Iraq has two main international gateways. Baghdad International Airport stands 16 kilometers west of the capital. Erbil International Airport serves the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq. Basra International Airport operates in the south. All three handle international flights. Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Fly Baghdad maintain regular service. Visa on arrival exists for many nationalities at Erbil but not at Baghdad or Basra for most travelers. Land borders with Jordan at Trebil, with Kuwait at Safwan and Abdali, with Turkey at Ibrahim Khalil near Dohuk, and with Iran at Bashmakh and Shalamcheh remain open intermittently depending on security. The Syria border crossing at Al Qaim reopened in 2019 after years of closure. No passenger rail service connects Iraq to neighboring countries. No ferry service operates for international arrivals.
Airport taxi systems vary by city. Baghdad International Airport operates a regulated taxi stand at the arrivals terminal. Fixed rates to central Baghdad start at 25,000 Iraqi dinars. Private car services booked through hotels cost 50,000 to 80,000 dinars for the same route. Erbil International Airport maintains a taxi counter with posted rates of 25,000 dinars to the city center. Ride-hailing apps including Careem and Tam Tam function in Baghdad and Erbil but do not serve airport routes reliably. Public bus service from Baghdad airport to the city operates infrequently. Basra airport offers only private taxis at negotiated rates starting around 15,000 dinars to central Basra.
Hotels in Baghdad, Erbil, and Basra arrange airport pickup for 50,000 to 100,000 dinars depending on distance. This remains the most reliable method for first-time arrivals. Rental cars are available at Erbil International Airport through local companies but not at Baghdad or Basra airports. International rental companies do not operate in Iraq.
The Iraqi dinar is the sole legal currency. The Central Bank of Iraq issues denominations of 250, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 25,000, and 50,000 dinar notes. Coins exist in 25, 50, 100, and 250 dinar values but rarely circulate. In the Kurdistan Region, US dollars are widely accepted alongside dinars at hotels, restaurants, and major shops. Exchange rates fluctuate between 1,450 and 1,500 dinars per US dollar at official exchange offices. Street money changers offer marginally better rates. Banks exchange foreign currency during limited hours.
ATMs dispense Iraqi dinars only. Machines exist in Baghdad, Basra, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Najaf, and Karbala. Visa and Mastercard function at most ATMs. Withdrawal limits typically cap at 500,000 dinars per transaction. Iraqi banks charge 5,000 to 10,000 dinar fees per withdrawal. Foreign bank fees apply additionally. ATMs frequently run out of cash on Thursdays and Fridays. Machines inside hotels and shopping centers have higher reliability than street-facing units.
Credit cards work only at large hotels and a small number of upscale restaurants in Baghdad, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah. The Babylon Warwick Hotel and Erbil Rotana accept cards. Most establishments operate on cash only. Traveler's checks are not accepted anywhere. Wire transfers through Western Union and MoneyGram operate in major cities but involve bureaucratic procedures.
Currency exchange offices cluster near central markets in every city. In Baghdad, exchanges operate on Rasheed Street and near Tahrir Square. In Erbil, they concentrate in the Mamostayan area near the citadel. Exchange offices require identification for transactions above 500 US dollars. Hotels exchange currency at rates five to ten percent worse than market rates. Bring US dollars in good condition. Bills printed before 2006 are often rejected. Damaged or heavily worn notes receive lower rates or outright refusal.
Prices for basic goods: bottled water costs 500 to 1,000 dinars depending on size and brand, street-side tea runs 500 to 1,000 dinars, samoon bread costs 250 dinars per piece, a plate of masgouf at a mid-range restaurant starts at 15,000 dinars, taxi rides within Baghdad neighborhoods cost 3,000 to 5,000 dinars, and budget hotel rooms begin around 35,000 dinars per night outside city centers.