Tourism in Iraq refers to tourism in theWestern Asian country ofIraq. Iraq was one of the main destinations for many years, however this changed dramatically due to conflicts. Tourism in Iraq has faced many challenges, however, in recent years there have been improvements. The capital cityBaghdad is the second largest city in theArab world and the 4th largest in the Middle East. Iraq hasseveral World Heritage Sites, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, most notablyBabylon Iraq. Iraq is considered to be a potential location forecotourism.[1]Erbil was chosen as "Arab Tourism Capital" in 2014 by the Arab Tourism Committee.[2] Then, Baghdad was chosen as Arab Tourism Capital in 2024-2025
| Site | Image | Location | Criteria | Area | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) | .jpg) | IrqSaladin Governorate35°27′32″N43°15′35″E / 35.45889°N 43.25972°E /35.45889; 43.25972 | Cultural:IrqAsh (iii)(iv) | 70 (170) | 2003 | Located on theTigris and dating from the 3rd millennium BCE, Ashur was the first capital of theAssyrian Empire and the religious centre of the Assyrians. Following its destruction by theBabylonians, the city was briefly revived during theParthian period.[3] |
| Erbil Citadel | | IrqErbil Governorate36°11′28″N44°00′33″E / 36.19111°N 44.00917°E /36.19111; 44.00917 | Cultural:IrqErb (iv) | 16 (40) | 2014 | Situated on the top of a tell in Iraqi Kurdistan and overlooking the city ofErbil, the Erbil Citadel constitutes a typical example of Ottoman-era urban-planning. In addition to its 19th century fortifications, the site also contains remains dating back to theAssyrian period.[4] |
| Hatra |  | IrqNineveh Governorate35°35′17″N42°43′06″E / 35.58806°N 42.71833°E /35.58806; 42.71833 | Cultural:IrqHat (ii)(iii)(iv)(vi) | 324 (800) | 1985 | The fortifiedParthian city of Hatra withstood repeated attacks by theRoman Empire in the 2nd century. Its architecture reflects both Hellenistic and Roman influences.[5] |
| Samarra Archaeological City |  | IrqSaladin Governorate34°20′28″N43°49′25″E / 34.34111°N 43.82361°E /34.34111; 43.82361 | Cultural:IrqSam (ii)(iii)(iv) | 15,058 (37,210) | 2007 | Located on theTigris, the Islamic city of Samarra was the capital of theAbbasid Caliphate. It contains two of the largest mosques and several of the largest palaces in the Islamic world, in addition to being among the finest example of Abbasid-era town-planning.[6] |
| The Ahwar of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities |  | Irq31°33′44″N47°39′28″E / 31.56222°N 47.65778°E /31.56222; 47.65778 | Mixed:IrqAhw (iii)(v)(ix)(x) | 211,544 (522,740) | 2016 | Located in southern Iraq, the site contains three cities ofSumerian origin, namelyUruk,Ur andEridu, in addition to four wetland areas in theIraqi Marshlands.[7] |
| Babylon |  | Babylon Governorate Irq32°32′11″N44°25′15″E / 32.53639°N 44.42083°E /32.53639; 44.42083 | Cultural:IrqBab (iii)(vi) | 1,054.3 (2,605) | 2019 | A former capital ofHammurabi, Babylon grew to become the largest settlement in ancientMesopotamia during the reign ofNebuchadnezzar II.[8] |
Additionally, Iraq has sites on the tentative list of UNESCO. The tentative list includesUr,Nimrud,The Ancient City of Nineveh,The Fortress of Al-Ukhaidar,Wasit,The Marshlands of Mesopotamia,The Site of Thilkifl,Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery in Najaf,Amedy city, Historical Features of theTigris River inBaghdad Rusafa. In addition to these sites, there are must-see places to visit in person in Iraq, like the Iraqi Plastic Society which houses numerous art work demonstrating traditional as well as innovative styles of design.[9]
Baghdad is the capital ofIraq and thesecond-largest city in theArab world. It is located along theTigris near the ruins of the ancientAkkadian city ofBabylon and theSassanid Persian capital ofCtesiphon. In the eighth century, Baghdad was chosen as the capital of theAbbasid Caliphate, and became its most notable major development project
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Religious tourism is the most popular type of tourism in Iraq, with tens of millions of tourists from several countries visiting Holy cities and places in Iraq every year. These include:
The number of tourist arrivals in Iraq in 2013 was 892,000. In the last two decades the highest number of tourists came in 2010 with 1,518,000 tourists. In 2012, the value of international tourism receipt was $1.64 billion.[10]Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous region of Iraq, was a hotspot for tourism. It was considered to be a safe and stable region and least affected by terrorism. In 2012, Kurdistan recorded a 70% rise in tourist arrivals. In 2007 Kurdistan had 106 hotels which increased to 405 in 2012 in addition to 214 motels and 50 tourist villages.[11][12]Erbil city in Kurdistan which was declared as "Arab Tourism Capital" in 2014. However, as of 2015, activities of the militant group ISIS have affected tourism in Kurdistan. According to the association of hotels, tourism in Kurdistan is going through a crisis. The Governor of Erbil said that the financial crisis of Iraq and the war against ISIS have affected all sectors of the economy including tourism.[13][14]
Najaf and Karbala are considered a thriving tourist destination for Shia Muslims and the tourism industry in the city boomed after the end of Saddam Hussein's rule.[15] However, due to theUS sanctions onIran, the number of Iranian tourists dropped significantly.[16]
