Wadi Musa: where to stay near Petra, how to get there and what to do (2026)
Wadi Musa (the "Valley of Moses") is the small town right at the entrance to Petra: it is where you sleep, eat and catch the buses. Staying there is the best option for visiting Petra: you gain the calm morning Siq, you can climb to the Monastery, and the Petra ticket costs less for a visitor who spends at least one night in Jordan (50 JD for one day, 55 JD for two days, 60 JD for three; 90 JD without a night in Jordan; Visit Petra rates, checked on 23 October 2026). Three nights in Wadi Musa are more than enough for Petra and Little Petra.
Highlights
The town and its hotels
Hotels stretch from the Petra entrance up the hill; the most practical are a few minutes' walk from the visitor centre, the nicest have mountain views.
The Petra visitor centre
Tickets, guides, maps, toilets and the start of the walk to the Siq; see the Petra page.
Petra by Night
A candlelit visit of the Siq up to the Treasury, best combined with accommodation on site; see the page.
Moses' Spring (Ayn Musa)
A spring in the town, linked by tradition to the biblical story of Moses; a short visit if you have time.
Practical info
Tips
- Hotel prices range from a dorm at a few dinars (travel guides, to be confirmed) to resorts at more than 70 or 100 JD a night, depending on the season; compare rates online before you arrive and prefer a hotel a few minutes from the entrance, which saves a taxi morning and evening. To get there from Amman: the JETT bus leaves around 6:30 am near Abdali station (about 3.5 hours, 10 JD each way in May 2025, return from Petra around 5:00 pm); a direct minibus leaves when full (about 3 hours, 7 JD for a tourist in March 2023); a taxi or private driver is faster (see Petra from Amman); from Aqaba, see Petra from Aqaba or Eilat. With the Jordan Pass, Petra entry is included and the visa is free from two consecutive nights in Jordan (official rule on jordanpass.jo): two or three nights in Wadi Musa fit well. Official guides can be hired at the visitor centre (fee to be confirmed on site). For a two-day plan, read Visiting Petra; to sleep elsewhere in Jordan, see where to stay in Jordan. Add Little Petra to your stay.
How to get there
Wadi Musa is about 230 km from Amman (3 to 3.5 hours by the Desert Highway) and about 125 km from Aqaba (2 to 2.5 hours). JETT bus or minibus from Amman, taxi or private driver, or rental car.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
See on the map →
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