Iraq Museum
Photo: Own work — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Iraq Museum in Baghdad showcases artifacts from Mesopotamian, Abbasid, and Persian civilizations, offering insights into Iraq’s rich history.
Planning your visit
The Iraq Museum holds the material of the world's first cities. Mesopotamia — the land between the Tigris and Euphrates — produced writing, the wheel, law codes, monumental architecture and urban life, and the museum's galleries cover Sumer, Akkad, Babylon and Assyria: the Warka Vase, the Warka Mask, Assyrian reliefs and colossal winged bulls, gold from the royal tombs of Ur, and cuneiform tablets in quantity.
Its recent history is inseparable from the collection. In April 2003, in the days after the invasion, the museum was looted and around 15,000 objects were taken; some were recovered, many were not, and the episode became emblematic of the wider destruction of Iraq's heritage. The museum reopened fully in 2015, closed again during periods of instability, and has continued to receive repatriated objects from around the world.
Visiting Iraq requires careful attention to current security guidance and entry requirements.
Bookable options include guided museum tours. Current availability is shown below.
Before you book
Where is Iraq Museum?
Iraq Museum is in Baghdad, Iraq. The map on this page marks its exact location.
Do I need to book Iraq Museum in advance?
Guided tours run to a fixed schedule and small group sizes, so they are usually booked ahead.