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Home » Iraq » Part II: Exploring Erbil, The Capital Of Iraqi Kurdistan
IraqTrip Reports

Part II: Exploring Erbil, The Capital Of Iraqi Kurdistan

Matthew Klint Posted onOctober 10, 2019November 14, 2023 15 Comments

As Turkish forces embark upon a massive offensive into Kurdish-controlled Northeast Syria, memories of my trip to Iraqi Kurdistan are in the front of my mind.

>Part I: A Day Trip To Iraq

If I showed you these pictures below, would you ever guess they were from Iraq? Keep in mind this was during the Iraq War. Women and children were running around. Men were laughing as they drank coffee on the street. Street vendors hawked food while a beautiful clock tower chimed at the top of the hour.

a large fountain in a city

a group of people walking on a walkway near water fountains

a clock tower with a clock on it

a group of people outside a building

a group of people sitting on benches and a man feeding pigeons

a park with a fountain and a cable car

I felt very safe in Erbil. So safe, in fact, I walked from the city center back to the airport alone late at night. Today, I’ll focus on some of he historical sites I visited.

Jumping into the taxi, I headed into town, which turned out to be a very short distance away.

a traffic sign on a road

The most prominent feature of Erbil is the Citadel, an ancient fortress dating back to the 10th Century BC (so over 3,000 years). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a striking reminder of endurance. Like much of the region, the history of Erbil is one of conquest by a long list of empires over time. But as occupiers have changed, the Citadel has remained.

a building on a hill

a water fountain with a wall and a tower in the background

a water fountain with a wall of flowers and a mural

a mosaic of men riding a chariot

a person standing in front of a brick building

a cat sitting on a brick wall

a tall tower with a balcony

a large brick archway with a flag in the background

a flag on a pole

people walking down a street with buildings in the background

Beside the Citadel was a statue of Ibn al-Mustawfi, a Kurdish historian who lived from 1169-1239.

a statue of a man sitting on a rock

a statue of a man with a beard

Walking through the town square you would really never know that you were in Iraq. You could just as easily be in a European city.

a large fountain in a city

a fountain in a city

cars parked cars on a street

a group of people walking on a street

a street with cars and people in front of a building

a group of people walking in a street

people standing outside a building

a group of people standing outside a food stand

a group of people sitting outside

a clock tower with people walking around

a brick building with many arches and people in front

a group of people sitting on a bridge in front of a fountain

a group of people walking around a fountain

Retailers dotted the city center, with tailors, eateries, spice merchants, grocers, and even a little mall.

a store front with many items on it

cars parked cars on a street

a group of colorful rolls of candy

a pile of nuts in boxes

people in a dark alley

a store with different types of food

a group of people in a market

a group of people walking in a market

a mannequin in a suit

a man sewing a suit

a man sitting at a desk in a workshop

a walkway between glass windows

a man selling food on a street

a store front with a few people in it

a group of signs on a street

As the sun began to set, I made my way to Minare Park, which includes the Mudhafaria Minaret. That dates back to 1190, over 800 years old.

a sign board with text and arrows

a painting of a boy and girl

a large archway with colorful lights

a tall tower lit up at night

The park included an eclectic mix of fountains, courtyards, greenery, and even gondolas.

a large circular area with a green light

a water falling from a pillar

a long white pillar with bushes and a blue light

a water fountain with columns and a walkway at night

a walkway with trees and a tower at night

a tall tower lit up at night

a park with a fountain and a cable car

a large archway with a sign and a bird on top

After about an hour, I headed back into town to find somewhere to eat dinner and get a haircut.

a statue of a man in a city at night

a wall with signs on it

a clock tower with lights on the side of a building

a door to a barber shop

Tomorrow, I’ll wrap up this report with reflections on some of the conversations I had during my visit…the true reason I am publishing this report now for the first time.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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15 Comments

  1. Debit Reply
    October 10, 2019 at 1:39 pm

    People let’s not make this into a political post by adding political comments.

