Erbil

• Old Erbil The historic and geographic center of the city. Home to most major tourist sights, including the Citadel, Qayseri Bazaar, and museums, as well as many government offices.
• South Erbil Neighbourhoods immediately south of the old city include Minaret Park, Shanidar Park, and Iskan Street.
• Northwest Erbil Brand-new developments between 60 Meter Road and 100 Meter Road, west of Ankawa include many of the city's restaurants and hotels, as well as Sami Park and many upscale villa and apartment communities.
• Northeast Erbil Developments east of Ankawa and outside 60 Meter Road include Erbil's three major shopping malls, hotels and restaurants, and sprawling, brand-new villas and apartment towers.
• American Village On the eastern outskirts of Erbil, this community contains a large number of foreign companies and workers as well as a popular bar.
• Komari Where the stadium is located.
• Ankawa Christian suburb to the north of the city and close to the airport, home to most of the city's bars, many hotels, and a large expatriate community.

Public transportation is available in the form of taxis and some bus routes, but automobiles are the main mode of transportation. Compared with other cities in the Middle East, shared taxis and buses are very infrequent and impractical. If you don't know your way around or have a guide with local knowledge it is inadvisable to try public transportation alone. In terms of taxis there are several choices:

• 🌍 Airport Taxi, Airport, ☏ +964 750 507 0000. Taxi service at Erbil Airport (updated Jul 2018)
• 🌍 Soran Garage, Peshawa Qazi Street (just behind Erbil International General Terminal). This is a Garage where you can find shared taxis going to some eastern destinations in Iraq, such as Soran, Ranya or Rawandoz (10000 IQD). Just ask somebody for your destination and you will be directed to the right “platform”. Expect to wait until the taxi is full before the ride starts. (updated Sep 2022)
• 🌍 Baghdad Garage, Qasimlo Street. This is a Garage serving cities to the south of Erbil, such as Dukan, Kirkuk, Baghdad, Sulemania. Has both minibuses as well as shared taxis. (updated Sep 2022)
• "Street Taxis". Generic independent taxis, which will take you most places in Erbil and Ankawa. Rates are negotiable. For a drive across town (15–25 minutes), expect to pay 4000–6000 dinars. It is acceptable to pay at the end of a ride without negotiating the price beforehand. 
• Hello Taxi. Erbil's branded taxi company, with English speaking drivers – at highly inflated rates. USD is accepted. From the airport to Erbil centre the rate is US$15, to Ankawa $10. 
• 🌍 Europcar, Italian Village, Villa 137, ☏ +964 (750) 7372288. Most of their rental cars have automatic transmissions. 

• 🌍 Citadel of Erbil (قهڵای ههولێر, Qelay Hewlêr) (City Center). The Citadel an UNESCO World Heritage Site in the centre of the city. It is a round structure, 30 meters high which dominates the old city and has been built upon seven layers of civilization. The total area of the Citadel is 110,000 m². The history of its building dates back to 6000 years and has been continuously inhabited since its founding. The citadel has seen the reign of many historic civilizations including Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. Other ancient powers including the Achaemenian, Seljuks, and Sassanians also dominated the Citadel before being finally conquered by the Muslims. The Citadel of Erbil consists of three main quarters: Topkhana, Saray, and Taki, with a total of 605 houses in the areas. Picturesque view from the upper floors of the opposite shopping center. As of September 2022 the Citadel was still undergoing restoration. While visitors can walk to the top and see the main square and road, most of the back streets are blocked off. Construction and excavation make the views much less picturesque, and mosques were closed. 

• 🌍 Grand Mosque (The Citadel). Erbil's historic central mosque, still open despite renovations on the Citadel. 
• 🌍 Kurdish Textile Museum (متحف المنسوجات الكردية) (In the Citadel), ☏ +964-66-25 11 660, info@kurdishtextilemuseum.com. 09:00-17:30. Small museum that displays textiles produced in Iraqi Kurdistan, as well as traditional clothing and other artifacts. Located in a restored early-twentieth century traditional house. 1,500 IQD. (updated Sep 2022)
• 🌍 Erbil Gem Museum, 52R5+3H. 09:00-19:00. (updated Jun 2019)

