Three nights a week, Petra's approach is lit by around 1,500 candles and the Treasury glows under the stars. Petra by Night is one of Jordan's most photographed experiences — and one of its most debated. Here is what actually happens, and an honest verdict on whether it is worth the ticket.
Petra by Night 2026
- When
- Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays
- Time
- 20:30–22:30 (arrive before ~21:15)
- Price
- 17 JOD per person, separate ticket
- Included in day ticket?
- No — and not in the Jordan Pass either
- Requirement
- A valid daytime Petra ticket
What happens
You enter Petra's main gate after dark and walk the Siq — the same 1.2 km gorge as by day, now lined with candles in paper bags — a slow procession of about 30 minutes. You emerge in front of the Treasury, where roughly 1,500 candles light the facade. A guide gives a short talk on Petra's history, traditional Bedouin music plays, and the Treasury is washed in coloured light. Then you walk back out the way you came.
Is it worth it?
Honestly, it divides people. On a clear, quieter night the candlelit Siq and the glowing Treasury are genuinely magical — the kind of memory that outlasts the trip. On a busy night it can feel crowded and slow, with phone screens and chatter breaking the spell, and the “show” itself is brief. Manage your expectations: it is an atmosphere, not a spectacle.
Arrive early and hang back to let the crowd walk ahead, so you get stretches of the Siq to yourself. Stay seated at the Treasury after the formal part ends — many people leave, and the quiet minutes afterward are the best. Bring a layer: desert nights are cold, even in summer.
Fitting it into your trip
Because it runs late on set nights, Petra by Night only works if you are staying in Wadi Musa that evening — a day trip back to Amman cannot make it. That is where an overnight tour or a multi-day private trip comes in: you are already there for the Monday, Wednesday or Thursday show.
Remember the separate 17 JOD ticket and your valid daytime entry — see the full Petra tickets guide.
