Local Area

Banoj Hotel sits on the well-known 100 Meter Road, among one of the most important arteries in Erbil. The city layout consists of radial rings centered at the Citadel; this is a fast road just outside what can be considered the core urban area. You are basically sitting on top of all transport access but also in an area completely unsupportive of any pedestrian discovery attempts whatsoever. Its immediate environment forms part and parcel business urban landscape with car dealerships, other business centers across a wide highway no cozy cafes or parks right outside its doorstep entertainment must absolutely involve taxi or car hunt! For professionals visiting ministries airport international fairground however this is time travel heaven.

The main advantage is its closeness to Ankawa. Ankawa is the traditional Christian area of Erbil which has now become the center of nightlife, restaurants and expat social life. It is just a 5-10 minute (depending on Uturn) taxi ride from Banoj Hotel to Ankawa. This is where you will find the best restaurants in the city ,and bars and liquor stores(alcohol is freely sold here) and a more relaxed almost European atmosphere for an evening stroll.Another short 10 minute drive away contains the massive Family Mall with international brands and a theme park.

The Citadel (Qalat) and Kayseri Bazaar are about 15-to-20 minutes away by car under normal traffic conditions. This is a key fact most first-time visitors fail to grasp: Erbil is intensely motorized. Distances appear short on any map but attempting to walk from Banoj up to the Citadel would be folly, given not only the heat but inconsistent sidewalks-lanes-and aggressive traffic. The area around the hotel can easily be described as very safe-it has regular patrols and good lighting-but this ought strictly speaking more accurately describe it as commercial rather than either residential or tourist.