18 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Iraq - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in Iraq

Babylon

Celebrated as a center of civilization, the remains of the ancient city have been nearly destroyed by greed, egoism, and war.

Al-Shikhan, Iraq

Lalish Temple

The sacred shrine of the Yazidis.

Great Mosque of Samarra

9th century Abbasid mosque, damaged in modern warfare.

Erbil Citadel

An ancient fortified mound raised over the millennia from settlements built one on top of the other.

Bahdinan Gate

This beautiful arched gate is all that remains of the fortress the ancient mountaintop town of Amadiya once was.

The Tree of Knowledge

A shrine on the shores of the Tigris.

Saddam Hussein's Blood Quran

A 605-page Quran penned in the blood of a dictator is locked away in a mosque.

Chamchamal, Iraq

Chamchamal Fire Well

A boiling wellspring flowing with natural gas burns in a continual blaze.

See All 18 Things to Do in Iraq See All 18 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
in Iraq

Khirret

This pollen-based candy comes from the marshes of southern Iraq.

Explore Iraq

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Places Visited

Recent Iraq Activity

andrewism48 wants to go to Babylon

csengegulyas wants to go to Lalish Temple

csengegulyas has been to Lalish Temple

changelings child wants to go to Saddam Hussein's Blood Quran

vijayhm wants to go to Lalish Temple

Stories
About Iraq

The cuneiform tablets were taken from Ur in Iraq in the early 20th century.

After a Century Abroad, a Collection of Cuneiform Is Heading Home to Iraq

Some will remain in Philly, but only because they might be too fragile for the trip.

by Isaac Schultz

December 3, 2019

Outside the gates of Babylon is a vast maze.

Inside the Abandoned Babylon That Saddam Hussein Built

“If I could, I would go without shoes here, because it’s a holy place,” says a guide to the ancient site.

December 2, 2019

The ruins of the ancient city of Ur, in present-day Iraq.

How to Get Your Laundry Done in Ancient Mesopotamia

A humorous dialogue between a cleaner and customer, useful to both ancient scribes and modern scholars.

by Noor Al-Samarrai

February 6, 2019

Vintage photo of the Tigris River, flowing through Iraq. The cradle of civilization and of <em>shaku maku</em>.

The Iraqi Version of 'What's Up?' Is an Existential Riddle

The phrase "shaku maku" offers a question, a playful paradox, and an invitation to share.