Great Temple, Petra

Plan Your Visit

• Opening Times: Summer 06:00-18:00; Winter 06:00-16:00.
• Prices: 90 JOD, but travelers who join a Petra tour from Israel will have the entrance price included in their price. Pro Tip: If you’re not visiting Petra with a guided tour, buy the Jordan Pass for a discount to the Petra Archaeological Park.
• Average Visit Duration: 20-30 minutes,
• Popular Times: The best time to visit Petra is in the early morning or late afternoon.
• Special Events: A magnificent candlelight spectacle takes place in front of the Treasury on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 20:30. The path leading towards the Treasury and the Treasury itself is lit up with over 1,500 candles. The show features bedouin music, a light show, and tea.
• Relevant Tours: Every Petra 1-Day Tour will give you enough time to get from the Royal Tombs to the Petra Theater. But note that the Petra Archeological Park holds many marvelous attractions, you just won't reach unless you plan a 2-day Petra tour. That way you could see MUCH more, such as the amazing Petra Monastery, and Qasr Al-Bint temple. With a Petra tour from Tel Aviv, you’ll see two countries on one trip.

The Great Temple of Petra, located in the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, is a magnificent structure that has stood the test of time. This temple was built by the Nabateans, a nomadic Arab tribe, in the 1st century BC, and is considered one of the most impressive structures in Petra. The temple is richly decorated with columns, pediments, and sculptures. The entrance is marked by a monumental arch, one of the iconic symbols of Petra.

The Petra Great temple (by Bernard Gagnon CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Petra Great Temple is not only a testament to the architectural and engineering prowess of the Nabateans, but it also provides a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of this ancient civilization.

History of the Great Temple, Petra

The temple was built in the 1st century BC and served as a place of worship for the Nabatean people, who were heavily influenced by Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures.

The temple was rediscovered in 1812 by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, who is credited with being the first Westerner to lay eyes on Petra and the Great Temple. Since then, the temple has been extensively studied and preserved, and it remains one of the most important archeological sites in the Middle East.

How to get to the Great Temple, Petra

As you walk down the Siq, the main entrance from the east, you'll see marvelous attractions such as the famous Petra Treasury. This is followed by the Street of Facades, where you'll see the path leading to the Petra Royal Tombs.