Erbil
Population: 1’400’000
Date of visit: April 2017
Attractions & sights: 2/5
Nightlife: ?/5
Safety: 3/5
Infrastructure: 2/5
Low budget factor: $$$$/5
Total: no rating
The city in a nutshell:
Erbil is the capital of Kurdistan, a semi-autonomous region in Iraq, and much safer than the rest of the country. It’s not the most beautiful Middle East-city, but still an interesting place to spend 1-2 days.
Where to stay:
Somewhere not too far from the citadel and the main square (I stayed in Erbil View Hotel that was pretty good).
The Good:
Erbil is special. Safety might be the biggest issue, as it’s still a city in one of the most troubled regions in the world. Nevertheless, Kurdistan’s capital is pretty safe, the locals and kind towards foreigners and you can see a lot of Peshmerga soldiers and Western secret service people (US & Mossad probably) in the city.
The city is a bit run-down but has some nice historic spots and parks also. Going up the citadel is a must and the other must see place is the square beneath. There is also a souk next to the square for those who want to buy Kurdish spices or textiles. Those who want to buy clothes can go to the mall a bit outside of the city centre.
For a Muslim city, Erbil is not very conservative and you can see stores selling alcohol and people wearing shorts in the streets. There is even a Christian quarter where you can Western food and alcohol. Check out Deutscher Hof Erbil, where I had Schnitzel and Beer (see: Country #51: Iraq). 🙂 A big plus: as a European you don’t need a visa!
A trip to Kurdistan’s countryside is recommended if you have enough time. Hire a car (and driver) for that.
The Bad & The Ugly:
Local food is disappointing and cannot compete with other Middle East cuisine. Shawerma and Falafel are omnipresent and sometimes even the only option.
It’s the vibe and the people that make Erbil special. People who come here for sightseeing might not like Erbil, as the attractions of the city are limited and can be seen in half a day.
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