Your Ultimate Iran Travel Guide That Will Make You Start Packing

In today’s world, there are 249 countries with different themes, cultures, languages, history, heritage, and even sizes. Some are incredibly small, such as the Vatican City in Europe, with an area of only 0.49 square kilometres, and others are gigantic, like Mother Russia on top of the list, which extends in all directions for 17.1 million square kilometres.

Each country is well-known worldwide for its unique facet, which sets it apart from other countries. Though sometimes countries may look alike from afar, for example, eastern Asian or Arab countries, with a closer look, one cannot mistake how each of them is distinctive and exotic just the way it is.

For example, Italy is recognized for its Leaning Tower and pizza, France for the Eiffel Tower and croissants, Egypt for the Pyramids and coral reefs, Japan for cherry blossoms, and North Korea for incredibly mysterious and isolated. However, no country other than Iran has ever been so unknown, misunderstood, or mistakenly portrayed.

Unfortunately, most of us cannot help that one impression that pops up once we hear about Iran. Biased by what we have always heard from the media, that impression is all about violence, nuclear weapons, sanctions, ongoing threats, and perpetual tensions with the West. But is Iran that scarily wicked?

Well, no. Not at all.

Though Iran is already at the top of many countries’ foreign policy concerns and has maintained diplomatic relations with fewer countries than the average, we must not mistake it for its regime. We do not execute people by feeding them to starving dogs,” a young Iranian told Kim Hjelmgaard, a USA TODAY foreign correspondent who was reporting on Iran and was blown away by the completely different side he saw of that country.

At connollycove.com, we are all about every non-political aspect of countries, from history, culture, architecture, people, and cuisines to nature, beaches, and snowfalls. Today, we offer you the ultimate Iran travel guide, exploring the captivating, mesmerizing, and utterly astonishing country. It is a country that, by its authenticity, could potentially be your next destination, a country that will leave you staggered by diversity that is rare to be found anywhere else—except for India. 

How about some proper recognition of Iran?

What is Iran, for real?

Iran is not just another country of the 48 we find in Asia; it is one of the oldest and most distinguished civilizations in the world, which has been around since the dawn of history itself and can be traced back to 4000 BC. For thousands of years, Iran had witnessed the rise and fall of different empires, one of which was the Achaemenid Empire, one of the largest in the world at the time and was even, in hindsight, described as the world’s first superpower.

Such an empire fell by the conquest of Alexander the Great in the fourth century BC, dividing the far-expanding empire into several states. However, a century later, those states were unified again into the Parthian Empire, which stayed powerful for four centuries. And then came the Arab Muslims.

The seventh century AD was a turning point in the history of now-Iran Persia as it was conquered by the Arab Muslims, an action that led to the Islamization of the country. During the long period the country was turning to Islam, Persia encountered a cultural evolution that gave a chance for literature, science, art, medicine, philosophy, and architecture to blossom, making Islamic Persia become a vital part of the Golden Age of Islam and a never-to-miss destination for scholars, poets, and philosophers. 

What is interesting is that Iran preserved its Persian language after its Islamization, unlike other countries, such as Egypt, which adopted Arabic as the primary language after converting to Islam.

Since then, Persia has undergone a series of changes in its political structure, primarily due to the existence of different successive dynasties that ruled it for almost a thousand years. In March 1935, the name Persia was internationally changed to Iran, which means ‘the land of the Aryans’ after the Iranian ambassador to Germany suggested so.

The last dynasty in Iran, the Pahlavi Dynasty, was overthrown by the Muslim Revolution of 1979. This revolution created the Islamic Republic of Iran, which we know—or rather do not know—today.

Modern-day Iran has an area of 1.648 million square kilometres in the west of Asia and several neighbours, a little more than average. Iran is surrounded by seven countries, two gulfs, and one sea! To the west, there is Iraq and Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan to the northwest, the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan to the north, and two other stan-ending countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, to the southeast. In addition, Iran is bordered to the south by the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.

It is worth mentioning here, though, that there has been a dispute over whether the Gulf to the south of Iran is Persian or Arabian. Interestingly, Google Maps has somehow settled the dispute most peacefully! If you view the map of Iran from an Arab country, it will read the Arabian Gulf. If you view the map from outside the Middle East, it is named the Persian Gulf! Thus, everyone is happy!

Iran now has 31 provinces, and its capital, Tehran, is in the north.

Language(s) of Iran

Throughout history, Iran has enjoyed unique social, ethnic, and cultural diversity—the many ethnic groups and the overwhelming number of languages in the country best show this. Persian (Farsi) is the predominant language spoken by most of the population and constitutes the official language of Iran. The second most spoken language is Azerbaijani, followed by some Turkic dialects. Additionally, smaller percentages speak Kurdish, Arabic, Gilaki, Mazandarani, Baluchi, and many other languages.

Regarding foreign languages, French was the second language taught at school up until the 1950s, so older Iranians are more likely to speak some French. Since then, English has replaced French as the school’s second language, so younger Iranians can probably talk to English.

In big cities such as Tehran and Isfahan, most signs on the streets, roads, hotels, and tourist attractions are written in English.  

Currency of Iran

Iran started using currencies more than two centuries ago. At the time, the central unit was called Toman. The official currency is the Rial, symbolized by the IRR; however, many Iranians still use the Toman, equivalent to 10 Rials.

Unfortunately, as of April 2022, the Iranian Rial is the weakest currency in the world, with one USD equaling IRR over 200,000! This provokes some questions: Why is this the case with the Iranian Rial? What precisely caused it to hit rock bottom?

