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Federal region in Iraq
Photo: jan kurdistani, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The north-western part of Iraqi Kurdistan with Dahuk and Zakho, sharing much of its border with Turkey to the north and a tiny border crossing with Syria to the west in Khanik.
Central governorate with the capital Erbil.
Sulemania Governorate is the southernmost region in Iraqi Kurdistan, with a population of about two million.
City of Halabja and surroundings, bordering Iran.
By plane
Kurdistan is served by two international airports:
By ground
Silopi, the closest town on the Turkish side, is connected to Istanbul and Ankara by bus. From here, shared taxis go across the border to Zakho, the closest town to the border on the Kurdish side.
By bus
In the big cities there are fairly frequent bus services in the day, but no night buses. While confusing, timetables are available in shopping malls and major supermarkets, sometimes free of charge.
By plane
Air travel between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah is available and cheap (around 100$ for a round trip), although this is only a 2½-hour trip by road.
By train
The railway is not yet operational, although there are plans to refurbish the line Between Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. Expect this to take a while.
By car
Driving standards are reasonable in Iraqi Kurdistan. Roads in the cities are in excellent condition. Traffic signals and signs are good and mostly observed.
By thumb
Because of the low crime rates in Iraqi Kurdistan, hitchhiking is a safe, cheap, and convenient way of transportation between cities.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Arbil · International · EBL
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Countryside with summer resorts, parks, rivers, green pastures and waterfalls.
A city encircled by mountains along the Tigris river.
The capital city of Kurdistan; its citadel, Hawler is a .
The town that was the scene for Saddam Hussein's gruesome gas attack that killed 5000 people in 1988 now holds a number of memorials, monuments and cemeteries commemorating the event.
In a beautiful region of Kurdistan, this town is famous for its mosques, which also have been centres of art and science.
A town on the ancient the Nineveh trade route, it became capital of the Soran Emirate from 1399 to 1835.
A historic city and a hill station, known for its waterfalls, trees, and greenery.
The centre of education and culture in Iraqi Kurdistan. The city features the best museums – the Amna Suraka and Slemani Museum, and a number of pleasant parks.
the main border crossing from Turkey.
a tranquil, 2500-year-old Christian village.
a 4000 year old town perched on the peak of a mountain, rumoured home of Biblical Magi, and confirmed home to Assyrian ruins.
site of ancient cave paintings.
valley. The "Holy See" of Yazidi faith.
4th century Syrian Orthodox Monastery, the oldest of its kind, overlooking Mosul in its horizon.
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