Traveling Information

A trip to Kurdistan will never be forgotten. Beyond the scenic beauty that the region offers, the rich diversity of its people and wildlife make Kurdistan truly unique. Here you will see ancient Jewish, Christian, and Muslim societies living in harmony as they have for centuries!

Kurdistan of Iraq is now open to visitors from around the world, with direct flights into Erbil International Airport. This is a safe, convenient option to reach both Kurdistan and the rest of Iraq. Kurdistan has not had American troops in the Kurdish Regional Government area for over a year, and security is maintained by the regional government. Americans and Europeans are free to explore the urban areas and countryside without fear!

Many European and international carriers are planning to open flights to Erbil in the near future, while others have already begun flying from London, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Dubai, and Istanbul to name just a few. The airport is rapidly expanding to meet the growing demands! If you would like to arrange travel to Kurdistan, you can contact our staff at director@instituteforkurds.org with your specific travel dates and selection of origin airport. We strongly encourage you to book your flight today and hope to have online booking in the near future from our website!

Flights from Sotckholm are 7550 SEK and usually depart Stockholm every Wednesday with return flights the same night. Flights to/from Amsterdam leave on Thursdays at 14:00 and arrive in Erbil at 20:45 and depart Erbil for Amsterdam at 06:00 with an arrival of 10:45. They cost 535(Euros) for a one-way ticket or 735 (Euros) for a roundtrip. Copehagen flights depart Copenhagen-Erbil on Fridays with a one way price of 5750 SEK or roundtrip for 7850 SEK. Most of these flights can be booked roundtrip with a three month open-ended return date to be specified once in Kurdistan. It is important to note that only one checked bag weighing 20kg is allowed, and one carry-on bag of 7kg. Visas for US and European citizens can be arranged upon arrival in Erbil, but please check the Iraqi Embassy website before departure for any changes.

It is also possible to reach Kurdistan in Turkey from anywhere in the world by flying through Ankara and then taking a bus, plane, or car to the southeastern part of the country. Turkish Airlines also has many domestic flights throughout the country, which can be booked directly from their website. A visa can be purchased on arrival for most European and American passport horlders, but please check with the embassy in your home country before arranging travel. Kurdistan in Syria can also be reached through Damascus or Aleppo flights followed by bus/trips. The safest method of travelling by plane to and around Syria is on the internationally-recognized Turkish Airlines. Visas can take up to 6 weeks to acquire for American and European travellers, and can be denied due to past travel in Israel or Palestine. Kurdistan of Iran can be reached through air travel, but visas can also be difficult to acquire.