travel highlights iran

30 Incredible Things To Do In Iran: Highlights For The First Time Visitor

12 feb 2024 02 oct 2019 | dan & john.

It’s hard to know where to start when we’re asked about our favourite Iran highlights. The history here is older than human memory, the landscapes even more ancient, and the people are among the kindest we’ve ever met.

Iran is liberally scattered with places of outstanding cultural, historical, and architectural heritage that are world-renowned and UNESCO-recognised.

Prepare to be delighted by a people that are generous of heart, incredibly warm and welcoming, curious, and rightly proud of their long and epic story.

Iran is a country you discover as much through its beautiful architecture and bustling bazaars as you do through its breathtaking landscapes. A place where tea can take a whole afternoon, and where your preconceptions will be continually challenged and rewritten.

It’s a tall order to try and limit the list of things to do in Iran to a single post, but we’ve made a start here with our round up of 30 places from north, south, central, and western Iran that left an indelible mark.

Whether you plan to travel independently as we did, or you’re searching for an Iran tour, we hope you find our line-up of favourite spots a useful starting point for your own journey of discovery in this ancient, unforgettable land.

Highlights of Tehran

Golestan palace: explore a residence fit for kings.

Golestan Palace, former palatial residence of the royal Qajar dynasty, is without doubt one of the top things to do in Tehran. Wandering through one of the capital’s oldest and most iconic precincts is a perfect introduction to Iranian arts and architecture.

Located in central Tehran, this beautiful complex lives up to its UNESCO World Heritage billing. Built and restored over the centuries following the Qajar family’s rise to power in the late 1700s, Golestan serves up richly carved archways, ornate tile work, delicate lattice windows, and Persian art galleries set amidst tranquil gardens.

The complex includes a number of halls and pavilions. For us though, the stand-outs were the opulent Takht-e Marmar marble throne terrace, the dazzling mirror hall (no photos allowed, alas), and simply wandering the peaceful gardens with their vibrant, colourful tiled walls.

The nearest metro station to Golestan Palace is Panzdah Khordad and entry cost us around IRR300,000 each. It does close at certain times of the year. Check opening times and prices at the  Golestan Palace website .

Imamzadeh Saleh Mosque – Mingle with Locals at this Popular Pilgrimage Site

It’s said that photogenic Imamzadeh Saleh is one of Tehran’s most attractive shrines. But it might just also be one of the friendliest.

We arrived here in time to watch the beautiful patterned turquoise tiles that cover the twin minarets and dome sparkling in the late afternoon sun, just as the marbled square in front of the mosque came to life with Tehrani families gathering to pray and meet friends.

With the imposing Alborz mountain range for a backdrop, this site is a real treat for photographers, especially as the sun sets and the mosque lights up. However it’s the friendly ambience of the complex that we’ll remember the most.

If you settle in to take in the surroundings, you’ll soon be a rewarded, as we were, with a trickle, and then a steady flow of lovely locals keen to say hello and find out what has drawn you to this beautiful sanctuary in the city’s north.

We highly recommend visiting Imamzadeh Saleh in the late afternoon and travelled there by metro to Tajrish station. Don’t miss the dazzling mirrored room. Ladies can borrow a chador at the entrance.

US Den of Espionage: Discover the Intrigue behind the former US Embassy

Anyone interested in US-Iran relations will be intrigued by a visit to the former US Embassy, site of the 1979-80 hostage crisis that lasted more than a year. While a visit might not be for everyone, the building, referred to locally as the US Den of Espionage, provides a window into what is claimed to be the apparatus of US spying activities in Iran.

For some, the free tour of the building might inspire memories of the film Argo. There’s an interesting collection of dated equipment, including encryption machines and shredders, while the colourful collection of murals will leave you in no uncertainty about sentiments surrounding the politics between the US and Iran.

As is often the case in Iran, our tour finished with tea and a chat with our hosts. As we found in many places on our Iran adventure, our discussions ranged broadly across life in Iran and outside, exploring our similarities and our differences.

Darvazeh Dowlat Metro Station is a short walk from the Den. Entry was around IRR200,000 each.

Azadi Tower – Modern Tribute to An Ancient Culture

If you’ve seen pics of Tehran, there’s a fairly strong chance you’ve seen Azadi Tower. It’s one of Iran’s most iconic landmarks, and it goes without saying that you can’t visit Iran without at least one selfie in front of its marble-clad span.

Azadi Tower is a modern ode to Iran’s ancient past: it was created to celebrate the 2,500th anniversary of the first Persian Empire. Impressive from afar, the monument is even more striking up close, with beautiful turquoise tiles decorating the spaces between the marble.

This was our very last stop before leaving Iran, and while we didn’t have a chance to go inside for a peek at the museum underground or to take in the view from the top, it was a perfect finale to our month in this amazing country.

Azadi Tower is quite close to the airport so it makes for an easy first or last stop when you tour Iran. There are a couple of metro stations nearby; Meyran-e Azadi is the closest. It’s free to see the Tower from the square but if you want to go inside, there’s a fee.

Tabiat Bridge: Perfect for Sunset Views Over Tehran

Nothing shows the contemporary face of Iran quite like Tabiat Bridge. Designed by a local architect Leila Araghian, the 270-metre structure is young, vibrant, and modern, just like many of those that wander its very cool spans.

Taking a sunset stroll along the bridge is a great way to get to know Iran’s capital. You’ll meet plenty of locals, both young and old, and have the opportunity to marvel at city skyline and mountain views, all the while being grateful you’re nowhere near the tangled Tehrani traffic jams below.

We’d highly recommend spending an hour or two here to catch the relaxed cosmopolitan vibe, before wandering back to Shahid Haqqani metro station via pretty Taleghani Park. On the way, be sure to keep an eye out for the prettily illuminated Khorramshahr Mosque, a particularly photogenic site once the sun goes down.

If you’re coming from Shahid Haqqani station, wander across Tabiat Bridge and through the collection of restaurants on the other side for a bite if the timing’s right. There’s a skate park down there too that’s worth a stop and a watch.

Northern Iran Highlights

Bazaar of tabriz – immerse in the world’s largest covered bazaar.

One of the absolute highlights of Iran, and another of the country’s many UNESCO sites, this thousand-year-old Silk Road bazaar is a joy to get lost in.

And get lost you will. With more than 5,500 shops and around seven kilometres of beautifully vaulted caravanserai, interconnected through a tangle of passageways, the Bazar-e Tabriz is the world’s largest covered marketplace. It’s also one of the oldest.

While it would probably take days to see the whole thing, we made do with wandering the colourful spice markets and taking in exquisite Persian carpets at the dedicated carpet trading section, the ‘mozaffareih’, with its beautiful patterned brick ceilings.

Tabriz Bazaar is in the heart of Tabriz in East Azrbaijan Province. It’s open from early till late every day but Friday. 

Bonus Food Highlight:  Keep an eye out near the entrance of Tabriz Bazaar for guys cooking up a local street food specialty called Yeralma Yumurta: it’s potato and egg mashed together with salt, pepper and butter and wrapped in lavosh. Sooooo good (and less than a dollar for a filling snack)!

Blue Mosque, Tabriz: Glimpse A Past Splendour

We can only imagine how dazzling the Blue Mosque of Tabriz must have been in its heyday, before an 18th century earthquake devastated the intricate blue majolica tilework that once covered the building inside and out.

While ongoing restoration is in evidence, nature’s best efforts haven’t managed to snuff out the light of this 550-year-old work of art.

