{"id":13433,"date":"2025-11-16T18:11:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T17:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/?p=13433"},"modified":"2026-03-17T16:56:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T15:56:20","slug":"erbil-two-day-guide-of-iraqi-kurdistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/asia\/erbil-two-day-guide-of-iraqi-kurdistan\/","title":{"rendered":"Erbil &#8211; A Two-Day Guide to the Capital of Iraqi Kurdistan"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"13433\" class=\"elementor elementor-13433 elementor-12347\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abb52a5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"abb52a5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a7d9c7 elementor-toc--minimized-on-desktop elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"4a7d9c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;,&quot;h4&quot;,&quot;h5&quot;,&quot;h6&quot;],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;numbers&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of contents\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__4a7d9c7\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__4a7d9c7\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__4a7d9c7\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-271aae4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"271aae4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">Our first contact with Iraqi Kurdistan<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">So here we are, entering what was probably the most anticipated stage of our motorcycle trip &#8211; and one we wouldn\u2019t have even considered for ourselves not so long ago. For us, Iraq existed mainly as headlines in the news: war, bombings, maps covered in red danger zones. More like a place your eyes skip over on a map than a spot you highlight with a marker thinking, \u201cthis will be our next stop.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">That changed the moment we started planning our route to Oman. We looked at the map, realized we didn\u2019t have many realistic options\u2026 and suddenly the obvious thing hit us: Iraq is literally on the way. Instead of crossing it off immediately, we started digging a bit deeper &#8211; what\u2019s the situation in Iraqi Kurdistan, can you actually cross it on a motorcycle, how are other travellers doing it? The more we read, the less it looked like a \u201ccrazy idea\u201d and the more it felt like a challenging but doable part of the journey.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03ad0df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"03ad0df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">Where is Erbil located, and what exactly is Kurdistan?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-25cf622 elementor-widget elementor-widget-google_maps\" data-id=\"25cf622\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"google_maps.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed\">\n\t\t\t<iframe loading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?q=erbil%2C%20iraq&#038;t=m&#038;z=10&#038;output=embed&#038;iwloc=near\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"erbil, iraq\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"erbil, iraq\"\n\t\t\t><\/iframe>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f004c0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f004c0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">If your brain still jumps to schoolbook associations like: Mesopotamia, the Euphrates, the Tigris, somewhere there Babylon &#8211; and then a long blank space until \u201cthe Iraq War on TV\u201d\u2026 well, you\u2019re in good company. We started with pretty much the same collage of images rather than an actual, concrete map in our heads.<\/p><p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Irbil\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Erbil<\/a> sits in northern Iraq, roughly between Turkey and Iran, just a little \u201cbelow\u201d the Turkish border. It\u2019s a large city &#8211; the capital of a region officially called the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. And here\u2019s where it gets interesting, because this isn\u2019t \u201cjust another province\u201d.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Kurdistan is, in short, a region inhabited mostly by Kurds &#8211; a nation without its own state, living across the borders of several countries: Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Syria. In the Iraqi part, the Kurds have secured a high level of autonomy: they have their own parliament, their own government, their own security forces, their own flag, their own checkpoints on the roads and their own entry rules. Formally it\u2019s still Iraq, but in practice it feels a bit like a \u201cstate within a state&#8221;.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">For a traveler, this simply means that when you enter Iraqi Kurdistan, you arrive in a place that\u2019s run differently, noticeably calmer than the rest of the country, and much more used to seeing foreigners. A different language on the streets (Kurdish plus Arabic), different flags flying over buildings, different stories people carry &#8211; but in your passport, the stamp still says \u201cIraq\u201d.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f662ab0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"f662ab0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--3 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-001-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-001-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Erbil City view over a dense skyline of low-rise buildings in Iraq under a clear blue sky\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-001-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-001-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-001-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-001-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-002.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-002-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Erbil City view in Iraq: sunny courtyard with white metal gate, stone walls, and pink bougainvillea flowers\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-004.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-004-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Erbil City view in Iraq showing a tall clock tower and flags in front of a modern building\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-003.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-003-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Erbil City view: white classical building facade with arched entrance and blooming pink flowers\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-003-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-003-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-003-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-003-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa1b564 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aa1b564\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">How to get to Kurdistan?<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">Before anyone seriously starts planning a route, we really recommend checking your own foreign ministry\u2019s travel advisories. As of the time of writing, Poland\u2019s MFA advises against all travel to the Republic of Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, so any trip in this direction is a conscious decision made by an adult &#8211; not a \u201cspontaneous weekend in Prague\u201d. In this post we\u2019re simply showing how we did it and what the technical options look like from the Turkish side &#8211; the safety side of things is covered separately.