Iraq (العراق)

Cities, towns, and villages

• Baghdad (بغداد) — is the capital and largest city of Iraq, and one of the cultural capitals of the Arab world with a long and rich history, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the most populous cities in the Middle East and Arab World. Founded in 762 AD by Al-Mansur, Baghdad was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate and became its most notable development project. The city evolved into a cultural and intellectual center of the Muslim world. This, in addition to housing several key academic institutions, including the House of Wisdom, garnered it a worldwide reputation as the "Center of Learning".
• Arbil (Arbil) (أربيل) — is the capital of Kurdistan and is a city in transition from a small town to a growing centre for commerce in the region. Kurdish Restaurants, shops and other locations are best found in relation to key landmarks, districts or large roads. Good examples include the Citadel (landmark), Ankawa (district) or 60m Road. Even if you do not speak Kurdish or Arabic, drivers and hotel drivers will be able to find your destination with the help of landmarks, a map or a Google map.
• Ar Rutba (الرطبة) — is a city on the high plateau of the Iraqi Desert. it is the westernmost town of any real size, also described as the most isolated town of any size in Iraq. The town has a hot desert climate. Occupies a strategic location on the Amman–Baghdad road, and the Kirkuk–Haifa oil pipeline.
• Basra (البَصرة) — is a port city in the Lower Mesopotamia, situated along the Shatt al-Arab river, formed by the confluence of the Euphrates and the Tigris, the city's many canals and creeks once gave rise to the epithet Venice of the East. The fields along the river are very fertile with agriculture being a major source of income for the region, the region is known for having the world's largest forest of date palms. very close to the border with Kuwait.
• Dahuk (دهوك) — is a city in Kurdistan Region, Iraq. It is the capital of Dohuk Governorate, very close to the border with Turkey. The city is encircled by mountains along the Tigris River. is known as one of the most conservative in the region, but also one of the safest. In general, Duhokis are warm, hospitable and extremely proud of their city. It's not uncommon for a restaurant owner to heavily discount your meal or offer you free tea as a visitor. The polite response is to still try your best to pay, but Duhokis will often not take no for an answer. The downtown area is far more charming than those of larger Iraqi cities, and foreigners will feel safe and welcome!
• Fallujah (الفلّوجة) — a city with over 200 mosques now better known for the sieges and battles fought here.
• Karbala (كربلاء) — is a city in central Iraq, located about 100 km (62 mi) southwest of Baghdad, and a few miles east of Lake Milh, also known as Razzaza Lake. Karbala is the capital of Karbala Governorate. best known as the location of the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, is considered a holy city for Shia muslims.
• Kirkuk (كركوك) — is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of the Kirkuk Governorate. An important cultural capital to the Kurds, Turkmen and Iraqis and Arabs. Is located near the foot of the Zagros Mountains in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The oldest part of the town is clustered around a citadel built on an ancient tell, or mound. During the period of Assyrian prominence, the city was called Arrapha. Textiles are manufactured there. Abundant oil reserves make Kirkuk a governorate of strategic importance. The crude oil production stimulated sustained expansion in the city.
• Mosul (الموصل) — is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of Nineveh Governorate. The city is considered the second-largest city in Iraq, by population and area, after the capital, Baghdad. Mosul is considered among the larger, more historically- and culturally-significant cities of the Arab world. Due to its strategic, central location, it has traditionally served as one of the hubs of international commerce and travel in the region. The North Mesopotamian dialect of Arabic commonly known as Moslawi is named after Mosul, and is widely spoken in the region. Together, with the Nineveh Plains region, Mosul is an historical centre of the Assyrian people.
• Nineveh (نينوى) — an ancient Assyrian 8,000-year-old city and the capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Once the largest city in the world and covering an area of some 750 ha, it was besieged, destroyed and left unpopulated after the 612 BC battle of Nineveh. There have been repeated archaeological projects and some half-finished attempts at reconstructions. whose partially reconstructed ruins and the archaeological site lies across the Tigris from Mosul.
• Sulaimaniyah (السليمانية) — is a city in the east of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and is the capital of the Sulaymaniyah Governorate. The modern city of Slemani was founded in 1784, Slemani was the capital of the historic Kurdish principality of Baban, Since then it has been Iraqi Kurdistan’s cultural capital and home to philosophers, poets and writers. The local population are known for being more open-minded and tolerant than in the rest of Kurdistan. The city is often described as a “cosmopolitan gem” and “a place to be discovered”. It still has many places of interest, the heart of the city is the old town, which despite the name looks rather modern and it is as deliciously chaotic as any medina in Morocco. In the area there are many small family run restaurants serving simple, tasty and inexpensive food.