Find places in Iraq

Must-Haves

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Baghdadi Museum (Rusafa)
  Life size scenes of old Baghdad trades, weddings and street life that children enjoy.

Must-Haves

• Al-Mutanabbi Street book market (Rusafa)
  The historic street of booksellers, at its liveliest on Friday mornings.

Low Cost and Authentic

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• 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.

Must-Haves

• Shabandar Café (Al-Mutanabbi Street)
  A century old tea house hung with photographs of old Baghdad, where writers gather on Fridays.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Haj Zbala juice shop (Al-Rasheed Street)
  A historic shop famous for zbeeb raisin juice, sipped by Baghdadis for generations.

Must-Haves

• Masgouf restaurants on Abu Nuwas Street (Abu Nuwas Street)
  Carp split and slow grilled beside open fires along the river, Baghdad's signature dinner.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Kahi and gaimar breakfast stalls (Karrada)
  Flaky kahi pastry with clotted gaimar cream and date syrup, the classic Baghdad breakfast.

Fun for Everyone

• Zawraa Park (Karkh)
  A large family park with rides, lawns and the old Baghdad Zoo, busy on cool evenings.

Great for Date Night

• Tigris boat ride from Abu Nuwas (Abu Nuwas Street)
  Small boats take couples and families out on the river at sunset.

Off the Beaten Path

• Taq Kasra at Ctesiphon (Salman Pak)
  The largest single span brick arch in the world, part of a Sasanian palace south east of Baghdad.

Must-Haves

• Babylon Rotana (Jadriya)
  A long established international hotel near the river, popular with business travellers.

Must-Haves

• Baghdad International Book Fair (Baghdad International Fairground)
  One of the largest book fairs in the Arab world, held most years in the cooler months.

Great for Date Night

• Riverside shisha cafés of Abu Nuwas (Abu Nuwas Street)
  Shisha, tea and backgammon by the Tigris late into the evening.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• St Joseph Cathedral (Ankawa)
  The Chaldean cathedral of Ankawa, with modern mosaics and a calm courtyard.

Must-Haves

• Qaysari Bazaar (City centre)
  A covered bazaar of spices, honey, gold, cheese and Kurdish clothing below the citadel.

Fun for Everyone

• 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.

Must-Haves

• Machko Chaikhana (Citadel steps)
  A beloved old tea house on the citadel steps, full of photographs, poets and sweet tea.

Great for Date Night

• Rooftop cafés facing the citadel (City centre)
  Tea and shisha with a view of the lit citadel walls after dark.

Fun for Everyone

• Sami Abdulrahman Park (Western Erbil)
  A vast park of lakes, lawns and walking paths loved by families.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Great for Date Night

• Ankawa bars and restaurants (Ankawa)
  The mainly Christian district where Erbil's bars, wine and late dinners are found.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Kebab houses around Qaysari Bazaar (City centre)
  Simple grills serving kebab, bread and salad to shoppers and traders.

Fun for Everyone

• Citadel square fountains at night (City centre)
  The square below the citadel fills with families, fountains and lights in the evening.

Off the Beaten Path

• Hamilton Road drive (Erbil to Rawanduz)
  A historic mountain road built in the 1920s, with gorges, tunnels and tea stops.

Must-Haves

• Erbil Rotana (Gulan Street)
  A popular international hotel close to the main shopping districts.

Great for Date Night

• Divan Erbil (Gulan area)
  A large upscale hotel known for its views and restaurants.

Must-Haves

• Newroz celebrations (Erbil and the mountains)
  Fire, dancing and picnics for Kurdish New Year on and around 21 March.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Must-Haves

• Sulaymaniyah Bazaar (City centre)
  A rambling covered market of spices, cheese, fabrics and tea houses.

Fun for Everyone

• Salim Street (City centre)
  The main shopping street, lively with families and cafés in the evening.

Must-Haves

• Goizha Mountain viewpoints (Goizha)
  Hillside cafés and viewpoints where the city gathers at sunset.
• Dukan Lake (Dukan)
  A reservoir among hills, popular for picnics, swimming and boat trips.

Fun for Everyone

• Azadi Park (City centre)
  A former military base turned into the city's largest park.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ahmadawa Waterfall (Halabja area)
  A cool mountain waterfall with tea stalls near the Iranian border.

Fun for Everyone

• Chavi Land (Goizha road)
  An amusement park with a cable car and city views, popular with families.

Must-Haves

• Grand Millennium Sulaimani (Salim Street)
  A tall, central hotel with views over the city and mountains.

Great for Date Night

• Cafés along Salim Street (City centre)
  Modern coffee shops that capture the city's young, creative mood.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bazaar tea houses (City centre)
  Small chaikhanas serving strong sweet tea in tiny glasses to traders.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Kuftay and kebab grills in the bazaar (City centre)
  Simple grills and soup houses serving local favourites to shoppers.

Fun for Everyone

• Sulaymaniyah Newroz festivities (Goizha and city parks)
  Torches on the mountain and dancing in the parks for Kurdish New Year.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Ashawa Waterfall (Amedi road)
  A family friendly waterfall with cafés and shaded seating.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Must-Haves

• Delal Bridge (Zakho)
  An old stone bridge over the Khabur river, a classic photo and picnic spot.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Duhok Bazaar (City centre)
  A traditional market for honey, cheese, nuts and Kurdish clothing.

Must-Haves

• Akre Newroz torch procession (Akre)
  Thousands climb the town with torches to celebrate Kurdish New Year.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Grill houses on Duhok's main roads (Duhok)
  Busy kebab and chicken grills popular with students and families.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mountain tea stalls at Sulav (Amedi)
  Tea, fresh bread and fruit beside the water.

Must-Haves

• Shatt al-Arab Corniche (City centre)
  The riverside promenade where Basra strolls on winter evenings.

Great for Date Night

• Sunset boat ride on the Shatt al-Arab (Corniche)
  Small boats cross the river as the palms turn black against the sky.

Must-Haves

• Basrah Museum (Former presidential palace)
  Antiquities from Sumer to the Islamic era in a riverside palace.
• Ziggurat of Ur (Near Nasiriyah)
  The restored Sumerian temple tower of Ur, linked with the prophet Abraham.

Off the Beaten Path

• 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.

Fun for Everyone

• Sinbad Island (Shatt al-Arab)
  A park in the middle of the river with walking paths and family rides.

Must-Haves

• Mesopotamian Marshes at Chibayish (Chibayish)
  Reed villages, water buffalo and boat trips in the UNESCO listed Ahwar.

Off the Beaten Path

• Abu al-Khasib date palm groves (Abu al-Khasib)
  Endless palm groves and canals south of the city.

Low Cost and Authentic

• 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.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Masgouf and fish restaurants on the Corniche (Corniche)
  Grilled carp and Gulf fish served by the river.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Corniche tea sellers (Corniche)
  Cardamom tea from street sellers while watching the boats.

Fun for Everyone

• Date harvest season (Basra)
  Late summer and autumn, when fresh dates fill the markets.

Must-Haves

• 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.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Najaf Great Market (Old city)
  A busy covered market of prayer beads, perfume and pilgrim goods by the shrine.

Must-Haves

• Arbaeen pilgrimage (Najaf to Karbala)
  Millions walk from Najaf to Karbala, fed and housed free by volunteers along the way.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Pilgrim kitchens and kebab stalls (Old city)
  Simple food for pilgrims around the shrine, generous and filling.