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7 Best Things to See in Erbil | Kurdistan

Erbil is the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan and with only one day to go to check out the things to see in Erbil, we were on a tight schedule. Now mention the word Iraq and people think you’ve taken leave of your senses – do your research to find out about the difference between Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan are hoping for independence and have an autonomous parliament.

Erbil dates back to 6,000 years B.C. and has been inhabited, over the millennia, by the Persians, Greeks, Romans, Mongols, and Ottoman Turks. Erbil is a very safe city to visit and expect to be greeted by warm and hospitable people.

Citadel of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan
Citadel of Erbil

Incredible Things To See In Erbil

Be Amazed At The Jalil Khayat Mosque

This Sunni Islamic mosque is the largest in Erbil. Jalil Khayat mosque features external and internal decorations. The internal walls and ceiling look like they could be mosaic but on closer inspection, they are decorated with colourful Zakhrafa (Islamic special painting), scripts of Holy Quran verses, and huge ceiling lamps. The mosque is a fusion of styles, reminiscent of the Muhammad Ali Mosque in Cairo, and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

Chandlier inside Jalil Khayat mosque in Erbil
Jalil Khayat mosque

Explore The Historical Citadel Of Erbil

Settled more than 8,000 years ago, Erbil Citadel is thought to be one of the longest continuously inhabited sites in the world developed over a tell (archaeological mound). The inhabitants were moved out in an attempt to rebuild the last remains of the fortified citadel which is now a UNESCO-designated world heritage site.

There is a local guide there who will show you around the hammam and explain some of the history. There’s a rug museum and antique shop but generally, the place is still under renovation as of November 2018.

Hamman at Erbil Citadel
Hamman at Erbil Citadel

Retail Therapy In Qaysari Bazaar

Wander around the Qaysari Bazaar soaking up the atmosphere, marvelling at the Kurdish Delight sweets, or selecting from the most intricate and beautiful hand-made rugs at fantastic prices. As with any of the bazaars, barter your way down to a reasonable figure. Even if you aren’t buying, the buzz of the bazaar is a cool thing to see in Erbil. The bazaar is one of the oldest covered markets in the world and dates back to the Ottoman period.

Candy in the Qaysari Bazaar in Erbil, Kurdistan
Candy in the Qaysari Bazaar in Erbil
Kurdish man selling rugs in the bazaar of Erbil
Kurdish man selling rugs in the bazaar of Erbil

SUGGESTED READ: EXPLORE THE CANYONS OF RAWANDUZ

Drink Chai With The Locals

You will see them dotted on most streets, enter the chai houses for a real Kurdish experience – it is only local men inside who play backgammon, smoke a lot and chat the day away, although it’s ok to go in as a woman too, you just don’t see local women in there. The tea is lava hot and they pour so quickly in such a way that you are sure a good scolding is heading your way. We met a local policeman with big guns who seemed quite the celebrity in the city.

Drinking chai with the locals and celebrity policeman in Erbil.
Drinking chai with the locals
Old Kurdish man in chai shop in Erbil
Old Kurdish man in a chai shop

Indulge In Kurdish Cuisine

The Kurdish food is like a party in your mouth! The cuisine is so flavoursome with an abundance of herbs. One seating can leave you stuffed between kebabs, koftas, falafels, biryani, beans, rice, flatbreads, beet & meat soups, and salads… need I go on?

Being vegetarian could be tricky in Erbil, kebabs are a big thing in Kurdish culture.

Feast of Kurdish food for lunch in Erbil
Feast of Kurdish food

Wander Around Minare Park

It was winter when we visited but you can see the park would be buzzing in the summer with rides, cable cars, and an outdoor fitness area. There’s a walkway to lined with statue heads of previous presidents and prolific figures throughout Kurdish history. Looks like renovations are in mid-flow as many had a lump of plaster stuck to the end of their nose, hopefully awaiting shaping for their nose job.

Muzzafariya Minaret dates back to the 13th century and was built during the reign of Muzzaffar al-Din Kokbari hence the name!

Statue in Minaret Park of Mubarak Bin Ahmad Sharaf-Aldin Abu al-Barakat Ibn al-Mustawfi, a famous Kurdish historian of Erbil.
Statue in Minaret Park of Mubarak Bin Ahmad Sharaf-Aldin Abu al-Barakat Ibn al-Mustawfi
Statues of politicians in Minare Park, Erbil
Statues of politicians in Minare Park

See Ankawa, Erbil’s Christian Quarter

Just outside Erbil’s city limits, you’ll find Ankawa, the Christian Quarter, with some gorgeous churches to check out. We were allowed to pop into St Joseph’s Church which was set up for a wedding. Ankawa is an ex-pat area so has more nightlife and a row of off licences along the main street selling a full range of alcohol.

St Joseph's Church in Ankawa, Erbil
Ankawa, the Christian Quarter in Erbil
Ankawa, the Christian Quarter in Erbil

Erbil -Trip Resources

Visa Requirements For Kurdistan

50 countries can get a free 30-day visa on arrival or apply online. The Kurdish visa, however, does not allow foreigners to travel to other parts of Iraq, beyond the KRG’s administrated areas. More information is found on the Kurdistan visa requirements page.

Where To Stay In Erbil

Fareeq Hotel is a 3-star budget hotel located 5 km from downtown Erbil and Erbil Castle.

Erbil View Hotel is a 4-star venue located centrally and offers a restaurant, fitness centre, communal sauna and airport shuttle.

Ankawa Royal Hotel & Spa is a great place if you fancy splashing out on high-end 5-stars. Located in the Christian Quarter, a short walk from the Syriac Heritage Museum, this hotel has an indoor pool and spa.

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8 Comments

  1. Great post Vanessa! I’d never think about visiting anywhere in Iraq to be honest, so I’m grateful to read something from a traveler’s perspective. The food looks incredible there, and thankfully, I’m not a veggie, so more kebabs for me! Love that photo of you with the police officer and his ‘big guns’ lol!

    1. I’d probably be picky about your exact choice if you visit Iraq but Kurdistan is a different ball game. The policeman seems to love the attention that’s for sure, he wasn’t shy!

  2. I’d love to visit the Qaysari Bazaar. It’s so colorful and although I am not good at bargaining I think I would practice for this bazaar. I’ve heard so many things about the rugs and always wondered if it was expensive to have the rug shipped back home? I know it wouldn’t fit in my suitcase.

    1. Yes some of the places were offering the option of shipping, the rugs were sooooo cheap!

  3. Thanks for adding Erbil to my travel radar- it looks like an interesting city to visit! Did you get a chance to see more of the Iraqi Kurdistan?

    1. Yes we went out into the Rwandauz region, the mountains are so lush and green – incredible! Working on the blog as we speak… stay tuned!

  4. One of the reasons I love blogging and sharing with others is that we help each other to come across destinations we wouldn’t otherwise hear of! Thanks so much for sharing this fascinating place with us!

    1. I couldn’t agree more, I’ve discovered so many fantastic places from reading blogs that makes my ‘must visit’ list out of control!

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