Everything You Need to Know About Iraq

Republic of iraq, it's non the most obvious tourist destination. Simply with the security situation improving all over the country, now is the time to visit one of the nigh historical countries in the world.

Visiting Iraq is well worth the money spent equally it has a favorable exchange rate for well-nigh western travelers.

With Iraq tourism on the rise, you won't be lone in your exploration of this ancient land with an incredible history.

1 of the more pressing questions asked is: is Iraq safe for American tourists? The respond is yeah for the about role, specially if yous're visiting famed tourist spots. Visit Republic of iraq for an epic feel you lot won't before long forget.

Al-Shaheed Monument in Baghdad is a monument for the war against Islamic republic of iran

Planning to Visit Republic of iraq?

Contents

• Planning to Visit Iraq?
• Complete Guide to Traveling to Iraq
  • Is Iraq Rubber now?
  • How to Get a Tourist VISA for Republic of iraq
    • Visa Restrictions:
  • How to Travel to Republic of iraq
  • Overland Travel to Iraq
  • How to Travel Effectually Republic of iraq
  • Top Places to Visit in Iraq
  • Money in Iraq
  • Cyberspace and WIFI in Iraq
  • Electricity in Republic of iraq
  • Drinks & Alcohol in Iraq
  • Tin Yous Take Photos?
  • Language in Iraq
  • Guide Volume for Iraq
  • How Much is Left of Saddam Hussein'southward Influence in Republic of iraq?
• Final Thoughts on Tourism in Iraq

Republic of iraq is considered to exist the birthplace of many of the Earth'due south oldest civilizations, including the Babylonians and the Assyrians.

Iraq is home to five UNESCO earth heritage sites, and tens of thousands of archaeological sites are spread all over the state.

Walking Towards The Dandy Mosque Of Samarra. Unfortunately, the weather was terrible during my visit—one of the five UNESCO world heritage sites in the country.

Saddam Hussein ruled the country with his atomic number 26 fist for 24 years. This was correct upwards until the illegal American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

After 16 years of internal conflicts raging around the country,  the situation has improved. Information technology is prophylactic plenty now for Iraq to welcome strange tourists back.

But unfortunately, the visa process is full of bureaucracy and paper mills, making visiting Iraq rather a painful process.

But if you do manage to secure one of the most difficult tourist visas in the world, Iraq volition surprise yous in all simply a positive way.

I always live with the idea that there are no dangerous countries. Yet there are dangerous places or dangerous times. Can yous visit Iraq safely? Yes, you most certainly tin.
You simply need to be discerning about where you are and at what time.

Map of all the most important historical sites around the land.

And so close merely and then far abroad, this is the closest you can go to the famous Swords of Baghdad. You lot Can see the T-walls which surround the whole Green Zone.

Consummate Guide to Traveling to Iraq

This Iraq travel guide is for the Southern part of Republic of iraq and Not about the Kurdish autonomous region in the Northern office of the county. Because knowing how to travel to Iraq is very important.

The Lyre of Ur is ane of the most important artifacts inside the National Museum in Baghdad.

All information in this guide is from when I traveled effectually Iraq and visited: Baghdad – Ctesiphon – Samarra And The Great Mosque – The Ziggurat of Dur Kurigalzu – Karbala – Babylon – Kufa – Najaf – The Mesopotamian Marshes – Basra – Baghdad.

Things You Should Pack Before Going to Iraq

No, you do non need to bring your bulletproof belong and helmet. But you tin easily buy it in Baghdad if you want one.

Zip special is needed for Iraq, but I would recommend bringing a few proficient books for the long drives around the country and soft foam earplugs for when you are going to sleep; there is a lot of noise in the streets.

Is Iraq Safe at present?

Safety is all the same a huge business in Iraq, and every western country is strongly confronting traveling to Southern Iraq. While the state of affairs since Apr 2019 has been calm for more a year, things tin can change very fast.

Your guide will know the daily security and state of affairs of the role of the country you lot will visit.

I personally felt 100% safe the entire time during my visit here.

All of the local people, military, militia soldiers, and religious scholars were all extremely friendly and welcoming.

But it's highly recommended that yous register with your Embassy when you are going here, and yous should take valid travel insurance, which should besides include kidnapping insurance.

Large insurance companies like etc. World Nomads will Non cover yous here, but First Allied volition.

