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Anniversary Getaway in Petra
Planning a anniversary getaway in Petra? Compare hotels and vacation rentals on Expedia — a boutique hotel for two or a private home with a view, whatever makes the trip. Celebrate the years with a trip that feels like a gift.
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Planning a anniversary getaway in Petra
Rose-red canyons, candlelit treasury nights, desert silence at the rim. For two, decide between a hotel with service and a private rental with space — Expedia lists both in Petra, so you can weigh price, location and reviews in one search.
What to eat in Petra
Wadi Musa, the town above the gate, is where you eat, and the list is short. Mansaf, lamb cooked in fermented dried yoghurt called jameed and served over rice, is the one dish to order at least once. Bedouin camps toward Wadi Rum do zarb, meat buried and baked in a sand pit. Inside the park, stalls sell sage tea at captive-audience prices. Petra Kitchen runs evening classes.
Petra after dark
The Cave Bar at the Petra Guesthouse sits inside a Nabataean rock tomb and claims to be the oldest bar anywhere, which is the whole nightlife argument for Wadi Musa. Otherwise it is hotel bars and an early night, because the town runs on a dawn-start rhythm. Petra by Night, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, walks the candlelit Siq to the Treasury and needs a separate ticket.
What's actually worth your time in Petra
The Siq delivers the Treasury and everybody photographs it, but Ad-Deir, the Monastery, is the better facade and its eight hundred rock-cut steps thin the crowd to almost nobody. The Royal Tombs glow properly in late afternoon light, not morning. Little Petra, ten minutes up the road at Siq al-Barid, is free and has painted Nabataean ceilings. You cannot go inside the Treasury itself, only stand before it.
When the weather turns in Petra
Rain closes Petra, and rightly, because the Siq is a flash-flood channel, which is exactly why the Nabataeans cut a diversion tunnel at its mouth. The authority shuts the gorge on a forecast, so a wet morning may simply cancel your day rather than dampen it. Wadi Musa sits above a thousand metres and can snow in January. The free museum and a Turkish bath are what remain.
What first-timers get wrong in Petra
Buy the Jordan Pass online before you fly. At 70 to 80 dinars depending on how many Petra days you want, it bundles forty-odd sites and waives the visa fee provided you stay at least two nights. Arriving without it, and without an overnight in Jordan, pushes the Petra ticket to 90 dinars. The short horse ride from the gate is included in your ticket; the handler's tip demand is not.
When to go to Petra
| Best months for anniversary getaway | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| May | 28°C / 82°F | 1 days |
| April | 24°C / 75°F | 2 days |
| October | 26°C / 79°F | 2 days |
The month to avoid is January — around 13°C (55°F) with roughly 8 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: May is the sweet spot, January the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Summer clothes, plus one light layer for air-con and evenings, High-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and a refillable water bottle, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.
Common questions
What's the best stay for an anniversary?
For two, a romantic boutique hotel or a private whole-home rental with a view, a hot tub, or a great terrace makes the trip. Choose somewhere central so you can walk to dinner without a car.
How do we make it special?
Book a place with a standout feature — a plunge pool, a sea or skyline view, a fireplace — and pick a walkable neighbourhood near the restaurants and sights you want. Mention the occasion; many hosts and hotels add a small touch.
When should we book?
Two to three months ahead for weekends; sooner for peak season or a specific view. Free-cancellation listings let you hold the date and adjust if plans change.
Where should we stay for a anniversary getaway in Petra?
A central, walkable base in Petra keeps you close to the restaurants and nightlife. Rose-red canyons, candlelit treasury nights, desert silence at the rim. On Expedia, compare hotels and whole-home rentals side by side, sort by guest rating, and check the free-cancellation options before booking.
When is the best time for a anniversary getaway in Petra?
May (around 28°C, ~1 rain days), April (around 24°C, ~2 rain days), October (around 26°C, ~2 rain days) rate best on Petra's 5-year climate normals. January is the month most groups skip.