Plan your ziyarat

Ziyarat means “visit”. Here it means visiting the shrines of the Prophet’s (s) family and their companions to honour them, pray and reflect. You do not need to know everything before you go. Many first-time visitors start with a short greeting and grow from there.

Shrines are working places of worship. They are often crowded and emotional. Security checks operate around the shrines. Follow the instructions of shrine staff and security personnel, use the designated entrances and allow extra time during busy periods. [Ziyarat Guide]

Move at your own pace. It is normal to come back to a shrine several times during a stay.

Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, marks the anniversary of Imam Hussain’s (AS) death at Karbala. Arbaeen falls forty days later, on the 20th of Safar, and is one of the largest annual gatherings in the world. [Wilferd Madelung] [Moojan Momen]

Islamic dates follow the lunar Hijri calendar, so they move about eleven days earlier each Gregorian year. Expect very large crowds, road closures and higher prices around both dates.

Most international visitors arrive through Najaf or Baghdad airports and travel between Najaf, Kufa and Karbala by road. Check current flight routes and entry rules with your airline and official sources, because they change.

Agree a taxi fare before you set off. Each shrine guide on this site has the shrine’s name in Arabic to show your driver, and the same applies to your accommodation: save its name and address in Arabic.

Roads near the shrines are often closed to vehicles, especially during busy periods. Expect to walk the last part of the way, sometimes for a long distance.

We do not list or recommend specific hotels yet. Until we can confirm a property’s name, location, website and that it is operating, we would rather help you choose well than point you to a listing we have not checked.

Distance from the shrine. Decide which shrine you most want to return to and stay as close to it as you can. In Karbala, the shrines of Imam Hussain (AS) and al-Abbas (AS) face each other across an open walkway, so staying near either works for both. In Najaf, stay near the shrine of Imam Ali (AS); many visitors to Kufa stay in Najaf and travel the short distance by road.

Walking access. Ask for the walking time in minutes, not just “near the haram”. Ask whether the route is lit at night, whether it involves busy road crossings, and whether vehicles can reach the door during busy periods.

Accessibility. If anyone in your group uses a wheelchair or finds stairs difficult, ask about step-free entry, a lift, whether the lift works during power cuts, and ground-floor rooms. Ask for recent photos rather than relying on a description.

Families. Check room sizes and bed arrangements, whether food is available nearby at the times you need it, and how far children or older relatives would need to walk.

Transport. Ask whether the accommodation can arrange airport or inter-city transfers, where a driver can drop you, and whether that drop-off point stays open during busy periods.

Busy periods. Around Ashura and Arbaeen, demand and prices rise sharply and roads close. Book early, get the booking confirmed in writing, check the cancellation terms and reconfirm a few days before you travel. Many Arbaeen walkers also stay in the free hospitality tents (mawakib) along the route, which are not bookable.

Check before you pay. Make sure the name and address on your confirmation match the property, pay by a method you can trace, and share the details with someone at home.

Conditions change. Check your own government’s official travel advice before booking, and again shortly before you leave.

In crowds, agree a meeting point with your group. Keep valuables to a minimum and stay hydrated. [Ziyarat Guide]

Wheelchair routes, lifts, family facilities and rest areas vary between shrines and entrances. Ask your group organiser or shrine staff about step-free entrances before you travel, and allow extra time at busy periods. If you have recent first-hand experience, we would welcome it. Please see the contact details on the About page.