The tilework that remains is beautiful, and the peaceful ambience, not to mention the striking symmetry of the portico surrounding the mosque, make this a highlight of visiting Tabriz and a key stop on any Iran itinerary.

The Blue Mosque is also called the Goy Mosque and it’s near the centre of Tabriz, about a 20-minute walk from Tabriz Bazaar. It’s open every day and cost us IRR150,000 each for entry. 

Kandovan – Wander A Village Of Cave Dwellings

If you’re staying in Tabriz for a couple of days, consider making the half-day trip to the quirky troglodyte village of Kandovan.

These strange cone houses in the foothills of Sahand, a sleeping volcano, are eroded remnants of violent eruptions in Sahand’s distant past. If you’ve been to Cappadoccia in Turkey, you’ll be familiar with the idea of chimney houses, but the similarities stop there and the two really can’t be compared.

Kandovan is definitely one of the more offbeat places to see in Iran. It’s intriguing though, and a wander through the streets is an opportunity to marvel at how people have managed to shape an ancient and otherworldly landscape of volcanic rock into a village of cozy homes complete with electricity and plumbing.

Unsurprisingly, Kandovan is a highly popular tourist destination so we made a point of timing our arrival for later in the day. While the tea houses in the new village below were closing for the day, we were able to enjoy a quiet meander without the masses, and were even invited to peek into the charming cave home of one family as we were passing by.

Kandovan is around 60km from Tabriz and took about an hour each way. We organised a taxi there and back through our accommodation, the cost of which included a couple of hours’ waiting time. There was also a car entry fee of IRR40,000 at the village.

Masuleh: Where Crossing The Street Takes On A Whole New Meaning

Even on a rainswept day on the edge of winter, the village of Masuleh in northwestern Iran is a captivating sight. For over a thousand years this chaotic, multi-layered tangle of clay covered houses has been hugging the misty slopes of the Alborz mountains.

It’s probably the kind of town where you really do need to get along with your neighbours, given that that one person’s roof is their neighbours’ front yard, while also doubling as a thoroughfare through the village.

Blissfully car free, Masuleh is a great place to take in the mountain air, enjoy unique architecture, or to just stop for tea with the friendly locals while taking in the views.

We’ve heard the town can get a little congested during the peak summer months, which is probably why many people recommend staying overnight to hike the surrounding mountains, or to just enjoy the quiet mountain ambience once the tourists leave. Masuleh is definitely on our list of Iran highlights requiring a return visit and a longer stay.

We visited Masuleh as part of a day trip from Rasht, also taking in Rudkhan Castle. We organised a taxi there and back through our accommodation.

Bonus Food Highlight:  If you have a chance, stop en route in Fuman and pick up some freshly baked Klucheh, a deliciously warming cookie filled with cinnamon and walnut. It’s found elsewhere in Iran but it’s a specialty here.

Qal’eh Rudkhan – Fortress In The Sky

Set aside the flat, parched Iranian desert landscapes you envisaged before your visit, because you might just find yourself thinking you’ve sidestepped into Europe as you hike into the chilly, lush green mountainscape surrounding Rudkhan Castle.

Guarding Iran’s Caspian Sea frontier against Arab invaders for more than a millennium, this haunting, well-preserved fortress is set high in the Alborz mountains. It remains an imposing sight today, with 1,500 metres of battlements and more than 40 towers.

On a wet day (and in winter) it’s a slippery hike up and down the mountain (Dan can attest to the fact after sliding right off the path and down a muddy slope), so be sure to wear decent footwear and take some time to enjoy the teahouses on the way.

Rudkhan Castle is about 90 minutes drive from Rasht. Enjoy a whole day exploring the area or combine it with a visit to Masuleh like we did. Entry to the trail was IRR150,000.

Central Iran Highlights

Naqsh-e jahan square, esfahan – a vast world heritage gathering place.

Nowhere is the majesty of Iran captured better than Esfahan. It’s already said by many to be the most beautiful city in all of Iran, and there are few spots in Esfahan more beautiful than Naqsh-e Jahan Square.

One of the largest public squares in the world (close to 90,000 square metres!), and home to some of the most ornate mosques and palaces in Iran, Naqsh-e Jahan is a focal point for life in Esfahan. It was a place we were repeatedly drawn to during our exploration of the city.

This is the place to embark on grand bazaar explorations, drink tea in magical tea houses (check out the quirky cool Azadegan Tea House off the square), marvel at breathtaking royal and religious architecture (see our separate entries below), and be regaled with the poetry of Hafez and Ferdowsi by enthusiastic young locals keen to share their culture and love of words.

Naqsh-e Jahan is beautiful during the day, but it’s even more stunning at night when the lights come on.

Random fact: The sport of polo originated in Persia some two thousand years ago. Keep an eye out for the marble goalposts marking Naqsh-e Jahan’s own early 17th-century royal polo field.

Jameh Mosque, Esfahan – An Ancient, Ever Changing Wonder

Reached via a meander through backstreets and the bustle of the Grand Bazaar, Iran’s oldest (and biggest) congregational mosque is a standout experience in a city packed with highlights.

Work started here in the 9th-century, and today Jameh Mosque is a World Heritage time capsule of architectural styles and dazzling geometric designs spanning more than 1,200 years.

We were captivated by the mosque’s tranquil hypostyle halls, elaborate brickwork (don’t miss the breathtaking Taj al-Molk dome), sublime light, and intricate tile work. This is a highlight of Esfahan and shouldn’t be missed.

Jameh Mosque is about two kilometres’ walk from Naqsh-e Jahan. It’s open every day but closed between 11am-1.15pm, and entry cost us IRR200,000 each.

Masjed-e Shah – Architectural Showcase & Peaceful Place Of Learning

Gracefully situated at the southern end of iconic Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Masjed-e Shah – the Shah Mosque – is yet another jewel in Esfahan’s crown and a must on any Iran tour.

Also known as the Royal or Imam mosque, this grand complex of intricate tiled mosaic passageways, niches, and vaulted chambers set around a large central courtyard and pool has been drawing visitors and pilgrims to Esfahan for more than 400 years.

While the 42-metre-high twin minarets and grand dome draw the eye the moment you enter the square, our own visit centred around appreciating the finer details, including the intricately designed entry portal, exquisite mihrab, beautifully crafted calligraphy, and the atmospheric main chamber.

Another real highlight for us was the opportunity to have a broad-ranging chat with a local mullah as part of the “friendly talks” program run by Madrasa Naseriyeh, a theological school located within the Masjed-e Shah complex.

Shah Mosque is open every day but closed between 11.30am-1pm, and Friday mornings. It cost us IRR200,000 each.

Masjed-e Sheikh Lotfollah – Sanctuary of the Sublime

Yet another structure vying for attention in Naqsh-e Jahan square is the 400-year-old Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque: a masterpiece in miniature, especially when the first and last light of day makes the golden dome glow.

You’ll feel the rising awe the moment you pass into the exquisite portal, entering a striking world of richly designed Safavid-era mosaics, finely carved decorative doorways, and sublime, shifting light.

If you’re anything like us, you’ll struggle to move on from the enchanting angled hallway, but when you eventually do, further reward awaits in the spectacularly tiled dome of the main prayer hall, with its beautiful latticed windows. Catch the light just right, and you’ll see the peacock at the dome’s heart, with its golden sunbeam tail. Photography is allowed, but be careful not to fall foul of the flash and tripod police; they’ll be watching.

