Best time to visit Petra
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme heat overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Petra
6 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Petra).
- 1
Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional - 2
Petra in 3 Hours – Highlights with a private guide - 3
From Petra to Wadi Rum, then back to Amman or the airport. - 4
2 Days 1 Night (Discover The Nabataean Trail) - 5
Jordan Private Transportation | The Jordanian Mappers - 6
FROM PETRA | Round Trip To Dead Sea | Lunch & Admission fees included
Last refreshed 2026-05-26.
Similar climatesSedona90% · Los Angeles88% · Napa88%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Petra (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Petra's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7–13 | 10 | 8 | 112 | 14.0 | 60% | 18 | 214 | 4 | Quiet | 6 |
| Feb | 7–14 | 11 | 8 | 108 | 13.5 | 61% | 17 | 204 | 5 | Quiet | 7 |
| Mar | 9–18 | 15 | 7 | 84 | 12.0 | 48% | 19 | 247 | 7 | Quiet | 8 |
| Apr | 14–24 | 21 | 2 | 23 | 11.5 | 33% | 19 | 268 | 9 | Quiet | 9 |
| May | 17–28 | 25 | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 27% | 20 | 295 | 11 | Quiet | 9 |
| Jun | 21–31 | 28 | 0 | 2 | — | 27% | 19 | 295 | 12 | Quiet | 8 |
| Jul | 22–32 | 30 | 0 | 0 | — | 27% | 19 | 307 | 12 | Quiet | 7 |
| Aug | 23–32 | 31 | 0 | 1 | — | 29% | 18 | 297 | 11 | Moderate | 6 |
| Sep | 21–30 | 30 | 0 | 2 | — | 36% | 17 | 260 | 10 | Moderate | 8 |
| Oct | 17–26 | 25 | 2 | 14 | 7.0 | 41% | 15 | 247 | 7 | Busy | 10 |
| Nov | 13–20 | 18 | 5 | 60 | 12.0 | 52% | 16 | 223 | 5 | Peak | 9 |
| Dec | 9–16 | 13 | 5 | 66 | 13.2 | 55% | 17 | 213 | 4 | Busy | 8 |
UV Index in Petra by Month
UV index in Petra peaks at 12 (extreme) in July, dropping to 4 (moderate) in December. April, May, June, July, August, September reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
Best months in detail
October
10/1017–26°C (feels 25°C) · 2 rain days (14h) · 247 sun hours · 41% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
November
9/1013–20°C (feels 18°C) · 5 rain days (60h) · 223 sun hours · 52% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 5 (moderate)
April
9/1014–24°C (feels 21°C) · 2 rain days (23h) · 268 sun hours · 33% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 9 (very high)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
6/107–13°C (feels 10°C) · 8 rain days (112h) · 214 sun hours · 60% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 4 (moderate)
February
7/107–14°C (feels 11°C) · 8 rain days (108h) · 204 sun hours · 61% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 5 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
March
8/109–18°C (feels 15°C) · 7 rain days (84h) · 247 sun hours · 48% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 7 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
May
9/1017–28°C (feels 25°C) · 1 rain days (11h) · 295 sun hours · 27% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 11 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
June
8/1021–31°C (feels 28°C) · 0 rain days (2h) · 295 sun hours · 27% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 12 (extreme)
July
7/1022–32°C (feels 30°C) · 0 rain days (0h) · 307 sun hours · 27% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 12 (extreme)
August
6/1023–32°C (feels 31°C) · 0 rain days (1h) · 297 sun hours · 29% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 11 (extreme)
September
8/1021–30°C · 0 rain days (2h) · 260 sun hours · 36% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 10 (very high)
December
8/109–16°C (feels 13°C) · 5 rain days (66h) · 213 sun hours · 55% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 4 (moderate)
Frequently asked questions about visiting Petra
When is the best time to visit Petra?
October is the highest-scoring month (10/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 17–26°C (2 rainy days). The top three months by score are October, November, April.
What is the worst time to visit Petra?
August is the lowest-scoring month (6/10, capped by extreme heat). Typical conditions: 23–32°C (0 rainy days).
Is Petra too hot in summer?
2 months (July, August) trip the heat deal-breaker in our scoring: apparent temperature crosses the comfort cap, so even with clear skies and low rain the score is held down. Plan around it if heat tolerance is low.
When are crowds lowest in Petra?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in June and peaks in November. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Petra have good weather but fewer tourists?
April (climate 9/10, crowd index 6) and May (climate 9/10, crowd index 1) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Petra by month?
UV peaks at 12 (extreme) in July and is lowest in December at 4 (moderate). Monthly peak values: Jan 4, Feb 5, Mar 7, Apr 9, May 11, Jun 12, Jul 12, Aug 11, Sep 10, Oct 7, Nov 5, Dec 4. April, May, June, July, August, September reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
What is the UV index in Petra in July?
July is the peak UV month in Petra, with a daily-peak UV index of 12 (extreme). At this level, sunburn can occur in under 20 minutes on unprotected fair skin. Apply SPF 50+, wear protective clothing and a hat, and avoid direct midday sun (11:00–17:00).
How high can UV get in Petra on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. May is the worst case: typical days average UV 11 (very high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 12 (extreme) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: February, March, May, October. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.
Is air quality in Petra bad for travelers?
PM2.5 (fine-particle pollution) exceeds the WHO sensitive-group guideline (15 µg/m³) in 11 months: January, February, March, April, May, June, August, September, October, November, December. The worst month is May with a typical-day mean of 15 µg/m³ (moderate); on the worst 10% of days PM2.5 reaches 25 µg/m³ (unhealthy) and higher. People with asthma, heart conditions, or sensitive children may want to avoid these months or limit outdoor activity. Source: CAMS via Open-Meteo.