Iraq is not just a study destination — it is an open museum containing the artifacts of The Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Sassanids, and Abbasids. As an international student at Al-Turath University, take advantage of holidays and occasions to explore this unique heritage. The guide below organizes destinations from North to South.

Before You Travel

Always carry a copy of your passport and student residency.
Check for checkpoints on highways between governorates.
Travel to Najaf and Karbala requires a special permit during major pilgrimage occasions.
The Kurdistan Region (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok) requires a simple but different border procedure.

Northern Iraq — Kurdistan Region and Mosul

A green mountainous region with a moderate climate, home to the oldest inhabited cities in history.

Erbil

Erbil (Hewlêr)

The historic citadel atop a 6,000-year-old mound — a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014. The oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.

360 km from Baghdad

Additional Northern Destinations

Destination	Distance from Baghdad	Main Landmarks
Sulaymaniyah	365 km	Amna Suraka Museum, Dukan Lake, Azmar Mountain, Salim Street
Duhok	440 km	Duhok Dam, Delal Ottoman Bridge (Zakho), Duhok Lake
Mosul	400 km	Old Mosul (Reconstruction), Ancient Nineveh, Prophet Jonah
Amadiya	510 km	A city on a mountaintop, one of humanity's oldest settlements, breathtaking views
Lalish	430 km	The Holy Temple of the Yazidi Religion — A unique spiritual experience
Zakho	490 km	The Historic Dalal Stone Bridge, Border Markets

Best time to visit the North Spring (March–May) or Autumn (September–November) — mild temperatures and lush green landscapes at their peak. Winter brings snow to the mountains.

Central Iraq — the heart of Islamic civilization

A region home to the most prestigious historic mosques and Abbasid/Sassanid ruins, plus some of the world's first universities.

Najaf

The Shrine of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib — a pilgrimage site for millions of visitors annually. Surrounding the shrine is the Hawza Ilmiyya (religious seminary), one of the most ancient institutions of jurisprudence in the world.

160 km south of Baghdad

Babylon the Great

Babylon

Capital of Babylonian civilization — home to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Its walls, the Lion of Babylon, and the Processional Way bear witness to 1,500 years of glory.

85 km south of Baghdad

Al-Mustansiriya School

Mustansiriya Madrasa

Founded in 1227 AD by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustansir Billah. The oldest organized university in the Islamic world. Its stone gates still bear witness to that era.

Central Baghdad

Additional Central Destinations

Destination	Distance from Baghdad	Main Landmarks
Baghdad	0	The National Museum, Al-Mutanabbi Street, Kadhimiya, Abu Nuwas Beach
Samarra	120 km north	The Malwiya Minaret (UNESCO), the shrine of Imams Al-Hadi and Al-Askari
Kadhimiya	Inside Baghdad	Shrine of the two Imams Musa al-Kadhim and Muhammad al-Jawad, historical markets
Holy Karbala	105 km south	Shrine of Imam Hussein, Shrine of Al-Abbas, the Grand Market
Kufa	170 km south	Kufa Mosque, House of Imam Ali, one of the first Islamic capitals

Major Pilgrimage Occasions

Arba'een (Safar month, Hijri calendar): The walking procession from Najaf to Karbala — the largest annual gathering in the world (20+ million visitors).
Ashura (10 Muharram): Commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein in Karbala.
The Prophet's Birthday: Celebrations in Kadhimiya and Najaf.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha: Family gatherings in all cities.

Southern Iraq — Land of the Sumerians and the Marshes

The first cradle of human civilization. Here humanity invented cuneiform writing, built ziggurats, and the world's first cities were born.

Ur City

Ur (Nasiriyah)

Birthplace of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). The Sumerian Ziggurat — the oldest religious building in the world (2,100 BC). An open desert with unforgettable sanctity.

375 km — Nasiriyah

Iraqi Marshes

UNESCO World Heritage 2016. Floating villages on papyrus, millions of migratory birds, and a living Sumerian civilization continuous for 5,000 years.

400 km — Maysan and Basra

Basra & Shatt al-Arab

Ancient 'Venice of the East' — where the Tigris and Euphrates meet. Shatt al-Arab Corniche, the historic Al-Mirbad markets, and endless palm groves.

550 km — Basra

Uruk (Warka)

The first city in human history — birthplace of the Epic of Gilgamesh. Sumerian ruins everywhere, and the cradle of cuneiform writing.

300 km — Al-Muthanna

Al-Chibayish Marshes

Chibayish Marshes

Villages of papyrus and reeds, trips in traditional 'mashhoof' boats, and the hospitality of the Ma'dan families — a life experience unchanged for thousands of years.

400 km — Dhi Qar

Al-Mada'in — Arch of Ctesiphon

Ctesiphon (Taq Kasra)

The largest free-standing brick arch in the world. The capital of the Sasanian Empire and a center of power that lasted 800 years before the Islamic conquest.

30 km from Baghdad

Suggested travel itinerary by season

Spring (March – May)

Generally the best season. Visit the Kurdistan Region to see green meadows, the southern marshes for the great bird migration, and Babylon in ideal weather.

Summer (June – August)

Record temperatures in the central and southern regions. Stay in the north (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok) — moderate temperatures and mountain snow melts into the rivers.

Autumn (September – November) — generally the best

The weather is ideal across all of Iraq. Arba'een visits are concentrated here — an unforgettable experience. The northern mountains are colored red and gold.

Winter (December – February)

The south is mild (ideal for Najaf and Basra), and the north is covered in snow (a unique experience in Kurdistan). Baghdad is rainy and refreshing.

Inter-governorate Transportation Options

Mode	Approximate Cost	Time/Distance	Notes
Domestic flight	50–120 dollars	1 hour	Baghdad ↔ Basra, Sulaymaniyah, Erbil, Najaf
Shared taxi	20–60 dollars	3–6 hours	Most common, departs from Al-Nahdha Garage in Baghdad.
Car rental with driver	80–150 dollars/day	Flexible	Best for a group of students, includes fuel and local expertise
Train	5–15 dollars	Long	Baghdad ↔ Basra only, a classic but slow experience

Practical tips for the student tourist

Language: Arabic is used throughout the country, and Kurdish in the Kurdistan Region. Basic English is spoken in hotels and tourist restaurants.
Currency: Iraqi Dinar (IQD). 1 USD ≈ 1,310 dinars. Foreign currencies are accepted in major hotels.
Dress Code Modest dress in mosques and shrines (head covering for women). The summer heat calls for loose cotton clothing.
Internet: Zain Iraq / Asiacell / Korek offer data SIM cards for tourists at nominal prices.
Security: The security situation is stable in all mentioned cities. Avoid taking photos near military installations.
Food: Try Masgouf (grilled Tigris fish), Dolma, Mosul Kubba, and Zlabia during Ramadan.

Official Tourism Resources

Iraqi General Board for Tourism — Official Website
Kurdistan Regional Government — Visas and Entry to the Region
World Heritage Sites in Iraq — UNESCO

Iraq Tourism Guide

Iraq Tourism Guide