From the Strange & Democracy Website:

The Foreign and Commonwealth Part (FCO) propose against all travel to:

• Anbar province
• NinewaNinewah province
• Salah-Al-Din province
• Diyala province
• Tamim (Kirkuk) province
• in Erbil province, south of Road fourscore, and within 10km of the border with Nineveh province between Road 80 and Road two

The FCO advises confronting all but essential travel to the rest of Iraq, including the remainder of the Kurdistan region.

The Iraqi Prime Minister announced the defeat of Daesh in Iraq on nine Dec 2017. All the same, at that place is all the same a risk of terrorist attacks and kidnappings across the country. You should remain vigilant and monitor media reports.

Be aware that Iraq, similar any other place that has recently been a war zone, has minefields everywhere. Do not walk into fields, especially unmarked ones, unless you're absolutely sure that it's safety.

How to Go a Tourist VISA for Iraq

Can you travel to Republic of iraq without a VISA? No, so knowing how to visit Republic of iraq is very important. Y'all will need a VISA to travel, and often visiting Iraq every bit an American can be quite troublesome, just it tin can be done – and is well worth information technology in the finish.

*Update from 15 March 2021, now 30 countries can get the Iraq Visa on Inflow, without pre-arraignment.

Countries that tin can get Visa on arrival for Republic of iraq (VOA)

• Usa, United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland, France, the Russian federation, and the People's Republic of People's republic of china)
• European Spousal relationship countries: Austria, Belgium, Republic of bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Democracy, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Republic of hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the netherlands
• Besides equally citizens of Japan, S Korea, Canada, Commonwealth of australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland.

Just exist aware that all the same if you lot get the visa, you will need a guide to visit all the historical sites around the country. All other countries still demand to pre-suit their visa for Iraq.

Obtaining a travel visa to Republic of iraq is complicated and very time-consuming. You first have to utilize at the Ministry building of Strange affairs in Baghdad; your local contact will have to exercise this for you.

When this application is approved, you volition receive a alphabetic character so that you personally tin so apply at an Iraq Embassy.  This will have to be in your country of residence.

Visa Restrictions:

• Visas will be refused to citizens of Israel and travelers with proof of travel to State of israel.
• The whole process will take around iv-6months.

There are five types of visas for Iraq:

• Visiting relatives: Merely possible if you take family in Iraq; proof required.
• Pilgrim visa: This is but possible when you are part of an organized religious pilgrim trip. Usually to places like Karbala, Najaf, Kufa, and Samara.
• Business organization visa: Going for piece of work purposes.
• Press / Media visa: Every journalist requires this visa.
• Tourist visa: The most difficult visa to obtain and the one I used. You can't only utilize for this visa. You demand to employ for a group tourist visa which requires you to exist a minimum of five people applying together. You also have to travel forth with who y'all applied for the visa with. Update November 2019: ALL 5 people traveling together will now have to apply for the visa at the aforementioned Diplomatic mission. Even if you are from 5 dissimilar countries. Making the visa even more difficult to obtain.

My Tourist Visa, one of the hardest tourist visas in the globe to go

Even with the visa secured, are you required to have a Authorities licensed guide and commuter at all times. Y'all will too have to stay in Government licensed hotels for registration (This is very strict).

You tin can not legally do Couchsurfing or stay with local friends on a tourist visa. You will also need a permit for each place y'all want to visit outside Baghdad.

Every site, every urban center, a permit for each and every i. Gotta dear the bureaucracy.

The just remaining ruins of the aboriginal urban center of Ctesiphon-The last Persian uppercase.

Also, be enlightened if you do get the visa and you get in in Republic of iraq, will you have to leave Republic of iraq the aforementioned fashion you arrived.

If you arrive at Baghdad airport, you lot volition have to exit the country from Baghdad aerodrome.

If you arrive overland from Kuwait, you will have to leave Iraq overland back to Kuwait.

It's currently non possible for foreigners to travel overland from the Kurdish Democratic Region in the due north to southern Iraq.

While information technology'south possible to arrange an Iraqi tourist visa yourself, is information technology A LOT easier to get on a tour since you are required to have a guide anyway.

