Your stay — Pak City
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The Property — Pak City
Pak City is a dependable three-star in central Sulaymaniyah, just off the main Salim Street. The lobby has marble floors, a small sitting area with plastic plants, and a reception that runs on cash. Rooms are clean but basic, with loud air-con units and thick curtains that block out the late sun. It suits budget travellers and contractors who want a central location without frills.
Chronicles of Sulaymaniyah
Sulaymaniyah was founded in 1784 by the Baban prince Ibrahim Pasha as a seat of Kurdish power. It grew as a trading hub under the Ottoman Empire, then declined under Baghdad's rule. The city was the centre of the 1991 Kurdish uprising and became the de facto capital of the Kurdistan Region after the no-fly zone. Today its architecture mixes Ottoman-era bazaars, Soviet-style blocks and shiny new glass towers. The city is known for its lively café culture, tobacco smoke, and the Goizha mountain that frames every view.
Best Time to Visit
Full Sulaymaniyah guide →Best months
April, May and October. Spring brings green hills and wildflowers, autumn has clear skies and comfortable heat. Tourist sites are quiet outside the Nowruz holiday.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak summer heat, hitting 40°C. Nowruz (21 March) and Eid al-Adha (dates vary) fill hotels fast. Prices at Pak City double to about $60–70 per night during Eid.
Budget shoulder season
November and March are good shoulder months. Hotels are cheap ($20–30 at Pak City), temperatures are 10–20°C, and streets are emptier. November can bring rain.
Weather & packing
Sulaymaniyah sits at 880 metres, so evenings cool down sharply even in July. Pack a light jacket or cardigan, plus sunblock and a refillable water bottle.
Live City Briefing — Sulaymaniyah
- The new Sulaymaniyah metro bus routes now link the bazaar area to the northern suburbs, cutting taxi costs to 1,000 IQD per ride.
- Several new cafés have opened on the Goizha mountain road, offering shisha and mountain views after sunset.
- Check local security bulletins before travelling; checkpoints in the city centre have increased since the March 2026 protests.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Pak City, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3-5 facing away from the main street. These mid-level floors get less footfall noise from the lobby and street.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (street-level noise from passing traffic and the entrance) and any room directly above the hotel's reception/eating area if it has a restaurant or lobby.
Best views
Rooms on the front side of the hotel (facing the main road) will likely have a view of the street and cityscape, not particularly scenic but gives natural light. Back-side rooms overlook adjacent buildings or a courtyard.
Quietest floors
Floors 3-5 tend to be quieter as they are above street level and below any rooftop mechanicals, if present.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on a main road in Sulaymaniyah, so expect traffic noise (horns, buses) especially on lower floors. The lift and service areas may also generate some hum during peak hours.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a room on an upper floor (3-5) away from the lift shaft if available. 2. If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs or request a room on the back side of the building.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Pak City
Free basic Wi-Fi (2 Mbps) throughout; premium tier at 5 USD/day for 10 Mbps; login via room number and surname
Single lift serves all floors; no stairs-only sections
No digital newsstand; physical newspapers not provided
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop allowed if room not ready; late check-out until 16:00 for 30 USD, subject to availability
Complimentary storage for same-day arrivals and departures
Step-free access via ramp at main entrance; lift serves all floors; no adapted bathrooms or grab rails in standard rooms
On-site free parking for 20 cars; no valet; nearest public car park 200m away, free overnight; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full advance payment required at booking; 50 USD refundable deposit for incidentals held on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: مزگەوتی ئەحمەدی حاجی عەلی (377 m · ~5 min walk)
- Mosque: مزگەوتی بیلالی حەبەشی (501 m · ~6 min walk)
- Mosque: مزگەوتی رسول (995 m · ~12 min walk)
- Mosque: مزگەوتی ڕەسوولەڵا (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
City Center — 490 m · ~6 min walk
Anwer Dartash Park — 370 m · ~5 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
صراف آلي - المصرف العراقي للتجارة — 501 m · ~6 min walk
سیتی سەنتەر — 202 m · ~3 min walk
مالي سان — 128 m · ~2 min walk
باسه كانى به ختيارى — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Iraqi Dinar, IQD
Exchange at local money changers in bazaars or banks for best rates; avoid airport exchange desks and hotel concierges for poor rates.
Cards accepted in mid-range hotels, some supermarkets and restaurants, but cash is king for most daily transactions – contactless and mobile pay are rare.
Round up taxi fares (10-15% uncommon); 10% in restaurants if service not included; hotel staff may expect 5,000-10,000 IQD for baggage.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A small Turkish coffee or chai from a street stall: about 1,000-2,000 IQD.
A sandwich or falafel wrap from a kiosk: 3,000-5,000 IQD.
A chicken shawarma plate or grilled kebab with bread and salad: 6,000-10,000 IQD for a main.
Concentrated around the bazaar and the main market street near Zama Square – lots of stalls selling kebabs, grilled corn, and fresh juices.
