Nineveh Governorate · Iraq
Mosul travel guide
Mosul is a city in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq, home to about 1,792,000 people.
- Best months
- March, April and November
- Nearest airport
- EBL74 km · Erbil International Airport
- Currency
- IQDIraqi dinar
- Time zone
- Asia/Baghdad
- Language
- Arabic, Kurdish language
About
About Mosul
Mosul is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of Nineveh Governorate. It is the second largest city in Iraq overall after the capital Baghdad and situated on the banks of Tigris.
Mosul is Iraq's second largest city and the major economic hub in northern Iraq. Located along the fertile lands of river Tigris the city's history dates back to at least 6,000 BC. On the eastern banks lies the ancient city of Nineveh, which was the world's largest city around 700 BC. Mosul has since thrived under different rulers, empowered by its strategic position and fertile lands. In recent history Mosul is mainly known for being the last stand of the Islamic State (ISIS). The fierce battle which took place during 2017 left large parts of the old city in ruins.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Mosul
See
Mosul was rich in old historical places and ancient buildings: mosques, castles, churches, monasteries, synagogues, and schools, many of which have architectural features and decorative work of significance. The town centre was dominated by a maze of streets and attractive 19th-century houses. There were old houses here of beauty. Markets were particularly interesting for the mixture of people who jostle there, such as Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians, Turcoman, Armenians, Yazidi, Mandeans, Roma and Shabaks. Mosul also had a sizable Jewish population. Mosul is a treasure trove for those interested in historic Islamic religious architecture with dozens of mosques dating back hundreds of years.
- Great Mosque of al-Nuri
- Mujahidi Mosque
- Mosul Grand Mosque
- Mausoleum of Yahya Abu al-Qasim
- Mosque of the Prophet Yunus
- Al-Raabiya Mosque
- Shamoun Al-Safa
- Church of St. Thomas
- Our Lady of the Hour Church
- Al-Tahera Church
- Mart Meskinta Chaldean Church
- Mar Petion Church
Do
- Spring Theater
- Baytna
- Mosul Forest
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Mosul to stay in
As of early 2020, major hotels chains have yet to reopen in Mosul, but there is a limited number of smaller hotels. The landmark Nineveh International Hotel was completely ruined in 2017.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Mosul
1 hotel within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| نينوى أوبروي | 1980 | 5.2 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Mosul
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Mosul are March, April and November. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 43 °C; March is the wettest, with about 76 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 Mosul: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Erbil International Airport (EBL), about 74 km from the city centre in a straight line; Kirkuk International Airport (KIK, 147 km) and Şırnak Şerafettin Elçi Airport (NKT, 148 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
From Baghdad: shared taxis are available from Allawi North garage in Baghdad. Cost is 25,000 IQD for a seat (likely 5,000 IQD extra for the front seat); the driver will usually cram in 4 passengers before leaving. The journey takes 4-5 hours. From Erbil: shared taxis are available at 10,000 IQD per seat. Journey takes 2-3 hours.
Getting around
Travelling by car is the safest option for getting around in the city. Several bridges over the river Tigris have now been repaired, making the east-west journey much easier. There's no public transport system within the city, apart from mini buses and shared taxis. Extensive knowledge of Arabic is needed to use these.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
EBL · Erbil International Airport
KIK · Kirkuk International Airport
NKT · Şırnak Şerafettin Elçi Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Mosul
Drink
Alcohol is not widely available but in the aftermath of the liberation from Daesh a handful of bars have reopened.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Mosul: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Mosul?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Mosul are March, April and November. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 43 °C; March is the wettest, with about 76 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Mosul?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Erbil International Airport (EBL), about 74 km from the city centre in a straight line; Kirkuk International Airport (KIK, 147 km) and Şırnak Şerafettin Elçi Airport (NKT, 148 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Mosul?
Iraqi dinar (IQD).
Nearby
Destinations near Mosul
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.