Plizio Visual Lab
Kufa
ℹ️Practical info — Kufa
▾
🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Kufa is deeply religious; conservative dress is strictly mandatory. Women must wear an abaya and hijab in public.
- Avoid visiting the Great Mosque of Kufa during Friday prayers, as it becomes overwhelmingly crowded.
- Summer temperatures are scorching. Do your exploring in the early morning or well after sunset.
- The city is best visited as a short day or half-day trip using taxis from the nearby city of Najaf.
🍽 Food
Traditionally grilled skewers of meat. Find unassuming, authentic eateries just outside the main shrines.
Slow-grilled carp on an open fire, Iraq's national dish. Best enjoyed at the restaurants along the Euphrates riverbank.
A very thick clotted cream eaten for breakfast, usually served with honey and warm flatbread.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
The go-to area for religious items, including prayer beads and small clay tablets of holy soil (Turbah).
Browse the traditional markets for small shops mixing strong, alcohol-free concentrated perfume oils.
Taking an early morning walk along the river provides a peaceful contrast to the heavily crowded religious sites.
On the outskirts of the city, you can find historic and tranquil palm groves that offer shade and quiet.
Water temperature…
Kufa is located on the banks of the Euphrates in the Najaf Governorate, about 170 kilometers south of Baghdad, and is one of the most historically significant cities of early Islam. Founded in 637 AD by Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas during the reign of Caliph Umar, the city served as a strategic military camp and later, under Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib, as the capital of the Islamic Caliphate. The Great Mosque of Kufa, one of the oldest and holiest sites in the world, is a central point of attraction for pilgrims, housing significant shrines and historical monuments. Architecturally, the city is marked by its traditional buildings and proximity to the river, which made it a center for scholarship and trade for centuries. Kufa was the birthplace of numerous scientific and religious movements and remains a synonym for Shia tradition and identity to this day. The city, together with neighboring Najaf, forms a religious and urban unit that is of inestimable value to the Islamic world.
- Location: Iraq
- Top sights: Habeeb Alra'ash Square · Al-Sahlah Mosque · Sa'sahat bin Sohhan Mosque
- Nearby: Al Qasim (36 km)
- Population: ~110.000 (2019)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Mar, Apr, Nov.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 10 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 31 | 36 | 38 | 38 | 33 | 27 | 17 | 11 |
| Rain mm | 20 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 18 | 13 |
Geography
Facts
- Kufa was founded in 637 AD as a garrison city.
- Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth Caliph, moved the capital here in 656 AD.
- The Great Mosque of Kufa was originally constructed in the 7th century.
- Kufa was a leading center for Arabic grammar and calligraphy.
- The city houses the House of Imam Ali, a significant religious site.
- Kufa is located on the eastern arm of the Euphrates, about 10 kilometers northeast of Najaf.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Kufa (5)
The place of the Prophet of Allah Yunus (p) and Al-Hamra Mosque⛪ religious
A holy site in Kufa traditionally associated with the Prophet Jonah, located adjacent to the Al-Hamra Mosque.
Frequently asked questions
Why do pilgrims visit the city of Kufa?
Can non-Muslims enter the mosque?
What was the historical role of Kufa?
Are there markets near the holy sites?
How far is it from Kufa to Najaf?
Kufa: where is it located?
Kufa: what is there to see?
Kufa: when is the best time to visit?
Kufa: why is it worth visiting?
Nearby cities
History & landmarks
More places
