Petra : book your hotel

Petra is one of the seven wonders of the modern world and one of the most extraordinary places on earth. The ancient Nabataean city carved directly into the rose-red sandstone cliffs of the Wadi Musa valley in southern Jordan has been concealed from the outside world for centuries and rediscovered in 1812, and the experience of approaching it through the Siq — the narrow, kilometre-long gorge whose walls soar 80 metres above — and emerging suddenly into the full sight of the Treasury's elaborately carved façade remains one of the most viscerally overwhelming revelations in travel. Petra is not just a monument. It is an entire ancient city, carved, built, and lived in across several centuries by the Nabataean civilisation that controlled the spice trade routes of the ancient world, and whose engineering and artistic achievements — the water channels, the temples, the royal tombs, and the great Monastery high on the cliff above the city — continue to astonish every visitor who explores beyond the famous first view.

The Treasury — Al-Khazneh — is the defining image of Petra, its elaborately carved Hellenistic façade rising 43 metres from the canyon floor in a display of architectural ambition and technical mastery that remains breathtaking after 2,000 years. The Siq itself, the narrow gorge approach, is an experience of building anticipation that few architectural reveals in the world can match — the view of the Treasury appearing at its end in a slice of light is a travel moment that people describe for the rest of their lives. The Royal Tombs are a series of five monumental façades carved into the cliff face above the main valley, each one a masterwork of Nabataean stone-cutting on an extraordinary scale. The Nabataean Theatre, carved into the hillside, accommodated over 8,500 spectators and represents one of the best-preserved Roman-style theatres in the Middle East. The Monastery — Ad-Dayr — rewards the 800-step climb from the main valley with its extraordinary scale, larger even than the Treasury, and with panoramic views across the Wadi Arabia canyon that justify every step. Mövenpick Resort Petra sits directly at the entrance to Petra's archaeological park, making it the most advantageously positioned hotel for exploring all of these sites. Guests walk out of the lobby and through the Visitor Centre gate within minutes. The Al Ghadeer Roof Garden provides sweeping rooftop views of the Petra mountains at sunset, and the hotel's authentic Arabesque interiors, handcrafted woodwork, and antique collection make the property a cultural destination in its own right. Grand Mercure Petra is 10 minutes from the entrance by car, offering scenic Rift Valley views from a castle-style building with an indoor heated pool and a full excursion programme.

Mövenpick Resort Petra is one of the world's most distinctively positioned hotels — a five-star resort literally at the gate of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Guests walk directly from the lobby to Petra's Visitor Centre. \The hotel's Arabesque interiors, handcrafted woodwork, and curated antique collection create a visual environment of authentic Jordanian craft that complements the archaeological wonder on the doorstep. The Al Ghadeer Roof Garden captures sunset views over the Petra mountains that are impossible to replicate from any other vantage point. Six distinct dining and drinking venues — including the Al Iwan Restaurant for Mediterranean and Jordanian cuisine, Al Saraya Restaurant for international favourites, Caravan Cafe, the roof garden, Al Maqa'ad Bar, and the Swimming Pool Terrace — give guests the full evening programme after a day of extraordinary exploration. The spa and hammam, 24-hour gym, and outdoor pool complete an amenity set that turns a visit to Petra into a total experience rather than merely an archaeological excursion.

Grand Mercure Petra occupies a distinctive position in Petra's hotel landscape — a castle-style property that channels the dramatic heritage character of the surrounding landscape through its architecture, while delivering the reliable four-star comfort and service standards. The indoor heated swimming pool with terrace is a standout facility, particularly valuable during Jordan's cooler winter months when Petra's climate can be unexpectedly brisk and an outdoor pool is less practical. The scenic Rift Valley views from the property give every morning a sense of the geological drama of the region, and the hotel's excursion programme — covering Wadi Rum and the Dana Biosphere Reserve — makes it a practical and well-rounded base for guests exploring the wider southern Jordan circuit. The function rooms for meetings and events suit small corporate groups and incentive travel parties who want to combine a working programme with one of the world's most unforgettable off-site experiences.

Petra is primarily a leisure and cultural destination rather than a commercial hub, but it attracts a meaningful volume of incentive travel, academic conferences, and corporate retreats for groups who want to combine professional programming with a site visit that motivates and inspires in equal measure. Both Accor hotels in Petra serve this market effectively. Mövenpick Resort Petra has dedicated meeting rooms alongside complimentary Wi-Fi, a business centre, parking, laundry services, and early morning breakfast service — the practical infrastructure that makes a working stay in Petra genuinely functional. The combination of professional facilities and the extraordinary off-programme experience of Petra itself — few corporate incentive programmes can offer delegates the Siq and the Treasury as an after-dinner walk — makes both properties compelling choices for groups seeking a destination experience of genuine impact. Grand Mercure Petra provides flexible meeting and events spaces alongside its indoor pool, wellness facilities, and the excursion programme to Wadi Rum and Dana.

Petra is one of the world's great family travel destinations. Children experience the Siq's dramatic gorge as a genuine adventure, the Treasury's reveal as a moment of pure wonder, and the Nabataean city's scale and variety as a living history lesson of extraordinary impact. Mövenpick Resort Petra is particularly well configured for families — spacious connecting rooms accommodate families of four with ease, offering complimentary coffee and tea, a minibar, and high-speed WiFi. After a full day of canyon hiking, children can swim in the outdoor pool while parents relax nearby. Al Saraya Restaurant offers local and international dishes that satisfy young and adult palates equally, and the hotel's direct access to the Visitor Centre eliminates the need for a transfer at the start and end of each Petra day. Grand Mercure Petra suits families who prefer the indoor heated pool alongside the peaceful Rift Valley setting that gives children a sense of the broader landscape surrounding Petra.

Petra is one of the most naturally romantic destinations on earth. Walking together through the Siq in the pre-dawn quiet before the tour groups arrive, sharing the Treasury's sudden reveal as the sun's first light strikes the carved facade, watching the rose-red stone change colour through the afternoon from gold to orange to deep purple as the shadows move, and then climbing back at dusk when the site empties and Petra returns to silence — these are shared experiences that leave a permanent mark. Mövenpick Resort Petra provides a romantic hotel environment with spacious suites with private balconies offer sweeping views of the Petra hills. The Al Ghadeer Roof Garden captures sunset colours over the mountains in a setting of genuine beauty. Couples' massages at the spa, the hammam, and candlelit dinners at Al Iwan Restaurant complete an evening of unhurried pleasure after a day of extraordinary discovery. The Petra by Night experience — when the Siq and the Treasury are lit by thousands of candles — is accessible directly from the hotel on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. Grand Mercure Petra suits couples who want a more castle-like romantic setting with Rift Valley panoramas, the indoor heated pool, and the quieter character of a property set slightly back from the main Wadi Musa village.