Best Places To Stay In Petra (Wadi Musa)
Petra is one of those places you have to visit at some point in your life. It's one of the official 7 Wonders of the World for a reason - it is simply breathtaking!
With that in mind, you may be asking yourself: where is the best place to stay in Petra?
In this article, we are going to outline the best hotels and hostels on offer in Wadi Musa, the town where the ancient site of Petra is found.
Whatever your budget when staying in Petra, we have you covered: we outline Luxury stays in Petra, Mid-priced stays in Petra and finally, Budget stays in Petra.
So, let's dive into the Best Places to stay in Petra (Wadi Musa).
Disclaimer - this blog post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission if you make a purchase through them (at no extra cost to you).
Best Petra Accommodation at a Glance
Best Luxury Place to Stay in Petra: Bubble Luxotel Petra
Best Mid-priced Place to Stay in Petra: Petra Guest House Hotel
Best Budget Place to Stay in Petra: Nomads Hotel Petra
Hotels in Petra: Where to stay in Petra?
Petra is the world-famous archaeological site in Jordan that dates back to around 300 B.C. It was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom and was granted UNESCO World Heritage Status in 1985.
The site had been uninhabited for a number of centuries before being rediscovered in 1812 by Swiss Explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.
Is Petra worth visiting nowadays? Absolutely! More than 1 million visitors pass through the gates into Petra every year, meaning many people need to find accommodation in the area.
With the sheer volume of walking you’re going to get through when exploring Petra, you must be well-rested before you visit the famous site.
Choosing where to stay in Petra can make or break your visit, so thankfully, you have come to the right article.
In our round-up of the best places to stay in Petra, we will give you a rough average cost breakdown per night at the accommodation and provide you with important information, including how far away from the Petra Visitor Centre the accommodation is and what amenities you can expect on-site in your petra accommodation.
The Monastery - Petra
Best Places to Stay in Petra: Luxury Picks (£££)
The hotels listed below represent the finest deluxe stays in Petra. The hotels are designed for those looking to experience luxury in Petra instead of simply getting a bed for the night.
Our first two picks, the Movenpick Resort Petra and Petra Marriott Hotel are signature offerings from highly reputable hospitality brands that know exactly what a tired guest requires and needs when staying in Petra.
Our final luxury stay in Petra, the Bubble Luxotel Petra, represents something altogether different - think less hotel, but more of an experience and bucket-list activity. Very rarely do you find a hotel that can boast as much elegance and extravagance for what can only be considered a very reasonable price.
Underneath, you shall find our round-up of the best luxury places to stay in Petra:
Movenpick Resort Petra - Best Hotel in Petra
Mövenpick Resort Petra (Photo from Mövenpick)
Distance from Petra Visitor Centre: 50m
Average cost per night (based on 2 people sharing a double-room): £166/$220 - breakfast included
Signature features: outdoor swimming pool; rooftop garden terrace; fitness centre; spa and wellness centre
Why should you stay here?
Movenpick is an incredibly reputable hotelier with over 80 destinations across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
With the recent acquisition of Movenpick by Accor, the hospitality giant that presides over the famous Fairmont Hotel brand, you can guarantee that the Movenpick Resort in Petra will ooze with quality and comfort.
The resort boasts a rooftop garden terrace that overlooks the dramatic hills surrounding Wadi Musa and multiple dining options on-site.
Quite simply, the Movenpick Resort Petra caters for all of your needs under one roof.
Petra Marriott Hotel - Luxury Hotel in Petra
The Pool at the Petra Marriott Hotel (Photo courtesy of Petra Marriott)
Distance from Petra Visitor Centre: 1.3miles (2km)
Average cost per night (based on 2 people sharing a double-room): £166/$220 - breakfast included
Signature features: heated outdoor pool; buffet and a la carte restaurant; mini shop on site; spa facilities; free shuttle to Petra visitor centre
Why should you stay here?
The Marriott is an American hotel company that hosts several brands, including the luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotels around the globe. The company was founded in 1927, giving it nearly an entire century of expertise and experience when it comes to running brilliant hotels.
The Petra Marriott Hotel is certainly no different - offering the height of luxury away from the busy centre of Wadi Musa. Nestled on the hillside, overlooking Petra Mountain, the Marriott boasts a beautiful spa and wellness centre where their signature Turkish bath treatment is a life-saver after walking around Petra all day.
If you’re looking for a luxury hotel stay in Petra, away from the centre of town, then the Petra Marriott Hotel is your best option.
Bubble Luxotel Petra - Best Luxury Hotel in Petra
Bubble Luxotel Petra (Photo from Bubble Luxotel Petra)
Distance from Petra Visitor Centre: 3.2miles (5.1km)
Average cost per night (based on 2 people sharing a double-room): £180/$240 - breakfast and dinner included
Signature features: individual bubble pods; private jacuzzi and sun deck for every pod; stargazing from the comfort of your bed
Why should you stay here?
If you are looking for an experience when staying in Petra that goes beyond a luxury bed and pleasant amenities, then the Bubble Luxotel Petra is undoubtedly for you.
