Baghdad

Small museum dedicated to the leader of the 14 July Revolution, Abdel-Karim Kassem, who overthrew the Iraqi monarchy in 1958.

Inspired by the glorification of a martyr from the Iran–Iraq War. The monument represents a traditional shield (dira¹a) dropping from the dying grasp of an Iraqi warrior. The monument used to house a museum which is now mostly empty. Ask the Iraqi soldiers who guard the monument for permission.

First built as a monument dedicated to the Iraqi soldiers who died in the Iran-Iraq war. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, it has been repurposed to a monument for all Iraqi martyrs including victims of his regime. The monument consists of a circular platform 190 metres in diameter in the centre of an artificial lake. A museum, library, cafeteria, lecture hall, and exhibition gallery are on two levels underneath the domes.

A huge pair of triumphal arches celebrating the alleged victory over Iran. Also known as the Hands of Victory. It marks the entrances to a former parade ground. In Ba'athist times, lavish victory parades and commemorations were a common event, showcasing military power and Saddam Hussein's cult of personality. Two arches feature thousands of captured Iranian helmets, symbolizing victory over Iran in the 1980s.

Located at the epicenter of Baghdadi civic life, the Tahrir square, this iconic and massive sculpture is one of the city's most well-loved monuments. Completed in 1961, the sculpture spans almost 50 meters in length and features bronze castings depicting the history of Iraq.

Depicting a scene from the legend of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, in which the slave girl Marjana outwitted the thieves by tricking them into hiding inside jars over which she poured hot oil.

Built in 2010, meant to remind Iraqis on the fragility of its cultural heritage.

Dedicated to the poetry of Baghdad.

A Commonwealth War Graves cemetery, commemorating military personnel killed in Iraq during World War I and World War II.

One of Baghdad's most prominent Sunni mosques, it surrounds the tomb of Abu Hanifa, the founder of the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence.

One of the most important Shi'ite religious sites in Iraq. It was finished in 1515 and the 7th Musa ibn Jafar al-Kathim and the 9th Imams Mohammed Al-Jawad were buried there.

A complex of mosque, madrasa with school buildings, old courts and other former government buildings, and a palace. Together they form a complex that is a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Oldest mosque in Baghdad with parts dating back to 902 AD.

Built in the 1660s.

Sunni mosque completed in 1293 AD.

Historic mosque complex, with some parts previously used as a Christian monastery.

Considered one of the finest examples of the Ottoman constructions in Baghdad.

A mosque built to commemorate the "victory" in the 1991 Gulf War, the minarets are shaped like barrels of guns and SCUD missiles.

Historic mosque and shrine, dating back to the Abbasid era.

Mosque and mausoleum dedicated to Abdul Qadir Gilani, an 11th century mystic who was the founded of the Qadiriyya Sufi Order.

A historic complex of a mausoleum and a mosque dating back to the Abbasid era and is dedicated to Shahab al-Din Abu Hafs Umar Suhrawardi, the founder of Suhrawardiyya Sufi Order.

Historic mosque built by Uzbek immigrants during the 17th century.

Built in 1898, it is the seat of the Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate of Babylon.

Seat of the Archdiocese of Baghdad, the current building dates back to 1866.

The main Syriac Catholic Church in Baghdad. Constructed in 1968, in a striking modernist style.

Anglican church, built in 1936.

Formerly the main synagogue in Baghdad, now abandoned and neglected. Said to be built on the site of a former synagogue, built by King Jeconiah, who was exiled from the Land of Israel to Babylon, in 597 BCE.

Only remaining active synagogue. Small and unassuming, visits have to be booked beforehand.

One of several tombs claiming to be the tomb of Joshua, the first High Priest at the reconstruction of the Jewish Temple after the return of the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity around 500 BCE.

With the historic Jewish cemetery in central Baghdad destroyed, this is where most Jewish graves have been relocated to.

Ruins of a Sikh gurdwara, house of worship, and shrine dedicated to Baba Nanak who was the founder of Sikhism and visited Baghdad in the 16th century. Little remains of the shrine but remains a popular place to visit for Indian Sikhs who comes to Baghdad.

A mandaean temple.

Also known as the Water Palace for its site beside the Tigris River. Used as a military base for US troops

Home of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Commissioned by King Faisal II in the 1950s as the new principal Royal residence. The palace serves as a key government building and can only be seen from outside.

Landmark building with a striking large clock at the top.

A 205 m TV tower. Was known in Ba'athist times as the International Saddam tower and is one of the tallest towers in Iraq. There's an observation deck at the top, which has been open intermittently.

Designed by Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, this 37 story tower is set to become one of the most striking landmarks when completed in 2023.

Last remaining part of the historic Baghdad city wall.

Mausoleum of the former royal family, King Faisal I (1883-1933), King Ghazi (1912-1939) and King Faisal II (1935-1958) are buried here.

Situated along an east-west-trending limestone ridge between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, the town of Dur Kurigalzu was founded by the Kassite King Kurigalzu I in the late 15th or early 14th century BC. Today, the ruins contains among other a well-preserved ziggurat.

Also known as Tell Harmal. The site has been occupied at least between 2100 BC and 1700 BC. Several artifacts from the site can be found in the Iraqi museums.

The largest single-span vault of unreinforced brickwork in the world and the last remaining structure of the ancient Sasanian capital of Ctesiphon. The arch stands over 30 m high and dates to the 3rd–6th century CE. The site is uncrowded and the scale of the ruin is impressive — one of the most rewarding day trips from Baghdad.

Large outdoor amusement park with swimming pools, restaurants, cafés and an observation tower.

Baghdad's famous riverside promenade, named after the 8th-century poet. The street comes alive in the evenings with families, street food vendors, tea houses, and restaurants serving fresh masgouf (grilled carp). One of the best places to experience everyday Baghdadi social life.

Baghdad's historic booksellers' street, named after the 10th-century poet Al-Mutanabbi. Every Friday, the street hosts a bustling book market where vendors sell everything from rare Arabic manuscripts to secondhand novels. The nearby Shahbandar Café, one of Baghdad's oldest, is a popular stop. The street was badly damaged in a 2007 car bombing but has been fully rebuilt and remains the intellectual heart of the city.

One of the oldest markets in Baghdad, where coppersmiths have been hammering out trays, pots, and decorative items for centuries. The rhythmic sound of metalwork is audible from several streets away. A fascinating place to watch traditional craftsmen at work and pick up handmade souvenirs.