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Food tours in Petra: what to eat and which tour to book
Visitors to Petra stay and eat in Wadi Musa, the town at the entrance to the site, and in the Bedouin camps around Little Petra. The food is Jordanian home cooking: mansaf (lamb cooked in dried-yoghurt sauce over rice, the national dish), maqluba (an upside-down rice and vegetable pot), zarb (Bedouin meat and vegetables cooked in an underground pit), plus falafel, hummus and sweet sage tea. Inside the archaeological site itself the choice is limited to a few buffet restaurants and Bedouin tea stalls, so most people bring water and snacks for the day and eat properly in the evening.
Use this page to decide what to eat and where. The dishes and areas below say what each place does well and when to go. The tours are real listings on GetYourGuide, with prices as seen when we checked; prices and group sizes change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Petra
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mansaf | Lamb cooked in jameed (fermented dried yoghurt) sauce, served over rice on thin bread with toasted almonds or pine nuts. Jordan's national dish, traditionally eaten by hand. | Jordanian restaurants in Wadi Musa; often needs ordering in advance. | roughly JOD 8–15 a portion (about €10–18) |
| Upside-down rice maqluba | Rice, chicken or lamb and fried vegetables (aubergine, cauliflower, potato) cooked in one pot and flipped onto a tray at the table. | Family restaurants in Wadi Musa and home-cooking experiences. | roughly JOD 7–12 |
| Bedouin pit barbecue zarb | Chicken or lamb and vegetables slow-cooked on racks in a sealed pit in the sand, served with rice and salad. | Bedouin camps around Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) and some Wadi Musa restaurants, usually as a set dinner. | roughly JOD 12–20 per person as part of a camp dinner |
| Falafel and hummus falafel, hummus, ful | Chickpea fritters, chickpea purée with tahini, and stewed fava beans, eaten with flatbread for breakfast or lunch. | Small falafel shops in Wadi Musa town centre. | about JOD 0.5–1 for a falafel sandwich; JOD 2–4 for a plate |
| Sage tea shai bil maramiya | Sweet black tea brewed with wild sage, offered by Bedouin stall-holders and hosts across the area. | Tea stalls inside Petra, camps and cafes. | about JOD 1–3 a glass inside the site; often offered free as hospitality |
| Sweet cheese pastry knafeh | Hot, syrup-soaked pastry with a layer of melted white cheese, topped with pistachios. | Sweet shops in Wadi Musa. | about JOD 1–3 a portion |
| Tomato pan galayet bandora | Tomatoes cooked down in olive oil with garlic, chilli and onion, sometimes with meat; scooped up with bread. | Local restaurants and camp breakfasts. | about JOD 2–4 |
| Sesame bread ring ka'ak | Ring-shaped bread rolled in sesame, often eaten with za'atar (thyme-sesame mix) or a boiled egg. | Bakeries and street carts in Wadi Musa. | about JOD 0.25–0.75 |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Wadi Musa town centre
The town above the Petra gate, around the central roundabout, with falafel shops, bakeries, sweet shops and Jordanian restaurants at local prices.
Petra Visitor Centre area
Restaurants, cafes and hotels next to the site entrance; convenient but pricier and more tourist-oriented.
Inside Petra (Basin area and tea stalls)
A couple of buffet restaurants near the end of the colonnaded street, and Bedouin stalls selling tea and soft drinks along the trails.
Little Petra (Siq al-Barid) camps
Bedouin camps a short drive north of Wadi Musa, many offering zarb dinners and tea under the stars.
Taybeh and Umm Sayhoun
Villages near Petra with simple restaurants and home-cooking experiences offered by local families.
Food tours in Petra compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petra: Pottery Class, Old Town Walk, and Dinner | 1 day | from €209 per person | max 10 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| From Eilat: Petra Tour with Transfer and Lunch | 1 day | from €348 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Petra: Traditional Jordanian Cooking Workshop at a Local Home | 3 hours | from €60 per person | max 6 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Petra: Guided Hike to the Monastery with Lunch | 7 hours | from €324 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Amman or Dead Sea: Petra & Wadi Rum Jeep Tour and Dinner. | 10 - 14 hours | from €169 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| From Amman: 2-Day Petra, Wadi Rum Stargazing & Dead Sea | 2 days | from €313 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
Petra: Pottery Class, Old Town Walk, and Dinner
On GetYourGuide · run by Jordan treasures tours
- Length
- 1 day
- Price
- from €209 per person
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Pottery class with professional ceramicist (3 hrs) All clay, glazes, and studio materials Kiln firing of personal piece Guided walk through Old Wadi Musa (45 min) Dinner at Petra Kitchen (traditional Jordanian set men…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- Petra Pottery Association
From Eilat: Petra Tour with Transfer and Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by booking-tours.com
- Length
- 1 day
- Price
- from €348 per person
- Rating
- 4.5 ★ from 41 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Transportation with A/C Guides / Assistance Suitable for Children Hotel pickup and drop off Licensed Guide Entrance Fees Meals as per itinerary Group tour Visa charges For Jordan 75$ Insurance Tips and Gratuities Bord…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Petra: Traditional Jordanian Cooking Workshop at a Local Home
On GetYourGuide · run by EXPEDITION
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €60 per person
- Group size
- max 6
- Included
- Welcome with Arabic tea and dates Culinary experience in a local family home Hands-on preparation of 1 traditional Jordanian dish We use fresh ingredients and local spices Full meal shared with the host family Cultura…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- The host of the activity is a local resident named Bia.
