Travel to Baghdad, the Capital of Iraq: 30 Best Things to Do in Baghdad + Travel Tips

Do you want to travel to Baghdad, the capital of Iraq? Do you wish to visit one of the least visited capital cities in the world? Are you planning an extraordinary holiday in Baghdad? I’ve got you covered.

You are now reading the most awesome travel guide for Baghdad. I’ll tell you all about Baghdad, everything that you need to know to plan your trip to Baghdad and get the best out of it including the best places to visit in Baghdad.

I regularly travel to Baghdad. Thus, you will always find this guide up-to-date.

As mentioned before, Baghdad is still viewed as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Baghdad has a very complicated political situation. According to official reports, today there is still a quite high chance of terrorist attacks and kidnapping.

Many websites advise that foreign visitors should not go anywhere in Baghdad without an escort of the Iraqi Army.  They are really old information. So, you can just ignore them.

Since March 2021; however, there are more and more travelers visiting the capital of Iraq. They all reported that they had felt completely safe hanging around in Baghdad. They either traveled to Baghdad independently or with a guide.

I also find Baghdad extremely safe. I spent quite a lot of time in Baghdad. I have visited many places in Baghdad either by myself or with local friends. I absolutely love Baghdad and I’m so happy that today we can freely roam the streets of Baghdad.

Iraq is not covered by most travel insurance companies due to the fact that foreign governments and authorities advise against unnecessary travel to Iraq including the capital city of Iraq, Baghdad.

Tourism is, of course, not necessary travel.

There are only a couple of insurance companies that you can use when traveling to Iraq: IATI and Safetywings.

They have several different travel insurance plans and their prices are totally affordable.

To be honest, I cannot recommend good hotels in Baghdad that are value for the money you pay. If you ever find a hotel that you are happy with in Baghdad, let me know.

4.1. BUDGET HOTELS IN BAGHDAD

They cost around 21 – 35 USD per night.

At this price, don’t have high expectations. If you are not a backpacker who is used to all kinds of crappy places, you will definitely not be happy with budget hotels in Baghdad.

Budget hotels in Baghdad are not clean. Most of them are actually filthy. It means that they don’t ever clean the rooms and bathrooms. In budget hotels in Baghdad, they don’t change the bedsheets either. I always have to ask the hotel staff to change the bed sheets. And if I am lucky they find clean sheets somewhere.

Diwan Hotel

A 1-person room for one night costs 23 USD / 30,000 IQD. This is a special price for Iraqi Travelers Cafe members. You can join the group simply by entering their Facebook group.

You can easily make a reservation through Whatsapp by contacting the Iraqi Travelers Café on +964 774 428 4407. Only, this way you can get a room for the above-mentioned price.

Please, bear in mind that the Iraqi Travelers Cafe is a non-profit initiative.  The hotel gives its members this special price and some of the volunteers of the Iraqi Travelers Cafe are helping you to make your hotel booking.

Think of them as your local friends. When you contact them, it might take some time until you get a response. But don’t worry, you can be sure that they are taking care of your booking.

On Google Maps, you can easily find this hotel as Hotel Diwan.

I stayed in this hotel and I didn’t like it because the bathrooms are filthy, the rooms I got had no windows and I had to ask for clean bedsheets.
I didn’t like the location either. It’s centrally located but it’s close to alcohol shops where at night there are a lot of drunk men.

Royal Gardin Hotel

I used to recommend the Royal Gardin Hotel located close to Firdos Square in Baghdad.

But this hotel got really bad too. I always got dirty rooms, filthy bathrooms, and I had to ask for changing the bed sheets.

A 1-person room for one night costs 26.70 USD / 35,000 IQD. It’s centrally located and the neighborhood is extremely safe. The price is also a special deal available for the members of the Iraq Travelers Café.

You can easily make a reservation through Whatsapp by contacting the Iraqi Travelers Café on +964 774 428 4407.

GPS coordinates of the hotel: 33.317169,44.420345

You cannot find it on google maps if you search in English. So, copy and paste it in Arabic: فندق رويال كاردين

If you need a cash machine, look for the Iraq National Bank of Iraq. It’s about 5 minutes from the hotel. They have several ATMs which take all kinds of cards including VISA and MasterCard.

MID-RANGE HOTELS IN BAGHDAD

They cost around 50 € per night. One of them is Inter Hotel.

4-STAR HOTELS IN BAGHDAD

They cost generally 100 USD and 5-star hotels 150 – 200 USD per night in Baghdad.

5-STAR HOTELS IN BAGHDAD

They include The Taj Hotel, Baghdad Hotel, Coral Baghdad Hotel, Babylon Rotana Hotel. The best-rated hotel among them is the Taj Hotel. You can make a reservation on booking.com.

5.1. INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO THE CAPITAL OF IRAQ, BAGHDAD

Most international flights to Iraq fly to Baghdad International Airport with a connection either in Istanbul or in Dubai.

Flights from Istanbul to Baghdad

The Turkish low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, offers the cheapest flights to Baghdad from Istanbul.

Turkish Airlines is also flying from Istanbul but it costs more.

I tried both Pegasus and Turkish Airlines. I prefer Turkish Airlines even if it’s more expensive because Turkish Airlines has more comfortable seats.

Flights from Dubai to Baghdad

The best prices are offered by Royal Jordanian Airlines.

5.2. IRAQI NATIONAL FLIGHTS TO BAGHDAD

From Erbil to Baghdad

There are at least two flights between Erbil and Baghdad on daily basis operated by Fly Baghdad Airlines, Zagrosjet, and Iraqi Airways.

The best way to book a domestic flight in Iraq is to do it through a travel agency in person when you are in Iraq.

I know a lot of you want to plan your flights and book your plane ticket online. However, those websites where you are supposed to book Iraqi domestic flights, don’t work very well.

6.1. VISA ON ARRIVAL

If you are eligible for Visa on Arrival with payment, get your passport and the exact amount of the visa fee in USD ready.

At the visa desk, you need to fill in the visa application form and pay the visa application fee.

The price of the VOA is 80 USD.

