Where is it located?
Iraq is situated in the Middle East and shares borders with Kuwait, Saudi-Arabia, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Iran.
What were my expectations?
When thinking of Iraq, the first things that come to mind are war, oil, and danger. It was the same for me; I didn’t know anyone from Iraq and had only heard things in the news. How could I get an authentic view without visiting?
Due to my experiences in other countries in the region, I expected friendly people, poor infrastructure, and the possibility of food poisoning. I pictured a lot of dust and desert, and the idea that women would be covered also crossed my mind.
How did I experience it during my time there?
We traveled to Northern Iraq, specifically to Iraqi Kurdistan, where Kurdish people reside. While arriving by air, the first thing we saw were green mountains, completely different from what I had imagined.
We booked a hotel for security reasons, but on the plane, two guys invited us for dinner at their place, wanting to meet us.
We used taxis for longer distances and walked for shorter ones. It wasn’t expensive, especially after some negotiation. If I were to make the trip now, shared taxis or buses would be the chosen transport within the city. Slemani, the city we visited, was clean, and many places were easily accessible on foot.
Food places appeared clean and safe, we didn’t experience any food poisoning, even with street food. The food wasn’t too spicy, and we had no issues with it.
There were amusement parks with many attractions, and locals were outgoing, often taking pictures with us, as there weren’t many foreigners around.
We noticed a few stray animals, and the zoo was quite sad, with poorly treated animals. Trash was also found in less central areas.
How are the locals in Iraq?
The locals we met were very open and friendly. We were often invited into their homes, though we declined due to safety concerns of my travel partner. Many were excited to communicate and in general happy that we were interested in visiting their country. Women were often not covered but remained religious, and the call to prayer from the mosque was a regular occurrence.
Locals maintained a balance of keeping some distance while also wanting to be close, creating an interesting dynamic.
How is safety in Iraq?
Overall, the safety in the region felt great. Walking at night was not an issue, and my female travel partner felt safe as well. We didn’t encounter any strange looks or comments, making it feel like a safe environment to explore. Booking a hotel, when considering my type of traveling now, wouldn’t be necessary.
Summary
After visiting Iraq and hearing stories from other travelers, it seems that the danger, which is presented in the media, is mostly from decades ago. Back then, due to war and IS attacks, it was indeed dangerous. However, this is no longer a significant concern in the country. The people are friendly and welcoming.
I recommend traveling to Iraq, you will likely enjoy most of it. The Kurdish region, around Slemani and Erbil, seems even safer and recommended when you are concerned about security. Nonetheless, be aware of your surroundings, and avoid risky activities. While bad things can happen anywhere, Iraq is safer than what media and preconceptions might suggest.
Feel free to contact me for questions about specific countries or regions.
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