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Voykit pocket guide · Iraq
Zakho
Half a day to see the Delal Bridge and castle tower, then move on to Dahuk or Amedi. Not a base.
Zakho is a Kurdish border town on the Turkish frontier, best known for the ancient Pira Delal bridge and a ruined castle tower. Most travellers pass through on the land route between Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan. The town itself can be seen in a few hours; it works as a lunch stop or a short break before heading to Dahuk or Amedi.
- Country
- Iraq
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (very hot), Dec–Feb (cold and wet)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IQD
- Money
- Cash in dinars and US dollars covers almost everything: see Insurance & payments above.
- Daily spend
- Budget IQD 20,000–35,000 excl. bed · Mid IQD 35,000–60,000 excl. bed · High IQD 60,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 104 · Ambulance 122
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at a local restaurant | IQD 5,000–10,000 |
| Bottle of water | IQD 500 |
| Short taxi ride within town | IQD 3,000–5,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- EBL · Erbil International Airport
- About 2.5 h by car; taxis and shared vans available
Typical fares
- Zakho → Dahuk, shared taxi
- about IQD 5,000, 45 min (check)
- Zakho → Erbil, shared taxi
- about IQD 15,000, 2.5 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The centre is walkable. For the castle and bridge, a 15–20 min walk covers both. Taxis are cheap for longer trips.
See and do
Known for
- Pira Delal (Delal Bridge)
- Zakho castle tower
- Border crossing to Turkey
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dahuk | Shared taxi or minibus, about 45 min | 1 h |
| Amedi | Shared taxi via Dahuk, about 1.5 h | 2 h |
| Batifa | Shared taxi, about 1 h | 1.5 h |
Sleep
- City centre near the river
- Closest to the bridge and castle; a few hotels and guesthouses.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | سڵاوsllaw |
| Thank you | سوپاسsupas |
| How much? | ئەوە چەندە؟ewa chanda? |
| Yes / No | بەڵێ / نەخێرballē / nakhēr |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- The border crossing to Turkey can have long queues; check conditions before planning a crossing.
- Alcohol is not widely available in public; respect local customs.
- Cash is king: bring Iraqi dinars or US dollars; cards are rarely accepted.
Zakho is generally safe for travellers within Iraqi Kurdistan. The main risks are road traffic and heat in summer. Check your government's travel advice for the region before crossing from Turkey.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Zakho yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Pira Delal (Delal Bridge)
- Zakho castle tower
- Border crossing to Turkey
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Zakho, revision 5239140 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239140
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/zakho). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.