Karbala Governorate · Iraq
Karbala travel guide
Karbala is a city in Karbala Governorate, Iraq, home to about 690,000 people.
- Best months
- February, March, November and December
- Nearest airport
- BGW74 km · Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base
- Currency
- IQDIraqi dinar
- Time zone
- Asia/Baghdad
- Language
- Arabic, Kurdish language
About
About Karbala
Karbala is a major city in Iraq, and the capital of Karbala Governorate. With a population of around 800,000 people in 2024, Karbala is the second-largest city in central Iraq, after Baghdad.
Karbala is one of the holiest cities in Shi'a Islam. In the Battle of Karbala, the Prophet Muhammad's grandson Husayn was slain. To pay respects to the martyr Husayn, Shi'a Muslims visit the Imam Husayn Shrine, the biggest tourist attraction in Karbala, every year during a pilgrimage called Arbaeen.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Karbala
See
There are also a lot of religious places around the Holy Shrines of Imam Hussen and Abu Al-fadhl Al-Abbas.
- Imam Hussein Holy Shrine
- Al Abbas Mosque
- Hadrat Abbas Shrine
- Al-Hurr ibn Yazid Al-Tamimi Mosque
- Imam Ali's Dropper Shrine
- Al-Aqiser
- Simeon's Palace
- Tar Caves
- Al-Rubu' Caravansarai
- Khan al-Atshan
- Al-Ukhaidir Fortress
- Ruins of Mujada
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Karbala
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Karbala are February, March, November and December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 45 °C; March is the wettest, with about 22 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Karbala: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base (BGW), about 74 km from the city centre in a straight line; Al Najaf International Airport (NJF, 78 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
Most travelers enter the city by bus or by car as the city does not yet have a functioning airport. Due to its religious importance, cities all across Iraq has regular bus services. The entrance to the city is well protected and check points are working hard on every single car that gets into the city. There are one or two trains each week from Baghdad and Basra. Extra trains are available on special occasions. The Downtown Area is closed off and the entry of vehicles into the area of 1.5 km around the holy shrines is forbidden except for security, the shrines' personnel and residents.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
BGW · Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base
NJF · Al Najaf International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Karbala
Eat
The restaurants are spread all around the city, especially downtown, and you can find whatever you desire of halal food at suitable prices.
Stay safe
See the warning on the Iraq article for information about the security situation.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Karbala: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Karbala?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Karbala are February, March, November and December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 45 °C; March is the wettest, with about 22 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Karbala?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base (BGW), about 74 km from the city centre in a straight line; Al Najaf International Airport (NJF, 78 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Karbala?
Iraqi dinar (IQD).
Nearby
Destinations near Karbala
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.