Baghdad Governorate · Iraq
Baghdad travel guide
Baghdad is a city in Baghdad Governorate, Iraq, home to about 8,127,000 people.
- Best months
- February, March, November and December
- Nearest airport
- BGW14 km · Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base
- Currency
- IQDIraqi dinar
- Time zone
- Asia/Baghdad
- Language
- Arabic, Kurdish language
About
About Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital and largest city in Iraq. It is located on the banks of the Tigris in central Iraq.
Founded in 762 CE by caliph al-Mansur as the Round City, Baghdad became the seat of the Abbasid Caliphate and grew into one of the largest scientific centres in the Islamic world during the Golden Age of Islam. Five centuries of peace came to an end in 1258 when the city was destroyed by the Mongols who advanced westwards. After a period of Ottoman rule, Baghdad became the capital of Iraq under a British protectorate and as an independent state. Since then, Baghdad has been subject to war, terrorist attacks and attempts at reconstruction.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Baghdad
See
A combination of heavy redevelopment during the second half of the 20th century, two decades of warfare and neglect has not been kind to Baghdad's architectural and cultural heritage. Generally, the eastern side contains the older districts while the western side is newer. The historic old quarter contains a myriad of alleys and small streets with buildings dating back to the Ottoman era or even older. Many of them are unfortunately in various stages of disrepair. The old quarter is also home to the heart and soul of Iraqi literacy and intellectual community, Mutanabbi Street. The street is lined with bookstores and outdoor book stalls as well as cafés to discuss matters of the day.
- Mustansiriya Madrasah
- Qushla building
- Baghdad Zoo
- Khan Murjan
- Firdos Square
- National Museum of Iraq
- Baghdadi Museum
- National Museum of Modern Art
- Natural History Museum
- Abdel-Karim Kassem Museum
- Iraqi Post Museum
- Monument to the Unknown Soldier
Do
Baghdad's cultural life is more vibrant than most visitors expect. Beyond the historical sites, the city offers riverside promenades, traditional markets worth exploring on foot, and day trips to some of Mesopotamia's most important archaeological sites.
- Iraqi National Theatre
- Baghdad Island Park
- Abu Nawas Street
- Mutanabbi Street
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Baghdad to stay in
Most organizations arrange their own accommodation. Sleeping in hotels in the proper city is always a risk due to bombings.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Baghdad
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Baghdad are February, March, November and December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 45 °C; March is the wettest, with about 27 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Baghdad: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base (BGW), about 14 km from the city centre in a straight line; Al Najaf International Airport (NJF, 147 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
The national airline is Iraqi Airways that operates a growing fleet of more than 30 modern jets. They mainly provide domestic flights but Iraqi Airways also offers flights to numerous international destinations, including a few routes from Europe. Numerous other operators in the Middle East also fly to Baghdad, with daily flights from most regional hubs. There are also a few low cost airlines such as FlyBaghdad that have flights to Baghdad. The best way to travel from Europe is either with Austrian or Turkish Airlines.
Getting around
While the almost daily bombings and shootings have subsided, there is always a risk of getting caught in violence when travelling around the city. Staying vigilant is essential. Many high-end hotels provide their own transport, some even with armoured cars. Baghdad is served by an extensive but chaotic bus network; maps and route information for the network are not available in English. Taxis are also plentiful and quite cheap to use. Walking is possible in parts of the city, especially in and around the old city.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
BGW · Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base
NJF · Al Najaf International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Baghdad
Eat
Restaurants and cafés have been notorious targets for suicide bombers in the past, making eating out a quite dangerous activity.
Drink
While Baghdad is undergoing something of a liberalization regarding both night life and alcohol, it is still not widely available and large parts of society frowns upon it. While some bars exists, particularly along Abu Nawas Street, a safe bet is always the bars of the top tier hotels. Many international organisations have their own bars as well, and some are open to outsiders. Tea houses and cafés are however ubiquitous, and often open late into the night.
Stay safe
Travel to Baghdad is not recommended because of security concerns. Westerners are particular targets of kidnapping and assassination by militant and extremist groups. Baghdad airport is secure, so transiting there if necessary is safe. See the warning on the Iraq article. The easiest way to stay safe in Baghdad is not to go there in the first place, except for official reasons. Most expats and business travellers to Iraq hire a security detail, which constantly monitors the security situation within Iraq and around Baghdad. Travel outside the International Zone is extremely dangerous. Roadside and car bombs are detonated every day in Baghdad. Many Iraqis are armed.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Baghdad: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Baghdad?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Baghdad are February, March, November and December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 45 °C; March is the wettest, with about 27 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Baghdad?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air Base (BGW), about 14 km from the city centre in a straight line; Al Najaf International Airport (NJF, 147 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Baghdad?
Iraqi dinar (IQD).
Nearby
Destinations near Baghdad
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.