Iraq
Kurdistan Region of Iraq travel guide
Kurdistan Region of Iraq is a city in Iraq, home to about 6,171,000 people.
- Best months
- April, October and November
- Nearest airport
- EBL8 km · Erbil International Airport
- Currency
- IQDIraqi dinar
- Time zone
- Asia/Baghdad
- Language
- Arabic, Kurdish language
About
About Kurdistan Region of Iraq
The Kurdistan Region (KRI) is a semi-autonomous federal region of the Republic of Iraq. It comprises four Kurdish-majority governorates of Arab-majority Iraq: Erbil Governorate, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Duhok Governorate, and Halabja Governorate.
Iraqi Kurdistan is comprised of four governorates: Dohuk, Erbil, Halabja, and Sulaymaniyah, administered by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). As an autonomous region, the Iraqi military is not allowed to enter Iraqi Kurdistan and the Iraqi government does not have the means to enforce Iraqi laws in Kurdistan. There are disputed areas, such as Kirkuk and parts of the Ninaveh and Diyala provinces, which are regarded part of Kurdistan by many Kurds, but are not part of the autonomous region. They are not described in this guide.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Kurdistan Region of Iraq
See
Kurdistan is, at certain times of the year, a land of rugged beauty, characterised by mountains, green rolling hills, waterfalls and natural springs. It has long been famed in Middle Eastern literature as a paradise on earth. So do not expect a trip into the Iraqi desert when visiting Kurdistan. The country is at its most beautiful by spring, but don't expect particularly beautiful landscapes in the dry summer - unless you are fond of the colour yellow.
- Hawler Citadel
- Chemi Rezan
- Tel Gomel
- Mar Mattai
Do
Hiking: There are plenty of hiking opportunities in the Kurdish mountains; however there are few operators or facilities. Be careful of venturing too close to the Iranian border: three US hikers were arrested in 2009 accused of being spies after supposedly having crossed the border illegally. Picnics: A favourite local pastime, especially on Friday afternoons. Whether it will be in the mountains or in the city parks, locals love to spend their free time eating and conversing with friends and family. Invitations to join the fun are not unusual. Shopping: Erbil and Sulaymaniyah have had a number of new, modern shopping malls open over the last decade.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Kurdistan Region of Iraq
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Kurdistan Region of Iraq are April, October and November. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 40 °C; March is the wettest, with about 82 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Kurdistan Region of Iraq: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Erbil International Airport (EBL), about 7.6 km from the city centre in a straight line; Kirkuk International Airport (KIK, 85 km) and Jalal Talabani International Airport (ISU, 137 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Iraqi Kurdistan controls its own immigration, and has a separate visa policy from the rest of Iraq. This means that a regular Iraqi visa is not valid for travel to Iraqi Kurdistan; you will need to obtain a separate Iraqi Kurdistan visa for that. Iraqi embassies and consulates cannot issue visas for Iraqi Kurdistan. You will need to contact an Iraqi Kurdistan diplomatic mission, known as a "representation' for that. Travelling between Iraqi Kurdistan and the rest of Iraq will involve border inspections. Iraqi citizens and people who were born in Iraq do not need a visa to visit Iraqi Kudistan.
Getting around
Travel between cities is largely done by shared taxis from the garages at each city. Larger cities will have a number of garages. Asking for, e.g., "Garage Sulaymaniyah" will usually be enough. Minibuses do exist on routes between major cities, but are not as safe as taxis as they may make stops in Kirkuk or Mosul. Taxis are cheap: expect 7,000-20,000 dinar for a seat. Minibuses cost about the half of taxis and take about 1½ hour for driving the distance a taxi can do in an hour. Taxis are everywhere and are either beige or white with a couple of orange squires.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
EBL · Erbil International Airport
KIK · Kirkuk International Airport
ISU · Jalal Talabani International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Eat
As is the case with cuisines from all over the Middle East, Kurdish cuisine is rich in meat and fresh herbs. Vegetarianism is relatively rare. Staples of Kurdish cuisine are kebabs, dolma (stuffed grape vines), yaprax (assorted stuffed vegetables ranging from onions to zucchini), shila u brinc (the Kurdish national dish), gipa (similar to Scottish haggis), and biryani. Shawarma is the most common street dish, and many food stalls sell it.
Drink
Tea is the most popular drink. Iraqi Kurds consume on average 1.5 kilograms of tea per year. Teahouses are found in every nook and corner and they are popular social gathering spots. Fruit drinks of every kind are usually available at small shops. Since most Kurds are Sunni Muslims, alcohol is not sold or served everywhere. In larger cities there are some (mostly Christian) neighbourhoods that sell alcoholic beverages.
Stay safe
Iraqi Kurdistan is safer relative to the rest of Iraq. Crime rates tend to be low, and independent travel is possible without major issues. There is still high risk of terrorist activity in certain areas, and there is risk of attacks from Turkey. Cities near the Syrian, Turkish, and Iranian borders are unsafe. Since many governments still advise against all travel to Iraq, your travel insurance company may not cover your trip to Iraqi Kurdistan. IATI is one of the few travel insurance companies that can cover your trip to Iraqi Kurdistan. Security tends to be very tight in Iraqi Kurdistan, often to the point of irritation.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Kurdistan Region of Iraq: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kurdistan Region of Iraq?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Kurdistan Region of Iraq are April, October and November. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 40 °C; March is the wettest, with about 82 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Kurdistan Region of Iraq?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Erbil International Airport (EBL), about 7.6 km from the city centre in a straight line; Kirkuk International Airport (KIK, 85 km) and Jalal Talabani International Airport (ISU, 137 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Kurdistan Region of Iraq?
Iraqi dinar (IQD).
Nearby
Destinations near Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.