Petra: Guided Hike to the Monastery with Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by Amazing Jordan Tour
- Length
- 7 hours
- Price
- from €324 per person
- Included
- Licensed local tour guide Guided hike through Petra Traditional Jordanian lunch Bottled water Petra entrance ticket
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- *
Amman or Dead Sea: Petra & Wadi Rum Jeep Tour and Dinner.
On GetYourGuide · run by Petra Magics Tours
- Length
- 10 - 14 hours
- Price
- from €169 per person
- Included
- Pick-up and drop off at Amman or Dead Sea Hotels. Local Guide in Petra 2.5 Hrs. Jeep tour and Bedouin Dinner in Wadirum (If Option Selected). English-speaking driver. Wi-Fi. Bottle of Water. Entrance (Jordan Pass high…
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
From Amman: 2-Day Petra, Wadi Rum Stargazing & Dead Sea
On GetYourGuide · run by Jordigo Tours
- Length
- 2 days
- Price
- from €313 per person
- Group size
- private
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food in Wadi Musa means falafel sandwiches, shawarma, ka'ak and sweet shops, cheap and quick. Inside Petra there is no real street food, only tea, soft drinks and snacks at stalls, at higher prices.
Sit-down meals
Restaurants in Wadi Musa serve Jordanian set meals, mezze, grills and mansaf; many hotels offer buffets. Some local dishes, especially mansaf and maqluba, are cooked to order and need a few hours' notice. Bedouin camps serve set dinners, often including zarb.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are a well-established evening activity in Wadi Musa, where you prepare mezze, soup and a main dish such as maqluba alongside local cooks, then eat together. They usually start in the early evening after a day at the site.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | JOD 10–15 (about €12–18): falafel breakfast, packed lunch for the site, local restaurant dinner |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | JOD 25–40 (about €30–48): buffet lunch in Petra and a restaurant dinner |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | JOD 60+ (about €72+): cooking class or Bedouin camp dinner plus hotel dining |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Easy: mezze (hummus, moutabal, tabbouleh, falafel, fattoush), ful, galayet bandora and vegetable maqluba. Main dishes like mansaf and zarb are meat-based. Vegans should ask about butter (samneh) and yoghurt.
Halal: Food is halal as standard throughout Jordan. Alcohol is available in some hotels and a few restaurants in Wadi Musa but not in most local places. During Ramadan, eating and drinking in public during daylight is discouraged, though tourist sites and hotels still serve visitors.
Gluten-free: Rice dishes, grilled meat, hummus and many mezze are naturally gluten-free, but bread is part of nearly every meal and falafel may contain flour. Awareness is limited outside hotels; carry an Arabic translation card.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Drinks and snacks inside Petra at several times town prices, and tea 'offered' freely followed by a request for money. Carry water and snacks from Wadi Musa. Ask the price before accepting tea, or politely decline.
- Buffet restaurants near the site entrance and inside Petra charging high prices for average food. Treat buffets as convenience; eat your main meals in the Wadi Musa town centre.
- Taxi drivers quoting inflated fares to Little Petra camps or between the visitor centre and town, then steering you to restaurants that pay them. Agree the fare before getting in and choose your own restaurant.
- Restaurants adding a service charge and tax (often around 26% combined in tourist places) on top of menu prices. Check whether prices include tax and service before ordering.
Top tours & activities in Petra
Rent a car in Petra
Compare rental cars from local and international companies, with free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare car rentals in PetraPlan the rest of your Petra trip
Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I need to tip in Petra?
Tipping is common in Jordan. In restaurants, about 10% is normal unless a service charge is already on the bill, which it often is in tourist places. Rounding up works at falafel shops. Guides, drivers and cooking-class hosts are usually tipped a few dinars per person if you were happy with the experience.
Can I buy food inside Petra?
Yes, but options are limited and expensive. There are a couple of buffet restaurants near the centre of the site and stalls selling drinks and snacks along the main trails. Most visitors bring water, fruit and sandwiches from Wadi Musa. On a long day, especially in summer, carry more water than you think you will need.
Where should I eat dinner?
Wadi Musa town centre, uphill from the visitor centre, has the most choice at local prices, from falafel shops to Jordanian restaurants serving mansaf and maqluba. Bedouin camps around Little Petra offer set zarb dinners. Many hotels have buffets, convenient after a long day of walking but usually less interesting.
How much should I budget for food per day?
On a budget, about JOD 10–15 (roughly €12–18) covers falafel and bread for breakfast, a packed lunch and a simple restaurant dinner. A buffet lunch inside the site and a sit-down dinner come to about JOD 25–40. A cooking class or camp dinner adds more, as do hotel meals and alcohol.
Do I need to order mansaf in advance?
Often yes. Mansaf and maqluba are slow-cooked dishes that many Wadi Musa restaurants prepare only when ordered ahead, sometimes for a minimum number of people. Ask in the morning or the day before. Some restaurants and hotels offer them on fixed nights; ask your accommodation.
Is alcohol available near Petra?
Yes, but in limited places. Some hotels and a few tourist restaurants in Wadi Musa serve beer and wine, and there is at least one bar in the visitor centre area. Most local restaurants and camps do not serve alcohol. Prices are high because of import taxes.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.