Well, the inflation and devaluation of the Iranian Rial started more than 80 years ago, precisely during WWII.

After the Allies occupied Iran during WWII, the inflation level of Iran’s currency jumped from 13.8% to 96%, making one American Dollar equal to 16 Iranian Rials. Then, major political events and tensions emerged, starting a gradual decline and lowering the value from 60 Rials/Dollar in 1950, 1450 Rials/Dollar in 1986, 35890 Rials/Dollar in 2015, and 273,080 Rials/Dollar in 2021!

However, the Iranian government has subsidized a rate of 42.000 Rials per Dollar to import essential and humanitarian goods free from US sanctions.

So when you find a museum ticket worth 1,000,000 Rials, do not freak out. It is only four dollars or so. 

Holidays in Iran

Besides maintaining Persian as the native language, Iran has embraced the Solar Hijri Calendar, which calculates time based on Earth’s movement around the Sun. Thus, a year still has 365 days, as in the Gregorian Calendar. This is unlike the Lunar Calendar used in many Arab and Muslim countries, whose year is 355 days. 

Around the year, Iran has a relatively high number of public holidays, precisely 26. Most of these holidays celebrate either old Islamic events and festivals or political changes the country witnessed. Here, we give you a glimpse of some of the most important holidays in Iran.

Nowruz

Or the Persian New Year in the Solar Hijri Calendar.

Nowruz marks the beginning of spring and is usually celebrated over two weeks beginning on 21 March. It has been celebrated for 3000 years and is considered one of, if not the most important, holidays in Iran.

Nowruz resembles new beginnings, with the arrival of good weather, sunny days, and blossoming flowers after a cold, snowy winter (yes, it snows in Iran!). Nowruz is also a holiday Iranians usually spend with their families and loved ones.

Sizdah Be-dar

Despite its resemblance to bad luck in many cultures, the number 13 is significant in Iranian culture and is reasonably related to Nowruz. Sizda Be-dar is the public holiday that marks the end of Nowruz and is usually celebrated on the 13th day of the first month of the Solar Hijri Calendar, Farvardin. That is equivalent to 2 April.

Iranians usually celebrate Sizda Be-dar outdoors, enjoying spring and picnicking in parks. They also have their version of April Fools’ Day, Lie of the Thirteenth, in which they prank others.

Isn’t it just cool to have a two-week holiday and an extra one-day holiday to celebrate the end of the first holiday? 

Iranian Islamic Republic Day

In January 1978, an uprising in Iran led by the political-religious leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini sparked, and millions of Iranians protested against the Shah’s profligacy, system corruption, and oppression. The violent demonstrations lasted a year until Mohamed Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, fled the country in January 1979. 

Soon thereafter, a referendum to replace the Pahlavi Dynasty with the Islamic Republic was held in March 1979, and the results were 98.2% to 1.8%. Such results were announced on the 12th of Farvardin, 1 April, marking the beginning of an entirely new era in Iran. The 12th of Farvardin is also the last day of Nowruz.

The Iranian Islamic Republic Day is celebrated annually for its importance to the Iranians.

Why visit Iran

In addition to its cultural diversity, Iran displays its heritage almost everywhere and offers many options suitable for all kinds of travellers. Iran’s rich history best represents the unique, innovative architecture shown in mosques, palaces, and ancient bridges.

In addition, Iran’s diverse weather (as we will see in the next section) provides a great chance to enjoy winter activities and relaxing summertime at some of the country’s most stunning beaches. And if you are more into nature, Iran also has prehistoric forests, mountains, and botanical gardens scattered around the country.

Visiting Iran also provides a great chance to view the country from the inside, experience its renowned hospitality, and connect with the people who, as their culture, seem unknown to the rest of the world. This will eventually lead you to form your opinion about Iran, independent of any media influence.

Hopefully we are now on the same page, here is your ultimate Iran travel guide.

When to visit Iran

As a start, we hope you do not get bored by how many times we have mentioned and will mention Iran’s diversity because it touches everything. And it gets no different when talking about the weather as well.

Weather in Iran varies noticeably, if not drastically, depending on the seasons and where you are in the country. For instance, in the north of Iran, winter is freezing, with heavy snowfalls and temperatures as low as 0°C. Spring and fall are mild and usually perfect for visiting, while summer is dry and hot. In the south, it has shifted a little. Winter is mild, and summer is sweltering, sometimes reaching 43°C.

You choose the best time of the year depending on where you want to go in the country. Yet, it is generally expected that travellers will visit Iran during spring, which extends from March to May, and fall, which starts in late September and ends in November.

Unless you are OK with cold weather and more into winter activities and skiing, you’d better avoid Iran in winter. Similarly, if hot summers are just the thing for you, Iran guarantees you an exceptional summer vacation on its Kish Island in the south—there is a whole section about it later in the article.

What you need to travel to Iran

In October 2021, Iran lifted restrictions on international flights, which stopped after the outbreak of Coronavirus in March 2020. This badly influenced the tourism sector. Now that the world is recovering from the pandemic, tourists from almost all over the world can travel to Iran.

Here are the requirements one should fulfil before travelling to Iran—as of 13 April 2022.

