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Voykit pocket guide · Iraq
Bartella
Half a day is enough to see the churches and walk the town. Go as a day trip from Mosul or Erbil; skip if you are short on time.
Bartella is a historic Christian town 21 km east of Mosul, with several churches dating back centuries. It was damaged by ISIS between 2014 and 2016 and is slowly rebuilding. Most travellers visit as a short stop on the way to or from Mosul.
- Country
- Iraq
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (extreme heat), Dec–Feb (cold, possible rain)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IQD
- Money
- Cash in dinars and US dollars covers almost everything: see Insurance & payments above.
- Daily spend
- Budget IQD 15,000–25,000 excl. transport · Mid IQD 25,000–50,000 excl. transport · High IQD 50,000+ excl. transport (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 104 · Ambulance 122
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Taxi Mosul–Bartella (one way) | IQD 15,000–25,000 |
| Taxi Erbil–Bartella (one way) | IQD 40,000–60,000 |
| Simple meal (kebab, rice, bread) | IQD 5,000–10,000 |
| Bottle of water | IQD 500–1,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- EBL · Erbil International Airport
- About 1.5 h drive; taxis and private transfers available
- OSM · Mosul International Airport
- Check status; limited flights
Typical fares
- Taxi Mosul–Bartella
- IQD 15,000–25,000, about 30 min (check)
- Taxi Erbil–Bartella
- IQD 40,000–60,000, about 1.5 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable. For the churches, a 15-minute walk covers all three. A taxi from Mosul can wait for you.
See and do
Known for
- Church of Virgin Mary (1890, with 16th-century origins)
- St. George's Church
- St. Shmoni Church
- Assyrian Christian and Shabak communities
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mosul | Taxi, about 30 min | 30 min |
| Erbil | Taxi, about 1.5 h | 1.5 h |
| Kirkuk | Taxi, about 2 h | 2 h |
Sleep
- Bartella town centre
- Very limited accommodation; most visitors stay in Mosul or Erbil.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | السلام عليكمas-salamu alaykum |
| Thank you | شكراًshukran |
| How much? | بكم؟bikam? |
| Yes / No | نعم / لاna'am / la |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Check your government travel advice before planning a trip to this region.
- Some church interiors may be closed for restoration; ask locally.
- No ATMs or banks in Bartella; bring cash (Iraqi dinar or US dollars).
- Roads between Mosul and Bartella are generally safe by day, but check current security.
Bartella is in a region with a history of conflict. Always check your government's travel advice. The town itself is calm, but roads to Mosul and beyond can be unpredictable.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bartella yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Church of Virgin Mary (1890, with 16th-century origins)
- St. George's Church
- St. Shmoni Church
- Assyrian Christian and Shabak communities
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Bartella, revision 5339118 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5339118
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/bartella). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.