There are currently 3 western companies offering a trip to southern Iraq (Lupine Travel, Hinterland Travel, and Alwaseilah Tours), and I know one local contact. If y'all have 4 friends bring together you and desire to accommodate it yourself, send me an e-mail, and I volition give you lot the contact in Republic of iraq who can arrange the visa or help you with arranging a tour or guide.

• Lupine Travel
• Hinterland Travel
• Alwaseilah Tours

When you are booking the trip with either the local contact or the international travel companies, then transport, guide, and accommodation volition exist included, the price depends a bit on what and where you lot want to go, and what blazon of transport accommodation yous require, but expect 150-250 USD a 24-hour interval.

Panoramic view over Baghdad from top of the Ferris Bike in Baghdad zoo.

How to Travel to Iraq

Hello Baghdad Airdrome, formerly known equally Saddam International Airdrome.

If you already accept an Republic of iraq visa, getting hither is easy.

More and more airlines have flights to and from Iraq, and the national airline of Republic of iraq, Iraqi Airways, has direct flights to all major and fifty-fifty some smaller cities in Europe.

In that location are currently 3 International Airports in Iraq + ii in the Kurdish autonomous region in the Northern role of the state.

There is a new aerodrome in Karbala currently being built. Information technology is expected to be the country's largest airport upon completion.

• Baghdad International Airport (BGW), previously known as Saddam International Airport.
• Basra International Airport (BSR)
• Najaf International Airport (NJF)

The easiest fashion from Europe and America to Iraq is either with Austrian Airlines, Emirates, Iraq Airways, Turkish Airlines & Qatar Airways.

Inside Baghdad International Airport.

• Star Brotherhood Alliance: Austrian Airlines flies four flights per week from Vienna to Baghdad.
• Arab republic of egypt Air: One flying a day betwixt Cario and Baghdad.
• Turkish Airlines flies twice daily from Istanbul to Baghdad and one time a day to Najaf also every bit Basra.
• One World Alliance:
• Qatar Airways flies twice daily from Doha to Baghdad and once a day to Najaf and Basra.
• Royal Jordanian Airlines Flies twice daily between Amman and Baghdad and once a day to both Najaf and Basra.
• SkyTeam Brotherhood:
• Middle East Airlines flies twice daily between Baghdad and Beirut and once a day to both Najaf and Basra.
• Saudia flies one time a twenty-four hour period between Baghdad and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
• Budget Airline:
• FlyDubai flies twice a day betwixt Baghdad and Dubai.
• Air Arabia flies once a day between Baghdad and Sharjah.
• Pegasus Airlines flies once a day between Baghdad and Istanbul.
• Iraqi Airways:
• Baghdad to: Amman, Ankara, Antalya, Baku, Beijing, Beirut, Berlin-Tegel, Cairo, Copenhagen, Delhi, Dubai, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Gothenburg, Guangzhou, Istanbul, Kyiv, State of kuwait, London (Gatwick), Manchester, Moscow, Mumbai, Munich, Stockholm, Sofia.

An sometime abandoned local aeroplane only outside the Baghdad Airport.

From Neighboring Iran and Syrian arab republic.

• Syria:
• FlyDamas: Damascus to Baghdad, Najaf, and Basra twice a day.
• Syrian air: Baghdad and Najaf one time a 24-hour interval.
• ChamWings: Damascus to Baghdad, Najaf, and Basra twice a day.
• Iran:
• More than than five Iranian airlines offer flights from all big Iranian cities to Baghdad, Basra, and Najaf.

Overland Travel to Iraq

Republic of iraq is surrounded by Iran to the east. Kuwait is to the south, and Kingdom of saudi arabia to the southwest.
Hashemite kingdom of jordan is to the west, Syria to the north-west, and Turkey to the north.

But currently, only the land borders between Kuwait, Iran are open for strange travelers.

The land border between Turkey and Republic of iraq is open, just you can Non travel from the Kurdish Autonomous Region in the n to southern Iraq overland, but you tin fly between them.

The Tigris River flowing trough Baghdad

Iran:

The chief border crossing is the Khosravi International Border postal service, around 90km northeast of Baghdad. NB. No Iranian visa on arrival when crossing state borders.

Jordan:

There's an of import border crossing betwixt Tarabil and Karamal, this is a very important edge crossing for Iraq, then there is a lot of military presence in the area.

The border was controlled by ISIS but a year ago, and there are a lot of ISIS sleeper cells nonetheless in the area.