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque is open every day but closed between 12.30-2pm. The entrance fee when we visited was IRR200,000.

Chehel Sotoun, Esfahan – The Palace of 40 Columns

Built as a pleasure pavilion and reception hall using the Achaemenid-inspired columned porch style, Chehel Sotoun is reached via a terrace that perfectly bridges the Persian love of gardens and interior splendour.

In fact, the ambient grounds here have ensured the pavilion’s inclusion in the country’s collective World Heritage Persian Gardens listing.

While it may be slightly overshadowed by some of Esfahan’s better–known attractions, the palace, with its 20 ribbed wooden pillars rising to meet the beautiful inlay work of the wooden ceiling above, is well worth seeking out. There are vivid frescoes inside and, on the day we visited, a fabulously-bearded musician was plucking tunes among the columns on a traditional Persian tar.

Chehel Sotun means ‘40 pillars’, so if you’re wondering where the other 20 pillars are hiding, be sure to take a stroll around the long pool in front of the pavilion. If the waters are calm, you’ll see the pillars reflected, effectively doubling the number.

The pavilion is a ten-minute stroll west of Naqsh-e Jahan Square. It’s open every day and we paid an entry fee of IRR200,000 each.

Vank Cathedral – A Gilded, Frescoed Glory

With so many epic sights in Esfahan, it’s easy to understand how some visitors might not find their way to the Armenian quarter of Jolfa in the city’s south-west.

If time permits though, it’s absolutely worth making the stroll from the centre of Esfahan, across the striking Si O Seh Bridge over the Zayandeh River (see our separate entry below), to this pretty corner of the city.

Sixteen historic Armenian churches still stand in the quarter, the most important of which is the 350+ year old Vank Cathedral (the Church of St Joseph of Arimathea).

Approaching the modern-looking building (the outside was restored more recently), we were totally unprepared for what awaited inside. Not for the first time in Esfahan, we were completely mind-blown the moment we stepped through the doors. Every corner of wall and ceiling was covered in vivid, colourful paintings and gilded scenes from the Bible, a striking contrast alongside hand-painted tiles in the Iranian tradition.

The space inside Vank may be small; the impression it leaves is anything but.

Jolfa is also a great spot for people-watching in the evenings, so once you’ve extracted yourself from the churches, be sure to take a seat somewhere and watch the Armenian quarter come to life with young people gathering in the square and cafes to socialise. We also found the charming little Ani Café nearby, with excellent coffee and lovely staff.

Jolfa is around 4.5km from Naqsh-e Jahan Square and it took us around an hour to wander there. Vank Cathedral is open every day. Entry was IRR200,000 and we timed our arrival for late afternoon, and caught a beautiful sunset over the church.

Si O Seh, Esfahan – The Bridge of 33 Arches

Elegant yet sturdy and more than four centuries old, Si O Seh is Esfahan’s picturesque, 33-span bridge. It’s especially photogenic at night, and the perfect place to end a day exploring this ancient city in central Iran.

Stretching almost 300-metres across the Zayandeh River (mostly a dry riverbed, as the water is usually drawn out upstream before reaching Esfahan), the bridge is a magic spot to hang out and people-watch, as local families take in the cooler evening air and groups of teenagers and young adults hang out among the spans. Keep an ear out for people singing under the arches.

We spent more than an hour here, wandering the archways, chatting with friendly locals, and pretty much snapping the bridge from every conceivable angle.

Ghoortan Citadel – Ghost of the Past

It’s no mean feat to move on from Esfahan; there’s just so much to see. If anything can tempt you away though, let it be an adventure in the desert to the south-east, and a trip to the beautiful Iranian interior around Varzaneh.

If you’re taxi’ing to Varzaneh as we did, chances are you’ll have the opportunity to stop and visit the thousand-year-old mud-brick fortress of Ghoortan Citadel. It rises from the flat, dry landscape on the edge of the desert.

This is a haunting, profoundly ambient place. Ghoortan Citadel may be crumbling with age, but a handful of resilient families still live here. We found wandering the silent, ancient maze of mostly abandoned laneways, houses, and thick protective walls and towers to be a truly extraordinary experience.

Ghoortan Citadel is around an hour and a half by taxi from Esfahan. We arranged to include a visit to the citadel with our driver on our ride from Esfahan to Varzaneh.

Desert of Varzaneh: Watch Sun Set from the Crest of a Giant Dune

Watching the day wind down atop a mountain of sand, looking out over the sunburnt desert of Varzaneh, is quite literally a high point on many an Iran itinerary, and for good reason!

This is one of the country’s more accessible deserts, and a popular gathering spot for families and young people as the heat of the day ebbs away in the late afternoon.

The dunes, among the highest in Iran, rise up suddenly from the flat, baked plains. Hiking the dunes is tougher than it might look, but once you get to the top you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views as the waves of sand are transformed into a burnt orange sea with the dropping sun.

We stopped at this beautiful spot after a memorable afternoon exploring the ancient, parched landscape of this region, where human history stretches back some 5,000 years. Afterwards, back at the base of the dunes, we snacked on watermelon and sipped tea as twilight fell over the desert. Magic.

We arranged our Iran desert tour through our guesthouse in Varzaneh, as part of a half day exploration of the highlights of the area. Trips vary, however we included in ours a stop at the photogenic Varzaneh salt lake and flats, sunset over the desert, and a spot of stargazing under brilliant, starry skies.

Stay in the desert-edge town of Varzaneh To make the most of a visit to the desert and salt flats, consider staying a couple of nights in the small desert-edge town of Varzaneh. This is a very quiet, low-key town, but the people are warm and welcoming, and a simple stroll here rewards with memorable scenes, like beautiful red roses blooming in dry, cracked garden beds; and ladies crossing the town’s arched bridge at sunset in billowing white chadors. This is the only place in Iran where the white chador is worn. You’ll also see fine examples of the country’s famous pigeon towers here, both restored and crumbling with age. These circular towers were widely used to collect pigeon poo for use as a fertiliser in the parched landscape, before the advent of chemical fertiliser. They’re often beautifully decorated, eye-catching structures.

Yazd: City of Wind Towers

There’s plenty to like about the ancient desert city of Yazd, a destination recognised as World Heritage for its ancient and traditional adobe buildings, and clever underground water systems. For us though, Yazd is a standout for these things and more: it was here that we had the best Dizi in Iran.

Yazd has been welcoming Silk Road travellers for more than 1,500 years, and the sheer depth of history here is palpable as you walk the narrow laneways lined with earthen houses and shops.

This is a city to wander, to soak up the desert atmosphere, to get hopelessly lost in, to shed your city slicker worries, and immerse yourself completely in Persian history, culture and food.

There are plenty of highlights, but standouts include the Amir Chakhmaq Complex, with its beautiful archway symmetry; the Ateshkadeh Zoroastrian Fire Temple (Yazd was once a hub for the oldest monotheistic religion in the world); and the spectacular Jameh Mosque, with its soaring entryway, stunning tilework, and 48-metre-high minarets. We found the mosque’s ancient qanat open when we visited, deep underground down a steep staircase. We spent a while here, chatting with the very friendly locals.

Don’t Miss: Saheb A Zaman Zurkahneh This unique, offbeat Iranian experience was a surprise highlight for us during our Yazd stay. Housed in a 440-year-old water reservoir, the zurkaneh is effectively a gym where men carry out an ancient tradition of exercises in sync using wooden clubs of different sizes. There are strict rules and customs for participants, and the performance plays out to traditional music. If it sounds unusual, it is, but that’s exactly what makes it a must-see. The practice takes place each evening except Friday and entry cost us IRR200,000 each.

