Petra Museum

Petra Museum

Petra Museum
4.5
About
Located at the main tourist street and only three minute walk from the main gate to Petra. Opening Times Location Online bookingOpening TimesWe are open seven days a week throughout the year from 10 AM to 11.30 PM2000 years ago Petra society was described as "half Bedouin, half farmer". The same description was given to Petra society at the beginning of the nineteenth century. A team of partners and specialists have spent almost 10 years developing the idea of this exhibition to create a better understanding of the history and anthropology of the area. No one can deny the fact that the history of Petra is still alive. To explore this idea, we invite you to this new and exciting exhibition where you can see and enjoy a cultural experience:• Petra in the eyes of the first photographers.• Traditional tools and instruments.• An unforgettable cultural experience.• Local produce available to try and buy.We are trying to make our history understandable and to bring it to life. To experience all this, come and visit the new Petra Life Exhibition for Traditional Heritage, which must be seen to be believed! EXHIBITION SECTIONSA: Arabian coffee sectionB: Water and wateringC: Animals dresses and decorative accessories sectionD: Bedouin tent and weaving techniques sectionE: Bread making sectionF: Traditional construction tools sectionG: Peasant house sectionH: Agriculture sectionI: Leather- manufactured items SectionJ: Shepherding sectionK: Traditional costume, jewelry and beautifying sectionL: weights and measures instruments sectionM: Lighting sectionN: Recreation section (games and music)O: Weapons, defense means and hunting tools and techniques sectionP: Photo gallery (Petra in the eyes of the old photographers)Q: Medication, herbal and spices sectionR: Incense and aromatics sectionS: Traditional food sectionT: Cooking pots section Petra's long history stretches back through antiquity, the remains of which can still be seen inside and outside the ancient city. This is confirmed in both historical and archaeological evidence, which is at hand for specialists and far away from ordinary persons. It became evident to the owners of this exhibition, who are native of Petra, that the society of Wadi Musa and tourists should not be isolated and must be incorporated in many cultural activities and events.Recent studies have shown that human patterns of life continued to be almost the same from the Nabataean period up to the end of the Ottoman period. From that time onwards, modern changes related to the globalization and social changes affected the community as well as lifestyles which led eventually to the loose of a considerable part of our heritage and traditions. If the situation continues as it is, the historical memory of the region will be erased gradually.It is a matter of fact that the visitors of Petra do not have full access to the cultural heritage of the region either tangible or intangible. They have access only to the archaeological site and all the information provided are relevant to the monuments of the city itself. Preserving and presenting other cultural heritage elements as tourism products seems to be a necessity since the Petra region lacks such important places. It is clear therefore that creating new attractions in Wadi Musa will help tourists enjoy the Jordanian cultural experience. The establishment of this exhibition will create this opportunity for the visitors of the archaeological site of Petra.We have created this permanent exhibition showing the history and heritage of the greater Petra region which is the only one of its kind in the southern part of Jordan to focus attention specifically on the heritage of our recent past. It represents a unique and valuable source of information and provides the perfect environment for visitors to explore a broad spectrum of topics related to the heritage of this part of the world during the last two centuries.
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  • Fredric John
    Dubai, United Arab Emirates1,006 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The amazing history of Petra
    My suggestion was visit the Petra Museum first before going into the Petra site itself so you’ll have the energy to digest the following information and history that it offers. I love how the people who discovered the items inside. I also learned how the Roman influences the structures of how Nabateans are living from the past. It was an amazing experience. I was just bothered by fellow tourists who’s disrespectful and talking loudly inside. It is also the site (behind the Petra Museum exit) where you can take a small shuttle going to Little Petra.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 6 March 2024
  • Alison B
    Bristol, United Kingdom23 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Lovely little museum to enhance your Petra experience.
    Lovely little free museum, beautifully laid out with plenty of information that will enhance you trip inside the Petra site. We did it after visiting, as we chose to go into Petra itself very early as it opened, to have the Tresury largely to ourselves. Lots of local area information on touch screens including geology, flora and fauna we found it quiet, peaceful and very cool (very effective air con) around two pm on a Sunday. Don't miss it.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 28 April 2024
  • Isael G
    Manama, Bahrain74 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Knowledge available everywhere
    Fantastic information about the land a culture of the people of Petra. Facilities well preserved and clean with a small gift shop by the exit. Great he museum Has a partnership with the Japanese and you can see how well it works. Learn about more than five different periods of Petra and the civilizations that mark the place. Visit Jordan pass was worth h for the three days visit.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 17 July 2024
  • Haytham Abu Firas
    Qatar21,185 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Petra Museum
    The Petra is now one of the World’s Wonder. My first visit was 22 years ago. Upon buying a ticket, you can access the museum. First of all, it’s very cold after a long walk under the sun, so a time to recharge energy. Museum is well maintained, many things to see and read, sculptures, statues, paintings and video shows. Immerse yourself in history of that ancient era when visiting the museum. Worth a visit.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 4 August 2024
  • B T
    London, United Kingdom1,256 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good
    There is some information in the visitor centre, but all the exhibits have been removed and it looks like they are in the Petra museum next to the visitor centre. The museum is good, has interesting things to see that have been found at Petra. It helps as it gives lots more information about the site history and Nabateans that you don’t get from walking round the site. It’s free and you don’t need a Petra ticket to get in which is really helpful as you don’t need to use up time of your Petra days to look round. Disappointed they don’t have a cloakroom
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 23 September 2024
  • Geoff H
    Sissinghurst, United Kingdom18,070 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A well maintained free museum
    A well maintained museum with imaginatively displayed artefacts. It is free to enter and, if possible, you be seen before actually going to see the ruins themselves as there is an explanation as to why Petra came to be in this place. As well as the static displays (with explanations in English) there are also visual displays. It is up to you how much time you spend here (taking into account how long you may have to visit the ruins themselves) but if you have 30 minutes or an hour to spare you may find it time well spent.
    Visited November 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 26 November 2024
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles298 reviews
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A.brady
4 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Solo
Museum was excellent. Very well curated. I was in Wadi Musa for a week, so I went before I visited Petra and after. It was free to see the museum.
However, the gift shop at the back of the museum sold me stamps to mail my postcards to Canada and the postcards never arrived - my guess is that they really do not know what to charge you and so just guess - I spent $25 CND on stamps there and none of the postcards arrived. BUYER BEWARE!
Written 10 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Athena Constantinou
98 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
The Petra Museum, located just above the Visitor Centre, is a beautifully designed modern building that provides comprehensive information for a deeper understanding of the Nabataean civilization and the ancient city of Petra through an impressive collection of artefacts found in and around Petra, interactive digital signage, audiovisual films with 3D animations CG and full-size reconstruction models. The exhibition consists of five rooms with exhibits arranged thematically and chronologically, covering a period from the Stone Age to Roman rule. Admission is free, and even if you are not a big fan of museums, it's a great place to rest or meet with friends, as it's spacious, air-conditioned and equipped with benches.
Written 24 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SussexSarah2014
Nairobi, Kenya42 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
I went to the museum the afternoon we arrived in Wadi Musa, and am very glad I did. It explains so much about the whole area, the site, the people who lived (and still live) in and around Petra, and brought it to life so that on entry to Petra itself the next morning, I knew what we were looking at. The museum is very well laid out, with very high quality displays and interactive information stations - and good ac!
Written 20 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