When I was there, all the foreigners got their VOA in about 10 – 15 minutes. I had to wait almost 2 hours to get my visa. They didn’t find Hungary on the list of eligible countries for VOA.  They wanted to actually send me back to Hungary. But after one and a half hours, they realized that Hungary is on the list eligible for VOA and I got in.

6.2. WIFI AT BAGHDAD AIRPORT

When I was there, it really sucked. But I could use it a bit.

6.3. BUYING A SIM CARD AT BAGHDAD AIRPORT

You can buy a SIM card at the airport. When you are in the arrival hall, on your left, you will find a stall for Zain, which is the best mobile internet provider in Iraq.

However, if your flight is too late, the Zain stall will be closed already.

6.4. EXCHANGING MONEY & ATMs AT BAGHDAD AIRPORT

It’s better to bring all the money that you expect to spend at least in the first week. That’s what I did.

You can exchange some of it at the airport and then you can change the rest later in the city of Baghdad.

There are also cash machines at the airport. But it can happen that they don’t work. Therefore, to be on the safe side, bring cash.

6.5. GETTING TO CENTRAL BAGHDAD FROM BAGHDAD AIRPORT – STEP BY STEP

You have two options here. The first one is for budget travelers and the second one is for you if want to get to your hotel directly from the airport terminal quickly.

1) Minibus to get outside the security zone of the airport + taxi from outside the security zone to your hotel

FIRST STEP:

Take a minibus: When you are in front of the terminal, just across the street, there is a parking lot. On the ground floor of the parking lot, there are white minivans going to Abbas Ibn Firnas Square. This square is located just outside the security zone of the airport.

Minibus time schedule: It operates until early morning.

Minibus price: 8,000 IQD (~ 6.10 USD / 6 €)

SECOND STEP:

Take a taxi from Abbas Ibn Firnas Square: Once this minibus dropped you off, you can take a taxi. If you managed to get a SIM card and internet, get a Careem Taxi to your hotel.

From this point to anywhere in Baghdad, a taxi ride costs a maximum of 15,000 Iraqi dinars. This means anything above that is a scam.

Don’t trust any policeman, taxi driver, or your hotel about the price. This is the only place where I got scammed in Iraq. The policemen and the taxi drivers there probably shared the money when they scammed me.

If you have the Careem app, just call a Careem taxi. In that case, you will pay around 12,000 – 13,000 IQD for getting to your hotel.

– Private taxi from inside the airport

Price: At least ~ 25,000 IQD (~ 19.10 USD / 17.50 €) up to 45,000 IQD. I didn’t manage to figure out the exact price.

1.1. HOW TO TRAVEL TO BAGHDAD BY SHARED TAXI

Shared taxis to Baghdad are available from any major city in Iraq including Kurdistan.

The following prices are only valid for the back seats. The front seat next to the driver can cost around 5,000 dinars more.

From Samarra to Baghdad: 15,000 IQD (~ 11.50 USD), ~ 130 km / 81 mi
From Karbala to Baghdad: 10,000 IQD (~ 7.70 USD), ~ 120 km / 75 mi
From Hillah to Baghdad: 10,000 IQD (~ 7.70 USD), ~ 115 km / 71 mi
From Mosul to Baghdad: 25,000 IQD (~ 19.10 USD),  ~ 402 km / 250 mi
From Kirkuk to Baghdad: 15,000 IQD (~ 11.50 USD), ~ 266 km / 165 mi
From Basra to Baghdad: 25,000 IQD (~ 19.10 USD), ~ 540 km / 335 mi
From Erbil to Baghdad: 30,000 IQD (~ 23 USD), ~ 370 km / 230 mi
From Sulaymaniyah to Baghdad: 35,000 IQD (26.80 USD), ~ 380 km / 236 mi

1.2. HOW TO TRAVEL TO BAGHDAD BY SHARED CAR (GMC)

In some cities, shared cars are also available. The shared car is always a white GMC Yukon which is a full-size SUV with 7 to 9 seats.

They are normally somewhat cheaper than shared taxis.

From Basra to Baghdad: 25,000 IQD (~ 19.10 USD / 17.60 €), ~ 540 km / 335 mi

1.3. HOW TO TRAVEL TO BAGHDAD BY MINIBUS

In some cities, minibusses are also available.

From Sulaymaniyah to Baghdad: 25,000 IQD (19.10 USD)

1.4. HOW TO TRAVEL TO BAGHDAD BY BUS

Only between Basra and Baghdad, there is a big bus you can use.

From Basra to Baghdad: 12,000 IQD (~ 9.20 USD / 8.40 €)

1.5. HOW TO TRAVEL TO BAGHDAD BY TRAIN

There is a train operating between Baghdad and Basra. This is the only running train service right now.

This old Chinese train only runs a couple of times a week. At the moment, it only runs on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. But you should double-check it as it can change anytime.

Check out the details of this train connection:

From Baghdad to Basra: Departure at 7 pm and arrival at Basra Railway Station at 4 am / 5 am. It stops at Nasriyah at 2 am.

From Basra to Baghdad: Departure at 7 pm and arrival at Bagdad Railway Station at 6 am.

You can find the train station on Google Maps as “Global, Baghdad, Iraq”.

Tickets are not sold online. If you want to take this train, just go to the train station in Baghdad,
buy your ticket the same day.

I bought my ticket in the morning but it would have been enough to buy it before the train departure. To buy the ticket, you need to show your passport and visa.

If you buy the ticket for your friends as well, you will also need a copy of their passport with the page where your details are and the visa or ID on your phone. I bought 4 tickets and it took a lot of time to get the tickets. Definitely, don’t go there last minute to buy the tickets.

Baghdad – Basra Ticket Prices
Regular seats: 10,000 Iraqi dinars
1 class seats: 15,000 Iraqi dinars
Sleeping compartment with 4 berths (beds): 25,000 per berth
Sleeping compartment with 2 berths: 50,000 per berth

The security at the train station and on the train is very high. You can totally feel safe there even if you travel alone.

Before getting on the train, your bags will be inspected by the security staff with a sniffer dog.

The first class is airy and kind of clean. The seats are dirty but we survived it. I booked only seats as I only traveled to Nasiriyah.
I don’t recommend the second class with seats because they are very crowded, not airy, and much dirtier than the first class.