The perfect end to a day exploring Yazd is to find a rooftop late in the day (Check out the Art Café), drink some tea, enjoy the skyline dotted with tiled domes and wind catchers (very clever ancient systems that capture wind, cool it and send it around the home below), and generally just marvel at one of the world’s most ancient cities.

Then locate a Dizi house and eat your fill of this singular Iranian dish of lamb, potato and chickpea stew. This is a performance meal, not only in how it’s prepared and presented, but in how it’s eaten. Soooo good. Our fave spot in Yazd for Dizi, and other tasty local food, was Tormeh & Toranj.

Unsurprisingly, and perhaps like many other travellers for thousands of years – we found it very hard to leave this charming, ancient desert oasis.

We arranged through our guesthouse in Varzaneh to travel to Yazd by taxi, a journey of around two-and-a-half hours.

Kharanagh – Ancient Village Abandoned Not Forgotten

80 kilometres from Yazd, overlooking a peaceful scene of farms backed by dry, rugged mountains, is the captivating village of Kharanagh: totally ambient and, for all intents and purposes, totally abandoned.

Believed to have been settled by the Zoroastrians more than a thousand years ago, this intriguing town of winding passageways and mud brick houses is a treat to explore.

While there are plenty of signs the surrounding lands are actively farmed, we came across more animals than people on our exploration of the silent, crumbling town. Still, it wasn’t difficult to imagine a time when families filled the adobe rooms, the call to prayer rang out from the still-standing minaret, and life bustled within the narrow laneways.

As we parked up on a patchy rooftop and looked out over the ruins, we had the distinct feeling that, while ancient Kharanagh is slowly eroding away, it’s story will carry on long after it’s gone.

We visited Kharanagh on a daytrip from Yazd, taking in this site as well as the Zoroastrian Fire Temple at Chak Chak (see our entry below), and hulking Narin Castle in the city of Meybod. Travelling with two others, a taxi and driver for the day cost us around IRR 1.7 million, plus entry fees. Entry to Karanagh was IRR50,000 each.

Pir-e-Sabz (Chak Chak) Fire Temple – An Ancient Mountain Shrine

From the moment we started researching our Iran trip, we were intrigued by Zoroastrianism and the mysterious fire temples where this ancient Persian religion was practiced.

Yazd was a centre of Zoroastrianism (it still has a significant population of followers), and Chak Chak, a fire temple halfway up a sheer mountain, is an excellent place to get familiar with the world’s oldest monotheistic religion.

Legends swirl about this ancient place. One says the drops of spring water at Chak Chak are the mountain’s tears for the daughter of a Sassanid ruler, who was trapped here by the invading Arab army in the seventh century. Desperate, the princess prayed for help and the mountain opened up to offer her refuge.

The fire temple is located in a cavern at the top of more than 200 heart-pumping steps. Given its importance as a pilgrimage site, the temple itself is a surprisingly small and understated space centred around an eternal flame, and accessed through impressive bronze doors imprinted with the religion’s founder, Zoroaster.

The levels above and around the temple are rooms set aside for the thousands of pilgrims who make their way to the temple for a Zoroastrian festival in June each year (it’s closed to other visitors during the festival so check ahead if you’re travelling around this time).

For us, the visit was memorable for the simple, peaceful ambience of the fire temple and the rugged beauty of the surrounding landscape. Be sure to allow time to really take in the setting, and enjoy the stunning views from the high terraces.

We visited Chak Chak as part of a day trip from Yazd, also visiting Kharanagh (see our entry above) and the city of Meybod. Entry to Chak Chak was IRR50,000 each.

Southern Iran Highlights

Naqsh-e rustam – necropolis of legendary kings.

A journey into Southern Iran takes you deep into Persian history, to the ancient Achaemenid Empire and an age of celebrated Persian kings like Cyrus, Darius and Xerxes.

These are giants of human history, leaders that shaped the ancient world. They are, quite literally, the stuff of song and legend.

You can find this epic history carved into the cliff-face at Naqsh-e Rustam, the necropolis of Persia’s legendary kings Darius the Great, Xerxes the Great, Ataxerxes and Darius II.

We were rendered speechless as we stood facing these powerful and ancient mausoleums for four members of the dynasty that founded the first Persian Empire: their stories chiselled into the stone by real people in the distant past. For history buffs like us, travelling doesn’t get much better than this.

We incorporated our visit to Naqsh-e Rustam into our taxi ride from Yazd to Shiraz. Building it into our journey (which we shared with two others) was more time and cost effective for all of us, and meant we could dedicate more time the following day to exploring the ancient city of Persepolis. Entry to Naqsh-e Rustam was IRR 200,000 each.

Pasargadae – Monument to the Founder of the Persian Empire

Another of Iran’s impressive World Heritage sites, Pasargadae was once the capital of the Achaemenid Empire and lies on a large archaeological site around 90 minutes’ drive northeast of Shiraz.

If we’re honest, this highlight might be more for history nerds like us, since you need a fair amount of imagination (and energy) to bring the mostly ruined site to life as you wander the complex in the blazing desert sun.

For us, the stately tiered limestone tomb of Cyrus The Great, founder of the First Persian Empire, was the highlight of our visit, and provides a sense of the grandeur befitting the site. Cyrus, the second of his name, ruled from 559-530BC, conquering and expanding to create the world’s largest empire up to that point.

There’s some suggestion his mausoleum was restored in the year 324BC on the orders of Alexander the Great, who found the tomb already ransacked.

The rest of the site is made up of seemingly random ruins and stones which actually form up the floorplans of palaces, gardens and a citadel. There’s also an unusual tall building similar to one at Naqsh-e Rustam, evocatively called Solomon’s Prison. It was once thought to be a fire temple, among other things; no one’s really sure.

While it’s easy to visit Pasargadae and Naqsh-e Rustam along with Persepolis on a day trip from Shiraz, we decided to build in stops at Pasargadae and Naqsh-e Rustam on our journey from Yazd to Shiraz for the reasons outlined in our entry above. Entry to Pasargadae was IRR200,000 each.

Persepolis – Ancient City of Kings

Almost certainly one of our favourite places to visit in Iran (and one of the longest-standing entries on Dan’s lifetime bucket list of ancient places), the World Heritage site of Persepolis stands as a timeless testament to the powerful past of the Persian Empire, and the deep foundations of Iran’s present.

Started by Darius the Great in the 6th century BC, Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It thrived for nearly 200 years, until Alexander the Great turned up with his army in 330BC. After sampling the luxuries of the palaces, he looted and burnt them down. Not one of his ‘great’ moments.

Two millennia on though, and despite the scattered masonry and ruins, there’s still plenty to see here, starting at Xerxes’ epic Gate of All Nations, surely the inspiration for the Sphinx Gate in ‘The Neverending Story’!

Persepolis is an absorbing complex of columned palaces, halls and cliff-carved tombs. Keep an eye out for the details around the site, like the double-sided bull capitals on the columns (and the ground in places, where they offer serious perspective on their size).

The beautiful wall reliefs on the Apadana Staircase are a showstopper, offering intricate details on the cultures coming to Persepolis from all over the region at the time. They look like they were carved yesterday, thanks to centuries buried in the desert sand.

If you can, don’t miss the opportunity to be at Persepolis for sunset. Watching the sun drop beyond the site, just as it has for more than 2,500 years, was a highlight for us (our banner pic for this post was taken at sunset at the Gate of All Nations).

