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Voykit pocket guide · Iraq
Hillah
Spend a half‑day to a full day in Hillah to see Babylon ruins and the Great Mosque; stay overnight only if you need a rest before Baghdad.
Hillah is the gateway to Babylon (5 km north) and hosts several Ottoman‑era mosques and the King Ghazi Landscape Museum. It is reachable by bus, train or car from Baghdad (≈110 km). One day covers the main sights; add a night if you prefer a relaxed pace or have late arrivals.
- Country
- Iraq
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov (check)
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (heat, check)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IQD
- Money
- Cash in dinars and US dollars covers almost everything: see Insurance & payments above.
- Daily spend
- Budget IQD 12,000–18,000 excl. bed · Mid IQD 18,000–25,000 excl. bed · High IQD 25,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 104 · Hospital (Baghdad) 123
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | IQD 300–500 |
| Tea | IQD 200–400 |
| Meal (local restaurant) | IQD 1,500–3,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BGW · Baghdad International Airport
- ≈110 km (68 mi) north, bus or taxi to Hillah about 2 h≈68 mi (110 km) north, bus or taxi to Hillah about 2 h
Typical fares
- Hillah bus station → Baghdad
- ≈ IQD 12,000 by bus (check schedule)
- Taxi to Babylon
- ≈ IQD 3,000 round trip
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Bus station on Highway 8 (4 km (2.5 mi) SW of centre) serves long‑distance routes; shared taxis to Najaf cost ~7,500 IQD per seat (2022). A railway station on the Baghdad‑Basra line offers overnight trains. Taxis and rental cars are available but security checks on the road are advised.Bus station on Highway 8 (2.5 mi (4 km) SW of centre) serves long‑distance routes; shared taxis to Najaf cost ~7,500 IQD per seat (2022). A railway station on the Baghdad‑Basra line offers overnight trains. Taxis and rental cars are available but security checks on the road are advised.
See and do
Known for
- Babylon archaeological site
- Great Mosque of Hillah
- King Ghazi Landscape Museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Babylon ruins | Taxi or hired car north 5 km (3.1 mi); road is paved.Taxi or hired car north 3.1 mi (5 km); road is paved. | ≈30 min |
| Al‑Kifl (Al‑Nukhailah Mosque) | Bus or taxi west 25 km (16 mi) along Highway 8.Bus or taxi west 16 mi (25 km) along Highway 8. | ≈45 min |
Sleep
- Asad Babil Hotel (Lion of Babylon)
- One of the few hotels in operation; basic rooms.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | مرحباmarḥabā |
| How much? | كم السعر؟kam al‑si‘r? |
| Thank you | شكراshukran |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Security situation can change; consult your government travel advice.
- Robberies and kidnappings have been reported on the Baghdad‑Hillah road.
- Bus schedules are not published online; confirm times locally.
Security varies; stay in known hotels, travel by day, and keep informed via local contacts.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hillah yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Babylon archaeological site
- Great Mosque of Hillah
- King Ghazi Landscape Museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Hillah, revision 5263856 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5263856
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/hillah). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.