Ishtar Gate
Babylon, Iraq
The Ishtar Gate is a city gate and arch located in Babylon, Iraq. Commissioned by Nebuchadnezzar II and named after Ishtar, it dates back to 575 BC and forms part of Babylon in Hillah. It ranks as the 4th most looked-up sight in Iraq on English Wikipedia out of 22 sights on this site.
Planning a visit
Temperature highs reach 44 °C to 45 °C in July and August, while January brings daily highs of 16 °C and lows of 6 °C with 23 mm of rain across 3 days. The cooler months between November and March offer milder daytime temperatures.
The nearest airport is Al Najaf International Airport in Najaf, located 61 km away, and the site is 86 km from the capital, Baghdad. Nearby sights include Etemenanki at 0.8 km, Esagila at 1.1 km, Kish at 17.1 km, and the Imam Husayn Shrine at 37.4 km.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 45 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 16 | 19 | 25 | 32 | 38 | 42 | 45 | 45 | 41 | 34 | 24 | 18 |
| Average low, °C | 6 | 7 | 11 | 17 | 23 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| Rainfall, mm | 23 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 20 |
| Rainy days | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
