Baghdad, Iraq's capital on the Tigris River, blends nearly 1,300 years of Mesopotamian and Islamic history with a still-difficult current security environment; travel here in 2026 requires real preparation and current advisory awareness.
Luxury hotels
Five-star and palace properties.
Babylon Rotana Hotel
The city's leading 5-star property, on the Tigris in Al-Jadriya, with indoor and outdoor pools and multiple dining venues.
Royal Tulip Al Rasheed Hotel
Long-established hotel inside the International Zone, historically favored by officials, diplomats, and press.
Fine dining
Michelin-starred and chef-driven restaurants.
Babylon Rotana Hotel restaurants
The most consistent higher-end dining option, with multiple in-house restaurants.
Jadiriyah Floating Restaurant
River-view dining considered a step above typical casual Baghdad restaurants.
Exclusive experiences
Bespoke and once-in-a-lifetime activities.
Private guided tour of the National Museum of Iraq
Arranging a private licensed guide avoids queues and provides expert context on the Mesopotamian collection.
Private driver day trip to Babylon and Ctesiphon
A hired car and driver for the day covers both major archaeological sites without relying on shared transport.
Riverside private dinner reservation, Al-Jadriya
Pre-booking a river-view table at one of the Jadriya floating restaurants for sunset dining.
Spas & wellness
World-class spa retreats and treatments.
Babylon Rotana Hotel Spa
The most complete spa and fitness facility currently documented as operating in Baghdad.
Luxury transport
Travel in style.
- Option
- Pre-arranged hotel or licensed private car service for airport transfers rather than hailing a taxi at the curb
- Option
- A dedicated private driver for the full length of stay is the most common 'luxury' transport arrangement in Baghdad, rather than chauffeured luxury vehicle fleets