The Bubble Luxotel features 20 unique bubble pods, each featuring a private hot tub and sun deck for you to relax in after a busy day seeing the sights at Petra.
With a dramatic, uninterrupted view of the Petra mountains, the Bubble Luxotel is a luxurious experience designed to blow your socks off.
The deluxe bubble pods are designed so you are able to gaze up at the stars while still in bed - there really is nothing else quite like the Bubble Luxotel in Petra.
Best Places to Stay in Petra: Mid-Priced Picks (££)
Our list of mid-priced stays in Petra is ideally suited for those wanting to visit the famous site but don’t want to break the bank, but would prefer to stay somewhere that will leave a lasting impression on them.
Our first mid-priced pick, Petra Guest House Hotel, can be found directly next to the visitor entrance of Petra and is the perfect option for those who want to spend as much time as possible at the famous attraction.
Our other two mid-priced stays in Petra, the Petra Boutique Hotel and Petra Moon Hotel, are more traditional mid-range hotel stays, slightly further away from the visitor centre but still within comfortable walking distance.
Underneath, you shall find our round-up of the mid-priced places to stay in Petra:
Petra Guest House Hotel - Closest Hotel to Petra
Cave Bar at the Petra Guest House Hotel (Photo courtesy of Petra Guest House)
Distance from Petra Visitor Centre: 0m (The hotel is inside the Visitor Centre)
Average cost per night (based on 2 people sharing a double-room): £103/$137 - breakfast included
Signature features: unique access to Petra Visitor Centre; Cave Bar (set inside a restored 1st century Nabatean house; Outdoor Terrace)
Why should you stay here?
The Petra Guest House Hotel is the height of convenience - located directly at the Petra Visitor Centre, you can simply climb out of bed in the morning and be walking straight towards the famous Treasury.
The three restaurants on-site, offering delicious buffets and a la carte dining, certainly add to the appeal of the hotel, but in reality, it is the brilliant location and idyllic Cave Bar that ultimately sell this hotel.
It is difficult to imagine any hotel around the globe that is more admirably located for visiting one of the 7 wonders of the world.
Petra Boutique Hotel - Best Boutique Hotel in Petra
Petra Boutique Hotel (Photo from Petra Boutique Hotel)
Distance from Petra Visitor Centre: 300m
Average cost per night (based on 2 people sharing a double-room): £93/$123 - breakfast included
Signature features: restaurant on site; 24-hour concierge service; modern, spacious rooms
Why should you stay here?
The Petra Boutique Hotel offers luxury accommodation for a fraction of the price. The signature Petra Sky Lounge is a wonderful place to unwind in the evening before you head out to dinner.
The owner of the hotel, Mr Nawafleh, is a Petra Bedouin and this is reflected in the service provided at the hotel - it truly replicates the incredible Bedouin hospitality. He is also the founder of Petra by Night, the unique candlelit ceremony hosted three times a week in front of the Treasury.
The contemporary Petra Boutique Hotel is a modern hotel steeped in traditional values.
Petra Moon Hotel - Great Hotel in Wadi Masa
Petra Moon Hotel (Photo from Petra Moon Hotel)
Distance from Petra Visitor Centre: 150m
Average cost per night (based on 2 people sharing a double-room): £60/$80 - breakfast not included
Signature features: grocery store on site; rooftop terrace; outdoor pool
Why should you stay here?
When a modern, spacious hotel is located only 150m away from the main attraction you intend to visit, and the price per night is very manageable, you can’t really complain.
As with many of the hotels in Wadi Musa, the Petra Moon Hotel features a gorgeous rooftop terrace, ideal for sitting and watching the sunset after an exhausting day trekking up to the Monastery in Petra.
Go one step further by enjoying a pleasant dip in the jacuzzi - soothing those tired bodies before another busy day exploring the sites of Petra.
Best Places to Stay in Petra: Budget Picks (£)
Visiting Petra and Jordan more widely can be a very costly experience. With an exchange rate that doesn’t particularly favour many tourists, it is important to consider ways in which visitors can be frugal when visiting one of the 7 wonders of the world.
Our first two picks, the Nomads Hostel and Sun Set Hotel, are typical budget-friendly accommodation options. Both are clean, respectable hotels where the majority of guests will be happy with a comfortable bed to sleep in after having spent 12 hours exploring Petra.
Our third option, the Petra Cabin Hostel, is ideal for those looking to save even further when it comes to travelling on a budget. The cheapest option in this article, the hostel offers beds in the Japanese-pod style, where you simply have a bed-sized room known as a capsule.
The final budget stay in Petra is the Rafiki Hostel - the first-ever hostel in Jordan and the only party hostel in Wadi Musa.
Underneath, you shall find our round-up of the budget places to stay near Petra:
Nomads Hotel - Best Cheap Hotel in Petra
Nomads Hotel Foyer (Photo courtesy of Nomads Hotel)
Distance from Petra Visitor Centre: 600m
Average cost per night (based on 2 people sharing a double-room): £33/$44 - breakfast included
Signature features: cafe and restaurant on site; great communal space for meeting others; billiards/pool table; shared kitchen facilities
Why should you stay here?
