Erbil, Iraq: travel guide
Hilltop citadel and busy bazaars in the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan
One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, capital of the Kurdistan Region, anchored by its UNESCO-listed Citadel and a fast-growing modern hospitality sector.
About Erbil
Erbil is the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and has been inhabited for a very long time. At its centre stands the Citadel, a mound crowned with old houses that rises above a lively modern city.
Things to do in Erbil include walking up to the Citadel, visiting the textile museum and heritage displays there, and then heading down to the Qaysari Bazaar and the streets around it for spices, sweets, copper and clothing. Tea houses and kebab restaurants fill the old centre, and parks and malls give a sense of the modern city.
Erbil suits culture-minded travellers and those curious about Kurdish life. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times to visit Erbil, while summers are very hot.
- Country
- Iraq
- Currency
- IQD
- Time zone
- Asia/Baghdad
- Nearest airport
- EBL
Last updated
Top places to visit in Erbil
Minaret Park (Mudhafaria Minaret)
monument · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Park built around the 12th-century Mudhafaria Minaret, one of Erbil's oldest surviving monuments; connected to Shanadar Park by cable car.
Qaysari Bazaar
bazaar · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
Historic covered marketplace at the foot of the Citadel, selling textiles, gold, spices and souvenirs since medieval times.
Sami Abdul Rahman Park
city_park · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Large 200-hectare public park with lakes, a rose garden, jogging tracks and a martyrs monument; a popular local gathering spot.
Shanadar Park
themed_park · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Modern park centered on a recreation of Shanidar Cave, known for Iraq's only Neanderthal remains, with art exhibits and a moat.
Erbil Citadel
unesco_heritage · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
UNESCO World Heritage Site atop a mound in the center of Erbil, among the oldest continuously inhabited settlements on Earth.
Erbil Civilization Museum
history_museum · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Museum tracing the history and civilizations of the Erbil region.
Things to do
- Walking tour of Erbil Citadel Sightseeing · 1.5 h
- Qaysari Bazaar shopping & tea Shopping · 1.5 h
- Sami Abdul Rahman Park stroll Leisure · 1 h
- Erbil Civilization Museum visit Culture · 1 h
- Shanadar Park & Shanidar Cave exhibit Culture · 1.3 h
- Minaret Park cable car Sightseeing · 0.8 h
Where to stay in Erbil
Hotels
- Erbil Rotana 5-star
- Erbil Arjaan by Rotana 4-star
- Divan Erbil 5-star
Where to eat
- Chaykhana Mam Khalil kurdish, cafe · about IQD 20,000 per person
Getting to Erbil
Airport: Erbil (EBL)
Getting around
- Car Rental Self
- Taxi
- Walking