Why visit Iraq
Iraq is the heart of ancient Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates where writing, cities and law were born. Today it rewards curious travellers with layered history, warm hospitality and food you will not forget. Here are the cities worth planning a trip around.
Baghdad
The sprawling capital mixes Abbasid grandeur with riverside cafe culture. Walk Al-Mutanabbi Street, the famous book market, on a Friday when poets, students and booksellers fill the pavements, then drink sweet tea along the Tigris.
Erbil (Hewler)
One of the oldest continuously inhabited places on Earth and the relaxed capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. The highlight is the Erbil Citadel, a UNESCO-listed mound rising above the modern bazaar, with the lively Qaysari market at its foot.
Najaf
A holy city for Shia Muslims and a centre of learning for a thousand years. The gold-domed Imam Ali Shrine is breathtaking, and the surrounding old city buzzes with pilgrims, scholars and shrine craftspeople.
Karbala
One of the most visited pilgrimage cities in the world, especially during Arbaeen. The twin shrines of Imam Hussein and Abbas, glowing with gold and mirror-work, anchor a city built around devotion and remembrance.
Basra
Iraq's southern port on the Shatt al-Arab waterway, once called the Venice of the East for its canals. Take a boat along the Shatt al-Arab, see the old Shanasheel wooden balcony houses, and try the famous grilled river fish.
Sulaymaniyah (Slemani)
The cultural capital of the Kurdish region, green, liberal and full of cafes. The sobering but essential Amna Suraka (Red Security) Museum, a former prison, tells the region's modern story; nearby mountains offer cool escapes in summer.
Mosul
A city reborn after years of conflict, where reconstruction sits beside deep history. Visit the rebuilt Al-Nuri Mosque and its leaning Al-Hadba minaret, and walk the old town's restored markets and churches.
Practical tips
- The Kurdistan Region (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah) is the easiest entry point for first-timers.
- Dress modestly, especially in holy cities; women cover hair inside shrines.
- Carry cash in Iraqi dinar; cards are rarely accepted.
- Fridays are quiet for business but lively for markets and shrines.
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