• A vaccination card of two doses
• A negative PCR test taken within 96 hours before the flight
• A valid passport for a minimum of six months
• A valid Iran travel insurance
• An Iran tourist visa

Iran Tourist Visa

Tourists wishing to travel to Iran must apply for a tourist visa on the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. It is a pretty simple process:

• Fill in the visa application form accurately.
• Pay the fees of EUR 20.
• Receive a visa code and a grant notice document (the code is only valid for a month from the date it is issued).
• Prepare your valid passport for at least six months, the application form you previously filled out, two new passport-sized photos, and the authorization reference code.
• Head to the Iranian consulate in your country or the country from which you can collect your visa, which you must declare in the application form.
• The fees differ from the EUR 20 you paid before and vary from country to country.
• Get your visa.
• Pack up!

Some countries might not have an Iranian Consulate. If this is the case with your country, you can collect your visa from the Iranian Consulate of any other country you can easily travel to. Just make sure you mention this in your visa application. If you have not done this or cannot collect your visa from the stated consulate, you may request the Iranian Consulate to redirect your visa to another one with an extra charge. 

Iran tourist visas are issued for a maximum stay of 30 days but can be extended while in the country. The maximum period a tourist can spend in Iran under a tourist visa is no more than 90 days. The visa remains valid for three months from the date of issuance.

It is also worth mentioning that some countries allow citizens to travel to Iran without a visa. On the other hand, citizens of the USA, the UK, and Canada must follow quite different procedures to obtain a tourist visa to Iran. 

Citizens of Israel are not permitted in Iran even if they are not to leave the aeroplane and not even in transit. In addition, individuals with passports or documents containing an Israeli stamp, visa of less than one year, or any information showing that this individual has any connection with Israel are not allowed to enter the country either. 

Visa on Arrival

Instead of going through the regular visa procedure, Iran offers a visa-on-arrival only to tourists visiting the country. You can make sure you are eligible for a VOA if you:

• You must have a press visa if you are travelling to Iran with an ordinary passport for tourism purposes only, not journalism or news coverage purposes.
• If you do not have a passport from any of these countries: the USA, the UK, Canada, Colombia, Somalia, Bangladesh, Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, you need to get an ordinary tourist visa.
• You have not been rejected for a visa beforehand; otherwise, you must get an ordinary tourist visa.
• Are not a dual national Iranian. In this case, you must travel with your Iranian passport.

Tourists eligible for Iran VOA can show up at the airport, fill in the application form, and wait until the application is approved and the visa is issued. However, this is highly not recommended, for there is a chance that your application might not be approved. In such a misfortunate case, you will be deported at your own expense. If your application gets approved, you may wait a long time for your visa to be issued.

The best way, however, to get your Iran VOA is to fill in the application before your trip. If it is approved, it is then guaranteed that your visa will be issued upon arrival in Iran without even having to wait. At this stage, you must also buy your Iran Travel Insurance, which is required to get your visa.

Once you receive your application approval, you will receive a visa approval number. Upon arrival, all you need to do is present that number, pay the visa stamp fee, and here you go, you have your 30-day tourist visa in Iran.

Visas on Arrival can be collected in many Iranian international airports, such as Tehran, Shiraz, Mashhad, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Qeshm.

Currency exchange 

You must have Iranian Rials to pay with during your journey, so it is recommended that you exchange currency at the airport. Unfortunately, credit cards from banks other than Iranian cannot be used in Iran. Alternatively, you can get a tourist or prepaid travel debit card to help ease your transactions.

Iran Dress Code

Following the dress code of a country you visit is a sign of respect for that country and a way to blend in during your stay. Iran has its dress code, which is expected to be followed by both locals and tourists.

Aligning with Iran’s Islamic culture, female tourists are required to wear a hijab, a headscarf that covers the hair, from the moment they exit the plane. They are also expected to avoid wearing revealing clothes. Long skirts, pants and leggings, and half-sleeved shirts, but not short-sleeved or sleeveless ones, are perfect. In addition, women must wear chadors when visiting religious places.

Men also have their share of the dress code: They must not wear sleeveless shirts or shorts. Half-—and short-sleeved shirts and T-shirts are OK.

That being said, such a dress code can be loosened a bit while on adventure tours in nature.

How to get around in Iran

Iran is such a big country, and trying to get around may sound overwhelming. However, Iran seems to be doing well regarding transport, making getting to and around the country relatively easy with several available options. 

Planes

Iran has 27 international airports, the largest of which are in the major cities of Tehran, Mashad, Shira, Tabriz, Esfahan, and Kish. You can get to the country on a plane from a privately owned company such as Mahan Air or using the national airline Iran Air, which provides a more significant number of flights to most capital cities.

Dozens of other cities also have airports facilitating domestic flights if you are short on time, energy, or both. No matter who offers them, domestic flights are priced by the government, so the fare will always be the same.

Trains

Another way of moving across Iran is by train. Iran’s nationwide railway system makes long-distance travel easier, faster, and more affordable. Trains in Iran may differ in quality since most private companies operate them. Different classes are available at various prices, and overnight trains are also available for long routes. A train ride seems even more enjoyable given the trip-long scenery of Iran available from the train’s large windows.

Please note that trains in Iran are widely used, and tickets are usually sold out. So, buying your ticket up to a month in advance is better, especially if you travel on the weekend, Thursday and Friday, or any public holiday.

Buses

If you are not into trains to move from one city to another, you can take a bus instead. Buses are available to travel between and within cities. Tehran, for instance, has its very own Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) with 10 lines covering the entire city. VIP buses for intra-city trips are also available, which makes such long routes much easier and more comfortable. 

