Petra Πέτρα
Jordan UNESCO World Heritage Site
Petra is an ancient city and archaeological site constructed from sandstone in the Ma'an Governorate of Jordan. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most looked-up sights in Jordan, it spans an area of 262 square kilometers. The site received approximately 1.1 million visitors in 2019.
Planning a visit
The climate at this 800-meter elevation site varies throughout the year. Summers, from June to August, are hot with daily highs reaching 31 °C and no rain. Winters, specifically January and February, are cold with highs of 12 °C to 13 °C and rain occurring on about 8 to 9 days. Spring and autumn offer milder temperatures, with highs between 23 °C and 27 °C in April, May, and October. These months are generally suitable for a visit, as they avoid the extremes of the summer heat and the winter rain.
Visitors can reach the site by traveling 186 kilometers from Amman, the capital of Jordan. Alternatively, the nearest airport is Ramon International Airport in Eilat, Israel, located 79 kilometers away. The site operates from 06:00 to 17:00 during winter time and from 06:00 to 19:00 during summer time. Nearby points of interest include Al-Khazneh, located 1.2 kilometers away, and the Siq, which is 1.5 kilometers away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 31 °C. The wettest is January, with about 57 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 12 | 13 | 17 | 23 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 25 | 19 | 14 |
| Average low, °C | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| Rainfall, mm | 57 | 48 | 42 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 33 |
| Rainy days | 9 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
