Travel Guide to Iraq 2026: Babylon, Baghdad, Erbil & the Marshes (Read the Warnings First)
Thinking of a trip to Iraq? This travel guide to Iraq starts with the 2026 safety situation, then covers where Iraq is, the seasons, the e-visa rules, the 10 most famous places, how a classic route looks, costs, culture, and the leading universities. From the ruins of Babylon and the ziggurat of Ur to the spiral minaret of Samarra, the reed houses of the Mesopotamian Marshes and the hilltop citadel of Erbil, Iraq holds some of the oldest sites of civilisation. This guide is honest that, in 2026, governments strongly advise against travel.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and costs in this travel guide to Iraq were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to Iraq
- Capital: Baghdad💡 The Abbasid capital of the Islamic golden age
- Currency: Iraqi dinar (IQD)💡 A cash economy; bring clean US dollars. Check rates
- Languages: Arabic and Kurdish💡 Kurdish is official in the Kurdistan Region
- Population: About 47 million💡 A young and fast-growing population
- Area: 438,317 km²💡 Desert, river plains, marshes and mountains
- Time zone: UTC+3, no daylight saving💡 Convert times
- UNESCO sites: 6💡 Including Babylon, Hatra, Ashur and the Ahwar marshes
- Power: 230 V, plug types C, D and G💡 Power cuts are common; bring a power bank
ℹ️ Figures in this travel guide to Iraq are 2026 estimates from official and international sources.
📍 Where Is Iraq?
Iraq lies in West Asia, between Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria and Jordan to the west, and Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to the south, with a short coast on the Persian Gulf at Basra. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers cross the country and meet in the south to form the Shatt al-Arab, near the Mesopotamian Marshes. The north-east is mountainous Kurdistan.
In normal times Baghdad is about 5.5 hours by air from London with one stop, and under 2 hours from Istanbul or Dubai. Check distances with our distance calculator.
📅 Best Time to Visit Iraq
In normal times the best months to visit Iraq are October to April. Spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November) are pleasant, with days of about 20–28°C and green hills in Kurdistan. Summer (June–September) is extremely hot, often above 45°C in Baghdad and Basra. Avoid the huge Arba'een pilgrimage to Karbala unless you are a pilgrim, when roads and hotels are full.
Wildflowers in Kurdistan and Nowruz on 21 March.
Extreme heat on the plains; cooler in the mountains.
Comfortable for Babylon, Ur and the marshes.
Mild in the south; snow on Kurdistan's peaks.
📅 Use the seasons in this travel guide to Iraq to match your trip to the weather, festivals and prices you want.
🛂 Iraq Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
e-Visa rules (for reference): since March 2025, citizens of the USA, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and many other countries must get an e-visa before travel; visa on arrival is no longer available for them. Federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region run separate official portals. In 2026 the visa rules do not change the advice: the US advises against all travel.
- PassportValid for at least 6 months; Israeli stamps or visas can lead to refusal.
- Kurdistan RegionA Kurdistan-only e-visa allows travel within the region, not to Baghdad.
- CheckpointsCarry your passport and printed e-visa at all times.
- MoneyCards rarely work; bring clean, undamaged US dollar notes.
🔗 Official sources: Iraq e-visa (federal) · Kurdistan Region e-visa. Entry rules change, so always confirm before booking and avoid paid look-alike sites.
🛂 Entry rules in this travel guide to Iraq were last checked in October 2026.
🏛️ 10 Most Famous Places in Iraq
These are the best-known sites in this travel guide to Iraq, with the best months in normal times. Many lie in provinces the UK and US advise against visiting.
The ancient city of Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: Oct–AprA Sumerian temple tower from about 2100 BC, near Nasiriyah.
💡 Best time: Nov–MarThe Abbasid capital and its Malwiya spiral minaret (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: Oct–AprReed houses, water buffalo and canoe trips (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: Nov–MarOne of the oldest continuously inhabited sites on Earth (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: Mar–May, Oct–NovThe National Museum, Mutanabbi Street book market and the Tigris banks.
💡 Best time: Oct–AprGold-domed shrines that draw millions of pilgrims.
💡 Best time: Oct–AprA Parthian-era desert city of temples (UNESCO, on the Danger List).
💡 Best time: Oct–AprCanyons and waterfalls in the Kurdistan mountains.
💡 Best time: Apr–OctThe rebuilt al-Nuri Mosque and al-Hadba minaret.
💡 Best time: Oct–Apr🗺️ How a Classic 7-Day Route Looks: Baghdad, Babylon, the South & Erbil
This is the route visitors usually took with a licensed local guide and driver. It is not a recommendation to travel now; follow your government's advice.
Follow this route from our travel guide to Iraq day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Baghdad: the National Museum, Mutanabbi Street and Shabandar Café.
- Babylon: the ruins and Ishtar Gate replica, then on to Najaf.
- Najaf and Kufa: the Imam Ali Shrine and the Wadi al-Salam cemetery.
