Spring (March to May) is the best time to visit Sulaymaniyah. The mountains are green, the temperatures are pleasant (15–25°C), and the wildflowers on the hillsides above the city are extraordinary. The Kurdish New Year (Newroz) is celebrated on 21 March with large outdoor gatherings; it is the most important cultural event of the year in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Summer (June to September) is hot and dry. Temperatures in the city regularly exceed 38°C, though the mountain resorts above Sulaymaniyah are 5–10 degrees cooler and attract Iraqi families escaping the southern heat. Autumn (October to November) is mild and clear, with good conditions for travel.
Winter can be cold, with snow on the mountains, and is the low season for tourism. The city remains fully functional year-round; the mountains to the east see enough snow for basic skiing in some years.