Where to Stay in Petra: Wadi Musa Hotels and Areas
Petra is the archaeological site and Wadi Musa is the town beside it. Why lower Wadi Musa is usually the best base, how many nights to book, and what to check before you pay.
The first thing to understand when booking accommodation for Petra is that Petra is the archaeological site and Wadi Musa is the modern town beside it. Most travellers who say they are staying “in Petra” are staying in Wadi Musa. If Wadi Rum is your next stop, the four-hour jeep tour below is the one paid activity to line up for that leg of the trip.
Check Availability
Quick answer
For most first-time visitors, stay in lower Wadi Musa, within comfortable walking distance of the Petra Visitor Centre.
Location matters because a day in Petra involves a lot of walking, and Wadi Musa rises steeply away from the entrance. The Siq alone is a 1.2 km walk before you reach the Treasury, and you walk it again on the way out.
Why lower Wadi Musa is usually best
Staying close to the Visitor Centre gives you:
- an easier early start
- less dependence on taxis
- a simpler return after a long day
- restaurants and visitor services nearby
Hotels farther uphill can be cheaper, but a short distance on a map can still mean a tiring climb at the end of the day, when your legs have already done the Siq twice.
How many nights?
For most visitors, two nights is the right number:
- Day 1: arrive in Wadi Musa
- Day 2: full day in Petra
- Day 3: continue to Wadi Rum or another destination
One night can work, but it makes your arrival or departure day much busier.
Two nights also changes what the ticket buys you. Petra’s gate price for visitors staying overnight in Jordan is 50 JOD for one day and 55 JOD for two, so a second morning inside the site costs very little on top. Our Petra entrance fee and Jordan Pass guide has the full ticket table.
What to check before booking
Prioritise:
- walking time to the Petra Visitor Centre
- hills and elevation between the hotel and the entrance
- recent reviews
- breakfast hours, so you can eat before an early start
- heating or air conditioning, depending on the season
- parking or shuttle arrangements
On Booking.com, the Petra Moon Hotel sits on Petra Visitor Center Street, and the Mövenpick Resort Petra is a resort option in Wadi Musa. You can also browse all stays in Wadi Musa and check each walking time on the map.
Hotel vs camp
For Petra itself, a practical hotel in Wadi Musa is usually more useful than a camp, because convenience matters more than atmosphere when the next day starts at the gate. If your itinerary also includes Wadi Rum, save the desert-camp experience for there. Our guide to the best Wadi Rum camps covers how to choose one.
If you would rather not book hotels yourself, the three-day Petra, Wadi Rum and Dead Sea trip from Amman includes a night in Wadi Musa before your Petra day, which is what gives it a full day in the site. Our breakdown of that tour lists what else it covers.
Petra and Wadi Rum
A very natural route is:
Wadi Musa/Petra → Wadi Rum
Spend two nights in Wadi Musa, visit Petra for a full day, then leave for Wadi Rum the following morning. Arrive in time for the afternoon departure of the Wadi Rum morning or sunset 4x4 jeep tour, which finishes at a sunset viewpoint and includes the transfer from Wadi Rum Village. Our jeep tour breakdown has the start times and what the price leaves out.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wadi Musa the same as Petra?
No. Wadi Musa is the town; Petra is the archaeological site next to it. Hotels advertised as being “in Petra” are almost always in Wadi Musa.
Can you stay inside Petra?
Standard tourist accommodation is outside the archaeological site, in Wadi Musa and the surrounding area.
How many nights should I stay near Petra?
Two nights work well for most first-time visitors: arrive, spend a full day in Petra, then move on the next morning.
Do I need a car in Wadi Musa?
Not if you stay close to the Visitor Centre. You can walk to the entrance and to restaurants, and a car is only useful for getting to your next destination.
Is upper Wadi Musa cheaper?
Often, but check the hills and the transport before booking. A cheaper room uphill can mean a taxi or a steep walk at both ends of every day.
The bottom line
For Petra, prioritise location over hotel extras. Stay in Wadi Musa, preferably close to the entrance, and book two nights if your schedule allows it. Then take the morning road south to Wadi Rum, where the camp night is the accommodation that becomes part of the trip.
Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea — Two Days from Amman
Join 1,553+ travellers who rated this itinerary 4.9/5. A night in a Bedouin camp, a 4x4 run through Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea on the way home. Free cancellation.
Check Availability & Book