Business Class Flights to Iraq

In an effort to attract more tourism, Iraq waived visa requirements for many travelers within the past few years. As a result, flights to Iraq have grown exponentially, allowing more international travelers to take in the beauty and storied history of a country that’s home to archeological relics from one of the earliest civilizations on the planet.

The country now known as the Republic of Iraq has roots that date back to 65,000 BCE. Early Neanderthal archaeological remains were found in the Shanidar Caves in northern Iraq, which informed our understanding of our ancestors as well as reinforced Iraq’s landscape as the cradle of civilization. Over time, archaeological findings have discovered that Iraq was home to some of the earliest agricultural settlers, which led to the first-known major human civilization — the Sumerians. Many travelers who book flights to Iraq can learn more about this history by traveling the country and seeing the few remaining echoes of Mesopotamia.

Near the ruins of ancient Babylon is Iraq’s capital city of Baghdad, the fourth-largest city in the Middle East, as well as the main hub that tourists who book plane tickets to Iraq travel through. Located 9 miles west of Baghdad is Baghdad International Airport, the main international hub through which most tourists pass through. Though just over 5 million travelers fly in or out of Bagdad International Airport currently, it has to capacity to serve 15 million, which speaks to both the airport’s and Iraq’s designs to be a travel destination in the future.

Dating back to 762 CE, Baghdad is a city rich in Mesopotamian history and culture. Travelers who book flights to Iraq will be thrilled to experience many historic sites as well as modern amenities. Of the many historical offerings, travelers often visit the Iraqi National Museum in Baghdad, which uses artifacts, some of which are over 10,000 years old, to tell the story of both Iraqi civilization and humankind as a whole. The Iraqi National Museum aims to show the rise of early human settlements, as well as the storied history of the civilizations that once called this region home.

Other popular sites in Baghdad include Liberation Square, which celebrates the establishment of the Republic of Iraq in 1958. Located in the square are gardens and the Freedom Monument, which showcases 14 bronze statues that depict the history of the region leading up to the establishment of the Iraqi Republic.

In the heart of downtown Baghdad and across the Tigris River from the Iraqi National Museum is Al-Mutanabbi Street, named after the famous poet and home to iconic booksellers, shopping malls, and a book museum. Along this street is the Shabandar Cafe, which is a historic, traditional cafe that has served patrons for over 100 years. It is famous for its hot tea, historical photos that line the walls, and the fact that it encapsulates Iraqi history, having collected photos and artifacts from British rule through Saddam Hussein to modern-day Iraq.

Just over 224 miles north of Baghdad is Erbil Citadel. Many travelers who book cheap flights to Iraq make time to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Erbil Citadel is a series of settlements that have been built on top of each other, dating back over 6,000 years. It’s one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements, and its rich in archeological history. Visitors will enjoy admiring its fortified walls and its designs which still carry the styles of old civilizations. Outside of the citadel, the Erbil that has grown around it is modern and boasts many delicious kebab shops, tea shops, and the Kurdish Textile Museum.

Down along the southern region, travelers who book flights to Iraq wonder in awe at the Ziggurat of Ur. Located outside of the nearby city of Nasiriyah, this neo-Sumerian artifact dates back to the 21st century BCE. Though much has been eroded over time, in the 1980s, the great staircase was reconstructed, making the Ziggurat of Ur one of the best-preserved relics from the Mesopotamian era. Its massive staircase and mud brick design make it a historical site worth visiting.