Metro 

Of all the countries in the world, only 61 have built their intra-city electrified rapid transit train system, mostly known as the metro, to facilitate transport, save time, and help go easy on the energy used. The oldest electrified metro system was the London Underground, which opened in 1890. As of today, Shanghai has the world’s most extended metro network, covering 803 km. In contrast, Catania in Italy has the most miniature metro system, which consists of just one line and six stations.

Iran seems to have itself covered. Iran does not just have one metro system but six operating in the major cities of Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Esfahan, Tabriz, and Karaj, with a total number of stations of at least 330, 144 of which are in Tehran only.

Tehran’s metro system is the largest in the Middle East. It comprises seven active metro lines and operates almost daily from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., with only six hours of sleep. Metro Tehran can take you all around the city. You can even go to Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport by metro! Just buy an International Airport Single Ticket for 90,000 Rials, and you are good to go.

Snapp

Iran preserves the Persian language to maintain its authenticity, uses a different calendar, and even has its version of April Fools’ Day. It has an Uber-like mobility service provider known as Snapp. Operating in all 31 provinces, Snapp will ease your moving from here to there. The app is available on iOS and Android and supports English. Before the trip, you only learn the cost in Rials, with which you can pay for your rides.

TAPSI

Like Snapp, TAPSI is Iran’s version of ridesharing taxi services known in other countries as carpooling, though you can also use TAPSI for single rides. While Snapp is available nationwide, TAPSI only operates in 15 cities, including the five major ones, and does not entirely support English, so you might want to stick with Snapp.

Minibuses

Many Iranians use minibuses to navigate from major cities to the villages and rural areas around them. They might be a little more expensive than buses, but they are faster since the number of passengers is much less.

Private taxis

Private taxis are like Snapp but have no app or virtual existence on the Internet. You can easily recognize them since they are yellow, white, or green with the familiar black-and-white taxi sign sticker. If you take a yellow, white, or green private taxi with a black-and-white taxi sign sticker, consider negotiating the fare since drivers will always try to make you pay more.

Shared taxis or Savaris

Whether travelling within the city or to another one, you can take a Safari or a taxi you share with others. You can easily spot them near bus terminals or squares where a cluster of drivers is either waiting for passengers to hop in or shouting out the city name they are heading to. Safaris usually have a predetermined fare and route.

What to eat in Iran

The Iranian cuisine has evolved over the past thousand years and changed as much as the Persian Empire itself extended, mainly influenced by the cuisines of the nations Iran conquered or was conquered by, such as the Greeks, Arabs, Turks, and even Indians.

Iranian cuisine comprises meat, vegetables, nuts, herbs, spices, and sweet fruits. It offers many mouth-watering must-try dishes that one would never want to miss.

As a rule of thumb, a typical Iranian dish usually includes cooked rice with vegetables, meat, or chicken. In addition to a large variety of main courses, Iranian cuisine has a distinct collection of savouring stews and soups. 

Here are some famous Iranian dishes you can try for every meal.

Breakfast

Iranian breakfast is a lot simpler than lunch and dinner options. Still, there are so many different options. Typically, every breakfast must have bread. You might think, ‘Oh, this is pretty straightforward, ‘ but it is not. Iran has an extensive collection of distinct types of bread distinguished by how they are baked, the thickness, shape, texture, and the ingredients used. Sangak, barbari, taftoon, and lavash are some of the most popular bread types. 

Besides the irreplaceable bread, every breakfast in Iran is served with sweet, non-milky, brewed black tea (chai). Then there is cheese, feta cheese to be precise, usually eaten as small bites with bread and topped with fruits, nuts, or fresh herbs.

In addition, other things are served for breakfast, such as boiled and fried eggs or Persian omelettes, Halim, a thick texture of meat and wheat porridge, adasi (Persian lentil soup), and kale patches. Kaleh patche is a dish served for breakfast and has the nickname of the weird Iranian dish mainly due to its ingredients. Kaleh patch is a soup cooked with sheep’s eyes, tongue, and brain, as well as feet. Yes, it does sound a little weird, but it is delicious. You must give it a try since you are giving the entire culture of Iran a big try!

Iranian breakfast also caters to those with a sweet tooth. Homemade fruit jam and honey are usually served along with butter and cream.

Lunch and dinner

Though it is widespread in eastern Asia and Spain, rice is the main ingredient in almost every course in Iranian cuisine. In addition to rice, kebab, or cooked meat, is Iran’s most famous dish and is sometimes classified as its national dish. This is not surprising since kebab is the most common meat dish in almost every other country in the Middle East.

Kebab is usually served with bread or rice under Chelo kebab.

Besides kebab, some other must-try Iranian dishes for lunch and dinner.

1. Sabzi polo: served in northern and southern Iran, is a green-herb rice dish with fried, baked, or stuffed fish.
2. Khoresht gheimeh is a stew with a tomato base, small cubes of lamb or beef, and split peas served with fried potatoes.
3. Baghali polo is another spiced rice dish with saffron, specifically fava beans and green dill, which makes the dish turn out green. Such a dish is usually served with a lamp.
4. Zereshk polo ba morgh: rice again cooked with barberries topped with pomegranates and served with chicken.
5. Ashe reshteh: a multi-ingredient soup consisting of thick noodles (Asian influence again), lentils, pinto beans, yoghurt whey, chickpeas, and mint oil and topped with fried onions. This holiday meal is usually eaten on Nowruz, the Iranian New Year.

And the list goes on and on and on.