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">We\u2019re deliberately sticking to routes \u201cfrom the Turkish side\u201d, because the situation at other borders (for example the Syrian side) is fluid and heavily dependent on current politics and ongoing conflicts. These are areas where you need fresh, first-hand information &#8211; not generic advice from the internet.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38d38f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"38d38f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Our motorcycle trip from Poland<\/h3><p class=\"p1\">For us, it all started on August 29, when we left Warsaw on the motorcycle and headed towards Oman. Iraq \u2014 or more precisely, Iraqi Kurdistan &#8211; wasn\u2019t a separate \u201ctrip\u201d, but one of the key stages of the whole route. First the classic push through Europe, then Turkey, which becomes less and less \u201cpostcard-like\u201d with each passing day and more rugged and mountainous.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">We entered Iraq from the Turkish side through the <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/qL5GejoqLL8ruueBA\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ibrahim Khalil \/ Habur border<\/a> crossing &#8211; the main and busiest land crossing between Turkey and Iraq, located about 10 km from the city of Zakho and roughly 210\u2013213 km from Erbil.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">The whole border experience &#8211; the crossing itself, the checkpoints, the paperwork, the conversations during inspections \u2014 is a story of its own, and we already have separate posts about it: <a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/blog\/desert-horizons-2025-part-3-iraq\/\">our \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf6 Iraq travel log<\/a>, and another entry <a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/blog\/desert-horizons-from-poland-to-oman\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">\ud83c\udfcd\ufe0f with the behind-the-scenes logistics<\/a> and a big thank-you to the <a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/desert-horizons-2025\/\">\ud83e\udd1f partners who helped make this route<\/a> possible in the first place.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80d3257 elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"80d3257\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--1 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-kurdistan-border-002-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-kurdistan-border-002-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Motorcyclist with luggage at the Iraq Kurdistan border road near Zakh\u014d taxi sign\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-337d0f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"337d0f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p1\">By plane<\/h3><p class=\"p1\">For most people, the simplest option is to just fly into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flightsfrom.com\/EBL\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Erbil International Airport (EBL)<\/a>. It\u2019s the region\u2019s main airport, and as of November 2025 it offers direct connections to around 30 cities across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and parts of South Asia.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">For example, from Turkey you can fly regularly with airlines like Turkish Airlines and Pegasus on direct routes from Istanbul to Erbil. From Europe, there are also direct flights &#8211; for instance from Berlin (UR Airlines) and Vienna (Austrian). Otherwise, you can simply connect through major hubs like Istanbul; from Warsaw, Turkish Airlines sells tickets with a layover there. Return fares usually start at around 550 USD.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40d5093 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"40d5093\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>By bus<\/h3><p class=\"p1\">If you don&#8217;t want to drive your own vehicle but still prefer land travel to flying, there are long-distance buses from Turkey directly to Erbil. Sample data from ticket sales services show that:<\/p><ul><li class=\"p1\">Coaches operated by companies such as Lider \u0130stanbul and \u00d6zlem \u0130stanbul Turizm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.obilet.com\/en\/bus-ticket\/istanbul-erbil\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">run from Istanbul to Erbil.<\/a><\/li><li class=\"p1\">the journey takes approx. 16-24 hours (depending on the source and route),<\/li><li class=\"p1\">Prices start at around $60-70 one way.<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"p1\">We also looked for other sources describing connections from smaller cities in southeastern Turkey (Mardin, Diyarbak\u0131r, Silopi) to Erbil and other cities in the Kurdistan Region, but this is already a rather dense network of regional carriers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-148226c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"148226c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">Visas and documents<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">We\u2019ve already broken down the topic of Iraqi visas in detail in our separate guide &#8211; that\u2019s where we send you for the full, <a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/guides\/how-to-get-a-visa-for-iraq\/\">up-to-date step-by-step instructions \ud83d\udcd1<\/a>. Here, we\u2019ll just give you a small \u201cspoiler\u201d and a general overview of how things work.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">When it comes to documents, the absolute minimum usually looks like this:<\/p><ul><li class=\"p1\">a passport valid for at least 6 months from the planned departure from Iraq,<\/li><li class=\"p1\">approved e-visa printed out (not in PDF format on your phone),<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"p1\">As of the date of writing, there are two visa systems in Iraq: the federal system and the Kurdish system.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">To make things even more interesting, as of March 1st, 2025, Iraq has phased out the classic visa-on-arrival for many countries (including EU member states) and switched to an e-visa system &#8211; you now have to apply online first, then travel. At the same time, there is still official information stating that the Kurdistan Region offers its own visa (either an e-visa or a visa on arrival at the airport) for citizens of several dozen countries, including EU nationals &#8211; Poland included.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">What does this mean in practice?<\/p><ul><li class=\"p1\">If someone plans to visit only Kurdistan, the regional (Kurdish) visa is completely sufficient. It\u2019s valid exclusively within the Kurdistan Region and does not allow entry to Mosul, Baghdad, or the southern parts of Iraq.<\/li><li class=\"p1\">If your route goes beyond Kurdistan, then you\u2019ll need a visa that covers the entire country &#8211; the federal e-visa, which is also recognized when entering or leaving through the Kurdistan Region. In our case, we used the federal visa, and it was accepted without any issues at the land border.