Travel Guide
Petra Jordan Pass, gate ticket, and Petra by Night guide
The main planning question for Petra is not whether tickets exist. It is whether you should buy a Jordan Pass before arrival, pay for a standard Petra ticket at the Visitor...
ByMomentBook Editorial
The main planning question for Petra is not whether tickets exist. It is whether you should buy a Jordan Pass before arrival, pay for a standard Petra ticket at the Visitor Center, and how Petra by Night fits into that decision.
This guide stays tightly on that comparison. As checked on April 21, 2026, it brings together the official pass prices, Petra day-ticket prices, validity rules, visa-fee conditions, where the pass is actually scanned, and what is still paid separately.
What to know first
- Jordan Pass is not a visa. It waives the tourist visa fee if you buy it before arriving in Jordan and stay at least 2 whole nights in the country.
- The three packages are "Jordan Wanderer" for 1 Petra day at 70 JD, "Jordan Explorer" for 2 consecutive Petra days at 75 JD, and "Jordan Expert" for 3 consecutive Petra days at 80 JD.
- The pass must be used within 3 months of purchase, and it expires 1 month after the first scan at a tourist site.
- At Petra, Jordan Pass can only be scanned at the Visitor Center.
- Petra by Night is not included in Jordan Pass and needs a separate ticket.
*Source: Visit Petra*
When Jordan Pass makes sense
Jordan Pass is valuable because it is not only a Petra ticket. It bundles entry to more than 40 attractions and can waive the visa fee if you buy it before arrival and stay long enough.
The official FAQ checked on April 21, 2026 says the pass waives the tourist single-entry visa fee if you stay at least 2 whole nights in Jordan. The same FAQ also advises carrying a printed copy because the QR code may be unreadable on a phone screen for the passport officer and at tourist sites.
Jordan Pass is also useful if you want 2 or 3 Petra days. Explorer and Expert allow repeat Petra entry across consecutive days, which is an exception to the general rule that the pass only allows one entry per attraction.
When the standard Petra ticket is simpler
The pass is not automatically cheaper. According to the official Visit Petra fee page, accommodated visitors pay 50 JD for one day, 55 JD for two days, and 60 JD for three days. Non-accommodated visitors pay 90 JD.
That means a normal ticket can be simpler if you are not staying 2 nights in Jordan, do not care about the visa-fee waiver, and do not plan to use other included attractions. If you can combine Petra with the visa waiver and other sites, Jordan Pass becomes much easier to justify.
The Petra fee page says you must present a valid passport at the ticket office. Jordan Pass FAQ also says you may be asked to show your ID or passport at each site.
The rule people miss on 2-day and 3-day visits
Visit Petra explicitly says 2-day and 3-day Petra tickets must be used on consecutive days. Jordan Pass FAQ repeats the same rule for Explorer and Expert packages.
Do not plan on skipping a day in the middle and resuming later. Even though the pass remains valid for 1 month after first use, the Petra 2-day and 3-day logic is still consecutive-day use.
How Petra by Night changes the decision
Petra by Night is not bundled into Jordan Pass. Visit Petra FAQ says it requires a separate 17 JD ticket and runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM.
Visit Petra also says a daylight ticket is required to attend Petra by Night. So treat it as an add-on to your day visit rather than a replacement for it. The child rules are also different: children under 12 enter free in daylight hours, while Petra by Night is free for children under 10.
Hours, scanning point, and on-site flow
The Jordan Pass official opening-hours table lists Petra in April and May, as checked on April 21, 2026, at 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Visit Petra also makes clear that the Visitor Center is the place that sells tickets, arranges guides, and supports visitors.
For Jordan Pass holders, this matters because the pass cannot be scanned at any Petra gate. The official FAQ says it can only be scanned at Petra's Visitor Center. Visit Petra also notes that Jordan Pass holders must present their tickets at the ticket office in the Nabataean Cultural Village if they want access to the back trail route.
Money extras that still stay separate
Visit Petra lists club cars and other transport as optional extras. Club car service from the Visitor Center to the Treasury is 15 JD one way or 25 JD return, and the 4x4 transfer from the Nabataean Cultural Village to the Monastery trail is 5 JD one way per person.
Jordan Pass FAQ is clear that ground transport is not included. The pass covers entry fees, not local transport inside or around Petra. Visit Petra also says cash-only Jordanian dinars are accepted for these on-site payments, so a fully cashless plan is risky.
A practical choice
If Petra is your main stop and your Jordan stay is short, a standard ticket can be the cleaner option. If you buy before arrival, stay at least 2 nights, and plan to use other sites, Jordan Pass becomes much more compelling.
In both cases, bring your passport, carry a printed pass or ticket, and decide in advance whether Petra by Night is part of the same trip. That is what prevents the most avoidable queue and payment mistakes.