Erbil walking tour & city guide

The citadel and the bazaar

Erbil Citadel has been settled for more than 6,000 years and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. A ramp leads up from the square below through the great gate into a quiet walled town of old houses and lanes that is still being restored, with a small museum of Kurdish textiles and views over the whole city.

Below the citadel, the square fills with families, fountains and tea sellers in the evening, and the Qaysari Bazaar winds back from it in covered alleys selling spices, sweets, honey, cheese, clothes and gold. A short walk away, Minaret Park holds the 12th-century Mudhafaria Minaret, and the large Sami Abdulrahman Park is the city's favourite green space.

A classic walk: the citadel to Qaysari Bazaar

Start in the late afternoon on top of the citadel, walking the lanes and looking out from its edge as the light softens over the city. Come down the ramp to the square at its foot, where the fountains are lit and the cafés fill up after sunset.

From the square, dive into the Qaysari Bazaar and follow its covered lanes past spice and sweet shops, tasting as you go. Finish back at the square for a glass of tea, or take a taxi to the Christian district of Ankawa, known for its evening restaurants.

Good to know

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best times to visit; summers are very hot and winters can be cold and wet. The city is spread out along its ring roads, so taxis are the way to get around, but the citadel and bazaar are best on foot. Kurdish (Sorani) is the main language, with Arabic and some English widely understood. Dress modestly in the bazaar and mosques. Check current travel advice before you go.