Tikrit

Tigris River city north of Baghdad, known for Saddam Hussein's birthplace and recent conflict history

Tikrit is a city on the Tigris River in Saladin Governorate, roughly 160 km north of Baghdad. It was the birthplace of Saddam Hussein and is associated with the Sunni Arab community that dominated Iraqi politics under his rule.

The city was held by ISIS from 2014 until March 2015, when it was retaken by Iraqi forces and Shia militias in one of the first major Iraqi military victories of that conflict. It has been rebuilding since then.

There is little specifically to draw tourists to Tikrit, though the area was historically significant in the early Islamic period. The city lies on the route between Baghdad and Mosul, and the landscape along the Tigris in this stretch is attractive.

Guide

Getting There

Tikrit is roughly 160 km north of Baghdad on Highway 1, the main road linking the capital to Mosul. By road from Baghdad the journey takes around two to three hours depending on traffic and checkpoint delays. The city sits in Saladin Governorate, and the route passes through some of the most historically significant and still-sensitive territory in Iraq.

There is no commercial airport serving Tikrit. Travel to the city is by private vehicle or shared taxi from Baghdad or Mosul. Anyone travelling to Tikrit should consult current security advisories before making plans — the situation has been stable for a number of years since 2015, but the area has experienced significant conflict and conditions can change. Travel with a driver who knows the route and has current knowledge of checkpoint requirements.

Guide

Things to Do

Tikrit is not a city that sees tourists, and it is worth being honest about that. The city suffered serious damage during the conflict with ISIS between 2014 and 2015, and while it has been retaken and partially rebuilt, the security environment remains unstable and infrastructure is limited. Those who do come — usually journalists, aid workers, or researchers — find a city with a layered history stretching back through Abbasid, Islamic, and ancient Mesopotamian periods, sitting on a dramatic bend of the Tigris. The citadel, the riverfront, and a handful of old religious buildings are the main points of historical interest.