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5dd5c6e elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"5dd5c6e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--3 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-kurdistan-border-stamps-in-passport-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-kurdistan-border-stamps-in-passport-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Iraq Kurdistan passport stamps, including a Visit 30 DAYS border entry stamp dated 09 SEP 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-kurdistan-border-stamps-in-passport-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-kurdistan-border-stamps-in-passport-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-kurdistan-border-stamps-in-passport-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-kurdistan-border-stamps-in-passport-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-kurdistan-border-001-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-kurdistan-border-001-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Iraq Kurdistan Procedures document showing steps for lost vehicle and required documents on paper form\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9730da elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d9730da\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">Road conditions and vehicle formalities<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">For a longer, from-the-saddle look at the asphalt, road quality, traffic and what it\u2019s actually like to ride there <a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/asia\/road-conditions-in-iraq-our-impressions\/\">\ud83d\ude97 we\u2019ll redirect you to our separate post (\ud83d\udee3\ufe0f that\u2019s where we gathered all the practical tips)<\/a>. Here, we\u2019re focusing only on the key facts and the paperwork.<\/p><ul><li class=\"p1\"><strong>Checkpoints and inspections: <\/strong>In the Kurdistan Region (KRI), checkpoints are a normal part of travel &#8211; you\u2019ll see them both at city entrances and along major roads between towns. Security officers may ask for an ID, so keep your passport handy and be prepared for a few extra questions at larger checkpoints. Do not photograph or film military or government infrastructure.<\/li><li class=\"p1\"><strong>Dirt roads or do we stick to asphalt?<\/strong> We stuck exclusively to paved roads. Outside the main routes, Iraq still has areas contaminated with unexploded ordnance and improvised devices &#8211; so this is a firm recommendation not to leave designated roads or take \u201cshortcuts.\u201d If you spot anything suspicious, don\u2019t touch it. In Iraq, the emergency numbers for reporting such findings are 182 (Directorate of Mines) and 115 (Civil Defense).<\/li><li class=\"p1\"><strong>Closures and detours:<\/strong> Roads can (but don\u2019t necessarily have to) be temporarily closed or subject to additional checks &#8211; so plan some buffer time and be aware that the route \u201caccording to Google\u201d won\u2019t always match reality. And speaking of which\u2026 Google Maps navigation doesn\u2019t actually work here &#8211; but we explain that in detail in the guide we linked above.<\/li><li class=\"p1\"><strong>If you plan to record your ride<\/strong> (GoPro\/dashcam), remember that filming near military or government facilities is prohibited.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ad4537 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7ad4537\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Vehicle documents<\/h3><p class=\"p1\">The vehicle and its documents are a separate issue. When driving your car or motorcycle, you must have the following with you:<\/p><ul><li class=\"p1\">registration certificate,<\/li><li class=\"p1\">national driver&#8217;s license (and international driver&#8217;s license-you can read about how to obtain one in<a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/guides\/what-is-an-international-driving-permit-and-when-is-it-needed\/\"> Poland in our guide at this link<\/a>),<\/li><li class=\"p1\">If the vehicle isn\u2019t registered in your name, you\u2019ll need an authorization letter from the owner. For leased cars, this usually means asking the leasing company to issue a notarized permission for travel outside the EU \/ to the specific country. <a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/guides\/iraq-leased-vehicle-legalize-papers\/\">After that, the authorization must be legalized at the Iraqi embassy<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50cf6c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"50cf6c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>SIM card<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">From our experience: we bought a physical SIM card at a Zain store in Erbil; our 10 GB package cost around 50 PLN. The day before, just to \u201creach the city,\u201d we grabbed a small, cheap package from a random virtual eSIM operator (a few z\u0142oty for 1\u20132 GB) simply to have maps on the way.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">What you should know \u201cofficially\u201d if you want to do the same:<\/p><ul><li class=\"p1\">In Iraq, SIM card registration is mandatory; operators must verify the customer&#8217;s identity, hence the requirement for documentation and data registration, including for foreigners.<\/li><li class=\"p1\">When issuing a number at the point of sale, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iq.zain.com\/en\/support\/customer-electronic-registration-mefs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Zain records the data in the MEFS system<\/a> and directly informs the subscriber that a photograph and fingerprint are being taken.<\/li><li class=\"p1\">To purchase a Zain prepaid card, you will need to present your passport or other local identity documents (for tourists &#8211; a passport). You may also be asked to provide your address of residence.<\/li><li>Tourist eSIMs bought online (usually running on Korek\/Asiacell\/Zain) are convenient, but they\u2019re generally more expensive per gigabyte than a local prepaid SIM. As a reference point: a 10 GB eSIM from Ubigi costs around 22 USD for 30 days &#8211; while <a href=\"https:\/\/breezesim.com\/products\/esimg_iq_v2?search=Iraq+&amp;searchIso=IQ&amp;searchHandle=esimg_iq_v2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Breezesim charges as much as 89 USD<\/a> for the same amount. So if you care about costs, a local physical SIM card can be much cheaper.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-392eea6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"392eea6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">Where did we stay in Erbil?<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">We stayed at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/iq\/my-flower.pl.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hotel MyFlower 3<\/a> on Kirkuk Road, right across from Tablo Mall (two nights for 113 USD, paid in cash). The hotel has an underground garage, so that\u2019s where we parked the bike. The location is perfectly fine for a first look at the city and easy to find on the map. There are a couple of small grocery shops nearby and even one liquor store. The view from our room was pretty nice too. The only downside was the breakfast &#8211; very \u201cschool cafeteria\u201d vibes. Jadzia grabbed a little something to nibble on, but nothing really appealed to me.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">In Iraq (and throughout Kurdistan), hotels very often prefer cash payments &#8211; usually in US dollars. Card terminals do exist, but they often add an extra fee, so it\u2019s better to treat your card as a backup option rather than your main method of payment. From our experience: bring dollars with you and don\u2019t count on being able to pay for everything with a card.<\/p><p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">When it comes to hotel standards, one thing worth asking about when making a reservation is the power supply.<\/span> Power outages still happen occasionally in the region, which is why many hotels rely on their own generators or UPS systems. This matters more than you\u2019d think &#8211; in 40-degree heat, the difference between \u201cwe have a generator\u201d and \u201cthe AC is temporarily off\u201d can turn a night into a small survival challenge.