Kirkuk
Discover Kirkuk
Kirkuk (Kurdish: کەرکووک, Arabic: كركوك, Turkish: Kerkük) is a city in Northwestern Iraq. However, its population is ethnically mixed, and it is under the control of the Iraqi government. Kirkuk has its own airport served by a limited number of domestic and international routes within the Middle East. Many visitors also use the major airport in Baghdad.
What to Experience in Kirkuk
Taste of Kirkuk...
The bombings and attacks have stopped since 2023, but still exercise precaution. See the warning on the Iraq article for more information. LGBT travelers: Militias have targeted the LGBT community in Kirkuk. Local police will not help you if you feel threatened for being gay, it's recommended to hide your sexuality. The archaeological sites of Qal'at Jarmo and Yorgan Tepe are found at the outskirts of the modern city.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsKirkuk has its own airport served by a limited number of domestic and international routes within the Middle East. Many visitors also use the major airport in Baghdad. There are plenty us buses departing daily from Baghdad as well as most other cities in Iraq. International long distance services are available from cities in Southeastern Turkey and limited services from Istanbul and Ankara. Journey times are grueling, even if most routes have decent amenities. Highway 2 connects Kirkuk with Baghdad, Erbil, Mosul all the way up to the Turkish border. Checkpoints are quite common along parts of the road, increasing travel time massively. The Iraqi government has announced the restoration of passenger services between Baghdad and Kirkuk. However delays in infrastructure projects is the norm in Iraq so while trains might return to Kirkuk in 2025-26, don't count on it. It may be best to contact a local to help you get around....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
It may be best to contact a local to help you get around. You can also go to tourism offices for advice but there aren't a lot of them here due to the small amount of tourism in this city. Visit many of its historical and modern attractions modern attractions may include places like smileland amusement park (also has a place in Mall of Kirkuk)and baba gurgur amusement Park (it has two areas one near smileland and the other north) The bombings and attacks have stopped since 2023, but still exercise precaution. See the warning on the Iraq article for more information. LGBT travelers: Militias have targeted the LGBT community in Kirkuk. Local police will not help you if you feel threatened for being gay, it's recommended to hide your sexuality. The archaeological sites of Qal'at Jarmo and Yorgan Tepe are found at the outskirts of the modern city.
Where to Stay
The bombings and attacks have stopped since 2023, but still exercise precaution. See the warning on the Iraq article for more information. LGBT travelers: Militias have targeted the LGBT community in Kirkuk. Local police will not help you if you feel threatened for being gay, it's recommended to hide your sexuality. The archaeological sites of Qal'at Jarmo and Yorgan Tepe are found at the outskirts of the modern city.
Money & Budget
The bombings and attacks have stopped since 2023, but still exercise precaution. See the warning on the Iraq article for more information. LGBT travelers: Militias have targeted the LGBT community in Kirkuk. Local police will not help you if you feel threatened for being gay, it's recommended to hide your sexuality. The archaeological sites of Qal'at Jarmo and Yorgan Tepe are found at the outskirts of the modern city.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
The bombings and attacks have stopped since 2023, but still exercise precaution. See the warning on the Iraq article for more information. LGBT travelers: Militias have targeted the LGBT community in Kirkuk. Local police will not help you if you feel threatened for being gay, it's recommended to hide your sexuality. The archaeological sites of Qal'at Jarmo and Yorgan Tepe are found at the outskirts of the modern city.
Glimpses of Kirkuk
a moon in the sky
a close up of a flower
a pink flower on a rocky surface
a moon in the sky
a close up of a flower
a pink flower on a rocky surface
a moon in the sky
a close up of a flower
a pink flower on a rocky surface
a moon in the sky
a close up of a flower
a pink flower on a rocky surface
a moon in the sky