Travel advisory · IraqGovernments advise against all travel to Iraq.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Kirkuk province · avoid all travel · France, Italy, UK
- Ninawa province · avoid all travel · Italy, UK
- Sadr City · avoid all travel · France, UK
- Salah al-Din province · avoid all travel · Spain, France, Italy, UK
- Syrian border area · avoid all travel · France, Italy
- Anbar outside Ramadi and Fallujah · avoid non-essential travel · France, UK
- Anbar province · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Babil province · avoid non-essential travel · France, UK
- Basra province · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy, UK
- Dhi Qar province · avoid non-essential travel · France, UK
- Diyala province · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Iranian border area · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Karbala province · avoid non-essential travel · France, UK
- Kurdistan Region · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Maysan province · avoid non-essential travel · France, UK
- Muthanna province · avoid non-essential travel · France, UK
- Qadisiyah province · avoid non-essential travel · France, UK
- Wasit province · avoid non-essential travel · France, UK
Also named by one government: 20 km strip along the Iranian border (France), 5 km strip along the Iranian border (UK), 5 km strip along the Kuwaiti border (UK), 5 km strip along the Saudi Arabian border (UK), Anbar west of Ramadi (UK), Areas near armed groups in northern Iraq (US), Babil west of the Baghdad–Karbala axis (France), Bayaa (France), Chamchamal–Darbandikhan road (France), Diyala north of the Baghdad–Iran border line (France), Diyala province outside Baqubah city (UK), Dohuk mountains east of Zakho (France), Gara massif (France), Jordanian border area (Italy), Jurf al Salam (France), Jurf al-Sakr town (UK), Kurdish coordination line (Erbil governorate) (France), Metina massif (France), Muthanna desert along the Saudi border (France), Najaf desert along the Saudi border (France), Ninawa province outside Mosul and the Nineveh Plain (France), North of Dokan Lake (France), Qandil massif (France), Saudi Arabian border area (Italy), Za'faraniya (France), Amedi town centre (France), Baghdad city outside outer districts (France), Baghdad province outside Sadr City (UK), Baqubah city (UK), Disputed areas near Kirkuk city (Spain), Dohuk–Amedi road (France), Highway 2 between Baqubah and Erbil (UK), Highway 34 between Baghdad and Baqubah (UK), Mosul city (France), Najaf province (UK), Nasiriyah (Italy), Turkish border area (Spain), Zakho–Halabja zone (France)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Do not travel to Iraq for any reason | Oct 23, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid all travel | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Reisewarnung: Vor Reisen nach Irak wird gewarnt (ganzes Land) | Oct 29, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Do not travel | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Basra
Basra is a city in southern Iraq on the Shatt al-Arab, near the Persian Gulf. Travelers come for its river setting, history and date-palm groves.
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Basra is a city in southern Iraq, near the Shatt al-Arab waterway, which flows toward the Persian Gulf. Its history as a port and trading center goes back centuries, and it became an important center of Islamic learning in the 7th century. Date palms grow around the city. Rivers and canals give Basra a different setting from Iraq’s inland cities, and help explain why the waterway is part of its identity.
The city suits travelers interested in Iraqi history, waterways and everyday urban life. The Basra Museum is housed in a former palace and gives visitors context for the region’s past. Winter is more comfortable for walking outdoors; summer heat can make long days outside difficult. Allow two or three days for Basra. Add time if you want to visit places in the surrounding area or the southern marshes. These plans involve travel beyond the city, so check transport and current travel advice before setting out.
Basra in five
- Check Iraq’s e-visa rulesEntry requirements depend on your passport. Check Iraq’s official e-visa portal before booking.Visas and entry
- Carry Iraqi dinarsThe Iraqi dinar (IQD) is the local currency. Carry cash for small purchases and local transport. Check whether a business accepts cards before paying.Money and costs
- Arrange mobile dataCompare SIM and eSIM options for Iraq before relying on mobile data for maps and messages.Phones and eSIM
- Check airport transportCheck current transport options from Basra International Airport before you land. Confirm your ride rather than assuming a bus or app-based service will be available.Getting around
- Check current travel adviceReview your government’s Iraq travel advice before departure and before travelling outside Basra.
Need to know
- Currency
- Iraqi dinar (IQD)
- Entry
- Entry requirements depend on passport; check Iraq’s e-visa portal Read more
- Emergency
- 104 police, 122 ambulance, 115 fire
- Tipping
- Not expected; a small tip is optional
- Time
- UTC+3, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Poor
- JanuaryMild, dry
- FebruaryMild, dry
- MarchWarm, dry
- AprilHot, dry
- MayVery hot
- JuneExtreme heat
- JulyExtreme heat
- AugustExtreme heat
- SeptemberVery hot
- OctoberWarm, dry
- NovemberMild, dry
- DecemberCool, wetter
Right now in Basra
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
31
- Feels like
- 30°
- Humidity
- 34%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 15%
Basra
11:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today35°23°15%Monday: Cloudy. High 35°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Tue33°22°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 33°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed33°21°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 33°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu25°19°35%Thursday: Rain. High 25°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Fri29°19°10%Friday: Cloudy. High 29°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sat31°23°12%Saturday: Rain. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sun27°21°15%Sunday: Rain. High 27°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 15%.
Updated 08:42 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1,518 IQD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Abu al-Khasibabout 30 to 45 min by carVisit date-palm groves and waterways south of Basra.
- Chibayish marshesabout 2.5 to 3 hours by carTake a boat onto the Central Marshes and visit villages on the water.
- Urabout 3 to 4 hours by carSee the ancient ziggurat near Nasiriyah. Arrange transport and the visit in advance.
Before you go to Basra
Rules for Basra, checked
- Check Iraq’s e-visa portal for the entry requirements that apply to your passport before travelling.Source
- Review your government’s current Iraq travel advice before departure and before trips outside Basra.
- Use Iraqi dinars for small purchases and local transport. Ask whether cards are accepted if payment options are unclear.
Plan around Basra
Entry, money and practical planning for a trip to Iraq
Read the guideGetting aroundPlan transport for journeys around Iraq
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and budgeting for your trip
Read the guideVisas and entryCheck entry requirements for your passport
Read the guideWhere to stayChoose where to base yourself in Basra
Read the guideBasra FAQ
Is Basra safe for tourists?
Check your government’s current Iraq travel advice before deciding to visit. Guidance can change, including advice on travel outside Basra.
How many days do you need in Basra?
Allow two or three days for Basra and the surrounding area. Add time if you plan to visit the southern marshes.
What is the best time to visit Basra?
November to March is usually the most comfortable period for outdoor activities. Summer is extremely hot, so plan outdoor visits for early or late in the day.
How do you get from Basra airport to the city?
Arrange a taxi or private pickup and confirm the details before landing. Check current airport transport options before you travel.
What currency is used in Basra?
The Iraqi dinar (IQD). Carry cash for small purchases and local transport, and check whether a business accepts cards before paying.
Do you need a visa for Basra?
Entry requirements depend on your passport. Check Iraq’s official e-visa portal before booking.