The sleeping compartments seemed to be much cleaner.

On the train, it’s possible to buy tea, water, and kebab from the food stall. A tea costs 500 dinars and a kebab costs 5,000 dinars.

TRAVELING FROM BAGHDAD BY SHARED TAXI, SHARED CARS, MINIBUSES, AND BUS

In case you are not familiar with the different types of public transport options in Iraq running to and from Iraq, let me explain about them.

You can travel between Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, and other cities and towns by shared taxi, shared car (GMC Yukon), minibus, bus, and train.

How the train works, was previously explained in detail.

In most cases, there are shared taxis and shared cars (GMC Yukon).

The shared taxis can be regular yellow taxis and regular cars. Locals refer to the regular shared taxis, both the official and unofficial ones, as Chargers.

The shared car is always a white GMC Yukon which is a full-size SUV with 7 to 9 seats. It is always referred to as GMC. Shared cars are generally somewhat cheaper than shared taxis as they carry more passengers.

There are also minibusses that transport even more passengers. They are even cheaper than shared cars.

Last but not least, there is a bus service between Basra and Baghdad which is the cheapest option.

The regular yellow taxis, GMCs, and buses are generally inside the stations with official taxi drivers.

As for the regular cars mentioned above, they are normally just outside the stations. The drivers are not official taxi drivers. I guess they are kind of freelancers. Traveling with them is the same as with the official taxi drivers.

This Baghdad Travel Guide cannot be complete without sharing from which shared taxi station you need to take a taxi to get to different cities in Iraq.

Baghdad has three stations called Garage in Arabic.

To which station you have to go, depends on your travel destination.

Allawi North Garage:

On Google Maps, you can find it as Allawi Northern.

Location: here

Shared taxis and minibusses leaving for Samarra, Tikrit, and Mosul.

Allawi South Garage:

On Google Maps, you can find it as Allawi Southern.

Location: here.

Shared taxis and minibusses leaving for Karbala, Hillah, Najaf, and Nasiriyah.

Alnahdha Garage:

On Google Maps, you can find it as Alnahdha Garage or Al Nahdha Auto Garage.

Location: here.

Shared taxis and minibusses leaving for Kirkuk, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Basra.

BAGHDAD MAP FOR BEST PLACES TO VISIT, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS & CAFÉS

Baghdad, the capital city of Iraq, offers a lot of interesting places to see and things to do. I’ve collected the best places to visit in Baghdad. This list of the best places needs at least 4 days.

I covered all these places in about 7 days. But it’s because I didn’t have sufficient information about them. But now that you have this guide, you will be fine and will manage to cover all the tourist attractions in less time than me.

All these places are unique in one way or another. Some of them are just simply beautiful, some of them historically speaking highly significant and some of them are places that will teach more about life in Iraq.

In the light blue boxes, you can see how you can actually get from one place to another.

Now, let’s start discovering Baghdad.

1) MARTYR’S MONUMENT aka AL-SHAHEED MONUMENT

The famous Martyr’s Monument (Al-Shaheed Monument) – Visiting Baghdad

Location of the Al-Shaheed Monument in Baghdad: here

Three monuments were built to commemorate the Iraqi soldiers who lost their lives in the eight-year-long Iraq-Iran War (1980 – 1988) and the pain and suffering as a result of the war. Moreover, it’s also a memorial for all those who fell in any war throughout the country’s history.

They are the Victory Arch, the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, and Al-Shaheed Monument which were all built in the 80s.

Al-Shaheed Monument also called the Martyr’s Memorial, is one of the most iconic monuments in the city of Baghdad.

It was designed by Iraqi sculptor Ismail Fatah Al Turk.

The memorial itself is a split turquoise dome situated in the center of an artificial lake. The dome looks like domes built by the Abbasid Caliphate.

Between the half domes, there is a twisted metal flag pole with an Iraqi flag. There is also a spring of water running near the monument which symbolizes the blood of those who died in the wars.

ENTRANCE FEE FOR THE AL SHAHEED MONUMENT

– 3,000 IQD (~2.10 USD) for Iraqi citizens
– 6,000 IQD (~4.60 USD) for foreigners

Foreigners basically have to buy 2 tickets. So, as a foreigner, you pay  6,000 dinars and then you get two pieces of paper that are the tickets.

OPENING HOURS OF AL SHAHEED MONUMENT

Every day (yes, including weekends), from 8 am to 4 pm

HOW TO GET TO AL SHAHEED MONUMENT

I used Baly (app like Careem but cheaper) to get there. If you enter Martyr Monument in Baly, the taxi will take you to the main entrance of the Martyrs Monument.

BEST TIME TO VISIT AL SHAHEED MONUMENT

If you want to take nice photos of the Al-Shaheed Monument, the best time to visit it is early in the morning.

The monument is the most popular place in Baghdad for graduation photography. If you are there when there is a photoshooting with loads of students, it will be very hard to take photos at the monument.

2) FREEDOM MONUMENT AT TAHRIR SQUARE

The Freedom Monument at Tahrir Square – Visiting Baghdad

Location of the Freedom Monument in Baghdad: here

Let’s continue your trip to Baghdad with one of the most significant monuments for the Iraqi people in the heart of Baghdad. The Freedom Monument (Nasb al-Hurriyah in Arabic) is one of the most famous monuments in Baghdad. You can find it at the Tahrir Square (also called Liberation Square) in central Baghdad.

WHY IS THE FREEDOM MONUMENT FAMOUS IN IRAQ

It’s because this monument is a symbol of Iraq’s declaration of independence.  It commemorates the 14th July Revolution which took place in 1958 and pays tribute to the Iraqi soldiers who were fighting for freedom.

The revolution itself marks the overthrow of the Hashemite Monarchy by the Iraqi army led by Abdel Karim Qasim and the beginning of the Republic of Iraq.

BEST TIME TO VISIT THE FREEDOM MONUMENT AT TAHRIR SQUARE

Before 3 pm

3) TAHRIR SQUARE

Graffiti artwork at Tahrir Square – Visiting Baghdad

Location of Tahrir Square from which you can walk to the tunnel with the graffiti works: here

Hang around Tahrir Square and under the bridge there, in the tunnel. There are amazing graffiti works there. They are not ordinary graffiti murals.