samantha l
45 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Solo
The museum took me about an hour but I love a museum and read everything you could easily do it in 20 minutes.

If you want to get the most out of Petra without a guide you should go first as it’s very informative and well done. It certainly showed me what to pay attention to in the water system and architecture.

It’s also cool, spacious and I believe from memory had level access.
Written 21 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

newflyer
Bridgeport, CT1,219 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
This museum is accessible either before or after you go into the Petra site. I did it with my guide after seeing the site and it was a welcome A/C environment because it was quite hot when I was here. We were the only folks in the museum so I think they need to publicize it more so folks know it is here.
Written 8 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

G. C.
Milan, Italy2,417 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Friends
After 5 years of work and thanks to Japanese funds, this museum saw the light, at the Petra ticket office, before the entrance to the archaeological site. It consists of 8 areas: one dedicated to water, one to the foundation of Petra, a circular gallery explains the activity of the Nabataeans (here there is a beautiful capital with an elephant head found in the Great Temple), an area is dedicated to the zenith , another area dedicated to life and another dedicated to the decline and then rebirth of this city. Here there is a krater (large vase) of marble with panther-shaped handles that was recovered from the Byzantine church. Not a large museum but well structured and with detailed explanations, well looked after as a whole.
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Written 12 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Doreen M
9 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Family
A little above the visitor center is a very modern building, the size of which is impressive. You should not be deterred by this, the visit is worthwhile.

The artifacts of the individual eras are presented very attractively. In each of the 5 exhibition rooms there are information panels, which give information in Arabic and English not only about the individual finds but also about the history of the Nabataeans and their importance.

Conclusion: Recommendable, also for children very worth seeing.

Admission is free, open until 8 pm.
Written 30 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Deanosaur89
Edmonton, Canada9,278 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
The museum is free to enter and has many Greek and Roman artifacts from Petra including several sculptures of Greek Gods. There is a good display that explains the history of the area as well and how long it took to form and who was there and when. There are quite a few tv screens that will play videos explaining the history. There are lots of signs to explain the artifacts in English as well.

It is worth going in if you have time. The museum is located right beside the Petra Visitor Centre and has AC. Plan to spend about 30 minutes to an hour here.
Written 22 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sea Dweller
Dubai, United Arab Emirates6,929 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023
In 2019, Hussein, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Jordan, inaugurated the new Petra Museum in Jordan in Wadi Musa. The museum is located in a new building, which was built next to the main entrance to Petra.
The permanent exhibition of the museum is the halls representing the history of the country from the Stone Age to the present. Lots of interactive installations. A visit to the Petra Museum is a good way to understand and feel the real life of the ancient Nabatean capital.
Written 9 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeffry b
Essendon, Australia13,707 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Friends
Petra was the center of the Nabatean empire, which was fabulously rich through trading in spices. They became immensely wealthy. The Petra Museum is in Wadi Musa. The collection has many precious objects, created by the Nabateans. The Petra Museum is quite spectacular, it's well worth the visit.
Written 7 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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