Directions

Most travelers to Banoj Hotel arrive via Erbil International Airport (EBL). The hotel is a short drive from the airport, normally about 10 to 15 minutes. At EBL, there is no possibility of flagging down a street taxi; official airport taxis with fixed fares (currently approximately $25-$30 USD to the city center) must be used. In case prior intimation has been given, the hotel may also organize a shuttle service as well. The route is simple: leave the airport road and get on 100 Meter Road. Checkpoints are something normal in Kurdistan-a vehicle check at the entrance into the hotel compound will take place where security opens your trunk and possibly makes you walk through a metal detector at lobby doors.

Taxis are the only option. Careem, the Middle Eastern subsidiary of Uber, operates in Erbil. Highly recommended for foreigners­—no haggling over fares and overcoming language barriers by setting a destination on the map. There are also plenty of regular beige-and-red street taxis outside the hotel; negotiate your fare before getting in (a ride to the Citadel should be somewhere around 4,000-6,000 IQD). Do not look out for public buses; technically speaking, as far as any tourist would be concerned, there is no public transport system.

If you are renting a car, the hotel has free parking on its property with 24/7 security. This is another big bonus because finding parking in downtown Erbil or near the Bazaar is just chaotic and difficult. Driving around Erbil, one must have defensive driving skills; traffic along the 100 Meter Road moves fast and can be aggressive with so many sudden lane changes and U-turns allowed all over however good surface road it may be. If shaqlawa or rawanduz mountains are your destinaton then from this ring road location of hotel you can leave city towards north without getting stuck inside more congested inner rings (60 meter or 30 meter roads).