Things to Do in Mosul

A stretch of riverside walkway with benches and views of the river and repaired bridges. Popular for evening strolls and street food sellers.

🕐 Accessible 24/7; most lively 17:00-21:00.

💡 Buy a cane sugar juice (qasab) from a cart near the bridge for 500 IQD. Best visited just before sunset for cooler temperatures and golden light.

Winding alleys of the traditional market selling spices, textiles, copperware and local sweets like kleicha. Centred around the Rabaa and Saray districts.

🕐 Sat-Thu roughly 8:00-18:00, quieter midday.

💡 Buy a bag of roasted chickpeas from a street vendor for a few hundred dinars. Haggle for copper pots but expect a firm price for antiques.

Iconic 12th-century mosque and leaning minaret, largely destroyed in 2017 war and now part of UNESCO-led reconstruction. Minaret remains standing with original brickwork visible.

🕐 Site accessible 24/7 for exterior viewing; mosque closed for reconstruction.

💡 The site is still a construction zone in places; you can view from outside the perimeter fence for free. Best light for photos is late afternoon.

Vast ruins of the ancient Assyrian capital, including the Palace of Sennacherib and the mound of Kouyunjik. Entry is free but you'll need local transport to reach the site.

🕐 Daylight hours, no official gate, ask locals for safe path.

💡 Hire a taxi from Al-Majmoaa Street for about 5,000 IQD each way. Walk the top of the mound for views over Mosul and the Tigris. No facilities on site.

Recently reopened after damage by ISIS, this museum holds artefacts from Assyrian and Islamic periods, including original lamassu statues and Nineveh reliefs.

🕐 Sun-Thu 9:00-15:00 (free entry as of 2024; bring ID).

💡 Go early on a weekday to avoid crowds; some halls are still being restored so check what's open at the ticket counter.