How to Visit Petra: All Transportation Options Explained
If you’re planning a trip to Jordan, visiting Petra is probably at the top of your list – and for good reason.
This ancient Nabatean city carved into rose-red rock is one of the most iconic sites in the World and it should be on every traveler’s bucket list.
But before you can explore its majestic Treasury and winding canyons, you need to figure out how to get there from Amman.
Whether you’re looking for the fastest route, the most budget-friendly option or a comfortable organized tour, this blog post covers everything you need to know about getting from Amman to Petra.
JETT Buses 🚌
Your trip to Jordan will probably start in the capital city: Amman. It’s located relatively close to Jordan’s only international airport, so it’s a great idea to take some days to explore Amman before visiting Petra.
After those few days in the capital, one of the cheapest way to get from Amman to Petra is by JETT Bus.
JETT is a company which has bus connections between several cities and touristic places in Jordan. One of those routes is between Amman in Petra and a ticket costs only 10 JOD.
Taking the JETT Bus is the cheapest way to get from Amman to Petra
I was amazed at the quality of their service, considering that my ticket was so cheap!
The bus was super comfortable and punctual, which made my trip to Petra really smooth. There is also a 20-minute coffee and toilet stop at a small store on the way, so don’t worry too much if you don’t have snacks for the trip. But be aware that the prices at that store aren’t necessarily cheap.
The JETT Bus is one of the best ways to get to Petra
How to buy a ticket?
You can either buy it online or in person in Amman.
I bought my ticket online on the JETT website and the process was really smooth. I got my ticket on my email within a few seconds of paying it.
If you prefer to buy your bus ticket in person, you can do it at the Abdali JETT Office.
How many buses are there per day?
The worst part of the JETT buses between Amman and Petra is that there is only one bus per day.
To make matters worse, it’s a super early bus.
Departure is at 6.30 from Abdali JETT Office and then it makes a stop at 7th Circle. Departure from there is at 7 am, but that location is further away from the center.
Is this bus reliable?
The JETT Bus is the most reliable public transportation option to go from Amman to Petra.
It’s extremely punctual and there fixed schedules, which isn’t always the case in Jordan (see the Mini Van section below). So, if you want to be sure you have a departure at a certain time to go to Petra, the JETT Bus is a great option.
Mini Vans 🚐
Another way of getting from Amman to Petra by public transportation is by taking a mini van.
These mini vans are also very cheap but there are some important differences between them and the JETT Bus, which I will explain below.
How to buy a ticket?
One of the major differences between the JETT Bus and the mini vans going from Amman to Petra is that you can’t buy tickets online for the mini vans.
In order to get a ticket for a mini van, you need to go to the South Station in person and buy it. A ticket from Amman to Petra costs 5 JOD.
This makes it harder to plan your trip to Petra, because you can’t really plan in advance.
How many buses are there per day?
Another important difference between the JETT Bus and the mini vans is that there are several mini vans to Petra per day.
The problem is that they have no fixed schedules. They basically depart when there is enough people to fill up a mini van.
The good news is that you will probably have several departure options to go to Petra, instead of having to stick to the one and only 6.30 am JETT bus. The bad news is that you won’t be able to plan in advance because it’s impossible to say when the mini vans depart.
Joining a Tour 🎫
One of the most popular ways to visit Petra is by joining a tour.
If you are willing to pay some more in order to have a more comfortable visit to Petra, a tour might be a great option for you. That way, you will have all the transportation sorted for you and you won’t need to worry about bus schedules or how to get tickets.
Have a stress-free day in Petra by joining a tour
There are so many tours to Petra that the most difficult part might be to choose which one to take.
One important thing to be aware of is that some tours to Petra don’t include the Petra entrance ticket! Read carefully through the description of each tour, so that you’re aware of what is included and what’s not.
If you choose a tour that doesn’t include the Petra entrance ticket, you should check the Jordan Pass.
The Jordan Pass is such a great deal for most people who want to visit Jordan! It waives the visa fees, gives you free entrance to Petra and to so many other places, like Wadi Rum and some attractions in Amman.
Some tours will take you from Amman to spend a full-day in Petra. Some others will even take you to other gorgeous places in Jordan, like the Dead Sea or the Wadi Rum Desert.
Here are some great tour options to Petra 👇🏼
Renting a car 🚗
Last but not least, renting a car is one of the best ways to go to Petra.
If you’re willing to drive around Jordan, I would honestly say that having your own car is the most convenient option.
Like I explained above, visiting Petra and traveling around Jordan is possible by public transportation but it’s a hassle. Many times you will find yourself spending quite some money on transportation to get from place to place and still it won’t be easy because there aren’t many public transportation options in Jordan.
I met some people in Jordan who rented a car to get around and they were so glad about it. They said it’s so easy and convenient to drive in Jordan, and that having their own car saves them so much time. I know I would have rented my own car if I felt comfortable driving.
I hope this blog post helped you understand all the different ways of getting to Petra.
It can be a bit overwhelming to figure out the transportation options in this beautiful country, but there are optins for all different budgets. Choose the one that fits you best and start planning your once-in-a-lifetime trip to Jordan!
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