Your Top Four Destinations in Iran

Iran’s diversity might be a little overwhelming for someone who wants to visit and look closely at it. It is as overwhelming to even write about it because each city seems to have its unique theme. However, we have tried to break it down for you with some details about the major cities and what you can expect to do in them.

The Capital: Tehran

In many countries, the capital city gets most of the attention and is usually home to the most significant section of the population. Major roads and heavy traffic make the city mostly crowded and more polluted. Well, this is quite the same case with Tehran. However, Tehran, in and of itself, is a city you need to experience during your visit to Iran. It is considered by many travellers the leading destination.

Tehran is the centre of everything in Iran, from culture and economy to politics and history. Located in north-central Iran, with an area of 730 km², Tehran is home to 8.7 million people, making it the most inhabited and crowded city in western Asia. With the most extensive metro system in the Middle East, Metro Tehran has seven active lines covering 254 km across the city. It has facilitated transportation to the town ever since the first line opened in March 1999.

The Jarud River also passes through Tehran. 

What to visit in Tehran

Choosing which tourist attractions to visit in Tehran could be a hard decision, for the city happens to be very rich in them, with so many different varieties as well. For example, there are around, if not more than, 52 museums and palaces in Tehran alone, more than 800 parks, 10 mosques, other towers and bazaars, and around 663 mountains with various heights that reach up to 4375 m!

This makes me wonder if there is any space left for people to live in! 

As a result of that, a trip to Tehran can never be disappointing. To help you decide, we have chosen some of the top attractions to help plan your sightseeing tour.

Golestan Palace

Or the Rose Garden Palace.

Golestan Palace is a distinctive and inspiring universal value due to its outstanding combination of architecture and Persian art and craft, making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2013. The palace is, in fact, a complex that includes gardens, museums, castles, and halls. It was once used as the official residence of the rulers during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. However, it was limited to critical royal ceremonies from 1925 on.

Golestan Palace is open all week from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in spring and summer and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in fall and winter.

A ticket for the Golestan Palace is worth, well, one million Rials. The entrance fee for each museum and mansion of the complex is 500,000 Rials and two million Rials for the central part of the palace. Please note that these ticket prices might be higher when you visit Iran.

Carpet Museum of Iran

One thing about Iran that has crossed seas and mountains to every inch of the world and received a lot of attention is Iranian carpets. They are known for their authenticity, exceptional designs, eye-catching patterns, and vivid colours. They are made of the finest wool, cotton, and silk; this chance to see a great collection of Iranian carpets and learn about their history back 2500 years ago is not to be missed.

Iran’s Carpet Museum is open every day except Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is located inside the stunning Laleh Park, Tehran’s biggest park, which makes it worth a double trip!

Milad Tower

Designed by the Iranian architect Mohammad Reza Hāfezi, Milad Tower is the tallest telecommunication tower in Iran. It is 435 meters high and has a lobby structure of six floors, the first three of which have numerous trade units, food courts, an art gallery, a coin museum, a cafeteria, and a commercial products exhibition.

Visitors to Milad Tower can visit the observation deck to view the entire city and maybe have lunch or dinner in the revolving restaurant.

Milad Tower can be visited daily from 9:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Every part of the tower seems to have its ticket price, yet visitors can get a full-package ticket for 350.000 Rials to visit the open-air platform, skydome, Municipal Museum, and Museum of Fame. Again, prices may be different by the time you visit.

Treasury of National Jewels

The Treasury of National Jewels is a museum in Tehran that comprises and exhibits the Iranian collection of national jewels such as crowns, necklaces, belts, capes, jewelled swords, shields, precious gems, and other unimaginable items cast in precious metals and encrusted with gems.

The museum is open for three hours only from Saturday to Tuesday, and the tickets are worth 500,000 Rials. However, you might want to check whether or not the museum is open during your visit in case of any COVID-19 restrictions.

Tochal Complex

If you made it to Tehran in winter, which extends from early November to April, then there is no way you could miss a trip or even a few days of residence in Tochal Complex. Located northwest of Tehran in the Velenjak neighbourhood, Tochal Complex is named after Mount Tochal, a part of the Alborz mountain range and the highest peak of them all, with an elevation of 3,964 m.

The complex was built in the 1970s as a recreation place with four facilities: a gondola lift, known as Tochal Telecabin, a ski resort, a tennis academy, and a hotel.

The Tochal telecabin is very long. It is considered one of the world’s most extended gondola lifts’ with a length of 7500 km. It has four stations, some of which, specifically stations 1 and 5, have inns, a restaurant, and a rescue centre.

At station 7 of the gondola lift, you can access the ski resort and where the main ski slopes are: the peak and western foothill. Nearby, there is also a tennis academy with two available courts and a 2.4 square kilometre three-star hotel with two floors, 30 rooms, and a restaurant.

To reach Tochal Complex, you should first go to Mount Tochal base. You can take a Snapp directly to the base or use the metro, getting off at Tajrish station and then taking a Snapp to the base of Tochal Mountain. 

From there, you can take a small shuttle bus costing around 10,000 Rials or so or walk for 30-60 minutes to reach the gondola lift. Buy a ticket from the ticket booth, line up, take the gondola lift, and tell the operator you are leaving station 7, where you can access the resort. 

During the ski season, temperatures drop to -10°C and sometimes -20°C, so wear heavy winter clothes. Tochal Complex is open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. every week except Monday.

 (2) The Athens of Iran: Shiraz

Located nearly a thousand kilometres from Tehran and residing in the southwest of the country is the city of Shiraz, after which one of the cutest, fluffiest, long-haired cat breeds was named. Yet, the distinctiveness of this city is not just limited to cats.

