Petra Weather in December 2026: what to expect (7.2/10)

The month in detail

What to expect in December

In December, Petra sees 15.0°F during the day with 6.5h of sunshine per day. Rain risk remains low (19.0% of days), leaving good room for outdoor activities. Not the best window, but acceptable if dates are constrained. May (9.5/10) is significantly better if possible.

December ranks 10 out of 12 months in Petra. Compared to November: −9°F daytime, −0.5h of sun per day.

This month's conditions

What it's like in December

UV index

4 · moderate

protect during midday hours

Feels like

dry air

4°

Daylight

10.1h of daylight

Air quality

good

AQI 38

Compare

Is December the right month?

The best month in Petra is May (9.5/10), 2.3 pts higher than December.

See May →See all 12 months →

Context

Our verdict

Petra demands you choose your moment carefully: 7,200 ft altitude in the heart of a desert , so cold in winter, scorching in summer. May is my favorite month (9.8/10): 63-82°F, 4% rain, golden light on the pink sandstone.

Read Gilles' full review →

Book

Plan your trip

Hotels at their lowest outside peak season, highest on comfortable months. Shoulder seasons offer a good price/climate compromise.

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Stay

Hotels & rentals · Petra

Expedia →

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Activities

Tours, tickets, experiences

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Flights

Multi-airline comparator

Kiwi →

🎟️ Activities & tours · Petra

GetYourGuide selection · free cancellation

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Affiliate link · GetYourGuide

Practical info

What you need to know before you go

Three angles: the country (language, currency, safety, budget), the year-round climate, and the specifics of a city break.

Country · Jordan

🗣️LanguageArabic

💶CurrencyDinar jordanien (JD)

🚗DrivingRight-hand

🛡️Safety ⓘAt risk · 4/5

💰Cost of living ⓘCheap · 2/5

🌡️ Climate

🌍Climate typeTemperate

📈Climate trend ⓘStable

🔥Hottest monthJuly · 90°F

❄️Coolest monthJanuary · 55°F

🌧️Rainiest month ⓘFebruary · 25%

🏛️ City break

📅Tourist peak seasonJune → August

☔Indoor sights ⓘYear-round

🚇Public transportGood

Explore

Other destinations in December

If December doesn't convince you for this destination, compare with others.

Similar climate

Nearby

Sharm el-SheikhEgypt281 km

Other top picks

🗺️ See all 754 destinations on the map

Location

Where is Petra ?

Global position + regional geographic context.

🌍 World

🔍 Geographic context

Jordan

Temperate climate with a 9.5 → 4.4 gap between best and worst month. 10 years of ERA5 data to choose by project.

30.33°N · 35.44°E

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Petra?

May is the best month with 82°F highs, 63°F lows, 9.5h of sunshine and 4.0% rainy days. The months of May & June offer comparable conditions.

How many hours of sunshine does Petra get in May?

Petra averages 9.5 sunshine hours per day in May. It is the sunniest month with a climate score of 9.3/10.

What is the rainiest month in Petra?

January is the most unfavourable month with January has the lowest climate score of the year and the lowest climate score of the year.

What are the temperatures at night in Petra in May?

In May, overnight lows reach 63°F, while afternoon highs average 82°F.

Is Petra good in winter?

In winter (December-February), Petra scores 5.1/10 on average — Difficult period — prefer the peak season.. The best month overall remains May with a score of 9.3/10.

When should you avoid Petra?

January is the most difficult month to visit Petra, with January has the lowest climate score of the year. Climate conditions are at their lowest of the year during this period.

Do you need sun protection in Petra in December?

The average UV index reaches 4 in December in Petra (moderate), with about 10.1h of daylight. Protect during midday hours.