Baghdad was founded on the Tigris in the eighth century and was for a time the largest city in the world. The Abbasid legacy survives in individual buildings such as the Mustansiriya Madrasa and the Abbasid Palace, while the city's daily life carries on in the bookshops of Mutanabbi Street, in Al-Zawraa Park and at the masgouf grills along the river. Turkish Airlines flies direct from Istanbul.
Looking for cheap flights or monthly payment flight packages to Baghdad?
Suso is a travel-planning platform that turns your Baghdad trip from Turkey into a buy now, pay later flight package: the ticket is issued by travel agencies, booking sites or airlines, and the payment plan runs on consumer credit from partner finance institutions. One click in the basket completes the purchase and the financing together; you pay over 3 to 24 months. No credit card limit needed.
See flights to Baghdad →When to visit Baghdad
October to April is the best stretch for walking the city. Summer temperatures in Baghdad pass 45C and make daytime outdoors hard work; spring and autumn are mild, and winters cool with little rain.
Things to do in Baghdad
Mutanabbi Street
The booksellers' street named after the tenth-century poet turns into an open-air library on Friday mornings, with secondhand stalls, tea houses and the historic Shabandar Cafe along the same stretch.
Kadhimiya Mosque
The city's most recognisable silhouette with its golden domes and four minarets, on the west bank of the Tigris in a quarter used to a flow of visitors.
Al-Mustansiriya Madrasa
Founded in 1233, one of the oldest surviving madrasa buildings anywhere. Its brickwork and inner courtyard show Abbasid architecture directly.
Al-Zawraa Park
Three square kilometres of park in the middle of the city, with a lake, gardens, a funfair and a zoo. The easiest place to see how Baghdad spends its weekend.
The Tigris bank and masgouf
At the riverside grills the fish is split and cooked upright beside the embers for hours. In the late afternoon the bank fills with smoke and the smell of charcoal.
The Baghdadi Museum
A small museum telling the city's daily life through dioramas. A good entry point to the city while the Iraq Museum is closed for renovation.
Flights from Turkey to Baghdad
Baghdad is served by Baghdad International Airport (BGW), about 16 km west of the centre. The direct flight from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines takes around 2 hours 45 minutes. Because the road between airport and city passes through checkpoints, arranging the transfer in advance is practical.
Baghdad FAQ
Is the Iraq Museum open?
No. The Iraq Museum closed in mid-2025 for a major renovation and there is no confirmed reopening date. If you plan to see the Nimrud and Hatra pieces, check the current status before you travel; the Baghdadi Museum and the Mustansiriya Madrasa are open in the meantime.
Do I need a visa for Iraq?
Iraq operates an eVisa applied for online and the terms can change; entry to the Kurdistan Region follows a separate regime. Confirm the current requirement for your own passport with the Iraqi consulate before booking.
How can I get a Baghdad flight package?
You can split the cost of your Baghdad flight package with Suso over 3 to 24 months, with no credit card limit required.
Buy now, pay later flights to Baghdad
Fly now, pay later. Plan your trip, pay over up to 24 months. One click at checkout sets up the plan, no credit card limit needed.
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