Things to see and do in Wadi Musa

Wadi Musa is a very touristy town as it is the closest point to the Petra archaeological complex. When you go to see Wadi Musa you’ll find that it’s a very welcoming and peaceful place for travellers. Wadi Musa also has a lot of history of its own, as it is believed to have existed during the time of the Nabataeans. You’ll love getting to know this pretty village while you get your strength back for Petra.

In this post we’ll give you all the tips on places to see in Wadi Musa, as well as some ideas on where to eat and where to stay. Read on to find out all the tips you need to know before you head to Wadi Moussa. This way you’ll know what to do beforehand, and when you arrive you’ll only have to worry about enjoying your stay in this picturesque city.

What are the best places to see in Wadi Musa?

1. Little Petra

Little Petra is super close to Wadi Musa, just a 15-minute drive away, and is one of the must-see sights in Wadi Musa because it’s totally free! It’s usually recommended to visit it before going to Petra, although it’s actually part of the Petra archaeological complex itself. Access is quite separate, but it is believed to have been an entry or exit point for caravans seeking access to the ancient Nabataean city. What are you waiting for to see Little Petra?

2. The Petra Museum

The wonderful Petra Museum was opened very recently in 2019. This is a must-see while in Wadi Musa as it perfectly complements your visit to the famous lost city. This state-of-the-art museum will help you understand Petra and Nabataean society much better thanks to its interactive displays. They explain how they came to control and store water among many other things. Admission is free and closes at 20:30hrs.

3. The Moses Spring

Another place to see in Wadi Musa, especially if you’re interested in religious tourism, is the Moses Spring. In fact, this is the site that gives the town its name, and even if you’re not a believer, it’s a beautiful spring. If you visit Wadi Musa, we recommend that you take the opportunity to visit this natural spring, which is located inside a rock from which water still flows today. Today the Moses Spring is protected by a modern construction with three domes. It is a unique place with few tourists, as it is usually visited by Jews and Christians. You can also buy souvenirs during this visit, as there is also a small shop inside the building.

4. City centre

Wadi Musa is a city where you’re going to see a lot of tourists and atmosphere, because it usually serves as a reference point for visiting Petra comfortably in a couple of days. As a result, the city is very tourist-oriented and offers many possibilities for entertainment and relaxation. For example, we recommend relaxing in the Turkish baths after a strenuous visit to Petra. In addition, some restaurants in Wadi Musa offer cooking classes, where you can learn how to cook many delicious Jordanian dishes. In the late evening, the bars are also quite lively, both Arab and international in character – it all depends on where you choose to enjoy Wadi Musa’s lively nightlife.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to visit around Wadi Musa?

1. Petra

Petra is located right next to Wadi Musa. It is the ancient capital of the Nabataeans and is undoubtedly the most impressive place to visit in Jordan and one of the seven wonders of the world! The city of Petra is over 2000 years old and it is impressive that it is built in the middle of the desert. It can only be reached via the Siq. A walk along the Siq also allows you to visit incredible sites such as the Treasury and the Monastery. Enjoy every minute of your walk!

Petra can be reached easily from the village of Wadi Musa. Once there, it’s a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute taxi ride to the entrance of the site. For this reason, we recommend you to go by car because it takes only two hours and it’s much faster. The entrance to Petra costs 50 euros and if you do it with a guide this price may vary a little.

2. Wadi Rum Desert

When you’re visiting Wadi Musa, we recommend a trip to the Wadi Rum Desert. It’s only 112km from Wadi Musa and the easiest way to get there is by rental car. There is also a public bus that costs around 10 Jordanian dinars (JD12) and leaves from Wadi Musa at 6:30am and from the Wadi Rum car park at 8:30am for Wadi Musa. It takes approximately two hours to get there. The stunning desert of Wadi Rum is also known as the Valley of the Moon, and is characterised by stunning sandstone mountains such as Ishrin. Wadi Rum also boasts impressive natural arches such as the stone bridge of Burda, numerous caves, and even canyons such as Jazali. What are you waiting for to visit? Remember that the entrance fee is 5 Jordanian dinars, but if you have the Jordan Pass it’s completely free.