These graffiti murals demonstrate Iraqis’ sadness and anger about the past and hope for a better future.

The graffiti murals were created by young people including artists to deliver their message to the Iraqi government. It was part of a demonstration in October 2021 when people took the streets to protest against the government.

BEST TIME TO VISIT TAHRIR SQUARE

Before 3 pm

4) AL RASHEED STREET aka MAIN MARKET STREET

Location of Al Rasheed Street in Baghdad: here

Al Rasheed Street (Al Rashid Street) is one of the main streets of historic central Baghdad.

A beautiful mosque on the Al-Rasheed Street  – Visiting Baghdad

BEST TIME TO VISIT AL RASHEED STREET

Al Rasheed Street has only shops, cafés, and food stalls. Nobody lives there. At 3 pm, all the shops and cafés are closing and the Al Rasheed Street becomes a deserted area. Thus, the best time to go there is from early morning to 1 pm.

And the best day to visit Al Rasheed Street is Friday as it’s the busiest day of the week.

5) AL-MUTANABBI STREET

Visiting Al-Mutanabbi Street – One of the best things to do in Baghdad, capital of Iraq

Location of Al Mutanabbi Street in Baghdad: here

Continuing our journey in the historic center of Baghdad, we will walk to Al Mutanabbi Street which is one of the oldest streets in Baghdad named after Al Mutanabbi, a 10th-century classical Iraqi poet. His statue, the Al Mutanabbi Statue, can also be found there.

Visiting Al-Mutanabbi Street – One of the best things to do in Baghdad, capital of Iraq

WHY IS THE AL MUTANABBI STREET A FAMOUS PLACE IN BAGHDAD

This street is full of bookstores, outdoor bookstalls, stationery shops, and cafés. It’s been the heart of the literary and intellectual scene of Baghdad since the times of the Abbasid Caliphate, the third caliphate succeeding the Islamic Prophet Muhammad (750 – 1517).

After a long period of devastation and then cleanup and repair, this street was also reopened in 2008.

Visiting Al-Mutanabbi Street – One of the best things to do in Baghdad, capital of Iraq

BEST TIME TO VISIT THE AL-MUTANABBI STREET

Similarly to Al-Rasheed Street, the best day to visit Al-Mutanabbi Street is Friday which is the busiest day during the week.

The shops of Al Mutanabbi Street are just like Al Rasheed street and are only open until about 3 pm. Most cafés and food stalls there open until 3 pm.
At night, from about 5 pm, Al Mutanabbi Street is lit. You will find a few street vendors selling tea and fresh juice.
Moreover, there are a couple of cool cafés open there in the evening.

6) SHABANDAR CAFE

Shabandar Café – Visiting Baghdad

Shabandar Cafe is located in the heart of Baghdad in the bookshop district. It has been a hub of Baghdad’s intellectual life since it opened its doors more than a century ago. It’s an awesome place to have traditional Iraqi tea.

OPENING HOURS OF THE SHABANDAR CAFÉ

The Shabandar Café is located on the Al Mutanabbi Street.  It’s open from 8 am to 6 pm.

7) QISHLEH CLOCK (Al-Qushla Clock)

The Qishleh Clock with the Tigris River in the background – Visiting Baghdad

The Al-Qushla located at the Al-Mutanabi Street is a heritage site built by an Ottoman pasha in the 19th century. Today, the place turned into a cultural hub where artists and intellectuals come together to discuss current affairs, share views and change ideas.

OPENING HOURS ODF THE AL-QUSHLA CLOCK

Due to the fact that the Al-Qushla Clock is located on the Al-Mutanabbi Street, it was only accessible until 3 pm.  There was no official opening time for the place but I would advice that you schedule to visit it between 9 am – 1 pm.

8)  SAFAFEER COPPER MARKET

Coppersmith working in the Safafeer Market – Visiting Baghdad

An old shanasheel in the Safafeer Market- Visiting Baghdad

It’s an ancient copperware market on the eastern bank of the Tigris River where for hundreds of years people could listen to the beautiful sounds of hammers tapping on copper. You can literally smell the fragrance of the ancient city there.

Here you can find gorgeous and sparkling oily lamps, pots and plates and other artifacts made by coppersmiths decorated with looping and intricate calligraphy of the holy Quran.

On this market, you can buy some of Baghdad’s best souvenirs representing Iraqi civilization such as the Lion of Babylon.

Sadly, you can also find factory-produced copper plates and pots made in India, China and Iran here. Make sure you buy the original local artifacts.

OPENING HOURS OF THE COPPER MARKET

The Safafeer Market is located close to Al Mutanabbi Street. Thus, the best is to visit it until 2 pm. After 2 pm, the vendors slowly slowly leave.

9) MUSTANSIRIYA MADRASAH  / OLD MUSTANSIRIYA UNIVERSITY

The Mustansiriya University – Visiting Baghdad

The Mustansiriya Madrasah in Baghdad founded by Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustansir in the 13th century is one of the oldest Islamic universities in the world. It‘s a significant cultural landmark not only because it was a prominent center for Islamic Studies but because it’s one of the greatest works of Islamic Civilizations.

The major highlights of this beautiful historical building are Islamic features such as a stunning iwan, intricate muqarnas and arabesque brick decoration.

The Mustansiriya Madrasa is actually nominated to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It would definitely deserve to be a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Today, the Mustansiriya Madrasah is part of the Mustansiriya University which was built in the 1960s.

OPENING HOURS OF THE MUSTANSIRIYA MADRASAH

From 8 am to 1 pm. I don’t know if its is open every day.

ENTRANCE FEE FOR THE MUSTANSIRIYA MADRASAH

– 25,000 IQD for foreigners
– 3,000 IQD for Iraqi citizens

10) BAGHDADI MUSEUM

Men back in the old days – Visiting Baghdad

The Baghdadi Museum is a history museum located in Baghdad where you can learn about Baghdad’s history and social heritage.

About 70-80 scenes with lifesize wax models from different periods show you how life was in Baghdad in the past.

