleopetra Hotel

A straightforward budget option in Wadi Musa with rooms from approximately JOD 20–30 per night as of 2026. The rooms are basic but clean. It is a short taxi ride from the entrance gate, which adds a small daily cost but keeps accommodation spending low. Popular with solo travellers and those on tighter budgets.

Bedouin Camp Stays Near Petra

For travellers doing Petra by Night (which operates Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings) and wanting a different kind of stay, a handful of Bedouin-style camp setups operate in and around the Petra region. These are less polished than Wadi Rum camps but offer a different atmosphere from standard Wadi Musa hotels.

The camps typically include dinner and breakfast in the price and sit outside the Petra entry zone — you still need to pay for entry each day. Ask your camp about their shuttle arrangements.

This option suits travellers who have already done multiple nights in Petra hotels and want a different experience, or those combining Petra and Wadi Musa with hiking in the surrounding hills.

How Many Nights to Book in Petra

Minimum 1 night: Allows a single full day in Petra, roughly 7–8 hours. This covers the Siq, Treasury, Street of Facades, Colonnaded Street, and if you push hard, the Monastery. You will miss the Royal Tombs in detail and may feel rushed.

Recommended 2 nights: Two full days in Petra is the sweet spot for most visitors. Day 1 covers the main circuit: Siq, Treasury, Street of Facades, Theatre, Colonnaded Street, Basin Restaurant lunch, and the Monastery. Day 2 covers the Royal Tombs at dawn when the light is best, the High Place of Sacrifice, and any areas you want to revisit or explore more slowly. Two days with a Jordan Pass (2-day Petra entry) is by far the best value approach — the Pass includes 2 days at Petra and pays for itself versus buying individual entry tickets.

3 nights and beyond: For those with a deep interest in archaeology, Bedouin culture, or hiking, 3 nights opens up the backcountry — Wadi Muthlim, Wadi Thughra, the Coloured Canyon, and the Little Petra site (Siq al-Barid) which is free to enter and rarely crowded.

Getting to Wadi Musa

From Amman by JETT bus: The most common public transport option. JETT buses depart from the Abdali bus station in Amman at around 6:30am and 3:30pm (schedules change — verify at jett.com.jo or at the station). Journey time is approximately 3–3.5 hours. Cost approximately JOD 10 per person as of 2026 (one-way).

From Aqaba: The drive from Aqaba to Wadi Musa takes approximately 1.5–2 hours via the Desert Highway north (Route 15) followed by the turnoff toward Wadi Musa. A taxi costs approximately JOD 40–55. No direct public bus runs this route — you would need to change at Ma’an.

From Amman by car or rental: Approximately 3–3.5 hours via the Desert Highway (Route 15 south). The Kings Highway (Route 35) takes longer (4–5 hours) but passes Madaba, Mount Nebo, and Karak Castle, making it a worthwhile scenic drive if you have the time.

Practical Tips for Wadi Musa

Book early in high season: Petra is one of Jordan’s most visited sites and Wadi Musa hotels fill up in spring (March–May) and autumn (September–October). Book the Mövenpick and Petra Guest House at least 4–6 weeks ahead for these periods.

Cash in Wadi Musa: There are ATMs in the town and near the Petra Visitor Centre. The ATMs sometimes run dry during peak season — withdraw enough in Amman to cover your stay, especially for any Bedouin camp or guide fees that are cash-only.

Food in Wadi Musa: The town has a good range of local restaurants and small shops on the main street. Al Wadi Restaurant and Al Arabi Restaurant both serve solid Jordanian food (mensaf, grilled meats, hummus, falafel) at reasonable prices — approximately JOD 5–12 per person for a full meal. The restaurants inside Petra itself (the Basin Restaurant at the Monastery junction) charge more and have limited menus, but are convenient if you do not want to leave and re-enter.

Petra by Night: The candle-lit walk through the Siq to the Treasury, with Bedouin music performed at the end, runs on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings approximately 8:30–10:30pm. Entry is approximately JOD 17 as of 2026 and is a separate ticket from the daytime Jordan Pass entry. It is worth doing if your nights in Wadi Musa align with the schedule.

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See also: Petra city guide · Things to Do in Petra · Petra by Night · Petra Tours