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If you are planning to visit Petra with a baby in 2025, you probably have plenty of questions. Before we visited Petra with our baby, we certainly had loads of questions. Actually we found it quite hard to get answers online. So we wanted to fill the gap and write a guide to help other people.
Petra may well be beautiful, but it is also an intrepid and challenging environment for a baby. And every parent knows. Preparation is everything – especially if you’re travelling out of your comfort zone with a baby. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know to help you plan your trip to Petra with a baby.
We really enjoyed exploring this area with our family. Petra is one of the most impressive historical attractions we have ever visited (and we have travelled a lot so that’s a big claim!) For many people, visiting Petra is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We hope this guide gives you the confidence, information, and knowledge you need to plan your own adventures to Petra with a baby.
Don’t miss our adventures in Petra with a baby
Want to know what it really looks like to travel Petra with a 6 month old baby? Check out our adventures from the vlog…
How to Prepare to Visit Petra with a Baby
Before you travel with a baby, remember to prepare well. It is important to make sure your baby has all of their necessary vaccinations. Also, make sure you have sufficient medical travel insurance to cover yourself and your family. Don’t forget to take a printout of your policy with a note of your emergency claims phone number. Now, here are some specific things you need to do to prepare to visit Petra with a baby.
1 Book your Transport
Find out everything you need to know about buses in Jordan
Before your trip, consider transportation and entry tickets. The cheapest way to travel to Petra is to use a bus. There is only one bus company that runs between Amman and Petra, and it is free to take a baby on this bus. The bus company is called Jett and you can book tickets in advance on the Jett Website. We recommend booking your tickets well in advance, as the buses can sell out quite early. The bus journey from Amman to Petra takes around 4 to 5 hours, which can be quite challenging and tiring with a baby. If you have the time, we recommend spending one night in Petra and then returning on the following day to break the journey up and get some rest. Taking two days to visit Petra also allows you to arrive first thing in the morning when it’s calm, beautiful, and quiet (it opens at 6 am).
TOP TIP: Bring some toys and entertainment for the bus journey with your baby
You could also arrange a taxi to visit Petra. From Amman this is likely to cost around 100JOD or more (£100 or $120). Also taxis in Jordan will not have baby seats. In many cases they don’t even have working rear seat belts! So taking a bus is probably a safe option.
Don’t miss our step-by-step guide: How to travel from Amman to Petra
2 Get Your Tickets
You will also need to consider entry tickets for Petra. Children under 12 years old can enter Petra for free, so you don’t need to sort out a ticket for your baby. However, anyone 12 years or older will need to sort out an entry ticket. You can either do this by using the Jordan Pass (70JOD or £70 or $80), which allows free entry to Petra and visa-free access to Jordan. Alternatively, you can buy a visa for Jordan (40JOD or £40 or $50) and then buy an entry ticket for Petra separately (50JOD or £50 or $60). This option is more expensive, so we recommend the Jordan Pass for anyone 12 years or older.
FIND OUT MORE – Is the Jordan Pass Worth it?
TOP TIP: They may be small and cute but babies DO still need a visa for Jordan. So although you wont need entry tickets or a Jordan pass for your baby, you will still need to get them a visa. Also visas have a fixed price of 40JOD for any age including babies.
3 Pack Well
Before you visit Petra, make sure you pack well for you and your baby. What you pack depends on your travel style and the time of year. In the summer months, especially from June to August, Petra is extremely hot, so you need to consider sun protection for your baby. If you’re using a pram, make sure it has a sunshade. If you’re planning to use a sling, then we recommend having an umbrella to cover you and your baby. You might also consider high-factor child-friendly sun cream and a baby sun hat.
If you are visiting Petra in the winter months, especially from December to February, the temperatures can be very cold, so make sure you have plenty of warm layers for your baby. Also, consider snacks and drinks. If your baby requires formula, make sure you have a couple of bottles ready to go. The best way to do this is to have some sterile boiled water pre-prepared in a sterilized bottle. You can then add the formula as and when you need it.
We don’t recommend making up the milk bottle earlier in the day because there will be no fridge to keep the milk cool and no way to reheat it in Petra. If you breastfeed your baby, you will need to use a feeding scarf to feed in public. We will discuss breastfeeding in Jordan later in this article.
If your baby has been weaned onto solid food, we also recommend bringing plenty of baby-friendly snacks with you. Also, don’t forget to pack a sufficient supply of nappies, wet wipes, and, if possible, bring a travel changing mat. There are no baby changing facilities in Petra.
