Iraq · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Iraq
Our pick of the sights, cafés, markets, nature spots and stays across Iraq, from the classics to quiet corners locals love. Check opening times and current travel advice before you go, as things change quickly.
Places to Visit in Baghdad
Arts and Culture
- Iraq Museum (Al-Allawi, Karkh)
Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian treasures, including winged bulls, in one of the great museums of the world. - Al-Qishla (Rusafa)
The restored Ottoman barracks with a clock tower, gardens and Tigris views at the end of Al-Mutanabbi Street. - Al-Mustansiriya School (Rusafa)
A thirteenth century Abbasid college, one of the oldest universities in the world. - Al-Kadhimiya Shrine (Kadhimiya)
Golden domes and mirrored halls at one of the holiest Shia shrines, busy with pilgrims day and night. - Baghdadi Museum (Rusafa)
Life size scenes of old Baghdad trades, weddings and street life that children enjoy. - Martyr's Monument (Al-Shaheed) (Rusafa)
A split turquoise dome that is one of the most striking modern monuments in the Arab world. - Victory Arch (Swords of Qadisiyah) (Karkh)
Giant crossed swords held by bronze fists, a landmark of the Saddam era. - Abbasid Palace (Rusafa)
A rare surviving Abbasid era building with fine brick vaulting, near the Tigris. - Babylon (Hillah)
The UNESCO listed ruins of Nebuchadnezzar's city, with the Lion of Babylon and rebuilt walls.
Shopping and Markets
- Al-Mutanabbi Street book market (Rusafa)
The historic street of booksellers, at its liveliest on Friday mornings. - Souq al-Safafeer (Rusafa)
The old copper market, where a few craftsmen still hammer pots and trays by hand. - Shorja Market (Rusafa)
The city's huge, chaotic wholesale bazaar of spices, sweets, fabrics and everything else. - Baghdad Mall (Harthiya)
A modern mall with cafés, shops and family entertainment away from the heat. - Mansour Mall (Mansour)
A popular mall in upscale Mansour with food courts and cinemas.
Cafés
- Shabandar Café (Al-Mutanabbi Street)
A century old tea house hung with photographs of old Baghdad, where writers gather on Fridays. - Haj Zbala juice shop (Al-Rasheed Street)
A historic shop famous for zbeeb raisin juice, sipped by Baghdadis for generations.
Restaurants
- Masgouf restaurants on Abu Nuwas Street (Abu Nuwas Street)
Carp split and slow grilled beside open fires along the river, Baghdad's signature dinner. - Kahi and gaimar breakfast stalls (Karrada)
Flaky kahi pastry with clotted gaimar cream and date syrup, the classic Baghdad breakfast.
Nature and Outdoors
- Zawraa Park (Karkh)
A large family park with rides, lawns and the old Baghdad Zoo, busy on cool evenings.
Things to Do
- Tigris boat ride from Abu Nuwas (Abu Nuwas Street)
Small boats take couples and families out on the river at sunset. - Taq Kasra at Ctesiphon (Salman Pak)
The largest single span brick arch in the world, part of a Sasanian palace south east of Baghdad.
Stays
- Babylon Rotana (Jadriya)
A long established international hotel near the river, popular with business travellers.
Events
- Baghdad International Book Fair (Baghdad International Fairground)
One of the largest book fairs in the Arab world, held most years in the cooler months.
Bars and Nightlife
- Riverside shisha cafés of Abu Nuwas (Abu Nuwas Street)
Shisha, tea and backgammon by the Tigris late into the evening.
Places to Visit in Erbil
Arts and Culture
- Erbil Citadel (City centre)
A UNESCO listed citadel mound lived on for thousands of years, with views over the whole city. - Kurdish Textile Museum (Erbil Citadel)
Rugs, felt and nomadic weaving in a restored mansion inside the citadel. - Mudhafaria Minaret (Minare Park)
The surviving twelfth century minaret of a vanished mosque, now in a small park. - Jalil Khayat Mosque (Dream City area)
Erbil's grandest modern mosque, with a huge dome and Ottoman style minarets. - St Joseph Cathedral (Ankawa)
The Chaldean cathedral of Ankawa, with modern mosaics and a calm courtyard. - Shanidar Cave (Barzan area)
The cave where Neanderthal burials were found, set high above the Great Zab valley. - Erbil Citadel Kurdish heritage houses (Erbil Citadel)
Restored courtyard mansions showing old Kurdish domestic life.
