Holiday in Erbil

About Erbil

Erbil (Kurdish: Hewler) is the capital of the Autonomous Region of Kurdistan in northern Iraq and is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world — archaeological findings indicate settlement for over 6,000 years. The city is the political, economic, and cultural center of Iraqi Kurdistan and surprises visitors with its safety, modernization, and hospitality. The Citadel of Erbil (Qalat Hawler) sits atop a 30-meter high artificial hill (Tell) in the heart of the city and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2014. The Tell consists of the ruins of countless layers of settlement — Sumerians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Ottomans have built, destroyed, and rebuilt here. The Citadel is currently undergoing extensive restoration and is partially accessible. The large bazaar of Erbil, the Qaysari Bazaar, stretches at the foot of the Citadel with covered alleys full of spices, carpets, gold jewelry, and Kurdish clothing. The atmosphere is authentically oriental and noticeably more relaxed than in many Arab bazaars. Erbil has rapidly modernized since 2003: glass towers, shopping centers, and international hotels shape the skyline, while the historic core preserves its heritage. The Sami Abdul Rahman Park, with 820,000 square meters, is one of the largest urban parks in the Middle East. The Kurdish region is ethnically and religiously diverse: alongside Kurds, Turkmen, Assyrians (Christians), Yazidis, and Arabs live here. The surrounding area offers excursions to the Amedi Mountains, the Gali Ali Beg waterfall, and the Assyrian reliefs in Khinnis.