The scenes showcase for example street life, trade life, professional life and local traditions in the city of Baghdad.

You can see among others what a traditional Baghdadi home looked like, women wearing colorful traditional dresses called dishdashas, circumcision rituals or a traditional wedding procession in which the groom with his family and friends are singing and dancing at the bride’s home.

During the Iraq War, in 2003, explosions severely damaged the Baghdadi Museum. To some extent, the museum was restored. Then, although they didn’t manage to restore it completely, it was reopened in 2008.

It’s a really interesting place. Don’t miss it!

OPENING HOURS OF THE BAGHDADI MUSEUM

9:00 – 13:30

ENTRANCE FEE FOR THE BAGHDADI MUSEUM

1,000 IQD (0.80 USD / 0.70 €) for both Iraqis and foreigners

11) ABBASID PALACE

The courtyard of the Abbasid Palace – Visiting Baghdad

The Abbasid Palace overlooking the Tigris river was probably built in the 12th century by the Abbasid Caliphate. It has an impressive courtyard and two levels of rooms. Its iwan is majestic with beautiful arches and muqarnas decorating its brickwork.

OPENING HOURS OF THE ABBASID PALACE

8:00 – 13:00

ENTRANCE FEE FOR THE ABBASID PALACE

– 25,000 IQD for foreigners
– 3,000 IQD for Iraqi citizens

12) ANTIQUE MARKET

It’s one of the most interesting hidden gems in Baghdad. Go on a tresure hurt in this old market and find your own treasures!

13) THE CHURCH SOURP ASDVADZADZIN IN BAGHDAD (CHURCH OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, “MISKINTA”)

Armenian church – Visiting Baghdad

It’s an Armenian church built in the 17th century. It’s actually not some sort of tourist attraction. But once again I added a church to my list because I think it’s really interesting to see how religiously diverse the city of Baghdad is.

One interesting fact about this church is that as it is also the shrine of Virgin Mary, it gets not only Christian but Muslim visitors when it’s open.

OPENING TIMES OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH

There are no specific opening hours but it’s recommended to visit it during the day in the morning or early afternoon.

14) SAINT JOSEPH LATIN CATHEDRAL

Saint Joseph Latin Cathedral – Visiting Baghdad

In Iraq, there are actually quite a lot of churches, cathedrals and monasteries. That’s probably something that not many people know about.

The St. Joseph’s Cathedral also known as the Latin Cathedral of St. Joseph is one of the many churches in Iraq.

It’s a Latin Catholic cathedral in Baghdad that was built in the 17th century.

OPENING TIMES OF THE SAINT JOSEPH LATIN CATHEDRAL

It’s temporarily closed.

15) THE HOLY SHRINE OF SHEIKH ABDUL QADIR GILANI aka MAZAR GHOUS

WHY IS THE ABDUL QADIR GILANI MOSQUE FAMOUS IN IRAQ

Mazar Ghous is a very famous Sunni Islamic complex dedicated to the highly respected preacher and theologian, Abdul Qadir Gilani.

This magnificent complex, which was built by the Safavid Dynasty and renovated by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificient, has three main parts: the mosque, the mausoleum and the Qadiriyya Library where you can find a lot of books about Islam.

Prayer time in the Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani Mosque – Visiting Baghdad

BEST TIME TO VISIT THE ABDUL QADIR GILANI MOSQUE

As there are many places that are only open in the morning and mosques are open all day, it’s better to schedule visiting it late afternoon and early evening.

16) GREEN ZONE (INTERNATIONAL ZONE OF BAGHDAD / INTERNATIONAL ZONE IRAQ)

While driving around in the Green Zone of Baghdad, I quickly shot this awesome picture – Visiting Baghdad

The Green Zone located in central Baghdad was created after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. It was the governmental center of the Coalition Provisional Authority (Iraq’s transitional government formed following the US-led invasion in 2003) during the occupation of Iraq (2003-2011).

As of today, it’s the center of international presence but it’s fully controlled by the Iraqi security forces.

In the past, the rest of Baghdad was called the Red Zone and considered unsafe. But now, I can say that the rest of Baghdad is also very safe,

On a side note, there is a movie called Green Zone. This action thriller film is based on a true story, a non-fictional novel ‘Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone’ written by Rajiv Chandrasekaran.

The novel itself documents how life was in the Green Zone in Baghdad during the US-led invasion of Iraq.

The entrance of the Green Zone of Baghdad – Visiting Baghdad

ENTRY TO TO THE GREEN ZONE

It’s close to the public.

17) AL-QUDS GATE

The Al-Quds Gate, also knowns as the Jerusalem Gate.

It was inspired by Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque. You can’t miss it if you ever get to the Green Zone. It’s located very close to the entrance of the Green Zone.

A quick shot from the car in the Green Zone of Baghdad when approaching the Al-Quds Gate – Visiting Baghdad

ACCESS TO THE AL-QUDS GATE

As it’s located in the Green Zone, it’s close to the public.

18) MONUMENT TO THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER, BAGHDAD

The Unknown Soldier’s Monument in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq

The Unknown Soldier’s Monument symbolizes a traditional shield being dropped from the hands of a dying Iraqi warrior.

ACCESS TO THE MONUMENT TO THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER

It’s inside the Green Zone.

It’s really huge monument. Thus, you can actually see it very well from the road called Qadisaya Expy.

19) VICTORY ARCH aka SWORDS OF QADISIYYAH

The Victory Arch, also called the Swords of Qadisiyyah in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq

The monument consists of a pair of massive outstretched hands emerging from the ground and two 43-meter-long swords, a small flagpole at the point where the swords meet, and helmets of fallen soldiers around the hands on the ground.

ACCESS TO THE VICTORY ARCH

It’s also inside the Green Zone.

It’s also really huge monument and you can see it very well from the road called Qadisaya Expy.

20) SAVING IRAQI CULTURE MONUMENT

Saving Iraqi Culture Monument in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq

It’s a pretty new monument designed by Iraqi sculptor Mohammed Ghani Hikmat and commissioned in 2010.

The huge broken stone of the monument represents Iraqi culture and the group of hands and arms trying to hold it symbolizes an attempt to support Iraqi culture so that it doesn’t fall.

