- Sun–ThuFive nights a week
- 8:30 PMStart, finishing around 10:30 PM
- 30 JDAdult ticket, per person
- FreeChildren under 10
- 2,000Candles along the Siq
Petra by Night at a Glance
Walking the Siq by day is impressive. Walking it after dark, following a trail of candlelight towards the Treasury, feels completely different. It is one of Petra’s most photographed experiences and one of its most debated: some visitors love the atmosphere, others expect a full night tour of Petra and find it much more limited.
| Detail | Current information (official, checked October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Days | Sunday to Thursday |
| Start | 8:30 PM (arrive about 10 minutes early) |
| Finish | Around 10:30 PM |
| Adult ticket | 30 JD |
| Children | Under 10 free |
| Route | Visitor Center → Siq → Treasury |
| Daytime Petra included? | No |
| Jordan Pass includes Petra by Night? | No (but you need a daytime ticket or a Jordan Pass to buy one) |
| Photography | Allowed without flash |
| Drones | Not permitted |
The dedicated page on the official Petra website states that the event runs five nights a week, Sunday through Thursday, from 8:30 PM until approximately 10:30 PM, with tickets at 30 JD per person. The experience first launched in 1998 and was redesigned in May 2025, adding projection mapping and narration while keeping the candlelit walk through the Siq.
If you are based in Amman and want the transport and tickets handled, the Amman: Petra by Night Tour with Optional Day Visit is the only Petra by Night product we found on GetYourGuide. It is private, includes hotel pickup and the event ticket, and runs 8 to 15 hours depending on whether you add the daytime visit. It is rated 4.9 from 39 reviews, a small review base, so read the recent feedback before you book.
What Is Petra by Night?
Not a guided night tour of the ancient city, but a walk along Petra’s most famous approach.
You do not spend the evening wandering around the Royal Tombs, the Roman theatre, the Colonnaded Street and the Monastery. The experience covers one route, Visitor Center → Siq → Treasury, lit by candles. You walk through the narrow Siq after dark and eventually come out in front of the Treasury, where the main part of the evening programme takes place.
The current version combines candlelight, the natural darkness of the Siq, the Treasury façade, narration, sound, projection mapping and visual effects. The Jordan Tourism Board describes it as a candlelit route through the Siq using around 2,000 candles, ending at the Treasury.
If you are spending a night or two in Wadi Musa for the evening walk, most visitors also fill the days with a guided visit to Petra and the Monastery, a stop at Little Petra, or a jeep tour and desert camp in Wadi Rum, about 110 km south.
Is Petra by Night Worth It?
Think of it as an experience, not sightseeing. You go to Petra by day for the archaeology and at night for the atmosphere.
It suits you if
- you are already staying overnight in Wadi Musa
- this is your first visit to Petra
- you enjoy atmospheric experiences
- you like night photography
- you want to see the Treasury in a completely different setting
- your itinerary already includes a proper daytime Petra visit
- you have enough time and budget to treat it as an optional extra
You may want to skip it if
- you only have a very limited amount of time in Petra
- you expect a complete guided tour of Petra after dark
- you dislike crowds
- you are already exhausted after a long day of hiking
- your budget is tight
- you would have to make a special journey just for the evening event
Petra by Night vs Petra During the Day
Choose Petra during the day. There is no contest: the night event covers only a fraction of the site.
A daytime visit takes in Bab Al Siq, the Siq, the Treasury, the Street of Facades, the Theatre, the Royal Tombs, the Colonnaded Street, the Great Temple, Qasr Al-Bint, the Monastery, the hiking trails and the viewpoints. Petra by Night is an add-on to that, not another way of visiting Petra. Our guide to every type of Petra tour covers the daytime options.
| Daytime Petra is best for | Petra by Night is best for |
|---|---|
| History and archaeology | Atmosphere |
| Hiking | Candlelight |
| Photography | Seeing the Treasury after dark |
| Exploring the whole site | An unusual evening out |
If your itinerary allows both, the contrast between the same Siq by day and by night is part of the appeal.
What Happens at Petra by Night?
Details can change, but the basic evening follows a simple sequence.
1. Arrive at the Petra Visitor Center
You start at Petra’s normal entrance in Wadi Musa. The official guidance asks you to arrive around 10 minutes before the start for ticket checks.
2. Walk towards the Siq
After entering, you follow the familiar route towards the canyon. If you visited Petra earlier that day, the path will feel familiar, but the darkness changes it completely.
3. Walk through the candlelit Siq
For most visitors this is the part they remember. The Siq is Petra’s narrow natural entrance gorge, more than a kilometre long before it reaches the Treasury, and at night candles mark the route.
4. Reach the Treasury
The Siq eventually opens and Al-Khazneh, the Treasury, appears ahead, set against a dark sky with candles spread across the square in front of it.
5. The programme at the Treasury
The current programme adds projection mapping, sound and storytelling to the traditional candlelight.
6. Walk back through the Siq
When the programme finishes you walk back to the entrance, and that is still a substantial walk.
What Days Is Petra by Night On, and How Much Does It Cost?
Sunday to Thursday, 30 JD, and never on Friday or Saturday under the current schedule.
The official schedule lists Petra by Night on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, starting at 8:30 PM and finishing at approximately 10:30 PM. It is currently not scheduled on Friday or Saturday, so if the evening matters to you, check your dates before you book hotels and transport.
A note about outdated information
You will find contradictory details online. Older sources often say Petra by Night runs only on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and you may still see the old ticket price of 17 JD. For a 2026 visit, go by the current official event page and check it again shortly before you travel.