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">The entire Kurdistan Region is currently implementing the Runaki program, which aims to provide fully stable 24\/7 electricity and gradually phase out private generators. In practice, many districts of Erbil already have reliable power as of 2025, but hotels still tend to use backup systems &#8211; so it\u2019s worth checking this when choosing your accommodation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-145d352 elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"145d352\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--2 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-hotel-002-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-hotel-002-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Iraq, Erbil Hotel: tall white hotel building with rows of windows beside parked cars and street lamps\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-hotel-002-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-hotel-002-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-hotel-002-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-hotel-002-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-hotel-001-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-hotel-001-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Erbil view from a hotel in Iraq, showing modern high-rise towers and a stadium with a clear blue sky\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-hotel-001-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-hotel-001-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-hotel-001-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-hotel-001-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9da982f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9da982f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">Eating in Erbil \u2013 what, where, and how much<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">To start with &#8211; our absolute must near the Citadel: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/C2WbsfRiFLDuc6eQA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Koktel Restaurant<\/a>. We walked in absolutely starving and ended up having a huge, genuinely warm feast &#8211; the kind of hospitality you later tell your friends about. This is our completely subjective recommendation \ud83d\ude03. And for what you see in the photos, we paid around 17 USD.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-90738f1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"90738f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--3 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--huge-square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-003-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"1300\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-003-1300x1300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_huge-square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_huge-square\" alt=\"Chef slicing meat on a vertical rotisserie in Erbil Foods, Iraq, with chopped vegetables on the grill tray\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-003-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-003-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-003-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-003-650x650.jpeg 650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-001.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-001-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Iraqi Erbil Foods table with flatbread, chopped salad, and fried falafel on colorful patterned cloth\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-001-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-001-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-001-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-001-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-002-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-002-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Man holding an orange drink at Erbil Foods in Iraq, with salad and fried snacks on the table\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-002-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-002-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-002-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-foods-002-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2843390 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2843390\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">The three pillars of Iraqi cuisine are rice, stewed dishes and stuffed vegetables. Rice &#8211; often the local <i>timman anbar<\/i> variety &#8211; is cooked so it stays fluffy, with a crispy layer at the bottom of the pot called <i>hikakeh<\/i>, which is actually the most anticipated part of the meal.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Then come the stews and soups (like fasolia &#8211; white beans with meat, harissa with wheat and poultry, or various lentil soups), and the whole family of dishes like dolma and kubba: vegetables stuffed with spiced meat and rice, often cooked in a tomato-and-pomegranate sauce, as well as bulgur or rice shells shaped into balls or half-moons filled with meat. In many culinary texts, dolma is even described as the \u201cmost iconic Iraqi dish,\u201d with a long tradition of being prepared and shared in large batches.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">The second icon is <i>masgouf<\/i> &#8211; the famous \u201cIraqi fire-grilled fish,\u201d usually carp, slit open and butterflied, marinated with things like lemon and tamarind, then slowly roasted over glowing wood embers. Aside from that, everyday staples include kebabs, various Iraqi-style biryani, <i>maqluba<\/i> (the upside-down pot of rice, vegetables and meat), and plenty of flatbreads &#8211; the kind you use to scoop up every last bit of sauce from the plate.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">If we narrow it down to the north of the country, where Erbil is located, there\u2019s also a strong Kurdish influence. Descriptions of Kurdish cuisine highlight the use of fresh herbs, rice, grilled meats, different versions of <i>biryani<\/i>, and local breads, as well as dishes that are essentially Kurdish takes on \u201cIraqi classics\u201d &#8211; like dolma with lots of pomegranate, kubbe, or herb-rich stews. It explains why in Erbil you get both the familiar baseline of Iraqi food and a noticeable local twist.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">How much does it cost? A meal in a budget restaurant in Erbil costs around <b>10,000 IQD<\/b> (about 27 PLN), while a dinner for two in a mid-range place (three dishes, no drinks) is roughly <b>31,000 IQD<\/b> (around 86 PLN). A bazaar-style kebab will be much cheaper.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">If you want to order food to your hotel, you can use the Talabat app. You can pay either in cash or by card (we tested Revolut &#8211; it worked, though other options like Curve may not).<\/p><p class=\"p1\">A small side note: although Iraq is a country with strongly conservative customs, you\u2019ll find liquor stores and even alcohol-serving bars in Erbil and across the Kurdistan Region. If you feel like a beer or a bottle of wine in the evening, you can get one &#8211; just keep in mind that payment is usually in cash.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71e7361 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"71e7361\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">People and hospitality<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">We couldn\u2019t go without mentioning how we were received in Kurdistan. It was the first country where both of us had this very clear feeling: <i>\u201cokay, we\u2019ve never experienced this level of hospitality anywhere else\u201d<\/i>. From the first smiles at the border, through the checkpoints, all the way to simple walks around Erbil &#8211; not once did we feel like walking wallets. We felt more like guests people genuinely wanted to look after.