Shiraz is considered to be a city of gardens and flowers. It is famous for fruit trees, green streets, and vast varieties of flowers that turn the city into an earthly paradise in spring. 

Shiraz is also a centre of art and literature. It was home to many scholars, philosophers, poets, and mystics whose stay in the city gave it the name of The Athens of Iran. One of the famous Iranian poets who lived in Shiraz was Hafez, whose work was widespread across Persian-speaking nations. Hafez’s words were learned by heart; people even used them in everyday conversations.

Shiraz is considered a cultural hub not only for poets but also because it is inhabited by different ethnic groups that live together in harmony.

Where to go in Shiraz

If Shiraz is your first destination in Iran, it is better to land at Shiraz International Airport. If you make it to Tehran first, it is better to get a domestic flight, as the distance is too long to take trains or buses. Shiraz also has its metro system, though its 20-station line 1 is the only one operating. 

Shiraz is best visited in spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). Summer is quite hot, while average winter temperatures are below freezing.

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

Built in the 19th century and mostly referred to as the Pink Mosque, Nasir al-Mulk Mosque integrates creative architecture and genuine Persian art. The mosque is distinctive for its spectacular Orsi windows, made of wood and colourful glass. Visitors entering the mosque are welcomed with colourful light that slightly arouses feelings of wonder and daze.

Another aspect of the mosque’s remarkable architecture is its muqarnas, an Islamic architecture hallmark of self-supported arched structures usually applied to the underside of squinches and domes. Nasir al-Mulk mosque is also quite large, measuring about 2,216 square meters.

To have the best experience, visit the mosque on a sunny day and arrive between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. to witness the beautiful reflection of light through the stained-glass windows.

The mosque is usually open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm in winter and 7:30 am to 7:00 pm in summer. The entrance fee is 500,000 Rials. However, changes in ticket prices might have been applied due to the lockdown.

Shah Cheragh

Built a little earlier than the Pink Mosque, Shah Cheragh holds particular religious importance to the Iranians and is a famous pilgrimage centre in Shiraz. It is characterized by its dazzling interior, where walls and ceiling are covered with small glittering pieces of glass and mirrors mixed with green-coloured tiles. Those glass and mirror pieces reflect light in all directions.

Maybe that is why the mosque was named Shah Cheragh, which means King of Light in Persian.

The mosque is divided into a female and a male side. Women are usually given chadors to wear before entering. Tourists are offered free tours.

The mosque is open round the clock.

Eram Garden

The Eram Garden is part of the Shiraz Botanical Garden of Shiraz University. It and the palace within are a World Heritage Site (again) and must be on your to-visit list in Shiraz. The garden is one of the famous Persian Gardens known for its exact geometrical layout. It resembles the exceptional development in implementing architecture, water management, and agriculture to create another paradise featuring beautiful lush plants, aesthetic trees, herbs, and flowers. The Eram garden serves as a place for leisure, relaxation, and contemplation. The garden is open Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 6:30. 

(3) Half of The World: Isfahan

Right in the centre of Iran is Isfahan City, one of the country’s cultural and economic centres. It is about 406 km south of Tehran and around 481.8 km north of Shiraz and covers an area of 551 km².

Isfahan is sometimes called ‘half the world’ or Nesf-e-Jahan due to its high concentration of extraordinary Persian architecture, tourist attractions, and monuments of tiled mosques, places, and minarets and its great historical value.

The largest river in central Iran, the Zayanderud River, crosses the city of Isfahan and ends at a salty lake southeast of the town called Gavkhooni. The river passing through the city was probably why six old bridges resemble the hallmarks of historic bridge architecture.

Where to go in Isfahan

Getting to Isfahan mainly depends on where you are on your trip. You can travel directly from your country and land at Isfahan International Airport. If you are already in Iran, you can take a train or a bus ride. If you want to make the most of your time in Iran, a domestic flight is your best option.

You can travel around the city in taxis or Snapp rides since the app operates in the city as well as in the rest of Iran’s 31 provinces. Like Tehran and Shiraz, Isfahan has its own metro system, with one active line of two stations and two other lines still in the planning phase.

Since Iran is most beautiful in spring, visiting Isfahan between April and May is also recommended. But bear in mind that this is also the same time when the cost of flights and hotel reservations is at its peak. You would also want to avoid Isfahan in summer, as the temperature can reach 39°C unless this is no problem for you.

Here are five stunning places you will enjoy visiting during your visit to Isfahan.

Si O Se Pol Bridge

Originally constructed as a bridge and dam, the Allahverdi Khan Bridge, popularly known as Si-o-se-pol Bridge, is also a leisure and gathering recreation place. Tourists can enjoy a nice short walk of 300 meters and a view of the magical fast-moving river of Zayanderud. The rocky bridge is also characterized by its 33 vaulted-arch spans. And just like London’s famous red bus, Si-o-se-pol is a double-decker.

Though you can visit the bridge during the day, do try to go there at night to view its charming lighting. 

Sheikh Lotffolla Mosque

By now, you must be familiar with the fact that almost every Iranian city has plenty of uniquely designed mosques you can visit. In Isfahan, the Sheikh Lotfolla Mosque is located. Though it may somehow resemble India’s famous Taj Mahal in terms of the dome, entrance, and the artificial small-sized water body in the outer yard, Sheikh Lotfolla Mosque is shorter. It spreads over a wider area than the Taj Mahal. It is also more orange-blue than white.