- The marshes: a canoe trip in the Ahwar from Chibayish.
- Ur: the ziggurat, then fly from Basra or Najaf to Erbil.
- Erbil: the citadel, the bazaar and the textile museum.
- Kurdistan mountains: Rawanduz canyon and Gali Ali Beg waterfall.
➕ In normal times, with more time: Samarra and Ashur on the Tigris, Hatra in the desert, Mosul's rebuilt old city, or Sulaymaniyah in the east of Kurdistan.
💵 How Much Does a Trip to Iraq Cost?
Iraq is inexpensive for food and transport, but security, guides and drivers add a lot. These are rough daily costs per person in normal times, excluding flights.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$40–70 | Simple hotels, local food and shared taxis |
| Mid-range | US$100–180 | Good hotels, a guide and a driver |
| Organised tour | US$250 + | Escorted group or private tours |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to Iraq are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
💵 Carry clean, undamaged US dollar notes; torn or old bills are often refused at exchange offices.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to Iraq
In 2026 Iraq faces a high risk of terrorism, kidnapping and attacks by armed groups, including drone and rocket strikes linked to the regional war, and civil unrest. Security checkpoints are everywhere. If you must travel for work, use a reputable security provider, register with your embassy, keep a low profile, avoid crowds and demonstrations, and never photograph checkpoints, soldiers or government buildings.
Passport and printed e-visa at every checkpoint.
Women need an abaya and headscarf at shrines.
Cards rarely work outside top hotels.
Never photograph soldiers or checkpoints.
Power cuts are common in summer.
"Shukran" (Arabic) or "spas" (Kurdish) means thank you.
🏨 Where to Stay in Iraq
While the US advises against all travel to Iraq, we are not recommending individual hotels. Business and aid travellers usually stay in international-brand hotels in Baghdad and Erbil with strong security, often arranged by their employer or security provider.
🔎 Why there are no hotel picks in this travel guide to Iraq: we do not recommend individual hotels while major governments advise against all travel. We will add them if the advice changes.
🎓 Top Universities in Iraq
Iraq has a large public university system; the Kurdistan Region also has several English-language universities.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| University of Baghdad | Baghdad | Public |
| University of Mosul | Mosul | Public |
| University of Basrah | Basra | Public |
| Salahaddin University | Erbil | Public |
| American University of Iraq, Sulaimani | Sulaymaniyah | Private |
Iraq's largest university, founded in 1957.
Visit website →A major university rebuilt after 2017.
Visit website →The main university of southern Iraq.
Visit website →The oldest university in the Kurdistan Region.
Visit website →An English-language liberal arts university.
Visit website →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Iraq: the largest public universities in Baghdad, Mosul, Basra and Erbil, plus a leading private English-language university. Last checked: October 2026.
🍽️ Iraqi Culture & Food
Iraq is where writing, cities and law codes began, in Sumer, Akkad, Babylon and Assyria, and Baghdad was the centre of the Islamic golden age. An old saying goes "Cairo writes, Beirut prints and Baghdad reads", and the Friday book market on Mutanabbi Street keeps that tradition alive, along with Iraqi maqam music.
The national dish is masgouf, river carp grilled beside an open fire. Also try quzi (lamb on rice), dolma, tashreeb and date-filled kleicha biscuits with cardamom tea.
❓ Travel Guide to Iraq: FAQ
Is it safe to travel to Iraq in 2026?
No. The US rates all of Iraq Level 4: Do Not Travel, and the UK advises against all or all but essential travel to every part of the country.
Is the Kurdistan Region safer?
It has historically been more stable, but in 2026 the US includes it in Level 4 and the UK advises against all but essential travel there.
Do I need a visa for Iraq?
Yes. Most Western visitors need an e-visa before travel; the Kurdistan Region has its own portal.
What currency does Iraq use?
The Iraqi dinar; US dollars are widely used for larger payments.
How many UNESCO sites does Iraq have?
Six: Babylon, Erbil Citadel, Samarra, Hatra, Ashur and the Ahwar of Southern Iraq.
What is the best time to visit Iraq in normal times?
October to April.
Can I visit Iraq with an Israeli stamp?
You are likely to be refused entry.
What is the national dish of Iraq?
Masgouf, grilled river carp.
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to Iraq
- US travel advisory: IraqCurrent US government advice
- UK travel advice: IraqCurrent UK government advice
- UNESCO: IraqWorld Heritage Sites in Iraq
Finished this travel guide to Iraq? 🌍 More Middle East guides: Jordan · Turkey · Kuwait · Saudi Arabia · All of Asia
⚖️ Compare Iraq with other countries in Compare Countries.
🏛️ Planning a bucket list? See the 20 best World Heritage Sites to visit.
Ready to explore Iraq?
Read about Mesopotamia's history now, and plan a visit only when official advice changes.
Explore more Asia guides → Free travel tools🔖 Bookmark this travel guide to Iraq and check it again before you travel: we update entry rules, prices and hotels regularly.