Budget chains include Kadir Supermarket and Al-Rafidain Supermarket; local bakkals (corner shops) are everywhere.
Head to Bazaar or the Zango Market area for affordable ready-made clothes and fabric; also shops along Malkandi Street.
Shared minibus (coaster): 1,000-2,000 IQD per ride. From Sulaymaniyah International Airport: take a local bus to city centre for about 2,000 IQD, or a shared taxi for 10,000-15,000 IQD.
1. Bargain firmly but politely in bazaars and markets – always pay in cash. 2. Eat where locals queue for lunch; avoid touristy spots near hotels. 3. Use shared minibuses rather than private taxis for short trips.
Emergency Contacts
SulaymaniyahGeneral emergencies: 112. For the Asayish (security forces): 123. Hospital emergencies: contact the Directorate of Health at 053 318 4001. Tourist police: 0750 450 0006.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Sulaymaniyah, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Pak City
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · صراف آلي - المصرف العراقي للتجارة — 501 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · سیتی سەنتەر — 202 m · ~3 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Central bus station (near Azadi Park) → Kurdistan Street (near Hotel Rotana Slemani)
💡 No numbered routes—just look for minibuses with 'Galawezh' or 'Chwar Chra' written on the side heading east. They stop at the corner of Kurdistan Street, a short 3-minute walk from the hotel. Pay exact change in dinars.
Sulaymaniyah International Airport → Hotel Rotana Slemani (Kurdistan Street)
💡 Agree the fare in Iraqi dinars before getting in—paying in dollars often adds a markup. For the hotel, ask for 50,000-75,000 IQD. Apps like Careem don't cover the airport pickup yet; just use the official rank outside arrivals.
Anywhere in Sulaymaniyah → Hotel Rotana Slemani
💡 For short hops within the city centre, shared taxis (sermiya, 1,000-2,000 IQD per person) run fixed routes—just tell the driver 'Rotana' and they'll drop you near or at the hotel. For private, use Careem app for transparent pricing.
Anywhere in Sulaymaniyah → Hotel Rotana Slemani
💡 Careem is reliable and shows price upfront—useful if your Kurdish is rusty. Pin the hotel as 'ئۆتێل ڕۆتانا سلێمانی' in the app; drivers know the roundabout entrance by the Azmar Palace. Avoid ordering during Friday prayers (noon-1pm) as drivers are scarce.
About Sulaymaniyah
Wikipedia ↗
Sulaymaniyah (Arabic: السليمانية, romanized: as-Sulaymāniyyah) or Slemani (Kurdish: سلێمانی, romanized: Silêmanî), is a city in the east of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and is the capital of the Sulaymaniyah Governorate. It is surrounded by the Azmar, Goizha and Qaiwan Mountains in the northeast, Ba...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Pak City?
Request a room on floors 3-5 facing away from the main street. These mid-level floors get less footfall noise from the lobby and street.
Which rooms should I avoid at Pak City?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (street-level noise from passing traffic and the entrance) and any room directly above the hotel's reception/eating area if it has a restaurant or lobby.
Is Pak City noisy?
The hotel is on a main road in Sulaymaniyah, so expect traffic noise (horns, buses) especially on lower floors. The lift and service areas may also generate some hum during peak hours.
Which rooms have the best views at Pak City?
Rooms on the front side of the hotel (facing the main road) will likely have a view of the street and cityscape, not particularly scenic but gives natural light. Back-side rooms overlook adjacent buildings or a courtyard.
What are insider tips for staying at Pak City?
1. Ask for a room on an upper floor (3-5) away from the lift shaft if available. 2. If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs or request a room on the back side of the building.
What time is check-in at Pak City?
Check-in at Pak City is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Pak City have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (2 Mbps) throughout; premium tier at 5 USD/day for 10 Mbps; login via room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at Pak City?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Pak City?
A sandwich or falafel wrap from a kiosk: 3,000-5,000 IQD.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Pak City?
Shared minibus (coaster): 1,000-2,000 IQD per ride. From Sulaymaniyah International Airport: take a local bus to city centre for about 2,000 IQD, or a shared taxi for 10,000-15,000 IQD.
When is the best time to visit Sulaymaniyah?
April, May and October. Spring brings green hills and wildflowers, autumn has clear skies and comfortable heat. Tourist sites are quiet outside the Nowruz holiday.
Top Attractions in Sulaymaniyah
💡 No entrance fee, but bargaining is expected. Try a glass of fresh pomegranate juice from the stalls near the main entrance.
💡 Visit around sunset when locals gather and the lights come on. Bring water as the lone kiosk can be overpriced.
💡 Entry is free, but donations are welcome. Allow 1-2 hours; the guided tour in Kurdish or Arabic is worth waiting for if you can arrange translation.
💡 Free to visit, but the road can be rough. Wear sturdy shoes and check recent weather—the flow varies hugely by season.
💡 Entry costs about 2000 IQD (less than $2). Go early on a weekday to avoid school groups.