Shopping and Markets
- Qaysari Bazaar (City centre)
A covered bazaar of spices, honey, gold, cheese and Kurdish clothing below the citadel. - Family Mall (Erbil)
A large mall with a fairground, cinema and food court for hot days. - Majidi Mall (Erbil)
A big shopping centre with international brands and cafés.
Cafés
- Machko Chaikhana (Citadel steps)
A beloved old tea house on the citadel steps, full of photographs, poets and sweet tea. - Rooftop cafés facing the citadel (City centre)
Tea and shisha with a view of the lit citadel walls after dark.
Nature and Outdoors
- Sami Abdulrahman Park (Western Erbil)
A vast park of lakes, lawns and walking paths loved by families. - Shaqlawa (Erbil Governorate)
A mountain resort town of orchards and honey sellers an hour north east of Erbil. - Gali Ali Beg Waterfall (Rawanduz road)
Iraq's most famous waterfall, in a dramatic gorge on the Hamilton Road. - Rawanduz Canyon (Rawanduz)
A deep canyon with viewpoints and a cliffside town, among Kurdistan's best scenery. - Bekhal Waterfall (Rawanduz)
A spring fed cascade surrounded by tea stalls and picnic spots. - Minare Park (City centre)
An easy green space around the old minaret, good for an evening walk.
Bars and Nightlife
- Ankawa bars and restaurants (Ankawa)
The mainly Christian district where Erbil's bars, wine and late dinners are found.
Restaurants
- Kebab houses around Qaysari Bazaar (City centre)
Simple grills serving kebab, bread and salad to shoppers and traders.
Things to Do
- Citadel square fountains at night (City centre)
The square below the citadel fills with families, fountains and lights in the evening. - Hamilton Road drive (Erbil to Rawanduz)
A historic mountain road built in the 1920s, with gorges, tunnels and tea stops.
Stays
- Erbil Rotana (Gulan Street)
A popular international hotel close to the main shopping districts. - Divan Erbil (Gulan area)
A large upscale hotel known for its views and restaurants.
Events
- Newroz celebrations (Erbil and the mountains)
Fire, dancing and picnics for Kurdish New Year on and around 21 March.
Places to Visit in Sulaymaniyah
Arts and Culture
- Amna Suraka (Red Security Museum) (City centre)
A former Baath prison turned museum, with the moving Hall of Mirrors. - Slemani Museum (Salim Street)
The second largest antiquities collection in Iraq, from prehistory to the Islamic era. - Grand Mosque of Sulaymaniyah (City centre)
The historic mosque at the heart of the old city and bazaar. - Halabja Monument (Halabja)
A memorial and museum to the victims of the 1988 chemical attack.
Shopping and Markets
- Sulaymaniyah Bazaar (City centre)
A rambling covered market of spices, cheese, fabrics and tea houses. - Salim Street (City centre)
The main shopping street, lively with families and cafés in the evening.
Nature and Outdoors
- Goizha Mountain viewpoints (Goizha)
Hillside cafés and viewpoints where the city gathers at sunset. - Azadi Park (City centre)
A former military base turned into the city's largest park. - Dukan Lake (Dukan)
A reservoir among hills, popular for picnics, swimming and boat trips. - Ahmadawa Waterfall (Halabja area)
A cool mountain waterfall with tea stalls near the Iranian border.
Things to Do
- Chavi Land (Goizha road)
An amusement park with a cable car and city views, popular with families.
Stays
- Grand Millennium Sulaimani (Salim Street)
A tall, central hotel with views over the city and mountains.
