Food, Water and Toilets at Petra: What to Expect Inside

Short answer: Limited options inside the site. Most tours include water and a basic lunch or snack. Toilets are at the Visitor Center (clean, western-style) and one set inside the site (basic). Bring snacks, a refillable water bottle, and accept that food is basic and overpriced near the gate. Plan accordingly.

Visitor Centre cafePlate lunches, cold drinks, snacks—expensive but available

Food inside the siteMinimal—a few snack shacks near the Siq exit

Toilets at Visitor CentreClean, western-style, free for ticket holders

Toilets inside the siteOne set near the main monument area, basic

WaterBring 1.5–2 liters; visitor centre sells bottles (2–3 JOD)

What tours includeMost include water and a simple lunch or snack

Best strategyEat a big breakfast, pack nuts/dried fruit, eat after the walk

The Visitor Centre cafe

Before you enter, there is a cafe at the Visitor Centre. Plate lunches (chicken, rice, salad), sandwiches, cold drinks. Cost: 8–15 JOD ($11–20). The quality is decent but not fancy. Eat here before or after your walk, not during. Most tours include a lunch stop here or in nearby Wadi Musa.

Food inside the site

A few snack shacks near the Siq exit sell bottled water, sandwiches, dates, and nuts. Prices are high (a water bottle is 2–3 JOD, a sandwich is 5–8 JOD). These are not restaurants; they are survival food at tourist prices. Do not plan to eat a real meal inside the site.

Toilets: one inside, better ones outside

The Visitor Centre has clean, western-style toilets (free for ticket holders, a 10-fils coin for non-visitors). Inside the site, there is one basic toilet facility. Most people use the Visitor Centre before they enter. Plan accordingly—the Siq is 1.2 km and there is no toilet for the first 20 minutes of walking.

Water: bring your own

Bring 1.5–2 liters of water in a refillable bottle. Petra is sandstone and rock, minimal shade. You will sweat. A small bottle of water at the shacks costs 2–3 JOD (about $2–4). It is cheaper to refill your bottle at the Visitor Centre and bring it with you.

What tours include

Most tours include water and a simple lunch or snack. Check the tour details before booking. The Amman tours often include a lunch stop in Wadi Musa town (better food, better prices). The Eilat tour includes lunch at a local restaurant. The Sharm tour includes lunch in Ma'an. Only the Eilat and Tel Aviv tours list lunch as "own expense"—budget $15–25.

Insider tip

Eat a big breakfast before the walk. Bring snacks (nuts, dried fruit, chocolate). Carry 1.5–2 liters of water. Use the Visitor Centre toilet before entering. Do not plan to eat a real meal inside the site.

Check what each tour includes

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Frequently asked questions

Is there food inside Petra?

Minimal. A few snack shacks near the Siq exit sell water, sandwiches, and nuts at high prices (2–3 JOD for water, 5–8 JOD for a sandwich). No restaurants inside the site itself. Most people eat at the Visitor Centre cafe before or after the walk.

Do tours include lunch?

Most tours include water and a simple lunch or snack. Check the tour details. The Amman tours stop for lunch in Wadi Musa town (better food, better prices). The Eilat and Tel Aviv tours list lunch as 'own expense'—budget $15–25.

Are there toilets inside?

One basic toilet facility inside the site. The Visitor Centre has clean, western-style toilets (free). Most people use the Visitor Centre before entering because there are no toilets for the first 20 minutes (the Siq). Plan accordingly.

What should I bring for food and water?

Bring 1.5–2 liters of water in a refillable bottle, snacks (nuts, dried fruit, chocolate), and a good breakfast before you go. The shacks inside are overpriced; eating at the Visitor Centre or in town is cheaper and better.