Standing near the centre of Isfahan, Sheikh Lotfolla Mosque represents the triumph of Iranian architecture, featuring a gorgeous interior dome tile whose colour changes throughout the day from cream to pink. The mosque is smaller in height than its counterparts and has no minarets, mainly used to call to prayer. This is because Sheikh Lotfolla Mosque was initially built to be used as a royal court. The mosque was only open to the public centuries after its construction.

Interestingly, this mosque initially had a tunnel linking it to the Ali Qapu Palace, the king’s residence, on the other side of the square. The primary purpose of digging this tunnel was to make it easy for the king to go to the mosque without walking through the square.

Sheikh Lotfolla Mosque is open daily from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and again from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, though it is better to visit it in the late afternoon to witness the colour change. One ticket is worth 200,000 Rials.

Isfahan Seashell Museum 

Museums are known to be places that exhibit objects of historical, cultural, or scientific value. Now that the word ‘value’ is relative to each country and how they see, consider, and view their genuine cultural elements, any country can have any kind of museum, no matter how unusual or even bizarre it might sound to other cultures.

In China, for instance, there is the Beijing Tap Water Museum; in the USA, there is the Museum of Bad Art (thanks for being very honest); and in Germany, there is the Bread Museum; however, the latter’s existence is justified as there are over 300 types of bread in Germany!

Isfahan seems to have followed the same path of building museums for unusual things, such as seashells! Though Isfahan is not a coastal city, its Seashell Museum has a colossal number and variety of seashells in many colours and sizes. Have you ever seen a blue lion paw scallop? 

The museum has many vitrines displaying different groups of seashells, crabs, stars, and others, with labels and tombstones in English giving information about the displayed items.

The Isfahan Seashell Museum is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. An adult ticket costs about 80,000 Rials. 

Isfahan Aquarium

This could be your next stop after the Seashell Museum, making it a well-spent marine-life day since Isfahan Aquarium is an experience you will never forget. Visiting the Isfahan Aquarium is also a must because it is only 160 meters from the Seashell Museum!

The 35-meter-long aquarium tunnel displays aquatic plants, a large, distinct variety of fish of different colours, sizes, and patterns, and spectral deep-sea animals and sharks.

Isfahan Grand Bazar

Another distinct site in the city to add to your trip is the Grand Bazaar of Isfahan. Dating back to the 17th century, the Grand Bazar was the most significant trade centre in Isfahan and is now a destination for anyone interested in buying Iranian carpets and kilims.

Isfahan Grand Bazar is located in the old downtown. It has numerous shops selling everything from gold and silver to clothes, herbs, and spices. The vast place has different pathways, streets, and domed ceilings that intensify the feeling of walking through a maze.

(4) The City of Firsts: Tabriz

A car ride for around 6 hours and 50 minutes from Tehran to the northwest of Iran will directly take you to Tabriz, the City of Firsts! Tabriz is considered a pioneer in forming modern Iran from the late 19th century to the 21st century, mainly due to being closer to Europe than any other city in Iran. For instance, Tabriz was the city where the first primary school in Iran was established in 1893, the first public library (1921), the first publication house, the first telephone system (1901), the first chamber of commerce (1906), and many, many other firsts.

Tabriz is also a history, literature, music, and painting hub. It even has its cuisine. Tabriz Grand Bazaar is a World Heritage Site that will blow your mind.

Preserving one of Iran’s famous hallmarks, Tabriz is home to hand-woven carpets and kilims. It is, in fact, an excellent centre for handicrafts such as leather, textiles, needlework, silverwork, pottery, and traditional printing, all available at Tabriz Grand Bazaar.

Where to go in Tabriz

Tabriz has an international airport facilitating international or domestic transport like other major cities. You can also wander around using Snapp, the 5-line Tabriz metro, or any other means of transport.

You might want to avoid Tabriz in winter, from December to March or mid-April, as it gets freezingly cold. Spring is the best time to visit the city since the weather gets warmer, with temperatures ranging from 23°C to 32°C from May to August.

That being said, it can get seriously overwhelming to decide where to go or what to visit in Tabriz since the city, just like its counterparts, is pretty abundant in sites of great significance in terms of mosques, museums, more museums, houses, mountains, and many other tourist attractions. However, we have tried to include some exciting sites that will help make your trip to Tabriz even more remarkable.

Sound and Music Museum

Before entering the Sound and Music Museum, you will not help but stare in awe at the grand architecture, well-designed wooden doors, and large windows of the museum building. The house, which hosts some of Iran’s fascinating old and modern musical instruments and acoustic equipment, originally belonged to the Qajar Era (1785 –1925). To fit the purpose of the new museum, the house underwent some renovation.

This spectacular museum is open daily from 9:00 to 8:00 pm.

Eil Goli (Shahgoli Park)

Eil Goli is another out-of-this-world place for relaxation and leisure that will help add some quality break time during a day full of sightseeing and walking around the city. The park was first given the name Shahgoli, which meant the Royal Lake, but after the 1979 Ismalic Revolution, the name was changed to Eil Goli, which means, yep! You guessed it, the Lake of People.

The park features a stunning artificial lake, which is 210 square meters in the middle. Floating on the water is a domed circular double-floored pavilion now used as a restaurant connected to the park by a causeway.

The park is an excellent place for a nice walk, enjoying the scenery of beautiful flowers and bushy trees, or a bike ride. Pedal boats are also available for a lovely time on the water.

