Basra البصرة
Iraq’s port city on the Shatt al-Arab, gateway to the south.
Basra was founded in the 7th century and became a great port and centre of Arabic literature and learning. It stands on the Shatt al-Arab, where the Tigris and Euphrates flow together towards the Gulf, and is a gateway to the southern marshes.
Basra was founded in the 7th century as one of the first new cities of the Islamic era, and in the Abbasid period it was a great port and centre of learning, home to scholars such as the grammarian Sibawayh and the writer al-Jahiz. Stories of Sinbad the Sailor are traditionally linked to its harbour.
The city lies on the Shatt al-Arab, where the Tigris and Euphrates meet before flowing into the Gulf. Its waterfront corniche, the palm groves along the river, the old Ottoman-era houses with wooden shanasheel balconies and the Basra Museum are the main sights. Basra is also a gateway to the southern marshes, and its international airport (BSR) connects it to the rest of Iraq and the region.
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Travel tips
- Take a boat on the Shatt al-Arab at sunset.
- Look for the old houses with carved wooden shanasheel balconies in the old quarter.
- Like the rest of the south, Basra is best visited between October and April.
Questions & answers
Is Basra worth visiting?
Yes, for its riverside corniche, palm groves, old houses and museum, and as a base for the southern marshes. Ask us to add it to your trip.
Map of Basra
Pins show the sites in this guide. Locations are approximate.