Travel guide to Iraq What you should know before and during the trip!

Iraq is the cradle of modern civilization and the heart of ancient Mesopotamia. Babylon, which was once the center of the world, was located in this country and therefore offers history lovers many ancient sites for adventure. However, the country of Iraq is beyond its ancient attractions; Iraqis are known for their hospitality and kindness, and with their unparalleled generosity, they can make your trip a memorable experience. Amazing shrines, lively streets, amazingly delicious local food; There are many reasons to travel to this Arab country! If you have decided to travel to Iraq, be sure to read the following article in the tourism magazine Fly Today Read it completely and get full knowledge of the sub-topics of traveling to this country.

Introducing the country of Iraq

Iraq is the cradle of modern civilization and the heart of ancient Mesopotamia. Babylon, which was once the center of the world, was located in this country and therefore offers history lovers many ancient sites for adventure. However, the country of Iraq is beyond its ancient attractions; Iraqis are known for their hospitality and kindness, and with their unparalleled generosity, they can make your trip a memorable experience.

Amazing shrines, lively streets, amazingly delicious local food; There are many reasons to travel to this Arab country! If you have decided to travel to Iraq, be sure to read the following article in the tourism magazine Fly Today Read it completely and get full knowledge of the sub-topics of traveling to this country.

Iraq, officially known as the Federal Republic of Iraq, is a country in Southwest Asia. This Arab country is one of the most important neighbors of Iran, and this has caused the travel to this country from Iran to be very prosperous. Also, the presence of the holy shrine of Imam Ali (a.s.) and his children in Iraq has made it one of the most important Islamic countries, and Iraq hosts many Muslims from all over the world every year.

Essential information when traveling to Iraq

In the following, the most essential information that you should be familiar with before traveling to Iraq is presented:

• Official language: Arabic, Kurdish






• Capital: Baghdad






• Official currency: Iraqi dinar






• Official religion: Islam






• Population: 41 million people






• Country code: 0964






• Time difference with Tehran: 30 minutes behind

Travel conditions to Iraq visa

Iraq is one of those countries where Iranians can travel without a visa and stay in the country for up to 30 days. Therefore, whenever you want to travel to one of Iraq’s cities, all you have to do is buy a plane ticket and make a hotel reservation; Then pack your bag and get ready for the trip.

If your intention to travel to Iraq is pilgrimage, you can Karbala hotels Book at the cheapest price from Fly Today.

Ways to travel to Iraq

Due to the proximity of Iraq to Iran, you can travel to Iraq by land and air. Land and air travel to this country have their own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, you should decide on the method of traveling to Iraq according to your conditions, budget and priorities. In the following, the ways to travel to Iraq have been examined in detail:

Air travel to Iraq

By buying a plane ticket to Iraq, you can make a comfortable, safe and fast trip for yourself. Flights from Iran to different Iraqi cities generally last less than 4 hours, and if you want to save time, air travel is the best option for traveling to this tourist and pilgrimage country. The cities of Najaf, Baghdad and Basra are the most important cities for air travel to Iraq.

Also, it is good to know that one of the airlines operating on the Iran-Iraq route, Iraqi Airways You can get the ticket from Fly Today.

Land trip to Iraq

If you want to travel economically or live in cities that are a short distance from Iraq, you can enter Iraq through land borders. Although this method is cheaper compared to air travel, you should prepare yourself for long hours of travel and delays at the borders of Iran and Iraq. Currently, travelers can travel to Iraq through the following land crossings:

• Kille Sardasht border: This border is located in Sardasht city of West Azarbaijan province and it is the closest border to Erbil and Sulaymaniyah provinces of Iraqi Kurdistan.






• Tamrchin border: This border is located in Piranshahr city of West Azarbaijan province and Choman city of Iraq is the closest city to this border crossing.






• Marz Mehran (martyr Qassem Soleimani): Mehran border, which is one of the most important and busiest borders between Iran and Iraq, is located in Ilam city and shares a 220 km border with Iraq.






• Bashmaq border: This border crossing is located 15 kilometers from Marivan city and borders with the Kurdistan region of Iraq.






• Marz Khosravi: Khosravi’s border is located in Qasr Shirin, which is one of the cities of Kermanshah province.






• Shlamche border: Shalamcheh is one of the most important border crossings between Iran and Iraq, and thousands of travelers enter Iraq through this border every year. Shalamcheh is a village in Khorramshahr city.

