How to visit Mosul in 2025

Alexander
May 23, 2025
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How to Visit Mosul (Iraq) in 2025 – Iraq’s Silent Survivor

Mosul is probably the best-known city in Iraq… unfortunately, not for the best reasons. In 2014 it fell into the hands of ISIS and for the next three years, its people lived under fear, repression, and violence until the city was liberated in 2017 by a joint force of Iraqi and Kurdish military. Nowadays the city is accessible for tourists again and when visiting it feels like walking through a giant museum, while also witnessing the city coming back to life.

📜 Quick History of Mosul

In my opinion, knowing the city’s history is quite important before visiting to give you a deeper understanding of what Mosul and its people have endured. So let me give you a quick summary.

Mosul has ancient roots, sitting just across the Tigris River from the ruins of Nineveh, once the capital of the Assyrian Empire. For centuries, it thrived as a cultural and trading center.

That all changed in 2014, when ISIS seized control of the city. Over the next three years, Mosul became a symbol of terror: public executions, cultural destruction, and opression were part of life for its residents. The iconic Al-Nuri Mosque was blown up, and many historical sites were damaged or lost.

In 2017, after a months-long military operation, Iraqi forces finally liberated the city with support from Kurdish Peshmerga and international allies. The battle left large parts of Mosul in ruins.

Today, the city is slowly being rebuilt. You’ll see signs of restoration everywhere: UNESCO-led projects, revived markets, and families returning to the Old City.

Travelling through Federal Iraq? Check out:

How to visit Federal Iraq in 2025

🚕 How to get to Mosul

Getting to Mosul is pretty straight forward.

Getting to Mosul From Baghdad:

Take a shared taxi from Baghdad to Mosul for 30.000 IQD.

Getting to Mosul From Erbil:

Shared Taxi for 15.000 IQD. Starting 2025 you can even visit Mosul on a kurdish Visa starting 2025. However I still heard from travellers who had to turn around at one of the checkpoints between Mosul and Erbil. Find Erbil’s garage here.

Does Mosul have a functional airport?

Mosul’s airport finally reopened in June 2025. Yet flights are still very limited.

💡 Starting Summer 2025 more and more flights will start again from and to Mosul.

👮 Safety in Mosul

Mosul is arguably the safest city in all of Federal Iraq, with a level of security comparable to that of the autonomous Kurdish region. Locals are incredibly hospitable, security forces are present and tourist visits are increasing. Crime is virtually nonexistent and you can walk out alone at night by yourself, even as a woman. The overwhelming hospitality and warmth of the people make Mosul a comfortable place to visit.

💡 Find out more about Safety in Guide How To Visit Federal Iraq

🛏️ Where to stay in Mosul

Kahramana Hotel – Located not too far from the center of the Old City, it’s a good option for 20.000 IQD a night with friendly staff.

Hotel Alsafer – Located in the center of the Old City close to the Tigris River. For 20.000 IQD a descent choice, even though the hotel is very basic, breakfast is not included and you need to pay extra for towels.

🕌 What to do in Mosul

Mosul is naturally split by the Tigris River into two distinct halves: the historic western side (Old Mosul) and the more modern eastern side (New Mosul).

Old Mosul (West Side)

Al-Nouri Mosque & Al-Hadbaa Minaret

Once iconic symbols of the city, now undergoing reconstruction after their destruction during the ISIS occupation. From the Pulpit of the Al-Nouri Mosque Baghdadi announced the Caliphate of the Islamic State in 2014. It was the first and only time he ever publically appeared. The Mosque is currently under reconstructio by UNESCO. On paper it is closed to visitors but there is a chance the workers allow you to enter if you ask them nicely.

Mosul Heritage Museum

A small but growing collection showcasing the city’s deep cultural roots and ancient Assyrian legacy. It will take you just a couple of minutes to see everything in ths museum, but the fact that it’s there shows that the City opens up again for tourism.

Wander Through the Destroyed Old Town

Walking these alleys feels like moving through a living museum. It was a surreal experience. You can enter most houses just be careful since bricks might be a bit lose and there are obviously no rails to save you from falling down íf you go up one of the buildings.

Fish & Spice Market

A perfect place to connect with Locals. Sip tea with locals and experience how life is returning.

New Mosul (East Side)

Great Mosque of Mosul aka Saddam Hussein Mosque

A massive Mosque that still waits to be finished. The construction started under Saddam Hussein and due to several reasons, including the war but also a controversery around having a mosque called after Saddam Hussein, the Mosque is still not finished.

Today the Mosque is referred as Great Mosque of Mosu and construction started again.

Explore the Buzzing Streets

Mosul is a modern city! Even though the images you might have seen will tell you something different, you will find Malls, Amusement Parks and modern Streets here. Besides the Tigris riverbank, Mosul’s University Street if full of Life. You find a good spot to exlplore the new city here.

Relax at the Tigris River

During sunsets many locals gather around the riverbank on the west side of the Tigris River. You will find amusement parks, malls, boat rides, shisha places and more here. The most buzzing area I marked here.

🏺 Hatra - A Day Trip from Mosul

If you come to Mosul with some spare time I can recommend visiting Hatra, an ancient temple site and UNESCO World Heritage. While the temple site itself is already really impressive, the ISIS Takeover in 2015 added another story to the site. It got used as a Training Ground and you’ll still see rusted bullet casings scattered across the sand, and many of the temple’s once-majestic statues, like the Sun God Maran, were destroyed with sledgehammers.

Hatra is located roughly 100km south of Mosul and reaching it independently is quite challening. First of all you’ll need to organize a ticket in Mosul for 25.000 IQD. I marked the place here. Since Hatra is only sorrunded by desert with no villages close by there are also no taxis going there. Your best shot is to ask in the “Iraqi Travel Community” Facebook Group and find other travellers wanting to go there, so you can organize a taxi together. Alternatively Tour Guides should be available for anything between 50$ and 150$ and can be hired via Facebook Groups.

Final Thoughts

🔗 A Full Guide to Travel Federal Iraq in 2025

For years, the name Mosul was synonymous with destruction, war, and extremism. Mosul was perhaps my personal highlight of my Iraq Trip. It shows how a city and its people are not solely defined by their darkest capters. What I found here was not a war zone, but a place where people are rebuilding their lives with dignity and purpose. Where the past is remembered, but not allowed to dominate the present.