You can visit the park anytime because it is open all day, every day of the week. 

Tabriz Grand Bazaar

Found in the city centre and listed as a World Heritage Site, Tabriz Grand Bazaar is never to miss while in town. The Grand Bazaar has tens of shops that sell almost everything you can imagine, but on top of all that is Iran’s pride: carpets. Another reason for the uniqueness of this place is its spectacular architecture of arched ceilings covered in beautiful patterns coloured coffee brown and white, the semi-circle entrances to shops, and the lit vitrines displaying jewels, pods, pottery work, and every other kind of thing.

You can spend hours wandering around this beautiful place, stunned by the variety of everything—the colours, the smells, and even the sizes of displayed items. Since Tabriz is famous for hand-woven rugs and carpets, many shops sell authentic carpets with beautiful, striking patterns. 

It must be noted here, however, that the bazaar holds many religious ceremonies during which it is usually closed, sometimes for up to 10 days. So, you may want to check whether the day of your visit aligns with one such ceremony.

Coastal Iran

Regarding beaches, places like the Maldives, Hurghada, Sharm al-Sheikh in Egypt, Phuket in Thailand, and Hawaii in the USA are usually the first to pop up in mind, but not Iran. It is time to change another stereotype about the country because Iran has beautiful beaches.

Bordered to the south by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman and to the north by the Caspian Sea, Iran has you covered if you want to enjoy a summer treat.

Here are some of the very best beaches you can visit in Iran.

Kish Island 

After your adventures across Iran, it is time to relax. And there is nowhere you can do that other than Iran’s paradise of Kish Island.

Only 19 km into the Persian Gulf from mainland Iran, Kish Island is waiting for tourists to have a blast. The island is relatively big, 91 square kilometres, and you might think of it as a country-ita! (It means a small country, but in Spanish!)

Years ago, the Iranian government wanted to develop Kish as a tourism hub and a free-trade zone to compete with Dubai and Doha, which share the same Gulf with Kish Island. So, they spared no effort in promoting it with large and massive construction projects and programs to attract foreign investment. Let me tell you that this manoeuvre was very, very successful.

Kish now has numerous resort hotels, shopping malls, and tourist attractions such as a dolphin park, an aquarium, water and beach sports, a bird garden, and even a Persian Hammam (an old bathroom—you should try it). Tourists can go snorkelling and diving on the coral beach of the island, Marjan Beach. There is also a university on the island!

Besides such facilities, Kish also has an international airport that provides access to the island without having to land in mainland Iran. Tourists are not required to have an entry visa. Instead, they only get a two-week travel permit, usually issued at the airport.

Kish is best visited from January to early May when the weather is nice and sunny and suitable for a beach vacation. While the rest of Iran is cold and freezing in winter, Kish can also be visited since the weather is pleasant and relaxed.

One thing to mention here is that, due to Iranian laws, women can only swim in the Ladies’ Beach on Kish Island. The Beach is exclusively dedicated to women; no men, even husbands, are allowed inside. Entry to the Ladies’ beach also requires a fee.

Hormuz Island

The red island of Hormuz is located only 8 km off the Iranian coast and is entirely different from Kish. Yes, this could mainly be attributed to Hormuz’s relatively small size compared to Kish; it’s not a free trade zone, its population, and its rank on most tourists’ destination lists. However, Hormuz is in a class because it has rainbow beaches!

While Kish is a modernized tourism hub, Hormuz is more of an untouched, plainly natural, genuine, and little primitive place suitable for relaxation and slowing down. 

Like that of Mars, the soil of Hormuz Island has a high concentration of iron oxide, which dazzles the beaches, rocks, and even the mountains in a beautiful mixture of red, orange, and yellow.

Hormuz, by its very nature and existence and the little attention it received from the government, does not allow as many activities as Kish does. However, you can enjoy swimming on the unique red beach, wandering around, climbing mountains, or even riding bikes.

The island has only one main road that circles it for 30 kilometres. According to some travellers, such a distance can be cycled in four hours if you have a good fitness level and only when you go clockwise, as the road in this direction is less resistant and rocky. However, if not for fun, you can go around the island by rickshaw-like vehicles.

The only way to Hormuz is from south Iran, mainly from Qeshm Island or Bandar Abbas, a port city on the Persian Gulf. Ferries leave Qeshm Island at 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., taking about an hour to reach Hormuz. Large modern ships, however, can be taken from Shahid Haqani Passenger Port in Bandar Abbas. Such ships only take half an hour to get to Hormuz. 

You can spend only one day in Hormuz or choose to spend a few days there. Locals usually offer their guest houses as accommodation and charge tourists accordingly. You can also find hostels if you want to meet other people. Otherwise, if you are a camping person, you can bring your tent and set it right in front of the beach.

It is best to visit Hormuz in winter when the weather is warm and temperatures range between 23°C and 28°C. It should be avoided in summer, when the island gets extraordinarily hot, with temperatures rising to 45°C.

So it seems.

Iran is a whole different country. Wondrous, diverse, and surprisingly magnificent.

Abundant in history, heritage, art, literature, design, and architecture, Iran is a jack of all trades and a master of them all. 

We hope this travel guide has given you valuable insights into a country that almost all of us are unaware of—its exquisite existence. Now that you have information about when to travel to Iran, how to get your visa, where to exchange currency, cities, and the tourist attractions you should visit, as well as a proper background about the country’s past and present, you are all set.

So why don’t you start packing?