The Nabataean Museum sits in Wadi Musa, the town at the entrance to Petra in Jordan's Ma'an Governorate. It is also known as the Museum of Nabataean Archaeology, and its address is Tourist Street, Wadi Musa 71810.
This is a small archaeological museum, and it offers a useful introduction to the people who built Petra. The Nabataeans carved their city into the rose-red rock, and the museum gathers artifacts from their civilization, some dating back over 2,000 years.
What you will see
The displays bring together everyday and decorative objects from the Nabataean world:
- Pottery, showing the daily life of the people who lived in and around the city
- Coins, a reminder of the trade that brought wealth to the region
- Jewelry, offering a sense of personal adornment and craft
- Sculptures, which reveal the artistic traditions of the civilization
Because the collection is compact, a visit can be unhurried. It works well as a first stop before you walk into the site itself, since seeing the objects helps put the monuments in context.
Planning your visit
The museum's position in Wadi Musa makes it easy to combine with a day at Petra. The town itself offers places to eat and stay, and it is the practical base for most visitors to the site. For current opening hours and any questions before you travel, you can call the museum on +962 3 215 6020.
