Where to stay, what to eat and how to spend a perfect Friday in Iraq's capital.
By Noor Al-Rawi · 2 October 2026 · 1 min read
Baghdad rewards the curious. Start on a Friday morning at al-Mutanabbi Street, where booksellers lay out their stock along the pavement and the Shabandar Café has been serving tea since 1917.
Karrada and Jadriya offer comfortable hotels close to the river and the best restaurants.
Masgouf is the classic — carp split and grilled upright around a wood fire. Follow it with kleicha, date-filled pastries, and a glass of sweet black tea.
Baghdad & Central Iraq
The City of Peace on the Tigris — once the greatest centre of learning in the world, today a vibrant capital of book markets, riverside cafés and golden-domed shrines.
Baghdad → Baghdad
Three days in the City of Peace: book markets, riverside dinners, Abbasid monuments and the Iraq Museum.
Stories24 September 20261 min read
Buffalo at dawn, reeds at dusk — what it's like to sleep in a mudhif in Chibayish.
By Omar Hassan
Food & Drink16 September 20261 min read
From masgouf to kleicha, a delicious introduction to the Iraqi table.
By Sara Kareem
Practical Tips6 September 20261 min read
Visas, money, dress codes, SIM cards and the best time of year to visit.
By VisitIraq Team
Tell us what inspires you and our local travel designers will create a personal itinerary across Iraq — free and without obligation.