Major city · Iraq
Amarahالعمارة
Half a day to see the war cemetery and museum, then move on: Amarah is a stopover, not a destination.
Amarah is the capital of Maysan province, founded in 1860 as an Ottoman outpost. It has a small archaeological museum, a First World War cemetery and a 1940 church. Most travellers pass through on the way to Basra or Nasiriyah.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- IQD
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- avoid Jun–Sep (extreme heat, over 46°C (115°F))avoid Jun–Sep (extreme heat, over 115°F (46°C))
- Airport
- BSR
- Nights
- 0–1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Security advice in this region can change within a dayCheck your own government travel advice for Iraq before a…
- Middle East ↗Security advice in this region can change within a day; re-read your government's page before departure and again before any border or regional flight.
- Middle East ↗Public drunkenness, public displays of affection and offensive gestures or online posts can lead to arrest in the Gulf states and Iran; dress modestly outside beaches and hotels.
- Iraq ↗Check your own government travel advice for Iraq before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Iraq ↗Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region run separate entry rules; check both if relevant.
- Iraq ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Iraq before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Amarah104 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Amarah, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cash in dinars and US dollars covers almost everything: see Insurance & payments above.Iraq-wide
- SafetycheckAmarah is generally safe for travellers who follow local customs and check their government's travel advice.
- Emergency numbers104 police · 115 fire and ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBSR Basra International Airport (About 2 h by road; taxis and private transfers available).
- Getting aroundTaxis are the main way to get around; negotiate the fare before you get in.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealKebab mealIQD 5,000–10,000
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi ride within the cityIQD 3,000–7,000
- Budget bedBasic hotel room, a night, per roomIQD 30,000
- Mid-range bedBasic hotel room, a night, per roomIQD 50,000
- High-end bedBasic hotel room, a night, per roomIQD 80,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget IQD 30,000 · Mid IQD 70,000 · High IQD 150,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BSR Basra International Airport (About 2 h by road; taxis and private transfers available)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Feb
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Mar
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Apr
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
May
not flagged
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
Jun
Avoid
44°C (111°F)111°F (44°C)
Jul
Avoid
46°C (115°F)115°F (46°C)
Aug
Avoid
46°C (115°F)115°F (46°C)
Sep
Avoid
43°C (109°F)109°F (43°C)
Oct
not flagged
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Nov
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Dec
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Best: Nov–Mar. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (46°C (115°F)115°F (46°C)), coolest Jan (7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C) low), wettest Jan (5 rain days), driest Jun (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Amarah: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
5 rd
Feb
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
4 rd
Mar
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5 rd
Apr
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
3 rd
May
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
2 rd
Jun
44°C (111°F)111°F (44°C)
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
0 rd
Jul
46°C (115°F)115°F (46°C)
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
0 rd
Aug
46°C (115°F)115°F (46°C)
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
0 rd
Sep
43°C (109°F)109°F (43°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
0 rd
Oct
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
2 rd
Nov
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5 rd
Dec
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
5 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Taxis are the main way to get around; negotiate the fare before you get in. Walking is possible in the centre but limited by heat and traffic.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Basra
goDoor to door: About 2.5 h
Taxi or shared minibus, about 2 h
Larger city with more sights and better connections.
Nasiriyah
goDoor to door: About 2 h
Taxi or shared minibus, about 1.5 h
Home to the Ziggurat of Ur and the Marshes.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
City centre
Near the museum and main market; Kurmick Maysan Hotel is the main option.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- IQD 30,000–50,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- IQD 50,000–100,000 excl. bed
- High
- IQD 100,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel room1 × 1 night × IQD 80,000 | IQD 80,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × IQD 70,000 | IQD 70,000 |
| Taxi from Basra airport, one way1 × IQD 50,000 · check | IQD 50,000 |
| Local taxi ride (within city)1 × IQD 5,000 | IQD 5,000 |
| Buffer 15%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | IQD 30,800 |
| Trip total≈ IQD 235,800 per person per day, bed included | IQD 235,800 |
2026 estimate in IQD; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Tea at a local café | IQD 500–1,000 |
| Kebab meal | IQD 5,000–10,000 |
| Taxi ride within the city | IQD 3,000–7,000 |
| Shared minibus to Basra | IQD 10,000–15,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Check your government's travel advice before planning a trip to Amarah.
- The war cemetery is not in the best condition; manage expectations.
- Extreme summer heat: carry water and avoid being outside between 11:00 and 16:00.Extreme summer heat: carry water and avoid being outside between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 104
- Fire and ambulance
- 115
Pocket card
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Amarahالعمارة
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
إلى هذا العنوان، من فضلكTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police104
- Fire and ambulance115
Embassy
Most embassies are in Baghdad; the nearest consulate may be in Basra (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Basra airport → Amarah, taxi: about IQD 50,000, about 2 h (check)
- Amarah → Nasiriyah, shared minibus: about IQD 10,000–15,000, about 1.5 h
Say or show
- السلام عليكم — Hello (as-salamu alaykum)
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- بكم؟ — How much? (bikam?)
- نعم / لا — Yes / No (na'am / la)
- أين المتحف؟ — Where is the museum? (ayn al-mathaf?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Amarah. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Mar · avoid Jun–Sep (extreme heat, over 46°C)
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for the museum, war cemetery and church with verified hours.
- Eat pages for the main restaurants and tea houses.
- Sleep page for Kurmick Maysan Hotel with room photos and rates.
Sources
Ask about Amarah
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