Petra After Dark: Romantic Evenings and Stays

Safety notice, 31 October 2026. Jordan is caught up in the 2026 regional conflict around Iran, and flights can be disrupted at short notice. At the time of writing, the US State Department puts the entire country at Level 3, “Reconsider Travel”, with Level 4, “Do Not Travel”, for the borders with Syria and Iraq and a few named areas. Its advice has also singled out Ma’an city and parts of Ma’an Governorate. The UK FCDO warns against travel only within 3 km of the Syrian border and carries no warning for Petra or Wadi Rum. Petra and Wadi Musa are open and running today, but the picture can shift quickly. Check the US travel advisory and the UK travel advice before booking and again before departure. Everything that follows is written for a normal trip.

Start with the evening

Petra is at its most atmospheric after dark. Petra by Night lights the Siq with candles and ends with a performance at the Treasury. It takes place Sunday to Thursday from 8:30 to 10:30 PM, costs 30 JD and is free for children under 10. Neither the Jordan Pass nor the daytime ticket pays for it, though you do need a valid daytime Petra ticket or Pass to buy one. Buy in person on the day from the Petra by Night office at the Visitor Center, and confirm there that the show is on, since weather cancels it. Visit petrabynight.jo .

Drinks and dinner

The Cave Bar, at the Petra Guest House Hotel beside the Petra gate, is a licensed bar in an original Nabataean tomb. It serves daily from 2:00 PM to midnight. See petraguesthousehotel.com .

For a table with a view, book the Al Ghadeer Roof Garden on the fourth floor of the Mövenpick Resort Petra. Sunset looks over the Petra hills, the kitchen focuses on barbecue, and it is open daily from 4 PM to midnight between May and October only. Reservations are required, as the Accor page explains.

Places to sleep

  • Petra Bubble Luxotel, on Little Petra Main Street in Wadi Musa, advertises bubble suites with private hot tubs. Ask for current rates directly.
  • Seven Wonders Bedouin Camp sits close to Little Petra.

Wadi Musa is the base for couples. Ma’an city is not an overnight stop.

A walk before dinner

Pick the High Place of Sacrifice or the Al-Khubtha viewpoint for a late-afternoon walk together, and be at the gate before the park closes between 4 and 6 PM, depending on the season. Entry for visitors who sleep in Jordan is 50 JD for 1 day, 55 JD for 2 days and 60 JD for 3 days, so a 2-day ticket leaves room for a morning hike and the night show.

Keep in mind

There are no hot springs or spa pools in Ma’an Governorate, so plan romance around evenings, views and hotel stays. Summer afternoons are very hot. Winter at about 1,000 m is cold, with occasional snow, which makes the candlelit Siq chilly.

Read more: Couple activities for shared ideas, or Multi-day trips for a longer stay.

Look for places to stay on Booking.com .