21) THE IRAQ MUSEUM

The Iraq Museum is the national museum of Iraq.

Here, you can learn more about the heritage of the Iraqi nation and find beautiful relics from ancient civilizations: Mesopotamian (Sumerian, Assyrian, Babylonian civilizations) Persian, and Islamic civilizations.

During the Invasion of Iraq, unfortunately, it was looted similarly to other museums in Iraq and they didn’t manage to recover all the stolen artifacts.

Nevertheless, the museum decided to reopen in 2015 with what they have left.

OPENING TIMES OF THE IRAQI MUSEUM

From Sunday to Thursday,  9 am to 1 pm

ENTRANCE FEES FOR THE IRAQI MUSEUM

• Iraqi students: 2,000 IQD
• Iraqis: 3,000 IQD
• Foreigners including non-Iraqi Arabs: 25,000 IQD

22) BAB BAGHDAD AL-WASTANI – THE GATES OF BAGHDAD

Originally, the ancient city of Baghdad was a walled round city with four gates built in order to protect the city from foreign attacks.

These four gates are the Gates of Baghdad. Most of them were destroyed either by the allies of World War I or by Ottoman troops

Today, the only gate you can see is Bab Al-Wastani close to the Mausoleum of Umar Suhrawardi.

OPENING HOURS OF BAB BAGHDAD AL-WASTANI

I don’t have the exact opening hours but it’s open. It’s for sure open in the morning.

ENTRANCE FEE FOR THE BAB BAGHDAD AL-WASTANI

– 25,000 IQD for foreigners
– 3,000 IQD for Iraqi citizens

23) AL-KADHIMIYA MOSQUE

Walking to the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq

This mosque is also known as Al-Kazimiyyah or Al-Kadhimiayn Shrine. It’s good to know all these names because everyone refers to it by a different name.

This breathtakingly beautiful Shi’ite Islamic Mosque and shrine is situated in the Kadhimayn suburb of Baghdad.

Walking to the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq

WHY IS THE AL-KHADMIYA MOSQUE A FAMOUS PLACE IN BAGHDAD

Here, you will find among others the tomb of the seventh Twelver Shia Imam, namely Imam Mousa, and famous Shia theologians and scholars.

Do you know what Twelver is? It’s the largest branch of Shia Islam. About 85 % of Shia Muslims belong to this branch.

One of the minarets of the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq

OPENING HOURS OF THE AL-KHADMIYA MOSQUE

It’s open all the time. But the best time to visit the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque is either in the morning or in the evening.

In the morning, it’s really lively. In the evening, it’s beautifully lit and also full of life.

Close to the mosque, there is a big market (souq). This is where you can find abayas, traditional clothes, Iraqi sweets, and all kinds of traditional Iraqi things.  Walk around the market and try Iraqi sweets. They are super delicious.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR VISITING THE AL-KHADMIYA MOSQUE

As it’s a Shia mosque, women must wear a chador inside the mosque. You can buy a chador from the market. A chador cost 5,000 Iraqi Dinar. If you are not wearing socks, buy socks as well.

Go without wearing makeup. I’m not talking about a little bit of foundation, of course. But I’ve seen that the security makes Iraqi girls remove their makeup if it’s too heavy.

Before entering the mosque, you must deposit all your electric devices including phones, cameras, power banks and earpods.

Afterwards, you go through the security where you can also put on your chador. The female guards were very happy to see me in the mosque. And they especially enjoyed chatting with me in Arabic. There, we got candies as well.

The next step is to drop off your shoes.

When I entered the mosque, it felt like in a dream. The mosque is definitely a masterpiece of Islamic architecture.

There are female and male sections. I went around the female sections and I tried to absorb all the beauty and peacefulness of the place. I am very lucky because a female member of the Iraqi Travelers’ Café accompanied me and she explained a lot of things about the mosque and Islam.

24) ABU HANIFA MOSQUE

The Abu Hanifa mosque is a significant Sunni mosque in Baghdad. It’s a beautiful mosque featuring a majestic golden minaret and dome.  It’s not only the exterior of the building but its interior is awe-inspiring. Make sure you check out this magnificent piece od Islamic architecture inside out.

The Abu Hanifa Mosque, one of the most famous places in Baghdad, from outside

OPENING HOURS OF THE ABU HANIFA MOSQUE

It’s open during the day and at night.

HOW TO VISIT THE ABU HANIFA MOSQUE

As it’s a Sunni mosque, women don’t need a chador. But they need to wear an abaya.

The Abu Hanifa Mosque inside – Visiting Baghdad

25) FIRDOS SQUARE

The Firdos Square in the capital city of Iraq – Visiting Baghdad

This is a very interesting place. Two of the most well-known hotels in Baghdad are located here: the Palestine Hotel and the Ishtar Sheraton Hotel.

They got very famous hotels because foreign journalists and correspondents have been using these hotels as their base since 2003, the US invasion of Iraq. Moreover, these hotels made their way several times to the news because of bomb attacks targeting journalists there.

Also, this is also where the 12-meter tall statue of Saddam Hussein stood until the Iraqi citizens and the US forces toppled it in 2003.

WHEN TO VISIT THE FIRDOS  SQUARE

It’s busy all the time. You can visit it both daytime and in the evening. I like it both during the day and in the evening when it’s lit.

26) KAHRAMANA STATUE

Kahramana is a famous fountain and one of the most iconic artworks in Baghdad designed by Mohammed Ghani Hikmat in the 60s.

It depicts a scene from the legend of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, which is one of the most fascinating Middle Eastern folk tales from the One Thousand and One Nights.

In this story, you can see the slave girl Marjana who tricked thieves into thinking that she was hiding inside the jars. Once the thieves were in the jars she poured the boiling oil into the jars to kill the thieves.

27) SAYIDAT AL-NEJAT CATHEDRAL

This church is not a tourist attraction. I put it on the list because it’s interesting to see another church in Baghdad. It’s a Syrian or Antiochian Catholic Church.

Inside the Sayidat Al-Nejat Cathredral – One of the most interesting places to visit in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq

BEST TIME TO VISIT THE SAYIDAT AL-NEJAT CATHEDRAL

It’s a highly-secured church. There are security guides there. I asked them if I can see the church and they let me in. And in the church, I was shown around by someone working there.