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">We saw literally just a handful of tourists from outside the Middle East. And the numbers reflect that: most visitors to the Kurdistan Region are Iraqis from other provinces or people coming from Iran; travellers from Europe or the US are still a tiny minority. That\u2019s why Western faces here spark curiosity rather than calculation.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">This hospitality isn\u2019t some \u201ctourist-friendly politeness\u201d, but something deeply rooted in Kurdish culture. For Kurds, a guest isn\u2019t just a visitor &#8211; it\u2019s someone you take responsibility for. In Kurdish tradition, you give them the best you have: the best seat, the best food, your time and attention. Any language barrier pretty much disappears, because what matters most is simply the fact that you\u2019re there.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Where does it come from? In short: from history and from the mountains. For centuries, Kurds lived in communities where welcoming a stranger was a matter of honor. And honor &#8211; alongside hospitality and courage &#8211; is one of the core pillars of their value system. Add to that the experience of persecution &#8211; from arabization to the mass repressions under Saddam &#8211; which, paradoxically, only strengthened the need for solidarity and empathy toward others. That\u2019s where the famous Kurdish saying comes from: \u201cWe have no friends but the mountains\u201d. That one line sums up their history, and why they value anyone who comes to them with goodwill.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">In practice, the result is always the same: you feel good there &#8211; genuinely good. Like you\u2019re in a place that wants to get to know you, not take advantage of you. And that\u2019s probably the biggest surprise of the whole trip.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6868ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"e6868ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--3 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-006-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-11\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-006-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Erbil City view in Iraq: a man rides through traffic carrying a cart piled with fresh corn and vegetables.\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--portrait\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-007-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-11\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"1300\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-007-650x1300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait\" alt=\"People in Erbil City view unloading boxed supplies from a car in Iraq market street.\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-005-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-11\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-city-view-005-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Erbil City view in Iraq, busy parking with white taxis and pedestrians near a modern building\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a25dec1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a25dec1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>The practical truth about money in Iraq<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">If you\u2019ve been reading us for a while, you know we\u2019re big fans of handling travel expenses with a good multi-currency card. In Iraq, that strategy falls apart a bit. Sure, the tech works &#8211; phones work, apps work &#8211; but the financial system follows its own rules here.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">If you\u2019re counting on paying by card and using ATMs without any trouble, Iraq will make you rethink that within a day. It\u2019s still a cash-driven country, and the reason your card won\u2019t go through isn\u2019t \u201cno terminals\u201d &#8211; it\u2019s the way the country\u2019s financial policy works. <a href=\"https:\/\/rawabetcenter.com\/en\/?p=10462\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">From 2024, the Iraqi central bank <\/a> strongly restricts the flow of dollars, and some local banks have been placed on the list of institutions subject to US sanctions. In practice, transactions with foreign cards often simply do not go through.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">ATMs that accept foreign Visa or Mastercard cards are extremely rare. Your best bet is the Bank of Baghdad &#8211; we managed to withdraw cash there (with a fee of about 2.75 PLN), but many other ATMs simply reject foreign cards without any explanation. That\u2019s why the smartest strategy for travellers is to bring U.S. dollars with you from home.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">And the U.S. dollar is basically a premium currency in Iraq. Hotels, restaurants, taxi drivers, exchange offices &#8211; everyone accepts it. In fact, exchange rates at local money changers are often better than what your bank would give you, and the condition of the banknotes matters: crisp, new $100 bills get you the best rate, while worn $20s or $50s are valued noticeably lower.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Euro? You can exchange it, but the rate is worse. Outside Kurdistan people often don\u2019t want EUR at all &#8211; they prefer USD. And for most small everyday expenses (coffee, street food, a short taxi ride) you\u2019ll be paying in Iraqi dinars anyway.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">And speaking of taxis &#8211; there\u2019s no Uber in Iraq, but Careem works perfectly fine, including in Kurdistan. And the good news: you can pay for your rides directly in the app with a debit or credit card issued in the EU.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">One more thing worth keeping in mind: when leaving Iraq, there\u2019s a legal limit on how much cash you can take with you &#8211; up to 10,000 USD without a customs declaration. If you\u2019re entering the country with a higher amount, you must declare it already at the border.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-acb3193 elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"acb3193\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--1 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-kurdistan-atm-001.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-kurdistan-atm-001-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Bank of Baghdad ATM in a Kurdistan shopping mall, with Arabic and VISA Debit display screens\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ae23b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7ae23b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Insurance<\/h2><p>One of the trickiest parts of preparing for Iraq was getting insurance. Polish insurers were very clear: they didn\u2019t want to cover us. For them, Iraq is still classified as a \u201cconflict zone\u201d, with exclusions for war-related incidents and terrorism. And since the Polish MFA officially advises against all travel to Iraq, most standard travel insurance either won\u2019t apply or comes with so many disclaimers that it\u2019s basically useless.  <\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/ziaratplanner.com\/iraq-mandates-medical-insurance-for-pilgrims-included-in-visa-cost\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fortunately, there is a built-in safety net <\/a>\u2014 at least at the minimum level. The Iraqi government requires every visitor to have emergency insurance. If you\u2019re entering on a federal e-visa, this insurance is issued to you automatically, and the provider is Hamraa Insurance. In theory, the policy covers up to 10 million IQD (about $6,600) for hospitalization, 15 million IQD (about $10,000) in case of death, and basic medical evacuation. It\u2019s not a full replacement for proper international insurance, but it does mean you\u2019re not entering the country completely unprotected.  <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3180e7f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3180e7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">Safety \u2013 what you need to know<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">Iraq\u2019s recent history speaks for itself. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilsoncenter.org\/article\/kurdistan-and-united-states-isis-defeated-what-happens-now\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">As recently as 2014\u20132017<\/a>, the front line against ISIS was just 55 km from Erbil, so any concerns about safety are completely understandable. And yes &#8211; the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs still advises against travelling to Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region. But to be totally honest: not for a single moment during our stay did we feel unsafe.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">From our perspective &#8211; and from what we learned on the ground &#8211; Erbil is one of the safest major cities in all of Iraq. Street crime is virtually nonexistent. After ISIS was pushed back in 2017, the region stabilised significantly, and today the biggest real risk is\u2026 traffic accidents, because driving can get chaotic.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Checkpoints are simply part of everyday life- you\u2019ll see them at city entrances, along major roads and near strategic facilities. Every officer we met was polite, curious and genuinely helpful. We didn\u2019t have a single unpleasant interaction.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">When it comes to taking photos, common sense goes a long way. Avoid photographing checkpoints, military facilities or security personnel unless you\u2019ve been explicitly allowed to &#8211; and yes, that rule really matters here. In Iraq, this isn\u2019t something people just \u201clet slide\u201d; breaking it can turn into a serious headache very quickly. It also happens that military buildings sit right next to tourist spots, so it\u2019s always worth checking what\u2019s in your frame before you hit the shutter.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Tourist-wise, Erbil is easy and surprisingly comfortable &#8211; but the borders with Turkey and Iran are a completely different story. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rudaw.net\/english\/kurdistan\/250620241\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Turkey actively patrols parts of the border areas<\/a> as part of ongoing operations against the <a href=\"https:\/\/pl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Partia_Pracuj%C4%85cych_Kurdystanu\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">PKK<\/a>, and these zones can be sensitive and change quickly. This is not the kind of place you visit out of curiosity or \u201clet\u2019s see what\u2019s there.\u201d Your best move is simply to stay away from those regions altogether.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-503f6a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"503f6a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--2 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-kurdistan-flag-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-13\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-kurdistan-flag-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Iraq Kurdistan flag flying on a tall pole against a clear blue sky, with buildings in the background\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-kurdistan-flag-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-kurdistan-flag-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-kurdistan-flag-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-kurdistan-flag-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-checkpoint-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-13\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-checkpoint-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Night scene at Iraq\u2019s Checkpoint with cars passing under a checkpoint gate and barriers.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-checkpoint-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-checkpoint-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-checkpoint-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-checkpoint-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51da202 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"51da202\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Climate and weather conditions<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">When we were riding into Erbil in September, the daytime heat was just brutal &#8211; that classic, dry oven feel where the asphalt starts to shimmer and you suddenly appreciate every tiny patch of shade. And that pretty much sums up the region\u2019s climate. Erbil has very hot, dry summers and cooler, partly rainy winters. Climate data shows temperatures ranging from about 3\u20135\u00b0C at night in winter to well over 40\u00b0C during summer days; in July and August, average highs often reach 43\u201345\u00b0C, and some days push past 45\u00b0C.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">On a broader scale, that\u2019s pretty much the climate pattern across most of Iraqi Kurdistan: winters (December\u2013March) bring rain, and the mountains can even get a decent amount of snow; spring is mild, green, and pleasant; and summer through early autumn is almost entirely rain-free and extremely dry. Regional climate descriptions emphasize that rainfall is concentrated in winter and spring, while in summer and early autumn rain is rare, and temperatures in some cities (like Dohuk) regularly average around 42\u00b0C at the peak of the season.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">If we\u2019re talking about \u201cwhen to visit\u201d, then for standard city exploring (Erbil + nearby spots, without chasing snowy mountain peaks), the most comfortable seasons are spring and autumn &#8211; roughly March to May, and then from late September through the end of October\/November. During these periods, daytime temperatures usually sit around 20\u201325\u00b0C, and the nights stay pleasantly mild.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e50eb90 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e50eb90\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What to see in Erbil?<\/h2><p>If you are in Erbil for a layover, focus on the city center. Everything revolves around one place-the old citadel and the bazaar right next to it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1faead9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1faead9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Erbil Citadel<\/h3><p>ar. <span dir=\"rtl\">\u0642\u0644\u0639\u0629 \u0623\u0631\u0628\u064a\u0644<\/span> \/ \ud83d\udccc Pin on Google Maps \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/8GAqDM6D1oVekrTx8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">click here<\/a>.<\/p><p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Citadel_of_Erbil\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Erbil Citadel<\/a> sits on a distinctive mound right in the middle of the city &#8211; a place often cited as one of the longest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kurdistan24.net\/en\/story\/385522\/Erbil-Citadel,-a-symbol-of-human-life%C2%A0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">continuously inhabited urban sites<\/a> in the world, with history reaching back to around the 5th millennium BCE. Most of what you see today dates to the 19th\u201320th century, but that \u201ecity-on-a-hill\u201d atmosphere is still absolutely there. And it\u2019s not just lokalna duma &#8211; in 2014 the citadel was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the historic heart of Erbil.