Definitely go with a guide to get the most out of your tour, and make sure you ask for extra time to wander at leisure, and seek out the exquisite detail that makes this one of the world’s must-see ancient sites.

Persepolis is around 50km northeast of Shiraz. Entry was IRR200,000 each. We organised our excellent guide and driver through Mr Persepolis –  email us for more info . For security reasons, backpacks aren’t usually  allowed in and there’s a security check at the entrance. To be on the safe side, we’ve heard smaller, single strap shoulder bags are usually ok but check with your guide before going.

Masjid Nasir ol-Molk – The Exquisite Pink Mosque of Shiraz

Probably one of the most photographed spots in all Iran, a visit to beautiful Nasir ol-Molk is equal parts wonder and exasperation, but should absolutely enjoy ‘must visit’ status on your Iran itinerary.

Every morning the ornately columned prayer hall of Shiraz’s Pink Mosque erupts into a riot of kaleidoscopic colour as the first light of day streams in through its stained glass windows.

Be there for opening and you may be rewarded with a few peaceful moments before the tour groups arrive, at which point photography etiquette disappears completely in a chaotic, oblivious swirl of people, all determined to capture the moment from every possible angle.

That’s the point we decided to find a spot out of the way at the side of the room and just enjoy the morning light dancing across the intricate painted tiles, carved pillars and beautiful hand-woven Persian carpets.

Be sure to wander to the other areas of the mosque too: the painted tilework in the archway opposite the prayer hall is delicate and beautiful.

Nasir ol-Molk is in the heart of Shiraz. Check the time of sunrise when you visit and the opening hours of the mosque. Entry was IRR 200,000 each.

Tomb of Hafez: A Love Letter To Iranian Poetry

Spend any time in Iran and you’ll quickly realise that poetry is a serious business here. It enjoys a central and time-honoured place in Iranian life and cultural identity.

While we may fall back on the snippets of Shakespeare we were forced to learn at school, the Iranians we met happily regaled us with beautiful verses from their favourite poets.

We’ve got fond memories of one young guy quoting us passages of Hafez – perhaps Iran’s most revered poet – in Esfahan’s main square, without any of the self-consciousness that might accompany such an act back home.

Hafez lived in Shiraz in the 14 th  century, and if you’re visiting the city, one of the best places to appreciate Iran’s love of poetry is at his resting place, the Tomb of Hafez. Families, couples and friends gather here in the pretty gardens, and you’ll find excerpts of his timeless poetry inscribed on the tomb and around the site.

“Even after all this time, the sun never says to the Earth, ‘you owe me.’ Look what happens with a love like that! It lights up the whole sky.” Hafez

We recommend visiting the tranquil gardens later in the day as the sun drops. Entry was IRR200,000 each.

Bishapur and Shapur Cave: Where Empires Collide

If ancient empires get your engines running like they do ours, and if you have a spare day in Shiraz, then consider a day trip to Bishapur, two hours to the northwest of Shiraz. The drive from Shiraz to Bishapur is a delight in itself, passing through dramatic mountain and canyon country.

Bisahpur was the seat of Sassanian King Shapur I, who ruled the Persian Empire from around 240 to 270 AD. He went head to head with the Roman Empire, taking their cities, allegedly killing one Roman Emperor (Gordian III), signing a peace treaty with a second (Philip I), and taking a third prisoner (Valerian), along with his army.

These war stories are detailed in vast carvings along the wall of the Chogan Gorge, near the ancient city, itself built by Roman captives.

We found the detailed reliefs completely absorbing, and a good thing too, as it turned out the city ruins were unexpectedly closed on the day we visited.

Our awesome guide Cyrus instead found a path for us above the hill opposite the city, where we could look down on the ruins while he explained the history of the site. There’s still much to be excavated, but archaeologists have so far uncovered a palace, temple, monumental columns and beautiful mosaics.

From the hill above Bishapur, we made our way to the base of a huge escarpment, and began a sweaty, 90 minute climb to a cave hidden in the rockface above. There, overlooking a spectacular mountain-and-valley vista, the cave hosts a monumental statue of King Shapur I, carved from a single block of limestone.

Time, earthquakes, and poor restoration efforts have stolen some of the statue’s command, but it’s still a sight. Better yet, the vast, dark cave behind delivers outstanding acoustics, a fact we discovered when a single voice rang out from the dark in beautiful plaintive song, courtesy of the small group ahead of us.

We day tripped to Bishapur, Chogan Gorge and Shapur I Cave in the company of a Shiraz guide/driver that was recommended to us by other travellers.  Drop us a line  if you’d like the details of our guide, Cyrus. 

Highlights of Western Iran

Shushtar historical hydraulic system – a marvel of ancient engineering.

The best way to appreciate the sheer scale and engineering smarts of Shushtar’s incredible World Heritage-listed historical hydraulic system is to grab a perch at a clifftop café, order some tea (and a water pipe if you’re into hubbly bubbly), and enjoy the view. It’s especially beautiful after dark when it’s all lit up.

The Sassanian-era structures you see today, said to have been built by the captive Roman emperor Valerian and his enslaved army, have been diverting water from the Karun River for irrigation and water mills since around the 3 rd  century. But the people here have been mastering the river and changing the face of this desert landscape to support farming and planting for far longer, since the time of Darius the Great.

In addition to the canals, bridges, mills and cascades you can see at the historical hydraulic complex (which is still operating today), there are sturdy, functioning weirs and dams along the river that showcase the ancient and lasting engineering skill of the Persians.

It’s worth getting down to street level at the hydraulic complex and taking a stroll through the system with the sound of water thundering in your ears while you get up close and personal with the ancient watermills that dot the site.

We travelled to Shushtar by bus from Shiraz, first making our way by overnight bus to the city of Ahvaz, then taking a taxi from the intercity bus station to Istgah Station, where we boarded a local bus to Shushtar. The total cost was around IRR 630,000 each. Entry to the historic hydraulic system was IRR 200,000 each.

Food Highlight:  If you’re staying in Shushtar, be sure to hit up Ferouzdizi for a delicious, beautifully presented meal of Iranian specialty, Dizi.

Choqa Zanbil Ziggurat – The Temple Complex Defying Time

To visit Choqa Zanbil Ziggurat is to travel even further back into ancient Iran, to the period before the rise of the Persian Empire. This huge terraced, pyramid-like structure, dates from the time of the ancient Elamites.

Rising out of the desert like a vast, monolithic mirage, Choqa Zanbil Ziggurat has dominated the dusty landscape of Khuzestan province in southwest Iran for more than three millennia.

This ancient complex of tiered walls, squares, rooms and temples, yet another UNESCO gem, stands out from the crowd in a region teeming with World Heritage sites. More than a hundred meters long on each side, and originally five stories high, the well-preserved brick structure is thought to have once been capped with an über sacred Elamite temple.

We visited the ziggurat in the high heat of the mid-afternoon. With hindsight, we’d look to make it a later visit, both to avoid the heat and the glare. Still, Choqa Zanbil’s scale – in both size and history – make it an amazing sight at any time of day. Moreso when you discover the parched landscape in which it sits was once lush and green. Not easy to imagine.

Keep an eye out for the small details, like the line of bricks running around the entire structure covered in ancient cuneiform script. Also look out for the small footprint preserved in the clay by the sundial in the courtyard paving; how it got there is anyone’s guess but, surrounded as it is by enduring brick and pavement, it’s a compelling human link to a very distant past.

