The 14 Best Day Trips from Sulaymaniyah
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 14 good day trips from Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, led by Erbil, Kirkuk, Sanandaj. The closest is Bāneh, about 1 hr 15 min by car. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 14 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Sulaymaniyah
- 1
Erbil, Iraq
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car146 km north-west of SulaymaniyahKnown for الشركة متين سولة.
- 2
Kirkuk, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 30 min by car95 km west of SulaymaniyahKnown for اندورا ستي.
- 3
Sanandaj, Iran
Long day or overnightAbout 2 hr 15 min by car145 km east of Sulaymaniyah - 4
Kelar, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car105 km south of Sulaymaniyah - 5
Būkān, Iran
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car127 km north-east of Sulaymaniyah - 6
Khānaqīn, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car135 km south of Sulaymaniyah - 7
Piranshahr, Iran
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr by car129 km north of Sulaymaniyah - 8
Mahābād, Iran
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car136 km north of Sulaymaniyah - 9
Saqqez, Iran
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car107 km north-east of Sulaymaniyah - 10
Qeładizê, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car74 km north of Sulaymaniyah - 11
Marīvān, Iran
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car68 km east of Sulaymaniyah - 12
Ţūz Khūrmātū, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car105 km south-west of Sulaymaniyah - 13
Rānyah, Iraq
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car91 km north-west of Sulaymaniyah - 14
Bāneh, Iran
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car63 km north-east of Sulaymaniyah
A sample day: Sulaymaniyah to Erbil
- 07:30Leave Sulaymaniyah
- 09:45Arrive in Erbil (2 hr 15 min drive)
- 10:00الشركة متين سولة
- 12:00Lunch
- 13:15Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Erbil
- 15:45Head back to Sulaymaniyah
- 18:00Home in Sulaymaniyah
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Sulaymaniyah?
- The best day trips from Sulaymaniyah are Erbil, Kirkuk, Sanandaj, Kelar, Būkān. The closest is Bāneh, about 1 hr 15 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Sulaymaniyah?
- Bāneh is the closest, 63 km north-east of Sulaymaniyah, roughly 1 hr 15 min by car. Best as a full-day trip.
- What is the biggest city near Sulaymaniyah for a day out?
- Erbil is the largest city in day-trip range, 146 km north-west of Sulaymaniyah and about 2 hr 15 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Sulaymaniyah?
- For a weekend away from Sulaymaniyah, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Erbil (146 km, 2 hr 15 min), Sanandaj (145 km, 2 hr 15 min), Mahābād (136 km, 2 hr 10 min), Khānaqīn (135 km, 2 hr 5 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Sulaymaniyah?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Erbil at 146 km, around 2 hr 15 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.
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