Airports in Iraq

Many cities in Iraq do not have international airports, and if you want to travel by plane to the cities of this country, you should choose a city that is less far from your desired destination. For example, if you plan to travel to Karbala, the best option is to buy a plane ticket to Najaf. Karbala and Najaf are about 4 hours away from each other by car. The international airports of Iraq are:

• Baghdad International Airport






• Najaf International Airport






• Erbil International Airport






• Sulaymaniyah International Airport






• Mosul International Airport






• Basra International Airport






• Dohuk International Airport

Buying a SIM card in Iraq

If you want to use an Iraqi SIM card during your stay in the Federal Republic of Iraq and reduce your call or internet costs, you can easily buy a SIM card as soon as you arrive in this country. Asiacell (Asiacell) and Zain Iraq (Zain Iraq) are the most famous mobile phone operators in this country, and you can get a SIM card by visiting the representatives of these two operators in the airports and different cities of Iraq. Also, if you plan to go to the Kurdistan region of Iraq, you should buy a SIM card from Korek operators. To get a SIM card, you need a passport and a visa.

The currency of Iraq

Dinar is the official currency in Iraq. After the dinar, the use of dollars is also very popular in this country, and if you wish, you can take dollars with you when you travel to Iraq. Note that in Iraq, the culture of using credit cards has not yet taken root, and most expenses must be paid in cash. Only some hotels and restaurants accept credit cards, and even in these places, generally 1-2 employees know how to work with the machine, and most of the time these machines don’t work.

Also, you should not open an account with cash from Iraqi ATMs; Especially if your destination is not the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Apart from the cities of Sulaymaniyah, Erbil and Dohuk, where ATMs are generally able to provide cash to travelers, ATMs in other places are not very reliable, and for this reason, it is better to have enough cash with you during your trip to Iraq.

Iraq weather

As you know, a large part of Iraq is made up of desert and for this reason, this country has hot and dry weather in most of its parts. However, the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers is very fertile. Also, if you are going to travel to the Kurdistan region of Iraq, you will be expecting a relatively cold and mountainous weather.

The best time to travel to Iraq

Undoubtedly, spring and autumn, i.e. October, November, March and April, are the best time to visit Iraq in terms of weather. In order not to get caught in the extreme heat of Iraq, we recommend that you strictly avoid traveling to this country during the summer months. Note that Iraqi Kurdistan is a little colder than its other regions, and in addition to the mentioned months, September and May are also good times to travel there.

Travel expenses to Iraq

The budget you need to travel to Iraq depends on various factors. For example, if you want to travel to Najaf and Karbala during Arbaeen, your expenses will be greatly reduced; Because you will not pay for hotel reservations in Karbala and Najaf, nor for food. Also, whether you travel to Iraq by land or by air, and which city your destination is, greatly affect the cost of traveling to Iraq. To get more information about buying a plane ticket to Iraq or booking a hotel in different cities of this country, you can visit the Fly Today website or contact the experts of this collection.

Public transportation in Iraq

If you plan to visit different cities in Iraq, one of your most important concerns is to get familiar with public transportation within and between cities. Although due to the war, different cities in Iraq do not have extensive and advanced public transportation, however, you will not face any particular problem for traveling around different cities or going from one city to another. In the following, more has been discussed about the public transport within and outside the city of Iraq:

Intercity transportation

To travel from one Iraqi city to another, you can take a minibus or a taxi. Minibuses are generally cheaper than taxis. Iraqi intercity taxis are generally 4- and 7-passenger, and the cost of the front seats in both of these taxis is more expensive than the back seats. Note that on some days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), trains operate on the route to Baghdad and Basra.

Intra-city transportation

If you want to use internet taxis in the city, download the Careem application and install it on your mobile phone before your trip. This application can be used in the cities of Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Najaf and Erbil. The Baly application is currently being used in Baghdad. In addition, taxis are also ready to serve and transport passengers.

The best hotels in Iraq

To stay in Iraq, you will have several options; Especially if your destination is the Kurdistan Region and the cities of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. In the following, some of the best hotels in Iraq are introduced according to the most important and touristic cities:

The best hotels in Baghdad

• CORAL HOTEL BAGHDAD






• Babylon Rotana Hotel Baghdad






• Ishtar Sheraton Hotel






• Al Mansour Hotel, Baghdad






• Rimal Hotel Baghdad

The best hotels in Najaf

• Qasr Aldeyafa Hotel in Najaf






• Zamzam Hotel Najaf






• Qasr Aldur Hotel in Najaf






• Kosar Hotel in Najaf






• Al Sahla Land Hotel in Najaf






• Al Khiam Hotel Najaf

The best hotels in Erbil

• Divan Erbil Hotel






• Darin Plaza Hotel Erbil






• Erbil Rotana Hotel






• Erbil International Hotel






• Lamassu Hotel Erbil






• Crystal Erbil Hotel

The best hotels in Sulaymaniyah

• GRAND MILLENNIUM HOTEL SULAIMANIAH






• Slemani Rotana Hotel






• Millennium Kurdistan Hotel And Spa






• Titanic Hotel & Spa Sulaymaniyah






• Ramada by Wyndham Sulaymaniyah Salim Street Hotel

The best hotels in Basra

• Basra International Hotel






• Grand Millennium Al Seef Basra Hotel






• Movenpic Zenat Al-Hayat Basraa Hotel






• Horizon Hotel Basra






• Shams AL-Basra Hotel

You can book the best hotels in Iraq at the cheapest price and by paying riyals from Fly Today.

