Iraq

Iraq is a destination for curious, confident travellers: layered with ancient history, warm hospitality, and complex modern realities. Expect checkpoints, visible security, and sometimes conflicting information, so stay flexible and well-informed. Most visitors focus on cities like Baghdad, Erbil, Kurdistan’s mountain towns, and Shi’a pilgrimage centres such as Najaf and Karbala. Before you go, check current travel advisories and register with your embassy if that service exists.

On the ground, modest dress is appreciated, especially in religious areas: long trousers or skirts, covered shoulders, and a scarf for women in shrines. Always ask permission before photographing people, soldiers, or checkpoints. In conservative neighbourhoods, avoid public displays of affection and loud behaviour.

Stay connected so you can check routes, translation, and local news. Activating a Hello eSIM before landing lets you use data immediately at the airport, without hunting for SIM kiosks or paying roaming fees. Use Hello’s trip planning to keep addresses, hotel details, and important contacts handy offline. When moving around cities, save the names of landmarks in Arabic and Kurdish inside your itinerary so you can show taxi drivers if language barriers pop up.

Above all, follow local advice: hotel staff, guides, and drivers are invaluable for understanding which areas are fine to wander and which are better visited with a local escort.

Transport in Iraq is improvised but doable if you’re patient. In cities, you’ll mainly rely on taxis, ride-hailing apps (available in Baghdad and Erbil), and shared minibuses. Taxis are usually unmetered, so agree on the fare before you get in; a short ride within Baghdad might be around 5,000–8,000 IQD (roughly $4–6 USD). Keep small notes and coins handy, as drivers may not have change.

Intercity travel is often by shared taxi, coach bus, or private driver. Between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, for example, shared taxis run frequently and are reasonably priced. If you’re arranging a driver for longer journeys, use Hello’s trip planning to map out stops like Samarra, Hatra, or Lalish and share the itinerary with your companions.

Public transport signage is limited, and information can change quickly. With a Hello eSIM, you can use maps and translation apps to confirm station names, track your route in real time, and avoid getting dropped too far from your destination. At night, opt for trusted taxis recommended by your hotel and avoid walking through poorly lit areas. When travelling with friends, use Hello’s expense splitting to keep taxi and driver costs fair and transparent without awkward money conversations.

Iraq’s official currency is the Iraqi dinar (IQD), though in the Kurdistan Region you may also see prices referenced informally in US dollars. Cash is still king: many small restaurants, taxis, and guesthouses don’t accept cards, and ATMs can be unreliable outside major cities. Bring at least one backup debit or credit card and keep emergency cash separate from your daily wallet.

For everyday spending, you might pay 2,000–3,000 IQD (about $1.50–2.25 USD) for a street snack, 10,000–20,000 IQD ($7–15 USD) for a mid-range meal, and more in upscale spots. Use Hello’s budget tracking to log purchases in IQD so you understand what you’re really spending, even amid fluctuating exchange rates.

Tipping is appreciated but not always expected: rounding up taxi fares and leaving 1,000–2,000 IQD at cafés and casual eateries is a friendly gesture. When travelling with others, restaurant bills and group activities can get confusing, especially with mixed currencies; Hello’s expense splitting feature helps you record who paid what and settle up later in whichever currency you agree on.

Keep receipts for larger purchases, especially in bazaars, and store them in your trip notes. This is useful if you need to declare items at customs or simply track how much those carpets and copperware really cost.

Iraqi culture revolves around hospitality and shared meals. You’ll encounter generous invitations to tea, sweets, and home-cooked food—declining politely is fine, but accepting often leads to memorable conversations. Classic dishes include masgouf (slow-grilled river fish), dolma (stuffed vegetables), kabsa and qouzi (rice with lamb), and pillowy samoon bread. In cities like Baghdad and Erbil, explore traditional restaurants and modern cafés serving strong Arabic coffee and cardamom tea.

When invited to a home, remove your shoes if others do, accept at least a small portion of what’s offered, and avoid finishing your plate too quickly—this can signal you’re still hungry and trigger endless refills. Use your right hand when eating and passing items, and avoid discussing politics or religion in depth unless your hosts lead the topic.

Many Iraqis appreciate visitors who learn a few phrases in Arabic or Kurdish; a Hello eSIM keeps translation apps working smoothly so you can look up greetings and express thanks on the spot. Save favourite restaurants and cultural spots—like the Baghdad Book Market on Mutanabbi Street, the Citadel of Erbil, or shrines in Karbala—in Hello’s trip planning so you can build routes around food, museums, and historic sites.

Photography is usually welcome in markets and streets, but always ask before photographing people, religious rituals, or security forces.