The 15 Best Day Trips from Kirkuk
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 15 good day trips from Kirkuk, Iraq, led by Mosul, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah. The closest is Ţūz Khūrmātū, about 1 hr 20 min by car. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 15 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Kirkuk
- 1
Mosul, Iraq
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 20 min by car150 km north-west of KirkukKnown for الدواسة.
- 2
Erbil, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car87 km north-west of KirkukKnown for الشركة متين سولة.
- 3
Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car95 km east of Kirkuk - 4
Kelar, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car126 km south-east of Kirkuk - 5
Bayjī, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car102 km south-west of Kirkuk - 6
Ash Sharqāt, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car106 km west of Kirkuk - 7
Sāmarrā’, Iraq
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 20 min by car149 km south of Kirkuk - 8
Khasnahzān, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car85 km north of Kirkuk - 9
Qeładizê, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car104 km north-east of Kirkuk - 10
Baḥarkah, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car100 km north of Kirkuk - 11
Ţūz Khūrmātū, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car68 km south of Kirkuk - 12
Rānyah, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car98 km north-east of Kirkuk - 13
Bāneh, Iran
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 20 min by car147 km north-east of Kirkuk - 14
'Ākra, Iraq
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 20 min by car148 km north of Kirkuk - 15
Soran, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car133 km north of Kirkuk
A sample day: Kirkuk to Mosul
- 07:30Leave Kirkuk
- 09:50Arrive in Mosul (2 hr 20 min drive)
- 10:05الدواسة
- 12:05Lunch
- 13:20Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Mosul
- 15:50Head back to Kirkuk
- 18:10Home in Kirkuk
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Kirkuk?
- The best day trips from Kirkuk are Mosul, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Kelar, Bayjī. The closest is Ţūz Khūrmātū, about 1 hr 20 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Kirkuk?
- Ţūz Khūrmātū is the closest, 68 km south of Kirkuk, roughly 1 hr 20 min by car. Best as a full-day trip.
- What is the biggest city near Kirkuk for a day out?
- Mosul is the largest city in day-trip range, 150 km north-west of Kirkuk and about 2 hr 20 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Kirkuk?
- For a weekend away from Kirkuk, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Mosul (150 km, 2 hr 20 min), Sāmarrā’ (149 km, 2 hr 20 min), 'Ākra (148 km, 2 hr 20 min), Bāneh (147 km, 2 hr 20 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Kirkuk?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Mosul at 150 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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