City Guide: Suleymaniah

Sulaymaniyah was founded right next to the fertile plains of the Middle East, 883 meters above sea level. Because of that, the economic activity bringing in the highest income into the region was agriculture for centuries. From a cultural perspective, Sulaymaniyah sets out to be the center of language, poetry, and science with its university with the same name. On the other hand, the economic activity that the city aims to accelerate and develop is tourism. It has managed to enter the list of regions which attract the most number of tourists at the higher spots. Industry is also present, although still at beginning stages, with newly opened factories.

Display All

• Tourist Attractions

  Sulaymaniyah Square is located at the intersection of Salim, Mamostayan, and Mevlevi Streets. On the eastern front of this central point is a big gate. Through this gate, you can use the side walk toward east and visit the historical city. In this area;the road, on which there is a market, progresses in steps.
  
  Malik Muhammad Road traces the city from one end to the other in a long eliptical shape. On the eastern side, there is a beautiful view dominated by Zagros Mountains. The city expands with numbered streets on a north-south direction starting from Salim Street.   
  
  Azmar Mountain, located right next to the city, is full of passage ways that are quite nice and enjoyable for climbing and walking. As spring comes around, the greenery and hills surrounding the city become picnic areas and Sulaymaniyah loses itself in the sweet smells of pomegranate and fig trees.
  
  Municipal Park and Azadi Park, located right next to the University of Sulaymaniyah, are relaxing areas in the city. Starting from the early hours of the morning, you can spot locals having tea there. There is also an artificial lake in Azadi Park. The northwestern section of the park was allocated for small businesses and restaurants. The Municipal Park is a small green area which overflows with people especially in the noon.

• Culture & Entertainment

  Sulaymaniyah Museum is the second largest museum in Iraq, after Baghdad Museum. The museum owns a collection that dates back to 18 BC. Among interesting findings are the 6 thousand year old woman found near Dohuk and the statue of Hercules which dates back to 334 BC. The collection of Islamic ceramics is also quite interesting.
  
  Amna Suraka Museum, also called the Red Security Museum, was opened in the former center of the secret service. The museum was opened in order to keep the memory of inhumane acts such as torture formerly committed there, alive for future generations.  In tours in which you are accompanied by a guide, many Soviet-made war machines are shown in addition to the rooms which were used as prison cells in the past.
  
  Zamoa Gallery is an art gallery which is open most of the year. Examples of the fine arts activities of the city can be seen here. Aram Gallery is another venue for art exhibits, which is also used as a movie theater.

• Food & Drink

  Most of the restaurants are located at the city center. There are more restaurants that serve Middle Eastern foods there. Dishes of Anatolian and Lebanese cuisines can be found at those restaurants. In the western part of the city, there is a place where you can eat Chinese food.
  
  Lamb and chicken are among types of meat consumed the most. Fresh vegetables are used abundantly in dishes. What locals have for breakfast is not much different from that of Anatolia: butter, honey, cheese, and tea... Rice pilaf and kabobs served with lavash (thin flat bread) are also among must-have traditional tastes. 

• Shopping

  If you go to the end of either Mevlevi or Kava Streets, you reach a rather large market place. The market is open until the evening. There is also Chinese Market in which, as you may have guessed, products made in China are sold.
  
  Sulaymaniyah is only beginning to get used to big shopping malls, a few of which have been opened recently. Their numbers are expected to grow in the near future.  

Ticket Sales Offices: Suleymaniah

• Suleymaniah: Airport Map Information

  Suleymaniah Intl. Airport

  Address	:
  Phone	:

• Suleymaniah: Airport Map Information