Sights of Iraq

Considering that Iraq is an ancient country and human habitation dates back to thousands of years ago, there are many historical monuments in different cities of this country. Some of these buildings are registered in the UNESCO world heritage and visiting them can introduce you to the history of mankind. On the other hand, this country also has pilgrimage cities that are very important and valuable for many Muslims in the world.

In the following, we will explain what are the best places to visit during a trip to each of the cities, separately from the touristic and important cities of Iraq:

Baghdad The capital of Iraq

Since Baghdad is the capital of Iraq and the most populated city in the country, you should prepare yourself to see historical attractions, try different foods and interact with new people. Baghdad, with all its beauty and vastness, unfortunately has very heavy traffic, and except for early morning or late night, moving from one part of the city to another is slow. The most important buildings that you must visit during your trip to Baghdad are:

• Baghdad National Museum






• Tahrir Square






• Al-Khadimiyah Mosque (Yasin)






• Mutanabi St






• Shabandar Cafe






• Mada’in Iraq






• Faw Palace






• Martyr’s memory






• Rahman Mosque






• Safafir copper market






• And…

Najaf | One of the most important pilgrimage cities in Iraq

Najaf is one of the most important cities for Muslims and Shias, and due to the location of the sacred shrine of Imam Ali (AS), this city annually hosts millions of pilgrims and travelers from all over Iran and the world. In addition, the presence of Wadi al-Salam cemetery, which is considered one of the other important religious places of this city, has made Najaf attractive for non-Muslim travelers as well. The buildings that you must visit during your trip to Najaf are:

• • Nimrod Tower

  
  
  
  

  • Jawaheri Mosque

  
  
  
  

  • Ayatollah Hakim Library

  
  
  
  

  • Hanana Mosque

  
  
  
  

  • Khazra Mosque

  
  
  
  

  • Tomb of Sheikh Tusi
  • And…

Karbala | From other pilgrimage cities in Iraq

Karbala is one of the other holy and religious cities of Iraq. This city is more popular with Muslims and Shiites due to the holy tomb of Imam Hussein (a.s.) and his brother, and every year on the day of Arbaeen, the number of pilgrims and travelers to this city reaches its peak. The most important buildings that you must visit during your trip to Karbala are:

• Al-Akhdeer Castle






• Tomb of Amir Kabir






• Alakmeh stream






• Qasr Ashan






• Tomb of Muslim children






• Bin al-Haramin






• And…

If you are planning to travel to Karbala during Arbaeen, we recommend this article Conditions for traveling to Iraq in Arbaeen Read in Fly Today tourism magazine.

Erbil Modern but historical

Despite its long history, Erbil is a completely modern city and with its historical attractions, it will make a memorable trip for you. According to travelers who have already traveled to Erbil, the experience of traveling to this city will remain incomplete without visiting the winding market of Qaysari and Erbil Citadel! Among other tourist attractions that you must visit during your trip to Erbil, the following can be mentioned:

• Erbil Citadel and Square






• Erbil city park






• Jalil Khayat mosque






• Shandir Park






• Banman Castle






• Aqua Tarin Water Park






• And….

Sulaymaniyah Iraq’s scientific hub

Sulaymaniyah, which is a modern city in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, is considered the scientific and commercial hub of this country. In fact, many students from all over Iraq come to this city to study. Although Sulaymaniyah’s attractions are less compared to other cities in this country, there are still places to visit and have fun:

• Qizqapan tomb






• Paikoli inscription






• Korkh Kage’s tomb






• Sulaymaniyah Museum






• Amne Sorke Museum






• Dukan Lake

Basra | A beautiful city in Iraq

Basra is a port city located near Iran and Kuwait. One of the most important reasons for the growth of tourism in this city is boating in Shatt al-Arab. On the other hand, the Basra fish market has also given a lot of charm to this city and has made it a popular choice among travelers. The most important places that you must visit during your trip to Basra are:

