Najaf Governorate · Iraq
Najaf travel guide
Najaf is a city in Najaf Governorate, Iraq, home to about 725,000 people.
- Best months
- February, March, November and December
- Nearest airport
- NJF8 km · Al Najaf International Airport
- Currency
- IQDIraqi dinar
- Time zone
- Asia/Baghdad
- Language
- Arabic, Kurdish language
About
About Najaf
Najaf is the capital city of the eponymous Najaf Governorate in central Iraq, about 160 km (99 mi) south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2024 was about 1.41 million people.
The city covered by this article, usually referred to outside Iraq as "Najaf", in fact consists of two cities which, over the centuries, have grown until they joined together. These are Najaf, in the west, and Kufa (sometimes spelled Kufah), in the east. Both are considered holy by Shi'a Muslims, containing the graves of various important religious figures. Additionally, many key events in the lives of these figures took place in Najaf and/or Kufa.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Najaf
See
Najaf is renowned as the site of the Tomb of Alī ibn Abī Tālib also known as "Imām Alī" the First Imam of Shia's, the cousin and son-in-law of the prophet Muhammad who is considered to be a righteous caliph by both the Shia and the Sunni. The city is now a great center of pilgrimage from throughout the Shi'a Islamic world. It is estimated that only Mecca and Medina receive more Muslim pilgrims. As the burial site of Shia Islam's second most important figure, the Imam Ali Mosque is considered by Shias as the third holiest Islamic site. The Imam Ali Mosque is housed in a grand structure with a gold gilded dome and many precious objects in the walls.
- Al-Qadisiyyah
- Great Mosque of Kufa
- Ruins of Al-Hirah
- Najaf Heritage Museum
- Wadi-us-Salaam
- Khan al-Nuss
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Najaf
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Najaf are February, March, November and December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 46 °C; January is the wettest, with about 19 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 Najaf: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Al Najaf International Airport (NJF), about 7.5 km from the city centre in a straight line; Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base (BGW, 138 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
There are several daily flights from the capital Baghdad as well as several cities in Iran with national carrier Iraqi Airways. Additionally, there are a limited number of international flights from hubs such as Istanbul and Dubai.
Getting around
Careem (ridesharing app, owned by Uber) is available in Najaf, and takes international credit cards. Note that there are roadblocks around the Imam Ali Mosque which may require a "Careem Old City" service to get past (prices are pretty much the same as the regular Careem services though).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
NJF · Al Najaf International Airport
BGW · Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Najaf
Drink
In busy areas of Najaf, there are stands selling small cups of black tea. These may cost as little as 250 Dinars, and can be served with or without sugar.
Stay safe
See the warning in the Iraq article. Nonetheless, Najaf is one of the safest cities in Iraq. As the city is almost entirely Shi'a, ISIS and al-Qaeda have never had any popular support here. There is an extensive network of (highly effective) military and police checkpoints to keep out any would-be infiltrators, especially around areas of interest to pilgrims and tourists (such as mosques and shrines). Expect to be patted down several times before entering the inner part of a shrine.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Najaf: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Najaf?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Najaf are February, March, November and December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 46 °C; January is the wettest, with about 19 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Najaf?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Al Najaf International Airport (NJF), about 7.5 km from the city centre in a straight line; Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base (BGW, 138 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Najaf?
Iraqi dinar (IQD).
Nearby
Destinations near Najaf
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.