In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Iraq
Mosul
الموصل
Spend 2 days in Mosul to see the main historic sites and a few restored hotels; longer only if you plan extensive reconstruction tours.
Mosul is Iraq's second-largest city with a diverse heritage and a rebuilt core. Most attractions cluster around the old city and Nineveh mound, reachable by car. Limited accommodation and transport mean a short stay is practical, unless you are a specialist visitor.
- Country
- Iraq
- Local name
- الموصل
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (heat, limited services)
- Stay
- 1–2 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. bed · Mid IQD 30,000–45,000 excl. bed · High IQD 60,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 102 · Ambulance/Fire 122
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | IQD 500–800 |
| Tea with sweets | IQD 300–600 |
| Taxi 5 km (3.1 mi)Taxi 3.1 mi (5 km) | IQD 2,000–3,000 |
| Meal at modest restaurant | IQD 3,000–6,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | IQD 200–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- OSM · Mosul International Airport
- Closed as of 2021; nearest international airport Erbil (EBL), ~75 km (47 mi) eastClosed as of 2021; nearest international airport Erbil (EBL), ~47 mi (75 km) east
Typical fares
- Baghdad → Mosul shared taxi
- ≈ IQD 25,000, 4–5 h (check)
- Erbil → Mosul shared taxi
- ≈ IQD 10,000, 2–3 h (check)
- Taxi within Mosul (5 km)
- ≈ IQD 2,500
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
Private car or shared taxi is safest; bridges over the Tigris are repaired. No city bus system; mini-buses run sporadically; Arabic essential.
See and do
Known for
- Great Mosque of al-Nuri (reconstruction)
- Nineveh archaeological site
- Mosul Museum
- Cultural centre Baytna
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nineveh (Kuyunjik mound) | Car or taxi, ~15 min east of city centre | ≈30 min round trip |
| Erbil (for airport and larger hotels) | Car, ~75 km (47 mi) east, 1.5 hCar, ~47 mi (75 km) east, 1.5 h | ≈3 h round trip |
Sleep
- Al Habda Tourist Hotel
- Riverfront, basic rooms, English-speaking staff
- Al Sultan Palace Hotel
- Near city centre, open for guests
- Al Safir Hotel
- 25 K IQD per night (Oct 2022), basic facilities, WhatsApp booking
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | عفواًʿafwan |
| Thank you | شكراًshukran |
| How much? | كم السعر؟kam al-siʿr? |
| Where is the hotel? | أين الفندق؟ayna al-funduq? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Security situation can change; follow local advice and check travel warnings.
- Many historic sites are damaged or under reconstruction; some may be closed to non-Muslims.
- Limited cash facilities; carry IQD and small US-dollar notes.
Mosul is recovering; travel is possible with local guides, but stay alert, keep valuables secure, and verify site access before visiting.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mosul yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Great Mosque of al-Nuri (reconstruction)
- Nineveh archaeological site
- Mosul Museum
- Cultural centre Baytna
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Iraqi Ministry of Tourism – Mosul page: tourism.gov.iq/mosul
- Wikivoyage: Mosul, revision 5236708 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5236708
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/mosul). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.