Flights to Erbil
Plan Your Trip
| Airport of arrival: | Erbil Airport |
| Flight time from Istanbul to Erbil: | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| Flight time from Ankara to Erbil: | 2 hours |
| Flight time from Trabzon to Erbil: | 2 hours 10 minutes |
Erbil has been modernizing and reforming since Iraq War. One of the beautiful points of Middle East, the city is quite rich in terms of culture and history. Its cosmopolitan structure and geo-strategic location makes Erbil a significant province.
Name of the city Erbil means “brave” in Arabic. With a population of 1.500.000, the city is home to various ethnic groups and various peoples such as Turkomans, Syrians, Arabians and Christians. The rich societal structure of Erbil weaves a wonderful texture to itself. To visit its historical landmarks and discover its long history, you can find affordable flight tickets to Erbil throughout the year.
Transportation
There are direct flights to Erbil from Ankara Esenboga Airport, Trabzon Airport and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport which is connected through various domestic flights to 33 different provinces of Turkey.
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About the Airport
Erbil International Airport is the main airport of the capital city Erbil. Opened in 2010, the airport has one of the longest runways in world. The airport is located in Ainkawa and is 15 minutes away from the city center.
Erbil International Airport
Erbil International Airport was built as a military base in 1970s. Since its opening, the traffic has increased and Erbil International Airport hosted 1.533.863 passengers in the year of 2018. The airport is 9 kilometers away from the center of Erbil and offers many services.
Transportation from Erbil International Airport to City Center
The transportation from Erbil International Airport to the city center is composed of two options.
Shuttles
The shuttle rides are featured by the airport and they ring every 15 minutes. The transportation to the city center via these shuttles is free and the trip takes only 14 minutes.
Taxis
You can always book a taxi located right outside the terminals for a more comfortable and faster trip to the city.
Public Transport
The transportation system of the city is not advanced. Therefore taxis are considered the main transportation option of Erbil. Many tourists and visitors of the city book taxis to get around between the attractions.
While traveling with taxis, you can bargain with the drivers for more affordable rides. The costs vary according to the destination.
As many of the historical landmarks and attraction points of the city are situated near the city center, the distance is not long. If you hold on bargains, it would be easy to get around in the city while discovering Erbil.
You can also walk throughout the city provided that you are careful against pickpockets and stay in the center of the city.
Shopping
Accommodation
There are various accommodation options in Erbil.
Staying at a hotel in or close to the city center is always recommended. Since many landmarks and attraction points of the capital city are situated in the center of Erbil, considering accommodation options near the heart of the province would be a good idea.
It is quite easy to find a suitable accommodation in the city center. If would like to have some assistance offered by Pegasus Airlines, you can make hotel reservation through our website.
Food
The capital city of Erbil offers a quite rich food culture. The city’s cosmopolitan structure and long history have also impacted its cuisine. It is possible to witness the impacts of Arabic food culture on the dishes of Erbil’s restaurants and cafes.
The city’s cuisine is mainly composed of meat. To obtain further information about the local delicacies you can check Erbil Food Guide page.
Useful Information
It is possible to find some side notes to assist you while organizing your trip to Erbil.
About Visa
If you are not a domestic passenger or Iraqi citizen, a valid passport with visa is necessary to visit Erbil. You can obtain a visa on arrival at the land border or at the airport.
Neighbouring Cities
- Mosul (81 km)
- Kirkuk (87 km)
- Sulaymaniyah (146 km)
- Orumiyeh (181 km)
- Samarra (222 km)
Weather
The city is located in the Middle-East and has a warm-temperate climate. The city receives lots of rain during the winter season.
Due to its location, the summers are quite hot and dry. The annual average temperature of the city is 20 °C. Therefore the ideal time to visit the capital city of Erbil would be in spring season. Many of the tourists visit Erbil during March or April.
Essential Numbers
- Country Code: 964
- Ambulance: 122
- Fire Department: 122
- Police: 144/124/104
Places to see
One of the prominent cities of northern Iraq, Erbil does not only stand out with its significant location in the Middle-East, but the city is also enriched with historical areas and natural beauties. As it has been home to various civilizations and nations throughout the history, it is possible to come across an ancient construct at each step you take.
The city’s roots go back to B.C 5000. One of the places that must be visited in Erbil, is Erbil Castle; which was used as headquarters by many civilizations such as Sassanids, Abbassids and Assyrians.
If you would like to relax during your trip in the city, you can always visit Sami Abdulrahman Park which is an iconic point of Erbil.
To acquire detailed information about the attraction points of Erbil, you can read Erbil Travel Guide.
