"Arbil(in kurdish:hawler)" Top 5 Page for this destination Arbil by deimos1818

Arbil Travel Guide: 69 reviews and 124 photos

I've been to arbil in 1997. It is a very, very beatifull kurdish city with a glorious history.

A problem for travellers is that it's very difficult to get into iraqi kurdistan.Since the 2nd gulf war, there is a kurdish republic which is completely independent from Bagdad. You can't get to kurdistan from Bagdad. If you travel through turkey, you will have to ask the turkish authorities for a special permission(turkish authorities can be quite slow)
Now that the saddam has been removed, it will get easilier to visit kurdistan.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Very beautifull, nice attractions(castle etc.)
Cons:too hot in summer, too cold in winter. The people there don't seem to like foreigners that much
In a nutshell:nice city

Last visit to Arbil: Apr 1997
Intro Updated Apr 24, 2003
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Reviews (13)

Tea Time Local Customs (2)

Don't refuse a cup of tea!It may offend the host. Also in shops: never refuse tea! more travel advice

Ansar il islam/weapons Warnings Or Dangers (3)

Kurdistan has been fighting for its independence the last 50 years. There are millions of weapons and mines in kurdistan... more travel advice

the bazar Things to Do (2)

The bazar of Arbil is gigantic. You can find anything here from apples to brand new PS2 gaming machines.You shouldn't... more travel advice

toilets Warnings Or Dangers (3)

thats not a joke: You won't be abe to use public toiletts in kurdistan!Many of them are unusable for foreigners(you need... more travel advice

Favorites (3)
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Transportation (1)
durchs wilde kurdistan...

Comments (9)

triplehelix Apr 9, 2006 at 6:47 PM Report Abuse

oh my they've got PS2s in Iraq lol. i find surprises everyday. interesting place.
tini58de Feb 4, 2006 at 1:02 AM Report Abuse

What an unusual destination! Thanks for sharing!
travelife May 16, 2004 at 12:48 PM Report Abuse

Wonderful pages on Arbil. Its not easy to go there but you presented a part of Kurdistan in a nice way. Happy travels!
fabrice Apr 7, 2004 at 9:35 PM Report Abuse

great adventure !
maykal Nov 20, 2003 at 5:57 AM Report Abuse

Very interesting page...maybe one day I will go there inshallah ;@P I wish you'd write more about this little-known part of the world!
Narviking Nov 15, 2003 at 9:48 AM Report Abuse

Interesting to know about this part of Iraq. Hope I can visit some day in the future. Greetings from Norway !
deimos1818 Jun 20, 2003 at 7:26 AM Report Abuse

yeah, long live the fight of the kurdish people for independece and justice!
chauncenetta Jun 9, 2003 at 5:00 PM Report Abuse

i will visit Kurdistan one day. so beautiful with such spirit. long live the peshmerga.
Janni67 Apr 24, 2003 at 6:05 AM Report Abuse

Not quite a tourist destination under present circumstances, but who knows one day, when things settle down..?