7 Unique Things To Do in Akre Kurdistan

Akre in Kurdistan, tucked away in northern Iraq, is a beautiful place that hasn’t been visited by many tourists.

The town is just an hour’s drive north of Erbil. It is believed to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited villages in the world. It was built around 580 B.C. Today, there are over 200.000 residents.

The local people were so kind to give us a tour through this magnificent town.

Things to do in Akre

Akre is such a unique place; it truly has a special place in my heart. The friendly locals, the surrounding nature, and the abundance of culture are genuinely unique.

Here are all the unique things to do and see in Akre:

Making Music Together in Akre, Kurdistan

If I had to use one word to describe the Kurdish people, it would be friendly. They are so welcoming and kind. We were invited to a restaurant with a view over the town.

We looked around for a bit, took some photos, and talked to the restaurant owner. After half an hour we sat down and one guy of the group had a Kurdish instrument, a so-called lute. He started to sing, and the people form the other tables joined in!

The Market

There’s a small market right below the restaurant where we had dinner at. It’s a nice place to walk around and of course, we had to drink tea, with loooots of suger! there’s no escaping from it in Kurdistan… But the tea is so strong that you kind of have to put in a lot of sugar because the taste is quite bitter.

The market was decorated with these picturesque, colorful stones and lights, and local merchants were wearing local outfits that made the scenery look like a movie scene in a Middle Eastern movie.

And once again, the people were really welcoming in Akre and in Kurdistan. They don’t try to sell you anything you can just walk around, have a look and drink some tea.

Golden mosque

Actually, I can’t remember what it was exactly, and I couldn’t find it anywhere online. So much for writing a travel blog! Nevertheless, near the market there is a square with a small golden building in the middle.

Local Kurdish food in Akre

We were so busy with the pinky dance and singing that we forgot that we were going to have a local meal here. Then, dinner was ready. They prepared a big table completely filled with salads, and two huge pans with rice and meat. Kind of like a Kurdish paella!

There were these balls of leaves wrapped around rice and lamb meat called dolma. Originally, it’s a Turkish name and it’s found in many different forms across the Middle East, Turkey, the Balkans, and Central Asia. Dolma has been a fundamental dish of Middle Eastern cuisine for centuries. It’s even found in cookbooks before the Ottoman Empire.

I Love Akre

I thought this was very cute, Akre is a small town but they had the famous I Love … sign. Coming from I Love New York obviously and to see it in this small town was quite funny and charming.

Where to Stay in Akre

Honestly, I wouldn’t know a place to stay in Akre. My advice is to stay in a hotel in Erbil and make a day trip to the town.

How to visit Akre in Kurdistan

It’s possible to take a taxi from Erbil to Akre in Kurdistan. There is an app like Uber called Careem and it works super easy. Fill in your destination and the app will do the rest. You can pay in cash when the taxi drops you off.

Fun fact: the taxi drivers really appreciate it if you sit in the front seat. It’s a great moment to have a conversation with the locals to hear all about the ins and outs of Erbil and the surrounding cities.

If you’re departing from Erbil, find out the best hotels and areas to stay here.

Read more about Akre in Kurdistan in this in-depth article from Kurdistan 24

Where is Akre?

Akre is a town just an hour’s drive north of Erbil. Erbil is the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. It’s a small town nestled in the mountains, and it’s believed to be the oldest inhabited town in the world.

Akre and Safety

Akre is a very safe town, like most parts of Kurdistan. People are kind and welcoming. I’ve been walking around there a few times with my camera gear, and it was always a pleasure.

There aren’t even any street vendors that try to sell you something, not even in the market. You can walk there without anyone bothering you.

That said, Iraqi Kurdistan has its political instabilities.

Please read my complete safety guide before visiting Kurdistan.

Best time to visit Akre

Sine Akre is a bit higher up in the mountains (nothing too crazy, but still higher than Erbil), and the air is a bit cooler during the summer. But I would still try to avoid late July and August. Spring and autumn are definitely the best times to visit, and if you have the option, go in Spring, everything is still lovely and green then!

Here is a complete month-to-month weather guide for visiting Kurdistan.

F.A.Q.