Syria:

Before the war, there were 2 border crossings between Iraq and Syria.

Al Walid on the Iraqi side and Tanaf on the Syrian side. The Syrian side is currently illegally controlled by the U.s., which refuses to give the area dorsum to Syria. Quasybah on the Iraqi side and Abu Kamal on the Syrian side.

This is only a few KM from ISIS's last stronghold, the pocket-size Syrian town of Baghouz. Located on the banks of the Euphrates River, this is where ISIS officially got defeated on 23 March 2019.

Simply there are still more than a thousand ISIS terrorists hiding out in the vast desert in that part of Syria and Iraq.
ISIS is still attacking civilians and armed forces checkpoints in the expanse on a weekly basis.

The commencement local bus since 2014 crossed the border between Syria and Iraq at Quasybah and Abu Kamal on 22 April 2019. Don't look this border to be open for foreigners yet for many years.

Remember that you lot volition have to leave the country by the same border as you enter the country.

Visiting the holy urban center of Karbala.

How to Travel Around Iraq

Equally a tourist, you lot are required to accept a government-licensed driver and guide with you at all times. So long-distance charabanc traveling is out of the question.

But yous tin can take the local overnight train from Basra to Baghdad, simply your guide will have to accompany you.

You volition have to obtain permits for every single identify you desire to visit around the country outside Baghdad.
You take to tell your guide/contact to arrange these well in advance of travel. This is not always required anywhere anymore. Only regulations can change fast.

In that location are hundreds if not thousands of military and private Shia militias checkpoints forth all roads around the country.

Military base forth the way to Samarra a common site

Some merely a few hundred meters between each other.

The checkpoints are less frequent in the southern function, merely around Baghdad and the holy cities of Samarra, Karbala, Najaf, Kufa, there are hundreds.

You lot volition NOT be able to pass through the checkpoints without the proper permits and paperwork.

Even when yous laissez passer one checkpoint, the next checkpoint has to check your papers again, fifty-fifty if information technology's less than one km betwixt them.

Often your guide has to make a few telephone calls to become you through the checkpoints, even if you already take the correct paperwork. Road Traveling in Iraq takes A LOT of fourth dimension due to this.

I just arrived in the early morning at Baghdad train station.

The local railroad train between Basra and Baghdad was completely full.

Superlative Places to Visit in Iraq

• Baghdad the capital
• Basra the second-largest city
• Karbala
• Najaf
• Kufa
• Babylon Ruins of the bully urban center
• Samara and the great Minaret
• Ctesiphon the last person capital
• The Ziggurat of Dur-Kurigalzu
• Mesopotamian Marshes

Money in Iraq

The local currency in Republic of iraq is the Iraqi dinar. However, you lot will also be able to spend Euros and United states Dollars for payment in hotels and souvenir shops.

There are a few ATMs effectually Baghdad that accept international bank cards. The bigger hotels also have payment with bank cards, merely everything else in the country is done with difficult greenbacks.

Don't rely on ATMs while in the country. Exist certain to bring plenty Euro/USD for your entire trip.

In that location are money exchangers at the arrivals of the airport and at the hotels. Merely for the best rate, caput to the bazaar. The conversion charge per unit fluctuates from day to solar day, with the rate in Baghdad often being amend than in other cities effectually the state, so it'due south worth changing your money in Baghdad.

The replica of the famous Ishtar gate exterior Babylon, the real i, is located in Berlin.

Internet and WIFI in Iraq

Every hotel has free wifi, and surprisingly most of Baghdad is also covered with free wifi hotspots provided past Wiman.

Wiman has more than 37186 free wifi hot spots around Baghdad and 7829 gratuitous wifi hotspots around Basra.

The speed is not great, but it does piece of work flawlessly for social media and emails. A local sim card with unlimited net for 30days costs 20USD.

There are no net restrictions in Iraq, and Social media is not blocked here, and so there's no VPN needed hither similar in some of the neighboring countries.

Electricity in Iraq

Ability plugs in Iraq are both European standard 2 pins and British standard plugs, both standard voltage of 230V with a frequency of 50Hz.

Some hotels have both European and British-style plugs in the rooms. Others had merely European-style plugs or British-style plugs, and then information technology's highly recommended to bring a power travel adapter.

Ability cutsPowercuts are not uncommon, then it's wise to bring a power bank and a headlamp.