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">When we visited in September 2025, the citadel itself was closed &#8211; so all we could do was walk around it and take photos from the streets below. Even in that \u201cfrom the outside only\u201d version, it\u2019s absolutely worth coming here: from street level you get a great view of the long, continuous facades forming the citadel\u2019s outer \u201cwall\u201d, and the southern side spills naturally into the busy everyday life of the city. Under normal circumstances, when the citadel is open, you\u2019ll find several small museums inside (including the Kurdish Textile Museum, a traditional hammam, and a few smaller exhibitions).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c803604 elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"c803604\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--3 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-main-photo.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-14\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-main-photo-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Iraq, Erbil Citadel with fountain, a tall minaret and a central water fountain in a sunny courtyard.\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-003-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-14\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-003-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Couple wearing sunglasses at Erbil Citadel in Iraq, overlooking a fountain-lined plaza and city buildings\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-003-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-003-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-003-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-003-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-002-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-14\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-002-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Iraq, Erbil Citadel: tall stone gate tower with arched entrance and security barriers under a clear blue sky\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-002-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-002-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-002-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-002-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-001.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-14\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-citadel-001-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Fountain and crowds in Citadel View to city, Iraq, with a clock tower and surrounding buildings\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5102195 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5102195\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"DUwDvf lfPIob\">Qeyser\u00ee Bazaar<\/h3><p>ar. <span dir=\"rtl\">\u0633\u0648\u0642 \u0627\u0644\u0642\u0644\u0639\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0642\u062f\u064a\u0645 &#8211; \u0628\u0627\u0632\u0627\u0695\u06cc \u0642\u06d5\u06cc\u0633\u06d5\u0631\u06cc<\/span> \/ \ud83d\udccc Pin on Google Maps \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/aHvyhA6wwvYvTXLp8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">click here<\/a>.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">This is where \u201cliving\u201d Erbil really begins. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Qaysari_Bazaar\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Qeyser\u00ee Bazaar<\/a> is a classic qaysari-type covered market &#8211; a maze of narrow corridors just south of the citadel, where one corner smells of spices and tea, the next of fresh meat, and the third is lined with fifty identical metal teapots hanging in a row. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kurdistan24.net\/en\/story\/385688\/Qaysari,-Erbil%E2%80%99s-oldest-local-market\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The bazaar<\/a> has been here since at least the 12th century: it was expanded in 1195 by Sultan Muzaffar al-Din G\u00f6kb\u00f6ri as an extension of the citadel. Today it\u2019s a dense network of tin-roofed alleys where something happens in every direction &#8211; from goldsmiths flashing their displays on both sides, to bakers whose bread scent carries down the entire street.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1323c57 elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"1323c57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--3 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-001-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-15\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-001-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Iraq, Erbil Qaysari Bazaar spice and sweets shop with shelves of jars, powders, and hanging lamps\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-001-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-001-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-001-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-001-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-003.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-15\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-003-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Iraq, Erbil Qaysari Bazaar interior with arched brick corridors, book stalls, and shoppers\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-004-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-15\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-004-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Erbil Qaysari Bazaar market stall with colorful woven rugs, textiles, and hanging blankets on stone steps\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-002-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-15\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-002-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Gold jewelry displays and lantern lights inside Erbil Qaysari Bazaar in Erbil, Iraq\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-002-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-002-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-002-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-qaysari-bazaar-002-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b95e19e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b95e19e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"DUwDvf lfPIob\">Clock tower (Tawer\u00ee Katjm\u00ear)<\/h3><p>ar. \u062a\u0627\u0648\u06d5\u0631\u06cc \u06a9\u0627\u062a\u0698\u0645\u06ce\u0631 \/ \ud83d\udccc Pin on Google Maps \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/r6UneYxqSmuNKkPS6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">click here<\/a>.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Just a few steps from the bazaar you\u2019ll find the square with the clock tower and fountains &#8211; probably the most \u201cpostcard-famous\u201d spot in Erbil. It\u2019s a large open plaza with rows of benches, lots of greenery, and several lines of fountains that turn into a pretty photogenic show in the evening when the tower lights up.