• 🌍 Mudhafaria Minaret (Minaret Park, several blocks from the citadel). The 36 m high Mudhafaria Minaret dates back to the late 12th century AD and the reign of Erbil king Muzaffar Al-Din Abu Sa’eed Al-Kawkaboori. It has an octagonal base decorated with two tiers of niches, which is separated from the main shaft by a small balcony, also decorated. Another historical minaret with turquoise glazed tiles is nearby. 
• 🌍 Quayseri Market (Across the street from South Gate of Citadel). Erbil's historic covered bazaar, built out of vaulted yellow brick. It is similar to many others found throughout the Middle East and North Africa, but with less tourism than most. Market stalls sell everything from cheap toys and pirated DVDs to bulk spices to fine jewelry and carpets. 
• 🌍 Jalil Khayat Mosque (جامع جليل الخياط) (60 Meter Road, across from Royal Mall). The largest mosque in Erbil, named after Jalil Khayat who took the initiative for construction, but passed away in 2005 before it could be completed. His sons finished the project in 2007. The mosque architecturally resembles the style of the Mosque of Muhammad Ali in Cairo, and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. It is widely regarded as having one of the most beautiful interiors. It relies on a combination of islamic architecture and al-Abbasi design, except for the domes which are of Ottoman design. Standing 48 m tall, the main dome with a diameter of 20 m dominates the mosque. It is surrounded by 4 half domes and 12 quarter domes. With an area of 15 000 m², the mosque has a capacity of 1 500 to 2 000 visitors. (updated Aug 2018)
• Mohamed Jolly Mosque. Mosque built in 1884. (updated Jun 2019)
• 🌍 St. Joseph's Cathedral, 6XGR+WP. Constructed from 1978 to 1981 with labour from volunteers, the church was designed in a distinctive Babylonian style including a main gate modelled after the Ishtar Gate. It includes a large yard and expansive gardens. Free. (updated Jun 2019)

• Stroll around in the deserted city inside the citadel in the centre of Erbil. Hundreds of houses that appears to have been abandoned in a hurry. Walk into the court yards, sleeping rooms and bed rooms or up to the rooftop terraces to enjoy a spectacular panorama of Erbil or ponder what life might have been in this place before the inhabitants were repopulated.
• In season, see the Erbil SC football team play a match at Franso Hariri Stadium, south of the city center. Erbil SC is a regular winner in the Iraqi Premiere League, runner-up in the Asian Football Cup, and beloved by many locals.
• Explore Erbil's nascent local art scene at the Shanadar Gallery, in Shandar Park, then take in Kurdish, Arab, and Persian music at one of the many restaurant/show venues in the city.
• 🌍 Erbil Marathon, Sami Abdulrahman Park, ☏ +964-750-777-0578, info@erbilmarathon.org. Annual marathon organized since 2011, with departure and finish line in the Sami Abdulrahman Park. In addition to the full 42 km marathon, there are also 10 km and 5 km tracks. (updated Jun 2019)

• Quayseri Market (across the street from South Gate of the Citadel). In addition to sightseeing, Erbil's historic bazaar provides good opportunities to haggle for carpets, jewellery, traditional Kurdish clothing, and other handicrafts. 
• 🌍 Majidi Mall. A large, Western-style shopping mall opened in November 2009, with stores such as Mango, Adidas and Levis as well as Turkish and Gulf brands. Also has a very large hypermarket in the basement of the mall, and a food court at the top. 
• 🌍 Family Mall (100 m road besides Family Fun). The largest shopping mall in Erbil (and one of the largest in Iraq) with predominantly American, European, and Turkish clothing labels and other stores. Includes a movie theater and food court 
• 🌍 Royal Mall (60 m Road). The most centrally located of Erbil's large, Western-style shopping malls. Includes a popular food court as well as clothing stores 
• 🌍 Mega Mall (Pirmam St, near Shorsh Petrol Station), ☏ +964 750 742 9391. 
• 🌍 Tablo Mall, Kirkuk Road,Near to Franso Hariri Stadium, ☏ +964 750 193 3330. 09:00-12:00. Tablo Mall is one of the famous malls in Erbil City, it has 270 shops, a hypermarket, games hall for children, furniture shops and many cafeterias. (updated Apr 2018)
• 🌍 Langa Market (Bazari Langa), Peshawa Qazi (100 m Street), Near to Rizgary Teaching Hospital, Erbil, ☏ +964 781 057 7040. 09:00-20:00. (updated Apr 2018)

Many good restaurants exist in Erbil. However, the vast majority serve kebabs and chicken, with some Lebanese and Turkish restaurants. Options for foreign food are limited. Most restaurants, except those in high-end hotels, do not serve alcohol or accept credit cards.

You can buy a wide variety of beer, wine and liquor at pretty reasonable prices in Ainkawa, the Christian suburb of Irbil. Just look for any of the local liquor stores. A litre of Jack Daniels for about US$22 is cheaper than in Tennessee where it is bottled! Remember that Erbil is a predominantly Muslim city: drinking in public is unacceptable and public drunkenness is frowned upon.

In addition, the bars at the major luxury hotels (such as the Divan and the Rotana) are popular gathering spots.

• Marina. Great food Pretty expensive. 
• 🌍 Deutscher Hof (Ankawa), ☏ +964 750 488 3981. For German draught beer and food. Features dancing and Western music on weekend evenings. (updated Mar 2017)
• Mamounia Sky Bar (Noble Hotel, Erbil). Cocktails, wine and beer, and dancing at the top of the Noble Hotel. 
• T Bar Sports Lounge and Grill (Ainkawa exit road across from RRT compound). 17:00 to late. American-style sports bar and lounge. Features plasma TVs with international sports. 

There is an active couchsurfing community in Erbil, which offers a low cost alternative for hotels if you only plan to stay a few days in Erbil.

Sulaymaniyah is an easy 2-3 hour drive. Described as the centre of education and culture in Kurdistan. The city features the best museums in Iraqi Kurdistan, good hotels and a number of pleasant parks including Chavvy Land.