Petra at Night – Should you visit or skip it?
The first time we saw pictures of the Treasury bathed in the orange and yellow glow from hundreds of candles, we couldn’t wait to experience it. Petra at Night is advertised as one of the ‘must-see’ experiences when visiting Petra, but is it worth it? Is it really that magical?
Like with any popular tourist attraction, we were unsure if Petra at Night would live up to the hype. We had heard stories about the crowds, the quality of the show, and whether it was worth the price. But we were also intrigued by the possibility of witnessing something very unique.
After two fantastic days of exploring and falling in love with Petra, we felt that it was only right to see it at night. Armed with information from many travel blogs and discussions with fellow travellers, we decided to do it.
In this article, we will share our honest opinions, tips, and recommendations to help you decide if Petra at Night is for you.

What exactly is Petra at Night?
Petra at Night is a sound and light show that takes place in front of the Treasury. Local families from Wadi Musa operate it just three times a week. On those nights, they place candles along the path and in front of to the Treasury. It creates an incredibly enchanting and ethereal atmosphere as you walk through the Siq.
Once you reach the Treasury, you will see the most magical sight – Petra’s iconic landmark illuminated in the orange glow of over 1,500 candles. This view will take your breath away – it definitely took ours.
When does Petra at Night happen?
The Petra at Night show occurs 3 times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. When planning your itinerary for Petra, we recommend considering this and visiting Petra on one of those days.
Please note that you must purchase a separate ticket to enjoy this experience. This is because it is not operated by part of the Petra Development Tourism and Region Authority but local families. In addition, you will have to show your valid daytime ticket to be able to buy a ticket for Petra at Night.

How do I get Petra at Night tickets?
The tickets for the night show are not included in the day ticket or the Jordan Pass. They cost 17JOD ($24) for adults and are free for children under 10. Unfortunately, tickets cannot be bought in advance or online and can only be purchased on the day you want to attend.
You can get your ticket at the Visitor’s Centre, but please note that there is a separate ticket window for Petra at Night tickets. It is located around the corner from the regular ticket windows at the end of the corridor. You can also get them from a local guide or arrange it with your hotel if they provide this service. We just got ours at the Visitor Centre, which was very straightforward.
There are unlimited tickets each day, so you don’t have to worry that they will be sold out. You can find further details on the official Jordan website.
What to expect from Petra at Night experience?
Walking to the Treasury
The experience starts at the Visitor Centre entrance gate. Around 20:30, the first groups are let in and led by the guide. The route follows the main trail towards the Treasury, only this time in the dark, lit up with hundreds of candles. It is a stunning view.

The walk takes around 20 minutes (depending on how fast you walk). Be mindful that it is uneven terrain, so be careful and watch your step. You will be walking through the narrow Siq with hundreds of other people, so it gets loud and crowded. This was the first time we started to wonder if doing this was such a great idea. We expected a peaceful, tranquil experience, and we got a noisy rush to the Treasury as everyone raced to be there first.
Petra at Night show
When you arrive at Treasury, guides will encourage everyone to sit down in rows. The show starts with a brief presentation by a guide. We struggled to hear him because people were talking around us, and the audio system wasn’t working correctly, so we couldn’t tell you what he was sharing with us.
After that, the show’s second part begins: the light show. This is the part we honestly didn’t like or understand. Colorful lights (blue, green, yellow, pink) were projected onto the Treasury, accompanied by Arabic music. The colours just distract rather than enhance the beauty of this fantastic place. We hoped they would turn them off after the show so we could take pictures of the candlelit facade – unfortunately, that was not the case.
Out thoughts
The show itself was dissapointing. It took away all the beauty and magic from the atmosphere that was there before. We regretted rushing forward to take a picture of the Treasury without any people because there were already few groups when we arrived. As a result, we didn’t get the chance to take many photos because people quickly caught up with us, and before we knew it, there were people everywhere.
We wish we had let everyone go to the front and just enjoyed the quiet and peaceful walk. Also we should have taken our time to take it all in and have this once-in-a-lifetime moment just for ourselves.
We still think it was worth it – seeing the candlelights reflecting and dancing against the walls of Siq. The breathtaking moment of seeing the Treasury (with people or not). We wish we knew then what we know now and would have planned it differently.

When asked, ‘Is Petra at Night worth it?’ We don’t simply answer yes or no. We appreciate that everyone has their subjective perceptions and experiences. We explain the pros and cons, give various tips, and allow people to make their own decisions. We do, however, end with the following: We still think it’s worth it.
Petra at Night Top Tips for the best experience
Below we gathered the main tips to help you have the best experience when attending Petra at Night:
General tips
- Bring cash – the event is cash only, so make sure you have enough money with you to buy tickets and avoid having to find an ATM.
- Watch Your Step – the candlelit paths can be uneven, so walk carefully, especially if rushing to get to Treasury first.
- Stay Quiet and Respectful – we think that Petra at Night’s true magic lies in its serenity and peaceful surroundings. While others might be loud and talk, try to stay mindful and present in this unique experience.
How to avoid crowds
- Visit off-season – To have a quieter and less crowded experience, plan your visit outside of peak season (June or September) when temperatures are not that hot, and fewer people are visiting.
- Arrive later – To fully immerse yourself in this enchanting atmosphere, instead of coming early, arrive a bit later. That way, most groups will be at Treasury, and you will have almost the whole Siq to enjoy and admire.
- Visit on Thursday – if you want to experience smaller crowds apparently Thursday is the best evening to attend. We can’t say this is 100% true but our friend who lives in Jordan told us that apparently Mondays are the busiest days (there is a big gap between Thursday and Monday show so a lot of people who come around weekend wait to see it on Monday). As a result less people go on Thursday because there is already a show a day.

For that perfect photo
- Arrive Early (if you want that perfect shot) – try to get to the Petra Visitor Center at least 30-45 minutes before the show starts and walk fast through the trail to secure a good spot. Make sure you have a tripod with you to help capture the Treasury in using those long exposure settings. Also, be aware that you will potentially have 5-10 minutes before it gets busy, so make sure you’re ready to take pictures as soon as you get there.
- Bring a Camera (but use it discreetly) – capture the moment, but please be mindful of other people around you. Turn off your flash (using it will not affect your pictures) and silence your camera (if you can) to preserve the tranquil atmosphere.
- Bring a Tripod for Photography – if you’re keen on capturing the moment, a compact tripod. Even with all the candles everywhere, it is still quite dark for the camera to take a good picture, so you’ll need to use a long expose. This is where a tripod will help you keep your camera or phone steady.
Summary
Petra at Night is truly an enchanting and unforgettable experience. Walking along the Siq and seeing the Treasury lit up with hundreds of candles is very unique and something we’re glad we got to see.
We did feel that the light show took away from the overall experience. However, it is very subjective, we heard people saying they really enjoyed that part. We all have different preferences in the end so it’s best to plan the visit around what suits you is the best!
Light show or not, we think Petra at Night is worth a visit to witness the beautiful Treasury in a completely different light. It definitely delivers a memorable and unforgettable experience which is a great addition to exploring Petra during the day.