The Ziggurat of Dur-Kurigalzu

You will get used to war machine cars on every street corner pretty fast.

Security map from The Foreign and Democracy Office (FCO)

Drinks & Alcohol in Iraq

A local Liquor store in Baghdad, with Farida locally made beer in Baghdad.

Despite what well-nigh people think,  Booze is completely legal here, but you should still be very respectful and think nigh where you relish your drink. Iraq even produces its own Beer, Arak, and Vodka, which is hands bachelor from public alcohol stores in Baghdad.

Adept Selection of beer in Baghdad

There are as well normal bars in every international hotel. Alcohol is not sold in the holy cities. Even though alcohol is legal in Iraq, drinking in public is an absolute no.

Simply drink bottled water. It will usually be sold at vendors and large stores and will be easy to find.

Traveling around the Mesopotamian Marshes

Tin You lot Take Photos?

Republic of iraq is pretty laid back and relaxed when it comes to taking photos. Y'all should never take photos of soldiers, checkpoints, government buildings, and inside the holy Shia shrines in Najaf, Karbala, and Kufta.

Merely more or less, everything else immune. Most locals were happy to accept their photos taken, and most soldiers also asked for a selfie with me.

The military in Iraq was miles more than relaxed than the military in neighboring Syria and Iran when it comes to taking photos.

Everyone welcomed me with a smiling around Baghdad.

Local Shia Militias solider visiting the Great Mosque of Samarra.

Language in Republic of iraq

Both Arabic and Kurdish are the official language in the country, but surprisingly many people spoke a bit of English, even street vendors.

A lot of Iraqis that fled the country equally refugees during the last 16 years take now moved back home.

So don't exist surprised if the locals you meet speak German, French, Swedish etc.

The money exchanger I used in Baghdad had lived in kingdom of the netherlands for 12 years and had recently moved back dwelling.

The waiter in i of the restaurants in Basra spoke Swedish.

Guide Book for Republic of iraq

The just visitor currently making guide books for Iraq is British Travel Company Bradt Guide. The latest version is 2015 realize, the 2nd edition.

How Much is Left of Saddam Hussein's Influence in Iraq?

Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq with an atomic number 26 fist for 24 years, and specially his oldest son Uday Hussein spread fright among the violence.

When Saddam Hussein was removed from power in 2003 and later arrested on13 December 2003, information technology sparked huge celebrations all over the country.

Now, sixteen years later, almost everything from the area has been removed, and it'southward like he never existed, at least in public. The electric current leaders of Republic of iraq are the ones Saddam tried to suppress.

Saddam Hussein'south old palace overlooking the historical ruins of Babylon

Equally such, they are non very keen on Saddam Hussein preserving his legacy.

Then everything with Saddam Hussein is banned, and all his humongous portraits take been plastered with a portrait of Imam Ali, and all only one of his statues accept been destroyed.

What might be the very last Portrait of Saddam Hussein in the country

But if y'all look, tin can you still find relics from his fourth dimension. And if yous talk to the older generation of Iraqis that lived under his hard regime, y'all might get surprised that most people in the state are not afraid of speaking of the erstwhile days, and you might be surprised well-nigh what they think, especially when compared with the current times!

And surprisingly did every local I talked to openly acknowledge they missed the time he was in power, and the reasons were: "Our country was safe during his time", we never had to be afraid of suicide bombers during his time", "things were working during his fourth dimension". An even older woman I talked with admitted they had a lot more freedom during the fourth dimension of Saddam than at present in 2019.

A mutual proverb in Iraq is, "Saddam was a horrible person, simply what'southward been happening the last xvi years has been then much worse, that Saddam Hussein is an affections compared to what the country is going through now."

Concluding Thoughts on Tourism in Iraq

With all this in mind, you lot're probably wondering – is Iraq a good place to visit? It's a wonderful place to visit. And with so many unique historical sites, information technology's one you won't want to miss.

I promise yous utilize my guide to acquire how to get to Iraq, as y'all're sure to take an amazing time. A vacation in Iraq comes highly recommended! Simply be certain to check upwardly about the current condom situation kickoff.

Everything you need to know before planning your trip to Baghdad and Iraq

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Source: https://www.unusualtraveler.com/everything-you-need-to-know-before-visiting-iraq/

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