• Imam Ali Mosque or the old mosque of Basra






• Fish market






• Adam’s tree






• Erido archaeological site






• Euphrates River

The best restaurants in Iraq

In addition to the hospitality of the Iraqi people, which will make your trip to this country extremely enjoyable, Iraq also has very delicious foods that trying them during your trip can create a unique and enjoyable experience for you. In the following, we will tell you in which of the restaurants in different cities of Iraq, you can try delicious and delicious Arabic food:

The best restaurants in Baghdad

• Krispy’s restaurant






• Aroma Restaurant






• Faleh Abu Alambh Restaurant






• Dojo’s Diner Restaurant






• Al-Areesha Restaurant

The best restaurants in Najaf

• Al Wa’aha Restaurant






• Sobat Restaurant






• Lighthouse Restaurant






• Manara Restaurant






• Eagle Restaurant






• Dur Al Najaf Restaurant

The best restaurants in Karbala

• Al Nakhil Restaurant






• Rokn Al Sultan Restaurant






• Ewan restaurant and cafe (Ewan res & Cafe)






• Al Ferdous Restaurant






• Damascus House Restaurant






• Saffron Restaurant

The best restaurants in Erbil

• Flavors all-day dining restaurant






• Bouba Restaurant






• Shandiz Restaurant






• Sammad Restaurant






• Habruri Grill Restaurant






• DC Steakhouse Restaurant

The best restaurants in Sulaymaniyah

• Baba Doner Restaurant






• Karino Restaurant

Shopping in Iraq What are the best shopping centers in Iraq?

It doesn’t matter which city or country your travel destination is; Either way, shopping will be one of the best parts of your trip. In order to buy souvenirs from Iraq for your loved ones, the items presented below will be very suitable options:

• Al Mansur Mall in Baghdad






• Baghdad Mall shopping center in Baghdad (Baghdad Mall)






• Babylon Mall in Baghdad






• Family Mall in Erbil






• Majidi Mall shopping center in Erbil city (Majidi Mall)






• City Star Mall in Sulaymaniyah






• Najaf City Mall in Najaf City






• Karbala traditional market and Najaf market

Traditional and famous dishes of Iraq

Iraqi cuisine is influenced by the country’s rich and diverse culture and is often prepared with simple ingredients such as meat, rice, vegetables and spices. Also, due to the proximity of this country to Iran, many of its dishes taste similar to Iranian dishes. In the following, we have introduced some traditional and famous Iraqi dishes that you must try during your trip to this country:

• Iraqi kebab






• Iraqi biryani rice






• Iraqi Masgoff






• Najafi ghee






• Iraqi dolma






• Iraqi percussion






• Cozy






• Iraqi assimilation






• Homs






• And…

Iraqi souvenirs

Iraq is a country with rich history and culture and has a variety of souvenirs that can be attractive to you and your loved ones. For example, since Iraq is one of the largest producers of dates in the world, you will find many delicious routabs in this country. If you travel to pilgrimage cities, Sajjadeh and Mehr can be a good option for souvenirs. Precious stones, all kinds of leather products, Dashdash, fabric, incense burners, etc. They are among other famous souvenirs of Iraq.

Important tips for traveling to Iraq

In order to have a safe and enjoyable trip to Iraq, we recommend that you pay special attention to the following points:

• Iraq is an Islamic country and proper covering is very important in this country. Therefore, before traveling, you should choose a cover suitable for the culture of this country so that you do not face any special challenges during the trip.






• Unfortunately, the effects of war and internal conflicts are still visible in Iraq. Therefore, it is better to observe security precautions during the trip, do not go to unsafe areas and even if possible, do not ride crowded public vehicles.






• Considering that the weather in Iraq is very hot and dry, it is better to be very strict in choosing the right time to travel.






• Make a comprehensive plan to visit different places in Iraq before your trip.






• Don’t forget travel insurance. In case of any problems, travel insurance can cover medical expenses and other unexpected expenses. To buy Iraq travel insurance, you can visit the Fly Today website or contact the experts of this collection.






• Iraq is a country with hospitable people. Therefore, while traveling, you should respect the people of this country and their customs.






• The official language of Iraq is Arabic. If you are not familiar with this language, it is better to learn some essential phrases and expressions in Arabic so that you can communicate with Iraqi people more easily during your trip.






• Before traveling to Iraq, ask about the restrictions related to the corona disease.

Iraq, the cradle of civilization and culture

If you like to travel to a land that hosts ancient cities and monuments and its people welcome you with hospitality and kindness, Iraq will be a great option for you. In this article, we talked to you about the travel guide to Iraq and provided you with the information you need to travel to this country. Have you ever traveled to Iraq? What was your travel experience?

Frequently asked questions about traveling to Iraq