Cafés
- Cafés along Salim Street (City centre)
Modern coffee shops that capture the city's young, creative mood. - Bazaar tea houses (City centre)
Small chaikhanas serving strong sweet tea in tiny glasses to traders.
Restaurants
- Kuftay and kebab grills in the bazaar (City centre)
Simple grills and soup houses serving local favourites to shoppers.
Events
- Sulaymaniyah Newroz festivities (Goizha and city parks)
Torches on the mountain and dancing in the parks for Kurdish New Year.
Places to Visit in Duhok
Nature and Outdoors
- Duhok Dam (Duhok)
A lake and dam at the edge of town, the city's favourite evening and picnic spot. - Sulav Resort (Amedi)
Waterfalls and terraced restaurants below the cliffs of Amedi. - Ashawa Waterfall (Amedi road)
A family friendly waterfall with cafés and shaded seating.
Arts and Culture
- Amedi (Amadiya) (Amedi)
A town on a flat topped mountain, entered through the ancient Badinan Gate. - Lalish Temple (Shekhan)
The holiest Yazidi shrine, a valley of white conical domes visited barefoot. - Rabban Hormizd Monastery (Alqosh)
A seventh century monastery carved into the mountainside above Alqosh. - Mar Mattai Monastery (Mount Maqlub)
One of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, with sweeping plains views. - Akre (Aqrah) (Akre)
A hillside town of stacked stone houses that glows at night during Newroz. - Bavian (Khinnis) Assyrian reliefs (Khinnis)
Assyrian rock carvings of King Sennacherib beside an ancient canal.
Things to Do
- Delal Bridge (Zakho)
An old stone bridge over the Khabur river, a classic photo and picnic spot.
Shopping and Markets
- Duhok Bazaar (City centre)
A traditional market for honey, cheese, nuts and Kurdish clothing.
Events
- Akre Newroz torch procession (Akre)
Thousands climb the town with torches to celebrate Kurdish New Year.
Restaurants
- Grill houses on Duhok's main roads (Duhok)
Busy kebab and chicken grills popular with students and families.
Cafés
- Mountain tea stalls at Sulav (Amedi)
Tea, fresh bread and fruit beside the water.
Places to Visit in Basra
Things to Do
- Shatt al-Arab Corniche (City centre)
The riverside promenade where Basra strolls on winter evenings. - Sunset boat ride on the Shatt al-Arab (Corniche)
Small boats cross the river as the palms turn black against the sky.
Arts and Culture
- Basrah Museum (Former presidential palace)
Antiquities from Sumer to the Islamic era in a riverside palace. - Statue of Badr Shakir al-Sayyab (Corniche)
A tribute to Iraq's great modern poet, born near Basra. - Shanasheel houses of Ashar (Ashar)
A few surviving old houses with carved wooden balconies. - Ziggurat of Ur (Near Nasiriyah)
The restored Sumerian temple tower of Ur, linked with the prophet Abraham.
Nature and Outdoors
- Sinbad Island (Shatt al-Arab)
A park in the middle of the river with walking paths and family rides. - Mesopotamian Marshes at Chibayish (Chibayish)
Reed villages, water buffalo and boat trips in the UNESCO listed Ahwar. - Abu al-Khasib date palm groves (Abu al-Khasib)
Endless palm groves and canals south of the city.
Shopping and Markets
- Ashar souq (Ashar)
The old market quarter near the canals, with spices, fabrics and dates. - Basra fish market (Basra)
An early morning market of Gulf fish and river catch.
Restaurants
- Masgouf and fish restaurants on the Corniche (Corniche)
Grilled carp and Gulf fish served by the river.
Cafés
- Corniche tea sellers (Corniche)
Cardamom tea from street sellers while watching the boats.
Events
- Date harvest season (Basra)
Late summer and autumn, when fresh dates fill the markets.