Why is this church highly-secured? It’s because of a deadly event known as the 2010 Baghdad Church Massacre.

In the year of 2010, fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq attacked this church during their Sunday evening mass. Dozens of worshippers got killed and injured by the attackers.

As a tourist, you can visit it anytime except when they hold Sunday mass.

28) SACRED HEART OF JESUS CHURCH (كنيسة قلب يسوع الأقدس)

And here is another church. This one is an Armenian Catholic Church.

29) STATUE OF SCHEHERAZADE AND KING SHAHRIYAR / THE MONUMENT OF STORYTELLING

This is a brilliant piece of art where Scheherezade, the beautiful storyteller, is narrating fascinating stories to King Shahryar.

You can read her stories in The One Thousand and One Nights also called Arabian Nights. Some of her most captivating tales are Aladdin and His Magic Lamp, Sinbad the Sailor, and Ali Baba and The Forty Thieves.

BEST TIME TO VISIT THE STATUE OF SCHEHERAZADE AND KING SHAHRIYAR / THE MONUMENT OF STORYTELLING

You can, of course, visit it any time of the day, but if you want to take photos there, you should go there in the morning.

30) DUR-KURIGALZU (Ziggurat at Aqar Quf / زقورة عقرقوف الأثرية)

Dur-Kurigalzu was an ancient Mesopotamian city in the 14th century B.C. “Dur” in the name of the place means fortress in Akkadian language which was an ancient Mesopotamian language. And the word Kurigalzu refers to  Kurigalzu I, a Kassite King of Babylon, who founded the city.

The city consisted of a ziggurat, temples dedicated to Mesopotamian gods and a royal castle.

A ziggurat is a monstrous stone structure similar to pyramids featuring terraced levels. In the past, it was accessible through stairways the same way as other ancient ziggurats.

There is not a lot left from the original city but we can still see an outstanding historic monument at Aqar Quf that is totally worth visiting.

One of the best things to do in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, is definitely going to cafés and restaurants.

Here, you will find an awesome list of the best cafés and restaurants in Baghdad. My local friends in Baghdad recommended them to me.  You will find their location on the map I added previously.  The places are indicated with the following numbers in green.

First, I will show you the most traditional cafés and restaurants in Baghdad, and then my favorite modern and classy places for going out.

The modern and classy places are really awesome as you will see a completely different face of Baghdad.

12.1. TRADITIONAL CAFÉS & RESTAURANTS IN BAGHDAD

1.  Dar Al-Atraqchi Heritage Cafe in Al-Jadriyah: If you want to get real Baghdadi vibes, you will love these places. They have awesome hookah, too.

I had a chicken kebab and a glass of mint juice. I paid around 15,000 dinars (~11.50 USD).

2.  Mdalal Cafe: Traditional restaurant similar to Shabandar Cafe. You can get there from the antique market.

I had a cup of coffee there for about 500 dinars (~ 0.40 USD).

3. Haj Zabala Juice Shop (عصير حجي زبالة): At Al-Rasheed street, it serves fresh juices for centuries. Its most famous juice is raisin juice.

When I was there, it had only raisin juices. A cup of raisin juice costs 1,000 dinars (~ 0.80 USD).

4. Kubba Saray: It’s located on Al-Mutanabbi Street. You can eat there Iraqi Kubba (rice balls filled with lamb or beef and herbs) with Iraqi pickles and soup. One portion of kibbeh costs 1,500 dinars (~ 1 USD).

Kubba in Kubba Saray for two persons – Travel to Baghdad

5.  Darbunah in Alkarradah: restaurant with old decor and with most of the traditional Iraqi dishes. That’s an absolutely fantastic place you must try. I’m absolutely in love with this place.

I have been there many times but I always forgot to document the prices. But I remember that just a mint juice cost there 5,000 dinars (3.80 USD).

A lot of delicious Middle Eastern food in Darbunah – Visiting Baghdad

6. Al-Abasly Family Resort: It’s a cozy restaurant with an awesome view over the Tigris River.

7. Knafeh shop: There are a lot of places where you can sit in and have incredibly tasty and sweet Iraqi Knafeh.

8. Al Faisaliya Restaurant and Cafe: a mix of traditional and modern food and decore, music nights, and the best shisha

9. Al Beiruty Cafe (Albairoti Café): With sunset at the Degla river with good shisha. It’s a huge place.

10. Bab Alagha Bakery (مخابز باب الآغا): Fantastic bakery with fresh Iraqi baked goods.

11. Naseem Tigris Restaurant (Naseem Dijla Restaurant) in Gherai’at: For the best Masgouf. Better at night.

12. Jabbar Abo Al-Sharbat: For fruit juices.

13.  Abu Nawas Street: try grilled fish there

12.2. MODERN & CLASSY RESTAURANTS IN BAGHDAD

14.1001 Night Park

1001 Night Restaurant – One of the cutest restaurants in Baghdad

It’s my favorite place in Baghdad. It only opened in October 2022.

I tried two places there and I loved both of them.

1001 Night Restaurant and Cafe: This is the most awesome place to have sweets and smoke shisha. The sweets didn’t taste anything extraordinary but the place itself and its atmosphere make it my favorite place to go out in Baghdad at the moment. I didn’t document the prices but expect to pay 20-35 USD per person for your drink and sweets.

11:11 Make a Wish: The place itself is very nice and they serve extremely delicious food. I was blown away by everything that I’ve eaten there.

I didn’t document the prices but expect to pay 20-30 USD per person for a nice meal with salad and drinks.

16. Naranj: It’s a Syrian restaurant. It’s a very pretty and fancy restaurant serving traditional Syrian food.

A main dish costs around 15-20 USD. You can easily spend 20-30 USD on a dinner there.

17. The Station: It’s a café and coworking office. I went there whenever I wanted to work on my blog in Baghdad.

Generally, students and start-ups go there.

A Cafe Latte costs 5,000 (~3.40 USD) and small chicken fajitas also cost 5,000 dinars there.

