Travel to Iraq — everything you need to know
When to go to Iraq?
- Mar – May — Spring — ideal : Pleasant temperatures (20–30°C), green countryside in Kurdistan and ideal conditions for archaeological sites.
- Oct – Nov — Autumn — very good : The heat has eased, golden light falls on the ruins, and the atmosphere is calm.
- Dec – Feb — Winter — acceptable : Cool in Baghdad, cold and snowy in Kurdistan. A few showers, but relatively few tourists.
- Jun – Sep — Summer — best avoided : Extreme heat (40–50°C in Baghdad). Travel conditions are extremely difficult.
Weather in Iraq
Check the weather city by city, starting with Baghdad.
- Bagdad: daytime highs from 16 to 45 °C depending on the season, 11 mm of rain per month on average.
- Erbil: daytime highs from 13 to 43 °C depending on the season, 35 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Iraq?
Iraq is the cradle of Mesopotamian civilisation, the 'land between the two rivers' where humanity invented writing, the first cities and the first laws. Its archaeological sites — Babylon, Ur and Nineveh — bear witness to millennia of history matched by very few countries. After decades of conflict, the country is cautiously opening to tourism, especially in the autonomous Kurdistan Region, which is generally considered the safest part of Iraq for visitors.
Erbil (Hawler)
Erbil is the capital of the autonomous Kurdistan Region and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Its citadel, perched on an artificial mound 30 metres high and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, overlooks a modern, energetic city with lively bazaars and restaurants. For foreign visitors, Iraqi Kurdistan is the most accessible and safest part of Iraq.
Highlights : Erbil Citadel — a UNESCO-listed millennium-old fortress, Erbil Grand Bazaar — a traditional covered market, Kurdish Civilisation Museum — regional archaeology, Sami Abdulrahman Park — a large urban promenade.
Baghdad
Founded in 762 by the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur, Baghdad was for centuries the intellectual and cultural capital of the Islamic world, home to the famed House of Wisdom. The modern city, shaped by decades of conflict, still preserves remarkable treasures such as the Iraq National Museum and al-Mutanabbi Street, a symbol of Iraq's intellectual life. Security has improved since 2017, but the situation remains fragile.
Highlights : Iraq National Museum — one of the world's largest Mesopotamian antiquities collections, Al-Mutanabbi Street — Baghdad's street of booksellers and intellectuals, Al-Kadhimiya Mosque — Shiite shrine of the seventh and ninth imams, Al-Shorja market — Baghdad's great popular market.
Babylon
Babylon, one of antiquity's most legendary cities, was the capital of the First Babylonian Empire and the home of Hammurabi's famous code. Although the site has been partly reconstructed and damaged, its imposing ruins — including remnants of the Ishtar Gate and the remains of Nebuchadnezzar's palace — remain a must-see pilgrimage for history lovers. The site is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Highlights : Ishtar Gate — a reconstruction of the famous blue-glazed gate, Nebuchadnezzar's palace — ruins of the Babylonian royal palace, Babylon site museum — artefacts and scale models, Processional Way — the sacred road of the ancient city.
Ur
Ur is one of the oldest and most important Sumerian cities, mentioned in the Bible as Abraham's birthplace. Its giant ziggurat, built around 2100 BCE and remarkably well preserved, is one of the most impressive structures in the ancient Near East. The Royal Cemetery of Ur, with its royal tombs and treasures now housed in the British Museum, transformed our understanding of Sumerian civilisation.
Highlights : Ziggurat of Ur — a Sumerian stepped temple from the 3rd millennium BCE, Royal Tombs of Ur — the Sumerian royal necropolis, House of Abraham — the traditional birthplace of the patriarch, Nasiriyah Museum — local archaeological collections.
Travel budget for Iraq
Iraq is a fairly inexpensive destination for travellers, especially in Iraqi Kurdistan, where the tourism infrastructure is still developing. Prices are generally low, but they vary by region and provider.
- Backpacker : 35–55 €/j — Simple accommodation, local food and shared transport
- Comfort : 80–130 €/j — Good hotel, decent restaurants and guided excursions
Practical tips for travelling to Iraq
- Flight from Paris : Flights to Erbil or Baghdad via Istanbul, Dubai or Amman, typically 6–10 hours total
- Visa : Visa on arrival is available for French travellers in some cases (Kurdistan: e-visa) — rules vary by region
- Currency : Iraqi dinar (IQD) — US dollars are widely accepted in Kurdistan
- Language : Arabic and Kurdish — English is understood in Kurdistan's tourist sector
- Electricity : Type D/G (230V) — a universal adapter is recommended
- Health : Hepatitis A/B and typhoid vaccines are recommended. Tap water is not drinkable.
- Safety : Iraqi Kurdistan: travel discouraged unless absolutely necessary, although it is the more stable area. Baghdad and the centre: formally advised against for tourists. Check official travel advisories before planning anything.
- Climate : Avoid June–September at all costs because of extreme heat (40–50°C). March–May or October–November are much better choices.
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