population: 1.6 million

extension: 4,572 square kilometers

Museums

If you're in Kirkuk and interested in museums, I would recommend visiting the Kirkuk Museum, which has a collection of artifacts from ancient times to the Islamic era. Another option is the Amna Suraka Museum in nearby Sulaymaniyah, which documents the history of the Kurdish resistance movement.

Food

Some popular and typical dishes to eat in Kirkuk, Iraq, according to local people, are:

1. Pacha: a soup made with sheep's head, trotters, and stomach, served with bread and spices.
2. Quzi: a roasted lamb or goat stuffed with rice, nuts, and spices, usually served on special occasions.
3. Dolma: stuffed vegetables such as bell peppers, eggplants, and grape leaves filled with rice, meat, and herbs.
4. Tepsi Baytinijan: a layered dish of sliced eggplant, ground lamb, tomatoes, onions, and spices baked in the oven.
5. Kebab: grilled or skewered pieces of marinated meat, often served with rice and salad.

Note that there are many other delicious dishes to try in Iraq, but these are some of the most popular and well-known in Kirkuk.

Activities

Some fun activities that local people enjoy in Kirkuk include visiting the Citadel of Kirkuk, exploring the city's traditional bazaars such as the Qaysari Bazaar and the Shorja Market, enjoying a cup of tea at one of the many tea shops in the city or trying local foods such as kebabs and kofta at a restaurant. Additionally, you may also consider visiting the nearby Dokan Lake for boating, fishing, and hiking.