For millions of Shia Muslims around the world, Iraq is the spiritual heart of their faith. The country holds the tombs of several of the Imams (the revered leaders of early Shia Islam) and the cities that grew up around them are among the most important pilgrimage destinations on earth.

For anyone travelling to Iraq, whether you are religious or not, these are also some of the most extraordinary places in Iraq. And not to be missed.

Vast, gold-domed, mirror-walled shrines, incredible to view but also to witness as you see pilgrims visit with a humbling devotion.

Iraq really does have very many important shrines. Without really knowing the significance of these places, there’s a risk of your visit becoming ‘oh just another shrine’. Some of them may be similar in appearance, but each of them carries their own importance. It’s good to read up beforehand so you can fully appreciate where it is you’re visiting! 

This is a guide to travelling through Iraq through the major Shia sites in Iraq. Who rests in them, and how to visit these Shia sites - as a non-religious traveller - with the respect they deserve. 

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A little Context, the Imams

To understand these sites, it helps to know the briefest outline. 

Shia Islam holds that leadership of the Muslim community rightfully passed through Ali. The cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. And then through a line of his descendants known as the Imams. 

The largest branch of Shia Islam recognises twelve of these Imams. Several of them are buried in Iraq, and their shrines are known collectively as the atabat, the “holy thresholds.” Together they make Iraq a landscape of pilgrimage unlike anywhere else. 

As with all revered figures, you will hear “peace be upon him” spoken after their names, a courtesy worth understanding (and, where appropriate, also doing yourself).

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Najaf - The shrine of Imam Ali

Najaf is the holiest of Iraq’s Shia cities, home to the shrine of Imam Ali, the first Imam, whose golden dome rises over the old city. 

Visiting Najaf is one of the more conservative cities in Iraq, and this should also be reflected in your behaviour and dress, too. Women should dress more conservatively wearing loose-fitting clothing and down to ankles and wrists. 

There’s a special dress code as well as an appropriate way to behave when you’re visiting the shrine itself. It’s best to check with your tour guide before this. 

Who is Imam Ali?

Ali is a towering figure. Cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, and for Shia Muslims his rightful successor, and his shrine is among the most sacred places in all of Shia Islam.

Najaf is also the intellectual capital of Shia scholarship, its seminaries drawing students from across the world for centuries. 

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Wadi al-Salam, World’s Biggest Cemetery

On the city’s edge lies Wadi al-Salam, the “Valley of Peace,” the largest cemetery on the planet, where the faithful have long wished to be buried close to Ali. 

Wandering Najaf’s labyrinth souks and standing before the shrine is an absolute must if you’re visiting the area. Which you certainly should be, as it’s one of the most important places and best experiences of Iraq.

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Karbala, Imam Husayn and Abbas Shrine

If Najaf is the holiest, Karbala is the most emotionally charged. 

It was here, in the year 680, that Imam Husayn (the third Imam and a grandson of the Prophet) was killed with his companions at the Battle of Karbala. This was a foundational tragedy and lies at the very core of Shia identity. 

Imam Husayn’s shrine, and that of his half-brother Abbas nearby, are the focus of the entire city. 

Karbala is the setting for the mourning rituals of Ashura and for Arbaeen, the pilgrimage forty days later that has become one of the largest human gatherings on earth. This is when many millions of pilgrims converge on the city, huge numbers of them having walked for days to reach it. In fact, this is the largest annual gathering in the world. 2025 Arbaeen saw over 23 million people gather. Around 20% of whom were foreigners! 

To be in Karbala - even outside those peak times - is to feel the weight of a grief and devotion sustained for well over a thousand years.

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Kadhimiya, the shrine of two Imams in Baghdad

Within Baghdad itself, in the district of Kadhimiya, stands the great shrine of al-Kadhimayn, instantly recognisable by its golden domes and four golden minarets. 

It holds the tombs of two Imams, Musa al-Kadhim, the seventh, and his grandson Muhammad al-Jawad, the ninth. 

Kadhimiya is one of the most important shrines in the Shia world and a major focus of devotion in the capital, and its glittering silhouette is among the most beautiful sights in Baghdad.

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Samarra, the al-Askari shrine

North of Baghdad, in Samarra, the al-Askari shrine holds the tombs of the tenth and eleventh Imams, Ali al-Hadi and Hasan al-Askari. 

It carries an additional and profound significance. Samarra is where the twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, is believed to have entered occultation, hidden by God, and awaited to return. 

The shrine’s golden dome was among the most beautiful in Iraq until it was gravely damaged by bombing in 2006. This was an attack that triggered a terrible wave of sectarian violence. 

It has since been restored. 

Samarra sits in a more security-sensitive area, and a visit depends on current conditions and guidance, and sometimes extra permits. But its importance to the Shia faith is immense.

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Kufa and others

Near Najaf, the historic city of Kufa holds its own deep significance. Its Great Mosque is associated with Imam Ali, who was struck down there. 

Across the country, other shrines and sites connected to the family and companions of the Imams add further layers to Iraq’s sacred geography. 

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Ashura, Arbaeen, & Pilgrimage

To understand these cities, it helps to understand the calendar that they often work around. 

Ashura, in the month of Muharram, marks the day of Imam Husayn’s martyrdom at Karbala, and it is observed with deep and public mourning. You’ll see processions, recitations, and expressions of grief that can be overwhelming to witness. 

Forty days later comes Arbaeen, when the mourning reaches its climax and pilgrims converge on Karbala in numbers that make it one of the largest gatherings of human beings anywhere on the planet. 

It’s a truly astonishing pilgrimage. Many walk for days along the roads from Najaf and beyond, and along the way ordinary Iraqis set up stations offering food, drink, and rest to complete strangers. Travelling during these periods is possible and unforgettable, but demanding. Especially in the hotter months. Visiting Iraq, Karbala and the Najaf region, outside these times will certainly give you a calmer visit. 

Whenever you come, the shrines themselves are architectural marvels. 

Behind the great golden domes lie interiors of dazzling intricacy. Walls and ceilings covered in tiny mirrored tiles that scatter light like the inside of a jewel, alongside fine tilework, calligraphy, and craftsmanship refined over centuries. 

Unfortunately, however, it’s not always able to capture this as the use of phones and taking photos is often not allowed inside. In a way, this keeps it more special and keeps you more present in the moment. 

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Visiting with respect

These are living places of worship, not tourist attractions, and visiting them well matters.

Dress conservatively. Modest clothing covering arms and legs, and for women a headscarf and often an abaya, which are usually available to borrow at the shrines. 

You will notice that in these Shia areas, a chador is much more common. This is a single piece of fabric that you put on over your clothing and has a hole only for your face to poke out of. Even if you are wearing an abaya and headscarf, some of the shrines may request that you wear one anyway. 

There will be women lining the entrances checking your dress. If you’re wearing nail polish and lots of makeup, you may not be permitted entry. 

Expect tight security and checkpoints, particularly on the approaches to Najaf and Karbala. Access for non-Muslim visitors varies from site to site and can change, so it is best arranged and advised through a local guide who knows the current situation and etiquette. 

Photography may be restricted in places. Ask, and follow guidance. Do as the locals do. And be especially mindful during Muharram and Arbaeen, when the emotional intensity is at its height.

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Koryo Tours
Experts in Travel to Iraq