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cf2ac8f elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"cf2ac8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--2 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-clock-tower-001-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-16\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-clock-tower-001-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Iraq, Erbil Clock Tower featuring a tall brick clock tower with a large round face against a clear blue sky\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-clock-tower-001-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-clock-tower-001-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-clock-tower-001-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-clock-tower-001-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-clock-tower-002.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-16\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-clock-tower-002-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Woman posing by the Iraq Erbil Clock Tower fountain, with a tall minaret and arched walls behind her\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-clock-tower-002-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-clock-tower-002-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-clock-tower-002-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-clock-tower-002-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43868ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"43868ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"DUwDvf lfPIob\">Jalil Khayat Mosque<\/h3><p>ar. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jalil_Khayat_Mosque\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span dir=\"rtl\">\u062c\u0627\u0645\u0639 \u062c\u0644\u064a\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u062e\u064a\u0627\u0637<\/span><\/a> \/ \ud83d\udccc Pin on Google Maps \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/UkrXEHmSVHsTx1Dr8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">click here<\/a>.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Jalil Khayat Mosque sits a bit further from the Citadel, along 60 Meter Street, but it\u2019s definitely worth the walk or a quick taxi ride &#8211; it\u2019s the largest mosque in Erbil, built as a tribute to Jalil Khayat and completed in 2007 by his sons. Architecturally, it\u2019s a mix of influences from the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and the Muhammad Ali Mosque in Cairo: a large central dome, several semi-domes, two slender minarets, and a whole lot of Abbasid\u2013Ottoman decorative details that make the interior genuinely impressive.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">We ended up arriving on foot and happened to walk straight into a funeral &#8211; lots of people, heavy foot traffic, and black mourning banners hung around the area with information about the deceased. Because of the atmosphere and the crowd, we decided to just observe the mosque from the outside rather than try to go in. Those black condolence banners are actually a common sight in Iraq: they publicly announce someone\u2019s passing and often mention the person\u2019s tribe, community, or sometimes a political party or movement they were associated with. So this wasn\u2019t an \u201cexceptional situation\u201d &#8211; it\u2019s simply part of the local way of marking a funeral in public space.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46211c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"46211c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--3 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-001-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-17\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-001-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Erbil Mosque in Iraq, featuring a grand arched entrance, intricate patterned facade, and two gold minarets\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-001-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-001-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-001-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-001-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-003.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-17\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-003-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Erbil Mosque in Iraq, showing a large brick facade, arched entrance, and tall minarets under a blue sky\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-004.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-17\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-004-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Entrance of Iraq\u2019s Erbil Mosque with ornate metal gate and banners with Arabic text.\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-002-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-17\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-002-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Erbil Mosque in Iraq, with a green tiled dome and ornate arched entrance with Islamic calligraphy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-002-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-002-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-002-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iraq-erbil-mosque-002-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0316043 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0316043\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">Let&#8217;s keep going \u2013 next stop Baghdad<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">We left Erbil with a bit of a mindfuck feeling. This was nothing like the Iraq we had imagined. The images we all carry from the news &#8211; tents, ruins, rockets overhead &#8211; were sitting somewhere in the back of our heads. And suddenly you\u2019re standing in a perfectly normal city: a few residential and office towers, restaurants, traffic jams, people heading to work. Every time we told someone we were going to Iraq, the reaction was the same: \u201cBut\u2026 why?\u201d After this stop we already knew one thing &#8211; this is a country that can flip your expectations 180 degrees.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">If it weren\u2019t for the expensive visa for the whole country, we\u2019d probably be back here pretty quickly. And honestly &#8211; even that cost starts to fade once you remember how we felt on the ground. The care, the curiosity, that uniquely \u201cpampering\u201d Kurdish hospitality\u2026 not once did we feel like someone was trying to scam us or take advantage. The only real \u201cwarning moment\u201d came when the hotel manager casually mentioned that older motorcycles without proper security can be an easy target. In our case, with a more modern bike and solid locks, we slept just fine.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Iraq landed very high on our \u201cwe\u2019ll definitely come back someday\u201d list. Maybe on a future route through Jordan, maybe once things calm down in Syria \u2014 we\u2019ll see. This time, though, it was time to keep going. The thermometer showed 41\u00b0C, so we decided it was the perfect moment to hop back on the bike and head towards Baghdad XD. If you\u2019re curious what our stay in the \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf6 Iraqi capital looked like, check out the next post. See you in the Iraqi part two.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A short visit to Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. Two days in the city and a few observations from our journey south into Iraq.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[104],"tags":[668,175,173,171],"class_list":{"0":"post-13433","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-asia","8":"tag-iraq","9":"tag-travel-planning","10":"tag-travel-safety","11":"tag-urban-tourism","12":"cs-entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13433"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13433\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}