Petra, Jordan: vitamin D, best months and travel guide
The rose-red rock city, one of the world's great sights. Best for: sightseers, photographers.
The best months for vitamin D in Petra are April to October, when a full dose takes about 6 minutes at midday. Too cool from November to March.
Petra month by month
| Month | Rating | Sun window | Peak UV | Full dose, age 30 | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Too cold | 5.1 h | 4.4 | 12 min | 14°C | 7/30 |
| February | Too cold | 5.8 h | 5.3 | 10 min | 14°C | 5/30 |
| March | Too cold | 7.3 h | 6.7 | 8 min | 19°C | 4/30 |
| April | Excellent | 8.4 h | 7.9 | 7 min | 24°C | 0/30 |
| May | Excellent | 9.2 h | 8.5 | 6 min | 26°C | 0/30 |
| June | Excellent | 9.5 h | 8.6 | 6 min | 33°C | 0/30 |
| July | Excellent | 9.4 h | 8.6 | 6 min | 32°C | 0/30 |
| August | Excellent | 8.9 h | 8.3 | 6 min | 32°C | 0/30 |
| September | Excellent | 8.1 h | 7.6 | 7 min | 28°C | 0/30 |
| October | Good | 7.1 h | 6.3 | 8 min | 24°C | 0/30 |
| November | Too cold | 5.7 h | 4.9 | 11 min | 18°C | 3/30 |
| December | Too cold | 4.5 h | 4.0 | 13 min | 15°C | 3/30 |
Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.
What to expect in Petra
The rose-red rock city, one of the world's great sights. Hot dry summers and mild winters. Spring and autumn are best for sightseeing. Aqaba is hot and diving there is good all year.
In Petra afternoon highs average from 14°C in February to 33°C in June. The wettest month is January (about 7 rainy days out of 30) and the driest is October (0). Midday UV peaks at 8.6 in June, which is very strong, so protect your skin.
Jordan's top attraction, an ancient city carved out of sandstone and one of the new 7 Wonders of the World (Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0)
This place is inland, so it does not count towards the country rating.
Questions about Petra
When is the best time to visit Petra for vitamin D?
The best months for vitamin D in Petra are April to October, when a full dose takes about 6 minutes at midday.
What is the weather like in Petra?
Afternoon highs average from 14°C in February to 33°C in June. The wettest month is January, with about 7 rainy days out of 30.
Which months should I avoid in Petra?
For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is too cool from November to March.