What to see in Wadi Musa in a day?

If you only have one day to see Wadi Musa, don’t miss out on:

• The City of Petra
• Learn even more thanks to The Petra Museum
• Tour the city centre of Wadi Musa

Where and what to eat in Wadi Musa?

When you go to see Wadi Musa, you’ll find that one of the best things about Jordan is its cuisine. In general in all Middle Eastern countries, the first thing you’ll be served is the mezze, which consists of various cold appetizers. Among these we recommend you try chickpea hummus or falafel. While in Jordan you should also try Baba Ghanous (aubergine hummus), Tabbouleh, or Kibbe. We recommend the following restaurants in Wadi Musa:

• Zawaya Restaurant & Cafe: This beautiful restaurant offers delicious, high-quality, typical Jordanian food. We recommend you to try the lamb, all the customers are delighted with the taste of it! The average price per diner is 3 euros to 6 euros.
• Reem Beladi Restaurant: Reem Beladi is definitely a great restaurant. The portions are delicious and the quantities are more than adequate. It is important to note that the service is great and they are happy to give you all kinds of recommendations. The average price per diner is between 5 and 10 euros.
• Al-Wadi Restaurant: As soon as you enter, you’ll be surprised at how beautifully decorated this restaurant is. Both the location and the food are excellent. Don’t leave without trying their barbecue and they also have vegan options! The average price per diner is from 6 euros to 12 euros.

Where to sleep in Wadi Musa?

Wadi Musa has many accommodation options because it is often a city used to visit the Petra complex. We recommend:

• Petra Plaza Hotel: This beautiful hotel is located in Wadi Musa, and only 1.2 km from Petra. This makes it particularly convenient if you are interested in visiting the ancient city. It offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge and a terrace. Inside there is also a bar-restaurant serving Middle Eastern food.The average price for a double room is 63 euros per night.
• Petra Corner Hotel: This three-star hotel is just 700 metres from Petra. The rooms have air conditioning, desk, coffee maker, fridge, minibar, safe, flat screen TV and private bathroom. The average price for a double room is 91 euros per night.
• La Maison Hotel: This modern three-star hotel is beautifully decorated and offers a concierge service and a tour desk. This makes it a convenient place to stay when visiting Petra. The average price for a double room is 73 euros per night.

Tips for your trip to Wadi Musa

• The official currency of Jordan is the Jordanian dinar and the current exchange rate is 1 Jordanian dinar=1.26 euros. We recommend that you use your credit card to pay and withdraw cash from ATMs when you arrive in Jordan.
• The best time to see Wadi Musa is in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). These are the times of year with the most pleasant temperatures in Jordan and there’s virtually no risk of rain. This allows you to enjoy the best weather in Wadi Moussa.
• A visa is required to enter Jordan in addition to your passport. This visa is issued on arrival in Jordan and costs 40 Jordanian dinars. It is valid for 30 days with a single entry.
• We recommend you get your Jordan Pass to get around Wadi Musa and the country in general.
• You could hire a car in Wadi Musa to get around the country easily. A Spanish driving licence is valid for driving in Jordan. Jordan is also a very safe country that you can easily visit on your own.
• Buy travel insurance because health care in Jordan is private, so you’ll have a lot more peace of mind.
• Although there are no mandatory vaccinations for travel to Jordan (yellow fever for passengers from endemic countries), we recommend you visit the vaccination centre just in case.

How to organise your trip to Wadi Musa?

You can use this post as a reference and combine it with the options suggested by the Passporter website. There you will find a wide variety of ideas and inspiration on what to see and what to do in Jordan. Thanks to Passporter you can sort your selection in order of preference and organise your routes through this beautiful country.

If you have any doubts about how to plan your trip before you leave home, don’t worry, Passporter can help. In our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter, we explain step by step how to create your ideal trip so that you don’t miss anything and get the most out of your stay.

Frequently asked questions about a trip to Wadi Musa