World Guide

Iraq

Country · Asia, Western Asia

Iraq
Photo: Diyar Muhammed, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Located in Western Asia, Iraq is bordered by Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey. With a population of about 47 million people and covering 437,072 square kilometers, the country features a capital city at Baghdad. It offers a wide range of historical sites and architectural landmarks.

Highlights

This site covers 22 top sights across the country. Ancient sites include Ur, Uruk, Etemenanki, Kish, Larsa, Al-Hira, and the Hatra site. Architectural and religious landmarks include the Ishtar Gate, the Great Mosque of Samarra, the Great Mosque of Kufa, the Taq Kasra arch, the Citadel of Erbil, the Imam Husayn Shrine, and the Al-Askari Shrine. Other notable locations are the Victory Arch and the Republican Palace in Baghdad, the cemetery of Wadi-us-Salaam, and the geological site Baba Gurgur. Major cities include Baghdad, Najaf, Nasiriyah, and Samarra.

Food and drink

Local dishes include Masgouf, Lokma, and Daheen. Bread options consist of Samoon and Tandoor bread.

When to go

The climate at the capital, Baghdad, features very hot summers and mild winters. July and August are the hottest months, with daily highs reaching 44 °C and lows of 30 °C to 31 °C. Temperatures are more moderate from November through March, with daily highs ranging from 16 °C to 24 °C and lows between 6 °C and 13 °C. Rain is infrequent, with the wettest months being January and December, each seeing about 4 days of precipitation.

Practical notes

The official currency is the Iraqi dinar. Arabic and the Kurdish language are the primary languages. Electrical plugs used are types C and G, with a voltage of 230 V. Traffic moves on the right side of the road. The country operates on UTC+03:00 time.

Cities

Food and drink to try in Iraq

  • Lokma
  • Gaz
  • Tandoor bread
  • Masgouf
  • Samoon
  • Daheen

Top sights in Iraq

  1. UrUNESCOUrNasiriyah
  2. UrukUNESCOUruk
  3. EtemenankiEtemenankiBabylon
  4. Ishtar GateIshtar GateBabylon
  5. AssurUNESCOAssur
  6. Imam Husayn ShrineImam Husayn ShrineKarbala
  7. KishHillah
  8. Great Mosque of SamarraGreat Mosque of SamarraSamarra
  9. HatraUNESCOHatra
  10. Taq KasraTaq KasraBaghdad
  11. Wadi-us-SalaamWadi-us-SalaamNajaf
  12. Victory ArchVictory ArchBaghdad
  1. Larsa · Nasiriyah
  2. Citadel of Erbil · ErbilUNESCO
  3. Great Mosque of Kufa · Najaf
  4. Esagila · Babylon
  5. Al-Askari Shrine · Samarra
  6. Baba Gurgur · Kirkuk
  7. Al-Hira · Najaf
  8. Republican Palace, Baghdad · Baghdad
  9. Iraq Museum · Baghdad
  10. Great Mosque of al-Nuri, Mosul · Mosul
  11. Al-Abbas Shrine · Karbala
  12. Mor Mattai Monastery · Mosul
  13. Hawizeh MarshesUNESCO
  14. Al-Ukhaidir Fortress · Karbala
  15. Mosul Museum · Mosul
  16. Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Ankawa · Erbil
  17. Imam Ali Mosque · Basra
  18. Mudhafaria Minaret · Erbil
  19. Basra Memorial · Basra
  20. Mausoleum of Imam al-Hasan of Basra · Basra
  21. Jalil Khayat Mosque · Erbil

UNESCO sites in Iraq →

Weather by month

The warmest month is July, with an average high of 44 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C161924313842444441342418
Average low, °C671117232831302621138
Rainfall, mm292224175000082326
Rainy days455320000144

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Baghdad (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

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