    No one wants to hear how you think trump is a shi%^%g and scum. Or he is a turncoat selling of his allies for money in Turkey. Or how you think the ass%”^hole deserves to get a heart attack and live rest of his life like a vegetable. Save us your political rant in the comments. No one cares.

    This is a great travel post. Leave it at that.

    • Matthew Reply
      October 10, 2019 at 1:49 pm

      Let’s wait until tomorrow’s Part III conclusion, which will be a political post.

      • Roger Markos Reply
        October 11, 2019 at 1:02 pm

        Why don’t you mention the Kurds stealing from Christian’s their homes and belonging then refused to give the Christia in the North. You forgot that they are Muslims and IRAQ AND THE NORTH BELONGS TO Assyrians

        • Roger Markos Reply
          October 11, 2019 at 1:05 pm

          Kurds refused to give Christian’s in the North food. Talk to Assyrians who fled from them. As Christ is my witness they are not good also they are muslims why lie and make them look good

          • Barzan Barzangy
            October 11, 2019 at 3:29 pm

            Very odd comment as Christians only exist in Erbil mostly in kurdish area…we never had a problem even in remote areas where populated with tribes like Shaqlawa, Soran or Diyana, Harir …

            Your comment is far from a reality .yes Christians been forced out from Mosul, Baghdad and other part they all lived in Erbil-Kurdistan.

            Your comment is very upsetting as it is nothing only untrue …and offensive to a nice relation we have between Muslims & Christians in Kurdistan…,

          • Hisham Alkurdi
            October 12, 2019 at 6:44 am

            Rubbish … and a clear lie … Kurds are the most genuine and generous nation on earth … no stabbing and no false pretence… we give food to dogs .. and might as well give to humans … stop accusing and accusing world leaders with false actions

  2. Adam Reply
    October 10, 2019 at 1:49 pm

    These kinds of trip reports are the reason why I love your blog Matthew!
    Absolutely fascinating.

  3. 02nz Reply
    October 10, 2019 at 1:51 pm

    Trump is a shi%^%g and scum. He is a turncoat selling of his allies for money in Turkey. However, I don’t think the ass%”^hole deserves to get a heart attack (no one deserves that) and live rest of his life like a vegetable, although in mental capacity he’s pretty close to that.

  4. Anthony Reply
    October 10, 2019 at 7:01 pm

    “I felt very safe in Erbil. So safe, in fact, I walked from the city center back to the airport alone late at night. Today, I’ll focus on some of he historical sites I visited.”

    I certainly feel safer walking around cities in the “dangerous neighborhood” of the Middle East at night — Amman, Cairo, Beirut, Istanbul, etc. — at night than I do most U.S. cities at night.

    • Dhani Wachyudi Reply
      October 11, 2019 at 8:56 pm

      I don’t feels safe going out to groceries at night and I’m living in U.S……
      Everyday local news was freaking me out.

      I been to Kurdistan and I feels safe.

  5. Gary Reply
    October 10, 2019 at 9:01 pm

    These posts are fantastic for the intrepid traveler. It is fascinating to get a first hand glimpse into a city like Erbil. The post is timely since it is an area in the news and your insights certainly bring it to life. This blog is unique because of your travel is not just about business class seats and fine hotels. It is about getting into the world and seeing as much as you can, while you can. Terrific!

  6. Andy K Reply
    October 11, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    Great post. Curious, how was the nightlife?

    • Matthew Reply
      October 12, 2019 at 9:02 am

      Among the best in the region, I’m sure…

  7. Aaron M. Reply
    May 20, 2023 at 3:41 am

    Did you find that this trip had any impact on your Global Entry status or TSA PreCheck? I’m planning a visit too but would hate to have my Global Entry blocked when I go to renew it.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      May 20, 2023 at 9:32 am

      Did not impact Global Entry.

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