Siq al-Barid (Little Petra)
A narrow canyon north of Petra, lined with Nabataean dining halls, houses and a rare painted ceiling
BuiltLate 1st c. BC–1st c. AD
HighlightPainted ceiling
Location9 km N of Wadi Musa
AccessFree · no ticket
Introduction
A Nabataean suburb in miniature, in a canyon called “the cold one”.
North of Petra, a short canyon of pale sandstone hides a Nabataean suburb in miniature. Siq al-Barid, “the cold canyon”, is lined with dining halls, houses, stairs and cisterns, carved in the late 1st century BC and the 1st century AD, when the Bayda area was an agricultural and wine-producing suburb of Petra.
One of its rooms, the Painted House, still has the only figurative Nabataean wall painting preserved in place. Entry is free and no ticket is needed. Walk through the three open areas of the canyon, look up at the painted ceiling through its gate, and climb the steps at the far end to a viewpoint.
Best timeMar–May · Oct–Nov
Time needed1 hr
TicketFree
From Amman235 kmAbout 3 hr
Combine withPetra · 15 min
Google rating4.4 · Reviews
Highlights · Little Petra
Dining halls, houses and a painted ceiling
Five things to look for in Siq al-Barid
Little Petra is small and quick to walk. These are the places that make the visit.
01 / 0501 · Canyon
The siq
The siq
A narrow passage a few hundred metres long opens into three small open areas.
Look closely
The narrow entrance gap.
1 of 5
Part by part
What to see
Three parts of the visit: the siq and temple, the dining halls and the Painted House, and the façade outside the entrance. Pick one to see what to look for.
1 / 401 · The first open area
Enter the canyon
The siq, a few hundred metres long, opens into three small open areas linked by narrow passages. In the first, a columned façade, probably a temple, rises above a rock-cut house.
Rock-cut stairs climb to upper rooms, and cisterns cut into the walls collected the rain.
Three open areasTemple façadeCisterns
Look for
- The narrow entrance
- The columned temple façade
- Cisterns cut into the walls
1 / 802 · The second open area
Find the Painted House
The second open area is lined with four large triclinia, dining halls with benches on three sides, where Nabataean families and guilds held feasts.
Up a stair on the south side, about 300 m into the canyon, the Painted House has a painted ceiling in its inner alcove: vine scrolls with grapes and flowers, winged cupids, birds and a pipe-playing figure like Pan. It is behind a locked gate with no guard, but all the details can be seen through it.
Four tricliniaPainted ceilingLocked gate
Look for
- The benches of the dining halls
- The birds and cupids on the ceiling
- Gold leaf on some of the leaves
Dig deeperSaving the painting
The paintings were blackened by campfire soot over the centuries. Between 2006 and 2010 the Petra National Trust and conservators from the Courtauld Institute of Art, with the Department of Antiquities, cleaned and conserved the ceiling. Radiocarbon dating of the plaster gave a date between 40 BC and AD 25.
1 / 503 · Steps and façades
Walk to the end
At the far end, steps lead through a narrow gap to a viewpoint over the surrounding hills.
Just outside the entrance, on the right, a carved façade catalogued as Br. 846 has a frieze of triglyphs and metopes above its door and an unfinished interior.
ViewpointBr. 846Unfinished interior
Look for
- The steps at the end of the canyon
- The frieze of façade Br. 846
- The hills around al-Bayda
Dig deeperAl Beidha
The Neolithic village of Al Beidha is about 20 minutes away on foot. A trail also leads from Little Petra to the Monastery in Petra; it takes about two hours, a guide is recommended, and a valid Petra ticket is required.
History & significance
A suburb of Petra
Little Petra was carved at the height of the Nabataean kingdom, in an agricultural and wine-producing suburb of Petra. Later it was used for centuries by the local Bedouin.
- 40 BC–AD 25Radiocarbon date of the Painted House plaster
- 1st c. ADThe canyon is lined with halls and houses
- AD 1956Nelson Glueck publishes the paintings
- AD 2006–2010The painted ceiling is conserved
ProfileLittle Petra: the full storyThe history, the Painted House and the banqueting halls of Little Petra.Read the profile →Plan your visit
Everything you need to know before you go
Little Petra is about 9 km by road north of Wadi Musa: follow the road north from the Petra Visitor Centre, pass the Al Beidha turn-off and turn left at the T-junction. The siq starts at the car park at the end of the road.
Good to know: the canyon floor is sandy and the side stairs are steep. The Painted House is behind a locked gate.
Opening hoursOpen accessVisit in daylight
Entry ticketFreeNo ticket needed
Time to visit1 hrAbout an hour; 20 minutes more each way to Al Beidha
From Amman235 kmAbout 3 hours by the Desert Highway
LocationAl-Bayda30.3758° N, 35.4519° EGet directions
Opening hours and prices checked October 2026. Spotted a change? Let us know
Facilities by location
Near the entrance
- Toilets
- Guide available
- Food & drinks
- Market / shop
Designated parking
Access: No 4x4 needed.
When to go
Spring and autumn are best. Mornings are cooler and quieter.
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BestGood, cooler or warmVery hot
Tip: come before or after a day in Petra: it is only 15 minutes from the Visitor Centre.
Before you go
Bedouin tea stalls are near the entrance.
- Comfortable shoesSand and steep rock-cut stairs
- WaterLittle shade in the canyon
- Sun hatEspecially from May to September
Common questions
Quick answers before you set off.
Do I need a ticket for Little Petra?
No. Entry is free and no ticket is needed. You only need a Petra ticket if you walk the trail on to the Monastery.
Can I see the Painted House?
Yes. It is behind a locked gate with no guard, but all the details of the ceiling can be seen through it.
How long do I need?
About an hour, and about 20 minutes more each way to walk to Al Beidha.
Can I visit on a tour?
Yes. Little Petra and Al Beidha are a stop on our King’s Highway tour from Amman to Petra.
Combine with
Little Petra is minutes from Petra and Vaux Moise. Drive times are from Little Petra.
Private tours
A private day tour that includes Siq al-Barid (Little Petra)
The tour is just for you: your own vehicle and driver, hotel pickup in Amman and entry tickets included. The price depends on how many travellers there are, up to three.
Private: only your group
Your own vehicle & driver
Hotel pick-up in Amman
Entry tickets included
from$330per group (1–3) · 235 JOD
Tour 1 · Full day · Private
Best of King’s Highway from Amman to Petra
While Petra and Amman are among Jordan’s most famous destinations, the journey between them along the historic King’s Highway is filled with extraordinary landscapes, ancient monuments, and hidden archaeological treasures. This private one-way tour transforms a simple transfer into an unforgettable full-day exploration of Jordan’s history, culture, and natural beauty.
Crusader castlesNabataean sitesOne way to Petra8 stops4x4
Duration12–13 hr
Pick-up8 AM
Group1–3, private
Included
- Private luxury transfer
- Entrance fees
- Bottled water, soft drinks, snacks
- Coffee/tea (on request)
- WiFi, Phone charger
Not included
- Professional on-site (local) guide
- Personal expenses
- Lunch
CancellationFull refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. No refunds or changes within 24 hours.
Pick-upFrom your hotel lobby or home in Amman, 5 minutes before your chosen start time.
BringComfortable shoes, sun hat, sunblock and sunglasses. Tours run in English.
Explore this site
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Panoramas, walk-throughs, photos and stories about this site.
ProfileLittle Petra: history & architecture
Photo albumLittle Petra: Siq al-Barid in Photos
3D3D walk-throughLittle Petra – 3D Virtual Walk-through
360°360° panoramaPainted House in Little Petra: 360° Panorama
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