Places to Visit in Najaf
Arts and Culture
- Imam Ali Shrine (Old city)
The golden domed shrine of Imam Ali, among the holiest places in Shia Islam. - Wadi al-Salam Cemetery (Najaf)
One of the largest cemeteries in the world, stretching to the horizon. - Great Mosque of Kufa (Kufa)
An early Islamic mosque linked with Imam Ali, a short drive from Najaf. - Imam Husayn Shrine (Karbala)
The shrine of Imam Husayn in Karbala, heart of the Arbaeen pilgrimage. - Al-Abbas Shrine (Karbala)
The shrine of Al-Abbas, facing Imam Husayn's across the Bayn al-Haramayn plaza.
Shopping and Markets
- Najaf Great Market (Old city)
A busy covered market of prayer beads, perfume and pilgrim goods by the shrine.
Events
- Arbaeen pilgrimage (Najaf to Karbala)
Millions walk from Najaf to Karbala, fed and housed free by volunteers along the way.
Restaurants
- Pilgrim kitchens and kebab stalls (Old city)
Simple food for pilgrims around the shrine, generous and filling.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Mirjan Mosque (Rusafa, Baghdad)
A fourteenth century mosque and school with intricate brickwork near Shorja. - Faqma Al-Rubaie ice cream (Karrada, Baghdad)
A Baghdad institution for fresh ice cream, packed with families on summer nights. - Ridha Alwan coffee shop (Karrada, Baghdad)
A long established coffee roaster and café that is a Karrada meeting point. - Al Rasheed Hotel (Karkh, Baghdad)
A landmark hotel in the centre of Baghdad, close to government districts. - Palestine Hotel (Firdos Square, Baghdad)
A historic tower hotel overlooking the Tigris and Firdos Square. - Al-Wasiti Gallery and Al-Rasheed Street arcades (Rusafa, Baghdad)
Old colonnaded streets where galleries and craftsmen keep Baghdad's art scene alive. - Jadriya riverside walk (Jadriya, Baghdad)
A quiet stretch of river and gardens near Baghdad University for evening strolls. - Baghdad Tower (Mansour, Baghdad)
The city's tall communication tower, a landmark of the western skyline. - Abu Shahab restaurant (Erbil, Erbil)
A well known grill house for Iraqi and Kurdish dishes with a family atmosphere. - Guesthouses near the citadel (City centre, Erbil)
Simple family run guesthouses within walking distance of the bazaar. - Erbil Civilization Museum (City centre, Erbil)
A small museum of antiquities from across the Erbil plain. - Hiran Valley (Shaqlawa area, Erbil)
A green valley of springs and walnut trees, popular for summer picnics. - Kurdish poets' statues on Salim Street (City centre, Sulaymaniyah)
Statues of Kurdish poets that show how much the city loves literature. - Tuy Malik (Sulaymaniyah outskirts, Sulaymaniyah)
A hillside recreation area with cafés and views, loved by locals at weekends. - Sulaymaniyah Public Library and book street (City centre, Sulaymaniyah)
Bookshops and a public library at the heart of the city's literary scene. - Small hotels near the bazaar (City centre, Sulaymaniyah)
Simple, central hotels used by Iraqi travellers, close to everything. - Gara Mountain (Amedi district, Duhok)
A high mountain with snow in winter and wide views in summer, best visited with locals. - Barzan valley (Barzan, Duhok)
Remote valleys and villages along the Great Zab river. - Rixos Duhok (Duhok, Duhok)
A modern upscale hotel with mountain views on the edge of town. - Zawita pine forest (Zawita, Duhok)
Pine woods and picnic spots on the road towards Amedi. - Duhok Heritage Museum (Duhok, Duhok)
A small collection of Kurdish household objects and costume. - Kani Masi (Amedi district, Duhok)
A village of springs and orchards near the Turkish border. - Basra Times Square Mall (Basra, Basra)
A big modern mall and family entertainment centre. - Basrah International Hotel (Corniche, Basra)
The city's best known riverside hotel. - Pilgrim hotels near the shrine (Old city, Najaf)
Many simple hotels within walking distance of the Imam Ali Shrine. - Kufa riverside (Kufa, Najaf)
A quieter stretch of the Euphrates near the historic mosque. - Najaf Sea viewpoints (Najaf, Najaf)
A desert depression west of the city, eerie and beautiful at sunset.