Choqa Zanbil Ziggurat is around 45 minutes’ drive from Shushtar. We highly recommend visiting the ziggurat – and other local attractions like the World Heritage ruins of Shush (Susa) – with a guide, to ensure you get the most out of this very ancient corner of Iran.  Drop us a line  if you’d like the details for our lovely guide, Mehran. Entry to the ziggurat cost us IRR200,000 each.

Have you visited Iran? What would you add to this list? We’d love to hear about your personal favourite things to do in Iran below, or ask us any questions you might have!

2 thoughts on “30 Incredible Things To Do In Iran: Highlights For The First Time Visitor”

Hormoz Island, gheshm island,Darak beach, Tehran country side like Fasham &lavasan

Thanks Melika

Great suggestions, wish we’d have had time to get to some of those spots.

Still, it’s always good to have a reason to go back.

All the best. John and Danielle

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Photo itinerary: two weeks in Iran

 I’m often asked for suggestions about Iran itineraries, so without further ado: here’s my suggested two week Iran travel itinerary. Includes tips on what to see, where to stay, how to get off the beaten track, and an interactive map. Updated in 2019 with new recommendations. 

Lost with Purpose is blocked in Iran (clearly the government loves me!). To access Lost With Purpose in Iran—and other blocked websites—you need to use a VPN. I use and recommend ExpressVPN . Read more about accessing internet in Iran freely with a VPN here .

From glorious Islamic architecture to bustling markets, unexplored islands to skiing and rock climbing, the fabric of Iran is a diverse and intricate tapestry. But all this splendor makes it difficult to decide where to go. So much to see, so little time!

Below you can find a two-week itinerary for Iran. It includes several major highlights of Iran but also gives you alternatives if you wish to mix it up. If you have more time and want to explore a different side of Iran, you can check out this off-the-beaten-track guide for Iran with more itinerary suggestions.

A note on prices:  Due to high levels of inflation, prices in Iran change all the time. The same goes for the exchange rate. However, because the exchange rate often changes in line with inflation, dollar and euro prices will mostly stay the same. I try to keep prices as up-to-date as possible, so please let us know if anything has changed.

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Lost With Purpose’s two-week Iran travel itinerary

Iran in two weeks

Days 1-3: tehran, days 5-6: kashan, days 7-9: esfahan, days 10-11: yazd.

• Days 12-14: Shiraz

Alternative destinations

• Alamut Valley
• Kerman and the Kaluts
• Hormuz Island

A quick note on money in Iran

Due to international sanctions, Iran is a cash-only economy for foreigners, even though almost all stores accept local debit and credit cards.

This means you’ll have to walk around with large wads of rials. If you don’t feel comfortable about this, check out Mah Card. Mah Card is a prepaid debit card specifically designed for travelers in Iran. Use the promo code LOSTWITHPURPOSE to get a 40% discount on Mah Card.

Getting serious about fresh juice in Tehran

Tehran, the capital of Iran, is not the easiest of introductions. It’s busy, congested, polluted, and vast. Plenty of people will tell you to not waste your time, and beeline straight to more noteworthy places.

I disagree. Tehran has plenty to offer if you let it.

Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, for instance. The largest in the country, it is estimated that ⅓ of all goods sold in Iran flow through its narrow lanes at one time or another. It’s a sensory overload and can get super crowded in the middle of the day, but it’s a bazaar not to be missed. You can easily spend the better part of a day in and around the bazaar, and we recommend you do just that!

Once the bazaar becomes too much of a hassle, you can retreat to the relative calm of Tehran’s numerous parks. Let the greenery relax your mind for a bit before you’re inevitably barraged with requests for selfies!

Traders at the stock market on the second floor of Tehran’s bazaar

Top things to see in Tehran

• Grand Bazaar: Tehran’s most bustling bazaar. Head here early if you want a bit of relative peace and quiet. If dodging men with carts is more your style, brave the crowds of the afternoon. Don’t count on finding food here once evening sets in.
• Golestan Palace: Tehran’s most famous attraction… and the most costly at $20 (likely more by now) to enter. A UNESCO world heritage site, it’s a former palace dating back to the Qajar era  featuring several bedazzled halls and rooms.
• Borj-e Milad (Milad Tower): A towering outlook over Tehran’s city, and a good place to watch the sunset. Make sure the day is clear before paying to head up the tower!
• Borj-e Azadi (Azadi Tower): Tehran’s iconic archway, popular with locals and foreigners alike.
• Imam Khomeini Shrine: Mentioned it in my off the beaten track itinerary , this under-appreciated shrine is a great spot for a day trip. Budget travelers, don’t miss it — entrance is free!
• Park-e Jamshidieh: A chill park in the foothills of northern Tehran. Bring picnic materials, or just sit and wait for some friendly Iranians to approach you for some conversation!
• Darband:  A chill riverside area where you can escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy some riverside kebabs and hookah.

Park-e Shahr in central Tehran. Who says Tehran is all concrete and fumes?

Where to stay in Tehran

As you could expect from the capital, Tehran has plenty of hotels. Because the city is so big, I am reluctant to give recommendations. Instead, you can check out 1stQuest to find the perfect accommodation in Tehran .  Don’t forget to use the code LWP-QST for a 5% discount when using 1stQuest.

Traffic on Tehran’s streets can get a little hectic…

Transportation times from Tehran

• Bus to Qom: 1.5 hours
• Train to Qom: 2 hours
• Bus to Kashan: 3 hours
• Train to Kashan: 4 hours

Finding the right bus in Tehran can be a real nightmare, as bus stations are crowded and chaotic. Save yourself some stress and book buses online with 1stQuest – use code LWP-QST for a 5% discount.

The Hazrat-e Masumeh Shrine in Qom by Fulvio Spada

The second holiest city in Iran, and an important city in the run-up to the revolution, Qom is a logical stopover on your way to Kashan or Esfahan, or as a day trip from Tehran. It’s a very pious city, due to its large theological institutes, and houses the magnificent shrine to the sister of Imam Reza.

If you don’t have the time to make it to holy Mashhad in the north, Qom is a good alternative as far as holy cities go.

Tip: While in Qom, be sure to dress extra conservatively—dark or somber clothes are best.

Men praying at the Hazrat-e Masumeh shrine by Franxx

Top things to see in Qom:

• Hazrat-e Masumeh/Fatimah Masumeh Shrine:  Shrine to the sister of Imam Reza, Fatimah, and the second most holy place in Iran.
• Jameh Mosque:  Another grand Friday mosque.
• Qom Bazaar:  Historical covered bazaar, much less crowded than Tehran’s.

The Jamkaran Mosque by Fabien Dany

Where to stay in Qom

I recommend going to Qom as a day trip from Tehran. There’s no real reason to stay the night.

Men and women in conservative clothes by Ralf Schumacher

Transportation from Qom

• To Tehran by bus:  1.5 hours
• Bus to Kashan: 2 hours
• To Esfahan by bus: 5.5 hours

The Agha Bozorg mosque

Many people consider Kashan one of the highlights of Iran, but I have to admit: I was disappointed by Kashan. Supposedly “hidden” from mass tourism, it actually overflows with tour groups. Sightseeing opportunities are numerous, but ticket costs quickly add up.

On the other hand, Kashan is en-route to other major destinations and a logical stopover going south. Its Old City is filled with the winding alleys and gorgeous old buildings, so if this is what you’re looking for, add Kashan to your Iran itinerary. Everyone’s experience is different, after all. 

