Day trips

The 15 Best Day Trips from Erbil

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 15 good day trips from Erbil, Iraq, led by Al Mawşil al Jadīdah, Mosul, Kirkuk. The closest is 'Ākra, about 1 hr 10 min by car. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Erbil at a glance

DestinationDistanceDrive timeBest as
Al Mawşil al Jadīdah83 km W1 hr 20 minFull-day trip
Mosul81 km W1 hr 15 minFull-day trip
Kirkuk87 km SE1 hr 20 minFull-day trip
Sulaymaniyah146 km SE2 hr 15 minLong day or overnight
Dihok118 km NW1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Bayjī148 km S2 hr 20 minLong day or overnight
Piranshahr116 km NE1 hr 50 minFull-day trip
Ash Sharqāt103 km SW1 hr 35 minFull-day trip
Simele127 km NW2 hrFull-day trip
Sumayl128 km NW2 hrFull-day trip
Qeładizê101 km E1 hr 35 minFull-day trip
Sīnah111 km NW1 hr 45 minFull-day trip
Rānyah79 km E1 hr 30 minFull-day trip
'Ākra61 km N1 hr 10 minFull-day trip
Soran70 km NE1 hr 20 minFull-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Erbil

  1. 1

    Al Mawşil al Jadīdah, Iraq

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car83 km west of Erbil2 hr 40 min round trip

    Known for الدواسة.

  2. 2

    Mosul, Iraq

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 15 min by car81 km west of Erbil2 hr 30 min round trip

    Known for الدواسة.

  3. 3

    Kirkuk, Iraq

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car87 km south-east of Erbil2 hr 40 min round trip

    Known for اندورا ستي.

  4. 4

    Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 15 min by car146 km south-east of Erbil4 hr 30 min round trip
  5. 5

    Dihok, Iraq

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car118 km north-west of Erbil3 hr 40 min round trip
  6. 6

    Bayjī, Iraq

    Long day or overnight
    About 2 hr 20 min by car148 km south of Erbil4 hr 40 min round trip
  7. 7

    Piranshahr, Iran

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 50 min by car116 km north-east of Erbil3 hr 40 min round trip
  8. 8

    Ash Sharqāt, Iraq

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car103 km south-west of Erbil3 hr 10 min round trip
  9. 9

    Simele, Iraq

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr by car127 km north-west of Erbil4 hr round trip
  10. 10

    Sumayl, Iraq

    Full-day trip
    About 2 hr by car128 km north-west of Erbil4 hr round trip
  11. 11

    Qeładizê, Iraq

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 35 min by car101 km east of Erbil3 hr 10 min round trip
  12. 12

    Sīnah, Iraq

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 45 min by car111 km north-west of Erbil3 hr 30 min round trip
  13. 13

    Rānyah, Iraq

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 30 min by car79 km east of Erbil3 hr round trip
  14. 14

    'Ākra, Iraq

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 10 min by car61 km north of Erbil2 hr 20 min round trip
  15. 15

    Soran, Iraq

    Full-day trip
    About 1 hr 20 min by car70 km north-east of Erbil2 hr 40 min round trip

A sample day trip: Erbil to Al Mawşil al Jadīdah

A realistic pace for Al Mawşil al Jadīdah, 83 km from Erbil. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

  1. 08:30Leave Erbil
  2. 09:50Arrive in Al Mawşil al Jadīdah (1 hr 20 min drive)
  3. 10:05الدواسة
  4. 12:05Lunch
  5. 13:20Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Al Mawşil al Jadīdah
  6. 15:50Head back to Erbil
  7. 17:10Home in Erbil

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Erbil?
The best day trips from Erbil are Al Mawşil al Jadīdah, Mosul, Kirkuk, Sulaymaniyah, Dihok. The closest is 'Ākra, about 1 hr 10 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Erbil?
'Ākra is the closest, 61 km north of Erbil, roughly 1 hr 10 min by car. Best as a full-day trip.
What is the biggest city near Erbil for a day out?
Al Mawşil al Jadīdah is the largest city in day-trip range, 83 km west of Erbil and about 1 hr 20 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Erbil?
Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Bayjī at 148 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.

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