How much is the Jordan Pass and what does each version include?
The Jordan Pass price page lists three versions. They differ only in the number of Petra days. All three cover entry to more than 40 attractions, including Jerash and Wadi Rum, and include the tourist visa fee waiver.
| Version | Price | Petra access |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Wanderer | JOD 70 | 1 day |
| Jordan Explorer | JOD 75 | 2 consecutive days |
| Jordan Expert | JOD 80 | 3 consecutive days |
The pass is run under the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. According to the Jordan Pass FAQ, it must be used within 3 months of purchase and expires 1 month after the first scan at an attraction. Children under 12 enter the sites free when they are with their parents, so they do not need a pass.
Petra ticket prices without the pass
The Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) prices Petra tickets by whether you spend a night in Jordan. Its ticketing page lists these foreign-visitor fares:
| Petra ticket | Price | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | JOD 50 | Visitors staying at least one night in Jordan |
| 2 days | JOD 55 | Visitors staying at least one night in Jordan |
| 3 days | JOD 60 | Visitors staying at least one night in Jordan |
| 1 day, non-accommodated | JOD 90 | Day visitors who do not stay overnight in Jordan |
The online ticketing page also lists an Arab-national ticket at JOD 30. PDTRA says all e-tickets are non-refundable, non-exchangeable and non-transferable, and are valid for 8 months after purchase. Petra opens every day from 06:00 to 16:00, extended to 18:00 in summer. Children under 12 go in free.
When does the Jordan Pass visa waiver apply?
The pass waives the tourist visa fee under three conditions from the Jordan Pass FAQ:
- You buy it before you arrive. Buying after arrival does not give you the exemption.
- You stay at least 2 whole nights (3 days). The price page and FAQ both say two nights. Some older guides still say three.
- You are a non-restricted nationality and not an Arab national. The Jordan Pass is not sold to Arab nationality holders. Nationalities on the Ministry of Interior's restricted list need prior approval and cannot rely on a visa on arrival.
The waiver covers a single-entry visa only. The FAQ gives the fee for that visa as JOD 40. That is the amount you pay if you stay too few nights.
Entry point changes the maths. The FAQ says arrivals at Aqaba airport do not need a visa at all, so on that route the pass saves you nothing on the visa. It also says visas on arrival at the Wadi Araba crossing near Aqaba are given only to eligible Jordan Pass holders staying at least two whole nights. It confirms that non-restricted nationalities can get a visa on arrival at the Sheikh Hussein (Jordan River) crossing. The FAQ does not cover the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge, so check that crossing with the Ministry of Interior.
Is the Jordan Pass worth it for your trip?
Three things decide it: the visa fee you would otherwise pay, the PDTRA Petra fare for your number of days, and whether your stay meets the two-night rule. This table combines them for one adult flying into Amman on a non-restricted passport.
| Your trip | Without the pass | With the pass | Better choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2+ nights, 1 Petra day | JOD 40 visa + JOD 50 = JOD 90 | Wanderer JOD 70 | Pass, saves JOD 20 |
| 2+ nights, 2 Petra days | JOD 40 + JOD 55 = JOD 95 | Explorer JOD 75 | Pass, saves JOD 20 |
| 2+ nights, 3 Petra days | JOD 40 + JOD 60 = JOD 100 | Expert JOD 80 | Pass, saves JOD 20 |
| 1 night only, 1 Petra day | JOD 40 + JOD 50 = JOD 90 | JOD 70 + JOD 40 visa at exit = JOD 110 | No pass |
| Fly into Aqaba, 1 Petra day | JOD 50 (no visa needed) | JOD 70 | No pass, unless other sites add over JOD 20 |
Other included sites, such as Jerash, Wadi Rum and the Amman Citadel, add to the pass's saving. This guide could not confirm their standalone entry fees on an official page, so they are left out of the numbers above. Treat them as extra saving, not the reason to buy.
Worked example: a family of four
Two adults and two children aged 8 and 13 fly into Amman for five nights and spend two days in Petra. The 8-year-old is free at Petra. The 13-year-old is not, so they need their own pass or ticket.
- With passes: three Explorer passes at JOD 75 = JOD 225, covering three visas and two Petra days each.
- Without: three visas at JOD 40 plus three 2-day Petra tickets at JOD 55 = JOD 285.
The passes save JOD 60. Adding Petra by Night for the three paying family members costs another JOD 90 either way. The 8-year-old goes in free.
Petra by Night: price, days and tickets
PDTRA's Visit Petra page lists Petra by Night every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 20:30 to 22:30. Tickets are JOD 30 per person, and children under 10 go free. You need a daytime Petra ticket or a Jordan Pass to buy one. No pass includes it.
The Petra by Night website says online booking is temporarily unavailable. Buy tickets in person at the Petra Visitor Center, ideally in the afternoon after your day visit.
What to do if something goes wrong
For the drive south to Petra, read renting a car and driving in Jordan. To reach the city after landing, see Queen Alia Airport to Amman city centre.