18. Adam’s Secret: It’s a really beautiful restaurant with a fantastic view. It serves international food.

A dinner with a main dish, salad and drinks cost about 15-20 USD.

12.3. IRAQI BREAKFAST ON BUDGET

You must try Kahi and Geymar.

Kahi is layers of fluffy, flaky pastry soaked in syrup and topped with Geymar which is thick clotted cream.

Let me tell you about the two most famous places in Baghdad where you can get the most delicious

19. Rasul Kahi Geymar

Location, here.

20. Orfali’s Kahi

Location, here.

Baghdad is a big city. So, we can expect a lot of traffic.
Some of the places mentioned in my Baghdad plan are within walking distance of each other.

13.1. TAXI APPS AVAILABLE IN BAGHDAD

If you need a taxi, the best is to use one of the taxi apps, Uber, Kareem, or Baly.

Baly, an Iraqi tech startup offering taxi service and food delivery, is the cheapest taxi app at the moment in Iraq.

The app itself is Arabic but the locations are in the app in English. It was difficult to get used to using it in Arabic but it’s actually easy to use the app even in Arabic once you understand how it works.

13.2. COASTERS (MINIBUSES) & BUSES IN BAGHDAD

There a lot of coasters and minibusses running around Baghdad. Moreover, there are a few buses as well.

A ride cost only 500 Iraqi dinars.

There is no bus schedule and no bus stops.

The way you use them is quite spontaneous but once you understand the logic of it, you will find it easy to use it.

So, the coasters (minibusses) are normally running on the busy roads to specific directions. You just have to stand on road and hail them. In most cases, you don’t even have to do that. The drivers always pay attention to the people standing on the side of the road.

If you are no sure and you see checkpoints, you can always ask the police where to stand to catch the bus you need.

When you want to get off the bus or coaster, just say <em>nazel</em>.

So how do you know when you have to get off? I always follow my route on Google Maps and when I’m close, I just get out- Or if I anticipate that the coaster or bus is going to another direction all of a sudden, I just get out and take another one.

Foreigners normally don’t use coasters and buses in Baghdad. So, when locals see you there, they will be surprised and will be very happy to help you if you are not sure about how to continue your journey.

Your trip to Baghdad should be well planned if you want to see a lot of things in a limited amount of time. But, of course, be flexible to make changes in your plan on the fly. Spontaneity and flexibility should be part of your journey in Iraq in general.

The full itinerary includes 26 tourist places in Baghdad. Furthermore, I dropped a couple of places for tea, lunch and dinner in the plan.

I have excluded two places from the best places to visit in Baghdad list that are mostly not accessible to the public: Green Zone and the Al-Quds Gate.

I will present itineraries based on my experience in Baghdad. When I was in Baghdad, I had no idea about the opening times and I underestimated how much time it can take to get to some of these places. Thus, it took me about five days to visit everything.

But now, you have this guide and with the help of this guide, you can try and see all these places following the itineraries including time schedule.

You must start each day very early and be quick with sightseeing if you want to see everything in three days. If you want to see these places more relaxed, you need to have at least five days or skip some of these places.

You can also have a tour guide in Baghdad if you want to be more efficient with time.

An historic building on the way to the Abbasi Palace from Al-Mutanabbi Street – Visiting Baghdad

1-DAY BAGHDAD ITINERARY

1. Al-Shaheed Monument(Martyrs Monument)
2. Iraqi Museum until 1 pm
3. Al-Rasheed Street: until 2 pm
4. Pick up fresh grape juice on the way from Haj Zabala Juice Shop
5. Al-Mutanabbi Street: until 3 pm
6. Have lunch in the Kubba Saray: until 2 pm
7. Drink Tea in Shabandar Café: until 2 pm
8. Qishleh Clock: until 2 pm
9. Safafeer Market: until 2 pm
10. Mustansiriya Madrasah: until 2 pm
11. Tahrir Square and Freedom Monument: Be there latest 10 am and then move quickly to the next spot by taxi.
12. Saving Iraqi Culture Monument
13. Have dinner in Darbunah

2-DAY BAGHDAD ITINERARY

If you also want to see the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque, you have to be fast because the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque is really far from the city center of Baghdad. It’s at least a half a day program. Remember also that you can leave the mosques for the end of the day because they are also open at night.

14. Baghdadi Museum: until 1 pm
15. Abbasid Palace: until 1 pm
16. Grab a falafel for lunch
17. Antique Market at Maidan Square
18. Have tea in Mdalal Cafe
19. Armenian Church
20. Kahramana Statue
21. Statue of Scheherazade
22. Al-Kadhimiya Mosque
23. Abu Hanifa Mosque
24. Dinner in 1001 Nights Park
25. Firdos Square

3-DAY BAGHDAD ITINERARY

26. Dur-Kurigalzu (Ziggurat at Aqar Quf)
27. Bab Baghdad Al-Wastani if open
28. Al Beiruty Cafe (Albairoti Café)
29. Saint Joseph Latin Cathedral
30. Sayidat Al-Nejat Church
31. Sacred Heart of Jesus Church
32. Abdil Qadir Gilani Mosque
33. Dinner in Dar A- Atraqchi Heritage Cafe

In case you didn’t get a sim card at the airport, read this section of my Baghdad Travel Guide.

The three major mobile network operators in Iraq are Zain Iraq, Asiacell, and Korek Telekom. Most of their services are based on 3G, 4G, and LTE.

Zain Iraq and Asiacell are actually the best among the three operators.

You can easily find these operators in any shopping mall in Baghdad such as Baghdad Mall or Zayoon Mall.
In case you need to recharge, you can do that at the most random places pretty much anywhere, even in small shops.

ZAIN

Now, I am using a Zain Sim Card that I purchased with the Super Card 35,000 package.

You can find the latest prices below:

Sim card price: 1,500 dinars (1 USD)

Super Card 35,000:
20GB, 720 minutes calls, 720 SMS: 42,000 dinars (29 USD) including tax
Super Card 25,000:
8GB, 500 minutes calls, 500 SMS: 25,000 + tax

The packages are valid for 30 days.

ASIACELL

Last time, I tried Asiacell. At the moment, in terms of prices, there is only very little difference between Zain and Asiacell.