Looking down on peons below from the Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse

Top things to see in Kashan

• Fin Gardens:  One of several UNESCO-listed Persian gardens.
• Traditional houses: See how the wealthy merchants of Kashan lived in the numerous traditional houses. They’re $3 a piece to enter. You can buy a ticket for several houses + bathhouse at the ticket office of the Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse.
• Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse: Ornate vaulted ceilings decorate the inside. On the flip side is an alien dome-covered rooftop.

Not too shabby: the view from the roof of Noghli Guesthouse

Where to stay in Kashan

Kashan’s budget options are limited, as most accommodations are in beautifully restored heritage homes. Some of these have dorms for $10 – 15 a bed. But with an increase in tourism, cheaper options are sure to pop up. Check out 1StQuest if the options below are not to your liking ( use code LWP-QST for a 5% discount).

• Budget/mid-range:  Amir Kabir Hotel 
• Mid-range: Kan-e Ehs an

The mountainous skyline of Kashan

Transportation from Kashan

Kashan is a great stop on your Iran itinerary if you’re going south from Tehran, as it’s right between Tehran and Esfahan. There are regular buses and several trains.

• Bus to Esfahan: 3 hours
• Train to Tehran: 4 hours

The 33 arches of Si-o-seh pol in Esfahan

Esfahan is one of the highlights of Iran. With its glorious mosques, grand bazaar, tasty food, and lovely people, it has something on offer for anyone.

Imam square, surrounded by Esfahan’s bazaar and perhaps the most exquisite mosques in the country, can easily take up a day or two. Esfahan is a place not to be rushed, so make sure to slow down, sit on the grass and treat yourself to a saffron ice cream or three.

Tip: When in Esfahan, don’t forget to try  beryani , the local specialty made of minced mutton, herbs, and fresh bread.  Azam Beryani specializes in the dish. They have several locations, but we enjoyed the spot near the Jame Mosque the best. Don’t worry when you see the line—everyone in line is often too happy to let foreigners skip a few places.

Esfahan’s mosques are certainly its highlight, but the city offers so much more. It has several historic bridges, of which at least Si-o-seh pol is worth a visit. 

Talk about ceilings! The ceiling of the Sheikh Lotfallah mosque in Imam Square.

Top things to see in Esfahan:

• Imam Square:  Don’t forget to sit down in the grass and enjoy some saffron ice cream.
• Shah Mosque:  This mosque has perhaps one of the most intricate archways in Iran. A must visit.
• Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque:  One of my favorite mosques in Iran. Staring at the ceiling never gets old.
• Historical bridges on the Zāyanderūd  river, notably Si-o-seh Pol:  Make sure to visit in the evening when the bridges are atmospherically lit up, and Iranians flock to enjoy the evening cool.
• Vank Cathedral:  This Armenian cathedral has beautifully ornate frescoes, and rivals anything you’ll see in Armenia itself.

Entrance to the epic Shah Mosque

Where to stay in Esfahan

Esfahan has plenty of options. From big luxury hotels to small homestay-like hostels. Prices are what you would expect from one of Iran’s most popular cities. We recommend booking ahead in the high season using 1stQuest ( use code LWP-QST for a 5% discount ).

• Budget: Amir Kabir Hostel
• Mid-range: Dibai House
• Top end:  Piroozy Hotel

Saffron ice cream, the greatest culinary invention ever.

Transportation from Esfahan

You can go almost anywhere in Iran from Esfahan. Below you can find some travel information on the most popular routes for this Iran itinerary.

• Bus to Yazd: 7-8 hours – I recommend an overnight VIP bus to save on time and accommodation
• Train to Yazd: 3 hours
• Bus to Tehran: 5 hours
• Train to Tehran: 7.5 hours
• Flight to Tehran: 1 hour
• Bus to Shiraz:  6 – 7 hours

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Hazire mosque is near the central Jame Mosque.

Yazd is an exquisitely well preserved and restored town. It’s a quintessential Persian oasis town, with lovely people and ample photo ops. You can easily spend a day or two getting lost in its desert tinted alleys, or admiring the views while relaxing on one of its numerous rooftop cafes.

Yazd is a great place to stick around in, and if you have time we recommend staying a bit longer to visit some of the sights around Yazd. If not, two days is enough to visit the main sights and get a little bit lost.

Amir Chakhmagh lit up at night

Top things to see in Yazd:

• Jameh Mosque: Beautiful Friday Mosque in the center of Yazd. Has a grand entrance hall. PRO TIP : visit in the evening, or take the back door, to save on the entry fee.
• Amir Chakhmagh:  Don’t waste your money on the entrance fee, you can have the same view from the guesthouse rooftop next door.
• Old town alleyways: One of the joys of Yazd is wandering its backstreets. With a bit of imagination, you’ll soon be transported back to the 17th century.

Off the beaten track tip:  Don’t miss the haunting pigeon tower or sprawling Narin castle in nearby Meybod !

Enjoying the sick rooftop views from the budget-friendly Amir Chakhmagh hostel

Places to stay in Yazd

Yazd has plenty of accommodation. Most of the more upscale places are located around the side streets near the Jame Mosque and Bazaar. I only found one budget place 2016, which can be found next to Amir Chakhmagh, but as of 2019, several other places have opened.

• Budget:  Yazd Friendly Hotel 
• Mid-range:  Khane Dohad
• Luxury:  Parsian Safaiyeh Hotel

The traditional windcatchers of Yazd used to cool houses down below

Transportation from Yazd

• Bus to Shiraz:  6 hours – Consider overnighting it.
• Bus to Tehran: 9 – 10 hours
• Plane to Tehran: 1 hour

The famous Nasir al Mulk mosque in Shiraz

Days 12 – 14: Shiraz

Shirazis (people from Shiraz) have a reputation as being the warmest people in Iran, and it’s easy to see why! The city’s history is decorated by poetry, music, and wine, and its old interior is filled to the brim with yet more stunning architecture. Though the hard-line government has deprived the city of its Bacchanalian aspects, Shiraz is still a warm and welcoming place for everyone, and sure to impress.

From Shiraz, you can fly or take a bus back to Tehran. If you have some time left, check out our list of alternative destinations below, or leave the tourist trail with our off the beaten track guide .

The tombs of the Necropolis

Top things to see in Shiraz:

• Nasir al Mulk Mosque: perhaps the most photographed mosque in all of Iran, and for good reason.
• Shah Cheragh shrine:  Shrine to Imam Reza’s brothers. Absolutely gorgeous. Dress appropriately and you might not need a mandatory guide.
• Tomb of Hafez: Brimming with locals, it’s the tomb of one of Iran’s most exalted poets.
• Tomb of Saadi:  Another mausoleum, this time of the great Persian poet Saadi
• Vakil Mosque:  Yet another dazzling mosque, tucked away in the city’s bazaar.
• Vakil Bazaar: Winding walkways promising to be filled with everything you never needed and more.
• Persepolis and Necropolis:  For some  the  reason to visit Iran. The lasting remains of an ancient capital are a sight to behold. An easy day trip from Shiraz.

The Shah Cheragh shrine

Where to stay in Shiraz

Shiraz lacks reasonable budget options. However, most mid-range options are sharply priced for what you get and are close to most major sights and luxury hotels sometimes offer great discounts.

• Budget/midrange:  Niayesh Boutique Hotel (offers dorm beds for $12), or check out the options on Homestay.com .
• Luxury: Shiraz Grand Hotel

Persian carpets in the Vakil Bazaar

Transportation from Shiraz

If you find yourself in Shiraz during Nowruz and have to travel back to Tehran, we recommend flying, as flights to Tehran are cheap during Nowruz.

