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Iraq Baghdad travel guide
30 things to do in Baghdad. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Baghdad
- National Museum of Iraq — historical museum in Baghdad (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Round city of Baghdad — original core of the city of Baghdad (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Victory Arch — pair of triumphal arches in central Baghdad, Iraq (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Baghdad Tower — tower located in central Baghdad (visit ≈ 40 min)
- AlKhulafa Mosque — mosque in Baghdad, Iraq (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Baghdadi Museum — history museum in Baghdad, Iraq (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Firdos Square — square in Bagdad, Iraq (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Sayidat al-Nejat Cathedral in Baghdad — cathedral of the Antiochian Catholic Church located in Baghdad (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Baghdad Zoo — zoo in Baghdad, Iraq (visit ≈ 150 min)
- Mosque of Ahmadiyah — old Iraqi mosque and school built in the Ottoman Empire in 1796 (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Al-Rahman Mosque — incomplete mosque in Baghdad, Iraq (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Latin Saint Joseph Cathedral Baghdad — Roman Catholic cathedral with Latin Rite in Baghdad, Iraq (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Republican Palace — Palace in Baghdad, Iraq (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Sheikh Abdul Qader al-Jilani Mosque — The tomb of Sheikh Abdul Qader al-Gilani in Baghdad (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Zumurrud Khatun Mosque — Zumarad Khatoon's Shrine in Baghdad, The minaret of the mosque is considered built during the time of Seljuq dynasty in 12th century (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Mosque of 17 Ramadan — mosque in Baghdad (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Al-Sarai Mosque — mosque in Baghdad, Iraq (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Haydar-Khana Mosque — old Iraqi mosque built in the Ottoman Empire in Baghdad in 1819 (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Azbak Mosque — old Iraqi mosque built in the Ottoman Empire in 1682 (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Al Khalani Mosque — Old Mosque in Baghdad (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Al-Wazeer Mosque — mosque in Baghdad - Iraq (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Garden of Ridván — garden in Baghdad, where Bahá'u'lláh, founder of the Bahá'í Faith, announced his mission (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Mausoleum of Umar Suhrawardi — monument in Baghdad (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Mosque of Morgan — old Iraqi mosque and school built in the era of the Galleria in 1356 (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Great Celebrations square — main square for public celebrations in Baghdad (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Meir Taweig Synagogue — Iraqi synagogue (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Abbasid Palace — ancient Abbasid complex in Baghdad, Iraq (visit ≈ 90 min)
- As-Salam Palace — an Iraqi military base (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Cathedral of Mary Mother of Sorrows — chaldean cathedral in Baghdad, Iraq (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Great Synagogue of Baghdad — ancient building in present-day Iraq (visit ≈ 30 min)
3-day Baghdad walking itinerary
Starting point: City centre. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 9.7 km · 13,060 steps · 2 h 10 min on the way): Baghdad Zoo → Great Celebrations square → Victory Arch → National Museum of Iraq
- Day 2 (≈ 9.1 km · 12,240 steps · 2 h 1 min on the way): Al-Wazeer Mosque → Zumurrud Khatun Mosque
- Day 3 (≈ 5.7 km · 7,640 steps · 1 h 16 min on the way): Al-Rahman Mosque → Baghdad Tower
Football stadiums in Baghdad
- Al-Shaab Stadium: Home of Al-Shorta Baghdad
- Al Talaba Stadium: Home of Talaba SC
Day trips
- Ctesiphon — 32 km from the centre
- Sippar — 30 km from the centre
- Seleucia — 24 km from the centre
Good to know before visiting Baghdad
- Fine: Photographing military sites, checkpoints or security forces, or flying drones, is prohibited.
- Fine: Importing and selling alcohol is largely banned.
- Warning: Many governments advise against travel here; check current official advice.
- Warning: Keep your passport and permits ready at checkpoints.
- Warning: Dress conservatively; shrines and mosques may require women to wear an abaya.
- Cash (dinars and US dollars) dominates; cards are limited.
- Emergency: police 104, ambulance 122, fire 115
- Plugs: C/D/G, 230V
- Tap water: Don't drink tap water; use bottled.
- Tipping: About 10% is customary.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Iraq, Wikivoyage — Iraq, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Baghdad travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Baghdad?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 3 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 4 days for the top 10 places within walking distance. Add extra days for day trips (Ctesiphon and Sippar).
- What are the top things to do in Baghdad?
- Highlights: National Museum of Iraq, Round city of Baghdad, Victory Arch, Baghdad Tower and AlKhulafa Mosque. The map has 30 things to do in total.
- What is the emergency number in Baghdad?
- Emergency: police 104, ambulance 122, fire 115.
- Do you tip in Baghdad?
- About 10% is customary.
Nearby cities
Mardin · Kuwait City · Diyarbakır · Şanlıurfa · Tehran · Damascus · Gaziantep · Yerevan
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