Kirkuk - city in Iraq

Travel to Iraq is unsafe and should be avoided. See the warning on the Iraq article for more information.

Kirkuk (Kurdish: کەرکووک, Arabic: كوكوك, Turkish: Kerkük) is a city in Northwestern Iraq also known as Kurdistan. Its population is ethnically mixed, and it is under the control of the Iraqi government.

Get in

Get around

See

• Kirkuk Citadel (قلعة كركوك, Qal’at Karkuk), 35.469722°, 44.395833°. Dating back to 858 BCE, this citadel stands on an artificial mound, 40 metres high, on a plateau across the Khasa River. Several hundred families still live in the citadel. 2018-12-21
• Tomb of Prophet Daniel, 35.4689034°, 44.3950887°. One of many traditional burial places for Prophet Daniel, inside the citadel. 2018-12-21
• Qishla of Kirkuk (قشلة كركوك), 35.471216°, 44.388559°. This qishla, meaning barracks in Turkish, was built in 1863 to be the headquarters of the Ottoman army in Kirkuk. It is in disrepair. 2018-12-21
• Eternal fire of Baba Gurgur. More than 4,000 years old. 2018-12-21
• Pirehmerd market (Bazari Pirehmerd). 2018-12-21

Do

Buy

Eat

• Today Rest & Cafe, Baghdad Road. Typical Iraqi fare and traditional tea (sweet). Daily 10AM-11PM. +964 770 347 4444

Drink

Sleep

• Kirkuk Plaza Hotel, Baghdad Road. This one, rising like a sheet of glass off the desert floor. +964 773 088 0044

Stay safe

Frequent targeted bombings are still occurring in Kirkuk as of January 2019. If one must go it is wise to avoid all public gatherings. This includes markets, mosques and festivals.

LGBT Travelers: Militias have targeted the LGBT community in Kirkuk. Local police will not help you if you feel threatened for being gay.

Go next

The archaeological sites of Qal'at Jarmo and Yorgan Tepe are found at the outskirts of the modern city.