How much does Petra by Night cost?
The current official price is 30 JD per person, and children under 10 go free. This is separate from normal Petra admission. Our Jordan Pass and Petra tickets guide sets out the daytime prices.
Is Petra by Night included in the Jordan Pass?
No. The Jordan Pass includes daytime entry to Petra for the number of days your version covers, but Petra by Night is a separate ticket. The official page also says that to buy a Petra by Night ticket you must hold either a valid daytime Petra ticket or a Jordan Pass. Tickets are valid only on the date they are issued.
Same Day, Two Days, or a Day Trip From Amman?
The evening is easy to add if you sleep in Wadi Musa, and hard work if you do not.
Can you do Petra and Petra by Night on the same day?
Yes, and many visitors do. The catch is that Petra is tiring. A full day inside the site can mean many kilometres of walking, plus hundreds of steps if you climb to the Monastery or the viewpoints. Walking back to the entrance, having dinner and then walking the Siq again at night makes for an extremely long day.
A better two-day Petra itinerary
With two days in Petra you can spread it out more comfortably:
- Day 1: arrive in Wadi Musa, explore central Petra, return to your hotel, have dinner, then go to Petra by Night.
- Day 2: an early return to Petra for the Monastery hike, the Royal Tombs, the viewpoints and any extra trails.
A two-day ticket costs only a little more than a one-day ticket, which our Amman to Petra transport guide breaks down alongside the ways to get there.
Where should you stay for Petra by Night?
Wadi Musa is by far the easiest base. The town surrounds the Petra entrance and has a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, cafés and shops. If the night walk is part of your plan, a hotel within walking distance of the Visitor Center is particularly convenient.
Can you do Petra by Night on a day trip from Amman?
Transport can be arranged, but it makes a very long day. Amman is several hours from Petra by road, so if you visit Petra in the daytime, stay for Petra by Night until around 10:30 PM and then drive back, you may arrive in Amman extremely late. The private Petra by Night tour from Amman (4.9 from 39 reviews, from $99) handles the driving and tickets, which makes the late return easier on you, but the hours stay the same. For most travellers interested in Petra by Night, staying overnight in Wadi Musa makes much more sense.
Photography, What to Wear and How Far You Walk
Uneven ground, low light and a cool desert evening shape the practical side.
Photography tips
Photography is allowed, but the official visitor guidance says no flash and no drones, and asks you to avoid torches, especially while walking. Low light is difficult, and phones and cameras behave very differently from how they do in daylight.
With a phone, try night mode, keep the phone very steady, avoid digital zoom, lower the exposure if the candle flames are blowing out, and take several shots instead of relying on one.
With a camera, one that performs well at higher ISO settings helps. Above all, don’t spend the whole walk looking at a screen. The candlelit Siq is the experience.
What should you wear?
Petra’s desert climate can bring a noticeable drop in temperature between day and night, so bring layers. Depending on the season, useful items are comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket, a warmer layer in winter, a scarf and water. Good footwear matters because the route is uneven in places and visibility is naturally limited.
How much walking is involved?
Petra by Night is not a seated show beside the Visitor Center. You walk from the entrance through the Siq to the Treasury and back again afterwards, several kilometres over ground that can be uneven. Most reasonably mobile visitors manage it, but it matters if you have mobility difficulties, are travelling with young children or older relatives, or have already spent all day hiking.
Children, Couples, Crowds and What It Is Not
Most disappointment comes from expecting something the evening does not offer.
Is Petra by Night good for children?
Children under 10 go free, according to the official ticket information. Whether they enjoy it depends on the child. On the plus side there is the candlelight, the dramatic canyon, the projection effects and the adventure of being out at night. Against that, it finishes late, involves a lot of walking in the dark, and children may already be tired from a daytime Petra visit.
Is Petra by Night romantic?
It has the ingredients: candlelight, towering canyon walls, a desert night and one of the world’s most famous ancient monuments. But you will not have Petra to yourselves. It is a group experience, so expect a dramatic atmosphere, not a private candlelit moment.
Is Petra by Night crowded?
It can be. Promotional photographs often make the Treasury look peaceful and almost empty, and that is one of the biggest gaps between expectation and reality. This is an organised visitor event, so how much you enjoy it partly depends on whether you are comfortable sharing the moment with a crowd.
What Petra by Night is not
- a night tour of the entire archaeological site
- a replacement for daytime Petra
- included automatically with the Jordan Pass
- a private experience
- a way to visit the Monastery after dark
- normal Petra with later opening hours
It is a specific ticketed event focused on the Siq and the Treasury.
Petra by Night: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Petra by Night worth doing?
It can be, particularly if you are already staying in Wadi Musa and enjoy atmospheric experiences. Treat it as an addition to a daytime visit, not a replacement for one.
What nights is Petra by Night available?
The current official schedule lists Sunday through Thursday. It is not scheduled on Friday or Saturday.
What time does Petra by Night start?
It starts at 8:30 PM. The official guidance asks you to arrive about 10 minutes early for ticket checks.
What time does Petra by Night finish?
It currently finishes at approximately 10:30 PM, and you still have the walk back through the Siq afterwards.
How much is Petra by Night?
The current official price is 30 JD per person, with children under 10 admitted free. You also need a valid daytime Petra ticket or a Jordan Pass.
Is Petra by Night included in the Jordan Pass?
No. The Jordan Pass covers daytime entry to Petra, and Petra by Night is a separate ticket on top of it.
Can you take photographs?
Yes, but the official guidance prohibits flash photography and drones.