Where Is the BEST Place to Stay in Petra with a Baby
Although it’s possible to visit Petra in a single day, we don’t recommend doing this if you’re traveling with a baby. Slow down and take your time. We strongly recommend that you spend at least one night in Petra (Wadi Rum) if you’re traveling with a baby.
What’s more, we also recommend that you budget for a slightly more expensive and luxurious hotel. You can find some very cheap guesthouses around Petra, but these guest houses generally lack facilities for a baby.
The BEST hotel in Petra with a baby: The Petra Marriot has outstanding facilities for a baby including a FREE cot on request for 0-4 years old, family friendly rooms. They also have kid-friendly food in the restaurant.
What Are the Challenges of Visiting Petra with a Baby?
There are a few important challenges that you need to know about if you’re planning to visit Petra with a baby. Firstly, we have already mentioned the climate. During the summer, it is extremely hot, and the sun can be very intense. If possible, we recommend visiting early in the morning. Also, be aware that some sections of Petra are very exposed, and there is little natural shade, especially during late morning and early afternoon.
The route between the entrance of Petra and the treasury is around 2 km, following a relatively well-paved path through a deep canyon called the Al Siq (this section is well shaded). The route to the treasury is pram-friendly. The first 500m is very exposed, so remember sun protection. If you want to explore beyond the treasury the paths become sandy and there are also some steps for some attractions.
In Petra, there are not any facilities for babies. Although there are a couple of toilet blocks around, these toilet blocks do not have baby changing rooms. There are no dedicated areas to breastfeed your baby, so the facilities in Petra for a baby are very limited.
If you are visiting Petra during the summer, be aware that your baby will probably need to drink as much as twice the volume of fluids compared to a cooler climate. This can be very challenging, especially if you are exclusively breastfeeding your baby. The additional demand for milk can lead to problems such as blocked ducts, thrush, nipple damage, and the potential for mastitis. If you are prone to breastfeeding complications, we recommend speaking to a doctor and potentially bringing some medication with you in case you run into problems in Jordan.
Is It Acceptable to Breastfeed a Baby in Petra?
Jordan has a relatively modest and conservative culture. It is not recommended to breastfeed in public in Jordan. However, it is completely acceptable to use a feeding scarf to cover your baby. If you do use a feeding scarf, you can feed in public in Jordan. Using a feeding scarf can be challenging and takes a little practice at first. We recommend practicing before you try feeding in public. A baby can become distressed and unsettled if you try and cover them with a scarf during a feed. Therefore, we recommend holding the scarf over your head and your baby when you first start the feed so you can watch them latch. Once your baby is settled into a comfortable and calm feed, you can try gently lowering the scarf onto your baby so it’s no longer covering your head. A little practice doing this will get your baby used to being covered by a scarf when they are feeding, and the whole process will become much easier.
TOP TIP: If you use a sling to carry your baby, you can actually use your sling as a feeding cover so you don’t need to carry an additional scarf.
It is also worth noting that Petra is not officially a religious site. Locals do not attend Petra for worship, prayer, or meditation. However, Petra is a significant site in Jordan, so it is important to act respectfully in this area.
What Are the Risks of Visiting Petra with a Baby?
Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE: Is it safe to travel Jordan at the moment?
We just wanted to share a few of the risks and challenges if you are visiting Petra with a baby.
We have already mentioned the extreme climates in Jordan. In the summer, the extreme heat can cause dehydration in babies. So it is very important to make sure you keep your baby well-hydrated throughout your trip. Try to tune into their needs and be responsive to feeding them frequently. You may also find that your baby gets groggy in the heat and naps more. In the winter, remember to make sure your baby has plenty of warm layers.
If you are hoping to get some epic photos in Petra, you may have heard about the cliff ledge viewpoint situated opposite to the treasury. It is important to recognize that these viewpoints do not have any handrails or safety fences. We do not recommend visiting the cliff ledge viewpoints with kids.
Is It Worth Visiting Petra with a Baby?
So it’s challenging. But is it worth it? And finally, is it worth visiting Petra with a baby? Yes, we definitely think it is worth visiting Petra with a baby. If you are already traveling in Jordan with a baby – why not make sure that Petra is included on your itinerary? There are some challenges, such as a long bus journey and challenging climate. However, on balance, we definitely think it is worth visiting Petra. Petra is a wonder of the world, and it really is uniquely beautiful and impressive. Visiting Petra with a baby is likely to be a very heightened and memorable experience.
Looking for more epic travel tips and inspo? Don’t miss our FULL GUIDE to Jordan with kids
