Major city · Iraq
Samarra
Spend a half‑day to one full day in Samarra to see the Great Mosque, Al‑Askari Shrine and the historic palace ruins.
Samarra, a UNESCO World Heritage city on the Tigris, is best explored in a single day: the Great Mosque’s spiral minaret, the Al‑Askari Shrine and a few Abbasid palace ruins are within walking distance. Travel from Baghdad by road (≈2 h) or the weekly train.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- IQD
- Best months
- Oct–Mar (cooler evenings)
- avoid Jun–Aug (daily highs 45 °C (113 °F)+)avoid Jun–Aug (daily highs 113 °F (45 °C)+)
- Airport
- BGW
- Nights
- 0–1 (day‑trip from Baghdad possible)
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 Samarra104 ▾
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 Samarra, 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
- SafetySecurity can be volatile; stay in the city centre, travel by day, and keep informed via local contacts.
- Emergency numbers104 police · 115 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBGW Baghdad International Airport (≈125 km (78 mi) by Highway 1, 2‑h drive).BGW Baghdad International Airport (≈78 mi (125 km) by Highway 1, 2‑h drive).
- Getting aroundWalking covers the main sights; taxis or ride‑hailing for longer trips.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee (café)IQD 500–800
- Street or quick mealTea (street vendor)IQD 300–500
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km))IQD 4,000–6,000
- Budget bedMid‑range hotel double, a night, per roomIQD 45,000
- Mid-range bedMid‑range hotel double, a night, per roomIQD 65,000
- High-end bedMid‑range hotel double, a night, per roomIQD 90,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget IQD 30,000 · Mid IQD 52,500 · High IQD 70,000
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
- BGW Baghdad International Airport (≈125 km (78 mi) by Highway 1, 2‑h drive)BGW Baghdad International Airport (≈78 mi (125 km) by Highway 1, 2‑h drive)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Feb
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Mar
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Apr
not flagged
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
May
not flagged
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
Jun
Avoid
45°C (113°F)113°F (45°C)
Jul
Avoid
45°C (113°F)113°F (45°C)
Aug
Avoid
44°C (111°F)111°F (44°C)
Sep
not flagged
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
Oct
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Nov
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Dec
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Best: Oct–Mar. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jun (45°C (113°F)113°F (45°C)), coolest Jan (6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C) low), wettest Jan (2 rain days), driest Apr (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Samarra: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
2 rd
Feb
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
2 rd
Mar
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
1 rd
Apr
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
0 rd
May
42°C (108°F)108°F (42°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
0 rd
Jun
45°C (113°F)113°F (45°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
0 rd
Jul
45°C (113°F)113°F (45°C)
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
0 rd
Aug
44°C (111°F)111°F (44°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
0 rd
Sep
38°C (100°F)100°F (38°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
0 rd
Oct
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1 rd
Nov
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2 rd
Dec
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
2 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
Walking covers the main sights; taxis or ride‑hailing for longer trips. Buses run between Baghdad and Samarra daily.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Baghdad
goDoor to door: ≈4 h round‑trip
Highway 1 bus or private car, about 2 h each way
Combine with a day in Baghdad if time allows.
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 hotels
Close to the mosque and shrine; basic rooms ~IQD 30,000–45,000 per night
Guesthouses near the Tigris
Quiet, modest, ~IQD 25,000 per night
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 30,000–45,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- IQD 45,000–70,000 excl. bed
- High
- IQD 70,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse room2 × 3 nights × IQD 35,000 | IQD 210,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × IQD 52,500 | IQD 315,000 |
| Trip total≈ IQD 87,500 per person per day, bed included | IQD 525,000 |
basic rooms, shared bathroom
2026 estimate; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee (café) | IQD 500–800 |
| Tea (street vendor) | IQD 300–500 |
| Kebab platehas: beef|lamb | IQD 1,200–2,000 |
| Taxi (5 km) | IQD 4,000–6,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Road robberies on Highway 1 have been reported; travel in a convoy or with a reputable driver (check).
- Security situation can change; follow local advice and avoid night travel outside the city centre.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 104
- Ambulance
- 115
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
SamarraSamarra
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
إلى هذا العنوان من فضلكTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police104
- Ambulance115
Embassy
Check the US consulate in Erbil for current contact; other nations use the embassy in Baghdad.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Baghdad → Samarra bus: about IQD 12,000 each way (check)
- Taxi city centre → Great Mosque: ≈IQD 5,000
Say or show
- مرحبا — Hello (marḥabā)
- شكرا — Thank you (shukran)
- كم السعر؟ — How much? (kam al‑siʿr?)
- أين المسجد؟ — Where is the mosque? (ayna al‑masjid?)
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 Samarra. 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: Oct–Mar (cooler evenings) · avoid Jun–Aug (daily highs 45 °C+)
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 1 day-trips, door to door
- 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Add a security briefing for Highway 1 travel.
- Map walking routes between mosque, shrine and palace sites.
Sources
- secondaryWikidata – Samarra
- secondaryWikivoyage: Samarra, revision 4881797 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ask about Samarra
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