The Nomads Hotel is the best of both worlds - private, clean, spacious rooms that you would expect from a hotel, but in a relaxed, social environment more akin to hostels.
The friendly communal spaces make it easy for those wanting to get to know more people when travelling, and the shared kitchen is ideal for those wanting to save a little extra and cater for themselves while in Petra.
In the summer, the bar on the rooftop opens up to offer yet more space to relax and hang out with newfound friends.
This is where we stayed in Petra, and we recommend you stay here if you’re a budget traveller like us.
Nomads Hotel Petra
Sunset Hotel - Cheap Hotel in Wadi Masa
Sun Set Hotel Petra (Photo from Sunset Hotel)
Distance from Petra Visitor Centre: 300m
Average cost per night (based on 2 people sharing a double-room): £48/$63 - breakfast included
Signature features: traditional Jordanian Restaurant; private tours; 3-minute walk to Petra Visitor Centre
Why should you stay here?
A modern, well-furnished hotel in the centre of Wadi Musa, Sunset Hotel is ideal for those who want the feel of a hotel and to avoid the hostel scene without having to pay a fortune for the privilege.
A lovely, unique feature of the hotel is that they offer guests a packed lunch to take to Petra. As is typical with world-famous tourist sites, Petra's food and drink options are costly, so bringing a complimentary packed lunch with you is a very handy addition provided by the hotel.
Petra Cabin Hostel - Best Hostel in Petra
The unique accommodation at Petra Cabin Hostel
Distance from Petra Visitor Centre: 300m
Average cost per night (based on 2 people sharing a double-room): £10/$13 - breakfast not included and you will be sharing a futon-style bed
Signature features: Japanese-style capsule bedrooms; cheapest possible stay in Petra
Why should you stay here?
Arguably the most unique and affordable stay in Wadi Musa, the Petra Cabin Hostel offers Japanese-style pod accommodation. Your bed-sized ‘capsule’, as they are known, comes with plugs and light, and that’s about it. The rest of the accommodation is based on shared facilities - bathrooms, kitchens, etc.
It is ideally suited for travellers who want to meet and socialise with like-minded people while they visit Petra or for those who want to save as much money as they can while visiting the famous site.
Rafiki Hostel - Friendly Hostel in Petra
Rafiki Hostel Rooftop - photo from Tripadvisor
Distance from Petra Visitor Centre: 1500m
Average cost per night (based on 2 people sharing a double-room): £19/$25
Signature features: Bar; Shared lounge; Garden
Why should you stay here?
Rafiki Hostel was the first hostel in Jordan and the only party hostel in Wadi Musa. You should stay here if you are looking to meet other travellers and have a good time while visiting Petra.
One of the best aspects of staying at the Rafiki is that they host parties with traditional dance lessons every other day on the rooftop!
Our Favourite Hotels in Petra
Now that we have provided you with a brief outline and overview of 9 different accommodation options in Petra, we wanted to give you our recommendation for the best places to stay in Petra.
Our best Luxury stay in Petra - Bubble Luxotel Petra - there are very few places in the world where you can stay in a luxury pod in the middle of a desert, you should definitely take advantage of this during your stay in Petra.
Our best Mid-priced stay in Petra - Petra Guest House Hotel - for sheer convenience and the chance to dine in the famous Nabatean Cave Bar, the Petra Guest House Hotel takes our favourite spot.
Our best Budget stay in Petra - Nomads Hotel Petra - this is the hotel we stayed at during our time in Petra and it was excellent. The staff were lovely and friendly, and the rooms were spacious and tidy. It’s exactly what you’d hope for when you book a relatively cheap hotel and we can’t have any complaints about it.
Tips for visiting Petra and Wadi Musa
Other than hotels and restaurants (and Petra itself, of course), there is very little else in the town of Wadi Musa.
To avoid the crowds in Petra, particularly at the Treasury, you have to get there at 6 am when the gates first open. This will give you the best chance of getting to view the Treasury without hundreds of other people crowding the area.
The Official Petra Museum opens daily until 8 pm and is a great place to learn more about the history of Petra before you enter the actual site.
Book yourself onto an affordable Private Petra Tour if you want to discover the history of Petra.
If you have purchased a Jordan Pass, your entry to Petra is included in the ticket. However, you still have to exchange your Jordan Pass for a ‘Petra Ticket’ at the ticket office.
Prepare yourself for a lot of walking when you visit Petra. Even if you do the bare minimum, you're likely to be walking at least 15000-20000 steps.
Please don’t just visit the Treasury and turn around - we saw so many people doing this and trust us, there is so much more to see!
Make sure you hike to the Monastery - yes, it is a particularly long walk and involves climbing a lot of steps, but it is absolutely worth it because The Monastery is one of the best things to see in Petra.
That concludes or round-up of the best places to stay in Petra (Wadi Musa). Thanks for reading this article and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about accommodation options in Petra.
A lot of Jordan Itineraries concentrate on visiting Petra and then moving on to Wadi Rum. If you’re wondering how to get from Petra to Wadi Rum, we have outlined all the different options.
