Babylon

Babylon, on the Euphrates south of Baghdad, is one of the most famous cities of the ancient world and a cornerstone of human history. Capital of great Mesopotamian empires and, under Nebuchadnezzar II, of a dazzling civilisation, it was renowned for the legendary Hanging Gardens counted among the Seven Wonders, and for the magnificent blue-tiled Ishtar Gate. Today its extensive ruins, part reconstructed, spread across the plain, inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Standing here at the heart of ancient Mesopotamia, the land between the rivers where cities, writing and law first arose, is to stand at the very cradle of civilisation.

What you actually see

• The Ishtar Gate - the reconstructed and original blue-tiled gateway.
• The processional way - the ancient ceremonial avenue.
• The ruins and walls - the extensive remains of the great city.
• The site of the gardens - the legendary Hanging Gardens' setting.

When to go

October to April, the cooler months, are far more comfortable than the fierce summer heat of the Mesopotamian plain, ideal for exploring the exposed ruins on foot. The soft winter light suits the site's mud-brick walls and reconstructed gate especially well.

Honest expectations

Babylon has seen heavy reconstruction over the past century, so parts of the site mix modern rebuilding with the ancient foundations, and the summer heat on the open plain is intense. As one of the most legendary cities in all human history and a UNESCO World Heritage site at the cradle of civilisation, though, Babylon is a place of extraordinary resonance.

Nearby

The town of Hillah and other ancient Mesopotamian sites lie in the region.