Basra Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq
About Basra
Situated along theShatt al-Arabriver, formed by the confluence of the Euphrates and the Tigris, the city's many canals and creeks once gave rise to the epithetVenice of the East. The fields along the river are very fertile with agriculture being a major source of income for the region, the region is known for having the world's largest forest of date palms. Basra is a majority Shia Islam city, with small minorities of Christians, Assyrians and pre-Islamic Mandaeans. In addition to the Arabs, there is also a community of Afro-Iraqi peoples, known as Zanj. The Zanj are an African Muslim ethnic group, a mix of African peoples taken from the coast of the area of modern-day Kenya as slaves during the Medieval period. Founded at the beginning of the Islamic era in 636, Basra became a flourishing
Top Attractions in Basra
Explore the best things to see and do in Basra:
- ★Al-Maqam Mosque
- ★Anas Ibn Malik shrine
- ★Armenian Church of the Virgin Mary
- ★Badr Shakir al-Sayyab Home
- ★Badr Shakir al-Sayyab statue
- ★Basrah Adventist church
- ★Basra Heritage Museum
- ★Basrah Land
Where to Eat in Basra
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Shatt Al Arab Restaurant
Where to Stay in Basra
- 🏨Basrah International Airport Hotel
- 🏨Basra International Hotel
- 🏨Grand Millennium Al Seef Basra
- 🏨Mnawi Basha Hotel
- 🏨Shams Al Basra
Basra Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: