Northern Iraq
Regions & Cities
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Samarra
Samarra’s skyline is dominated by the Malwiya spiral minaret at the Great Mosque; visitors come to study Abbasid architecture and expansive archaeological mounds along the Tigris plain.
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Mosul
Once a crossroads on the Tigris, Mosul draws visitors to Nineveh’s ruins and the battered Citadel.
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Kirkuk
Perched on a salt‑domed hill, Kirkuk’s mix of Turkmen, Kurds, and Arabs shows in its bazaars and kebab stalls.
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Great Mosque of Samarra
Near Samarra, the Great Mosque once included the spiral Malwiya minaret-an emblem of 9th-century Abbasid architecture; visitors and researchers study the site’s monumental brickwork and early Islamic plan.
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Nineveh
Ancient Nineveh lies on the Tigris near modern Mosul and contains large archaeological mounds from an Assyrian capital.
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Kirkuk Citadel
Atop an artificial mound in Kirkuk, the Citadel contains layered remains from multiple civilizations and offers elevated city views.
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Al-Askari Shrine
In Samarra, the Al-Askari Shrine contains the mausoleums of the tenth and eleventh Shia Imams and historically featured golden domes and minarets; it remains a major pilgrimage site.
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Hatra
In Nineveh Governorate, Hatra is a fortified Parthian city with temple ruins and sculpted façades dating to the 2nd-1st centuries BCE-CE; archaeologists value its mix of Hellenistic and Eastern motifs.
Northern Iraq at a Glance
Local Time
3:01 AM
GMT+3
Population
5,770,587
Best Things to Do in Northern Iraq
Nature Reserve
Great Mosque of Samarra
9th-century mosque with distinctive spiral Malwiya minaret
Archaeological Site
Hatra
Ancient Parthian-Arab fortified city ruins
Mosque
Al-Askari Shrine
Important Shia shrine and burial site in Samarra
Ruins
Nineveh
Ancient Assyrian city ruins near modern Mosul
Archaeological Site
Assur
Ancient Assyrian capital ruins on the Tigris River
Archaeological Site
Nimrud
Archaeological Assyrian site with monumental palaces and reliefs
Archaeological Site
Dur-Sharrukin
Assyrian capital ruins from the 8th century BCE
Mosque
Great Mosque of al-Nuri, Mosul
Historic Mosul mosque famed for its leaning minaret.
Administrative Seat
Nuzi
Ancient Near Eastern archaeological site with Hurrian-era remains
Archaeological Site
Arrapha
Ancient Assyrian city site near modern Kirkuk
Archaeological Site
Balawat
Neo-Assyrian archaeological site famous for bronze reliefs
Religious Site
Dair Mar Elia
Ancient monastery near Mosul, largely destroyed in 2014