🇮🇶 Iraq

10 best places in Baghdad

Baghdad, seat of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid on the banks of the Tigris, comes alive every Friday with a book fair on Al-Mutanabbi Street, holding onto centuries of poetry through decades of upheaval.

Sight

Al-Mutanabbi Street

Baghdad's legendary book street, named for the great Arab poet, hosting an open-air book market every Friday.

Museum

Iraq Museum (National Museum of Iraq)

One of the world's most important archaeology museums, home to treasures of Sumer, Akkad and Babylon.

Park

Al-Zawraa Park

The city's largest green park, with a zoo and tree-lined paths, Baghdad's favourite family outing.

Sight

Qishla (Al-Qishla Square)

An Ottoman-era square with a historic clock tower on the Tigris riverfront, popular for evening walks.

District

Abu Nawas Street

A riverside boulevard along the Tigris named for the poet, famous for its open-fire masgouf fish grills.

Sight

Al-Kadhimiya Shrine

A gold-domed Shia shrine holding the tombs of Imams Musa al-Kadhim and Muhammad al-Taqi, a major pilgrimage site.

Park

Baghdad Zoo

Iraq's oldest and largest zoo, rebuilt after 2003, set within Al-Zawraa Park.

Café

Shabandar Café

A historic 1917 teahouse on Al-Mutanabbi Street that has drawn Baghdad's writers and intellectuals for generations.

District

Al Rasheed Street

The city's oldest modern street, lined with early 20th-century colonial-era arcades.

Restaurant

Masgouf grills of Abu Nawas

A strip of riverside restaurants grilling masgouf over open fires, Iraq's signature river-fish dish.

FAQ

Is it safe to travel to Baghdad?

The city is calmer than it was in the 2000s and Iraq has opened up entry for many nationalities, but the risk is still real. Several foreign ministries continue to advise against travel. Most visitors go with a local guide or driver rather than wandering solo - check your own government's current advice.

When is the best time to visit Baghdad?

November through March. Summer regularly pushes past 45C and daytime sightseeing becomes impossible. Spring brings dust storms, and evenings on Abu Nawas Street only work in the cooler months.

How many days do you need in Baghdad?

Two or three days cover the Iraq Museum, Al-Mutanabbi Street, Qishla and the Tigris waterfront. Most travellers pair the capital with Samarra, Babylon, Karbala or Najaf. Iraqi Kurdistan is a separate trip with its own entry rules.

Can foreigners live in Iraq?

Iraq is rarely a relocation destination - security, bureaucracy and infrastructure all work against it. Foreigners are usually there on work permits with oil, construction or international organisations, and Kurdistan runs its own visa regime. The rules shift often, so verify everything before you travel.