Best Time to Visit Baghdad

Winter and early spring: the sweet spot

From November to April, Baghdad is at its easiest. November and March both reach about 25°C, which is ideal for walking. December to February is cooler, with chilly nights, so you'll want a jacket in the evening. It's also the wettest stretch, but rain is light and falls on only a few days a month.

This is the time for a full city day. You can wander Al-Mutanabbi Street, the old book-selling street, then cross to the Tigris riverbank for grilled masgouf, the local carp dish. The Iraqi National Museum and the old Abbasid-era Mustansiriya School are much easier when you're not baking outside. If you only have a few days, aim for February, March or November.

April and October: shoulder months

April still feels good, with highs around 31°C and mild nights. It's your last comfortable window. October is warmer, at about 35°C, and our rating is only Fair. Midday can be tiring, so plan museums and indoor cafés for the afternoon and save walks for the evening.

May to September: the long, hard summer

Be honest with yourself here. June, July and August are fierce. July and August tie as the hottest months, at 46°C by day and 29°C at night. It doesn't rain at all from June to August, and the sun shines for twelve hours or more. Most people stay indoors from late morning until sunset, then come out for tea and river air after dark. September is only slightly gentler.

If you must come in summer, treat it as a short-stay trip. Keep to air-conditioned spots and evening outings.

Crowds, events and timing

Baghdad doesn't have a classic tourist high season, so crowds are rarely the issue. What shapes a visit is religious travel. Millions of pilgrims travel to Iraq for Arbaeen, a Shia mourning observance, and Ashura comes shortly before it. Both follow the Islamic lunar calendar, so they move about eleven days earlier each year. Hotels and roads fill up, and security gets tighter around the holy sites. Ramadan and Eid also move with the lunar calendar. Daytime hours are quieter during Ramadan, and evenings are lively.

Check current travel advice before you book, and match your dates to the calendar as well as the weather.