The town stretches along a hilltop overlooking the Little Ruaha River to the south, and spreads along ridges and valleys to the north.

Iringa is in the Udzungwa Mountains, and the altitude of the town's environs is more than 1,550 metres (5,090 ft) above sea level.

Iringa has a wet season from December to April, and a nearly rainless period from June to September.

After their defeat at Lugalo by the Hehe, led by Chief Mkwawa, the Germans built a military station at 'Neu Iringa' to avenge the death of their commander Emil von Zelewski and to teach the Hehe respect for German authority.

The fortress and headquarters of Chief Mkwawa was in the nearby village of Kalenga, Alt Iringa.

It is a center for trucking services to Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Songea, and Dodoma and other regions of Tanzania.