• Plane to Tehran: 1.20 hours
• Train to Tehran: 14 – 15 hours
• Bus to Yazd: 7-8 hours –

Alternative Iran itinerary ideas

The route above covers classic Iran, and is perfect for first-time visitors, especially if you fly into Tehran. It covers genuine highlights, but it’s also a bit mainstream.

The following are some of my favorite places in Iran that are worth a visit, which is guaranteed to be less laden with tour groups. If you have only two weeks, you can fit in one of these destinations by cutting out Qom and/or Kashan .

If you have a bit more time, you can easily tack several of these on to your Iran itinerary. And if you need more inspiration to create a four-week itinerary for Iran, check out our off-the-beaten-track guide to Iran .

The Grand Bazaar of Tabriz, the first-ever UNESCO-listed bazaar

Tabriz (2-3 days)

Probably my favorite big city in Iran. Tabrizis are extremely friendly , there’s plenty of interesting sights to be seen, and its UNESCO-listed bazaar is a shopper’s Valhalla. The city’s popularity is sure to pick up due to its close proximity to the Armenian border crossing , but for now, it’s blissfully devoid of mass tourism.

How to fit Tabriz into your itinerary:  If coming over the border from Armenia or Turkey, make Tabriz your first stop. If starting from Tehran , fly or take an overnight bus from there.

Sunset views over Tabriz from one of the many hills surrounding the city

Top things to see in Tabriz

• Bazaar of Tabriz: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the bazaar of Tabriz is phenomenal. It is one of the oldest bazaars in the region, and one of the largest covered bazaars in the world.
• The Blue Mosque:  Dilapidated but still beautiful, this mosque was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1780. Restoration efforts are in place, but work is progressing slowly.
• Shah Gölü park:  A large artificial lake surrounded by snack stalls, small eateries, and carnival rides. It’s a popular hangout spot for locals, especially in the evenings!
• Kandovan:  Reminiscent of Cappadocia in Turkey, Kandovan is an easy day trip from Tabriz , and a must-visit if you’re in the region.

The cave city of Kandovan

Where to stay in Tabriz

Being a big city, Tabriz has a wide array of accommodation available.

• Budget:  There are lots of budget hotels around the Darya Hotel . The Darya used to be cheaper, but being featured in the Lonely Planet has inevitably raised the prices to around $25 for a double.
• Mid-range:  Tabriz Hotel
• Luxury:   Kaya Laleh Park Hotel

A hole in the wall cafe serving delicious bread, cream and honey for breakfast in the bazaar

Transportation from Tabriz

Tabriz is a bit out of the way, but well worth the effort getting there.

• Train to Tehran: 12 – 13 hours
• Bus to Tehran: 8 – 9 hours

Atop one of the Castles of the Assassins in the Alamut Valley

The Alamut Valley (2 days)

Home to the famous Alamut Castle of the Assassins , the otherworldly rock formations and fascinating history of the Alamut Valley is hard to forget. Best accessed from Qazvin, the Alamut valley offers anything from a day trip to multi-day hiking opportunities.

How to fit the Alamut Valley into your itinerary:  If coming over the border from Armenia or Turkey, you can stop here after Tabriz. Otherwise, head here from Tehran via bus or taxi.

Delicious zereshk polow (chicken and rice with barberries) in a home at the base of the Alamut Castle

Top things to see in the Alamut Valley

• Alamut Castle:  The ex-fortress of Hassan-e Sabbh. The fortress is no more, though it’s being restored, the views from the top are absolutely breathtaking.
• Three canyons: I couldn’t tell you their names, but there are several canyons running alongside one of the roads into the valley. They feature surreal, bulbous rock formations known as “pudding rocks”. Can’t go wrong with a name like that!
• Garmarud:  A small village in the mountains, and the starting point of many treks through the Alamut Valley.

Where to stay in the Alamut Valley

You have two options if not hiking and camping—Qazvin, the nearest city, and Gazor Khan, a village at the base of the Alamut Castle mountain 2.5 hours from Qazvin.

• Budget: Telighani Inn, Qazvin
• Mid-range: Golestan Hotel in Gazor Khan
• Luxury: Traditional Behrouzi Hotel , Qazvin

Transportation times from Qazvin

• Train to Tehran: 2 hours
• Bus to Tehran: 3 – 4 hours
• Bus to Rasht: 3 hours

The Shrine of Imam Reza by Costas Tavernarakis

Mashhad (2 days)

Mashhad is Iran’s holiest city, and it shows. The glittering minarets of the Shrine to Imam Reza rise above the city’s skyline, the streets are filled with pilgrims, and black is the color of choice for almost all women on the street. There’s not much to see in Mashhad aside from the shrine, but it’s worth it. It’s not every day you can see the resting place of one of the 12 imams, some of the holiest people in Shia Islam.

How to fit Mashhad into your itinerary: Mashhad is far away from literally everything in Iran. If you’re pressed for time, you need to fly there. If you have a bit more wiggle room, you can take an overnight train or bus from Tehran to Mashhad and back.

Photo by Costas Tavernarakis

Top things to see in Mashhad

• Shrine to Imam Reza:  A sprawling, ornate masterpiece that needs to be seen to be believed. Girls will need to wear a chador, and no cameras are allowed inside.
• Kang: A stepped village near Mashhad. Perfect for a day trip.
• Torbat-e Jam:  Another small village with a beautiful mosque and mausoleum near the border of Afghanistan. Here’s how to get from Mashhad to Torbat-e Jam .

A lively tomb in Torbat-e Jam

Where to stay in Mashhad

• Budget:  Vali’s Homestay
• Mid-range:  Javad Hotel
• Luxury: Madinah Alireza Hotel

Transportation from Mashhad

• Train to Tehran: 10 – 11 hours
• Bus to Tehran: 10 – 11 hours

A still sunrise over the Kaluts desert

Kerman and the Kaluts (2 days)

Southern Kerman is quite a hike from anything else in Iran, but the Kaluts desert (also known as the Dasht-e Lut desert) makes the trip worth your while. The overwhelmingly stark silence of the desert is enough to calm even the most restless of minds, and the surreal “sandcastles” will transport you to another world entirely.

How to fit Kerman into your itinerary:  You can overnight bus to Kerman from Shiraz or Yazd. Alternatively, if you have the funds you can fly to Kerman’s airport from Tehran, Esfahan, or Shiraz.

Rayen citadel makes for a nice day trip from Kerman

Top things to see in Kerman and the Kaluts

• The Kaluts desert:  Of course!
• Old caravanserai:  An abandoned caravanserai in Shahdad, a small desert town at the edge of the Kaluts.
• Vakil traditional tea house:  An old tea house in a historic bath inside Kerman’s bazaar, often offering live music.
• Rayen citadel: A restored ancient city, and a nice alternative to the destroyed Bam Citadel
• Shazdeh Garden:  A beautiful Persian garden near Kerman

The town of Shahdad near the Kaluts

Where to stay in Kerman

• Budget:  Omid Guesthouse
• Mid-range:  Hotel Akhavan  – can help arrange desert tours to the Kaluts
• Luxury:  Pars Hotel

Transportation times from Kerman

• Bus to Shiraz: 7 – 8 hours
• Bus to Yazd: 5 – 6 hours
• Plane to Tehran:  1.5 hours

The red beach on Hormuz Island

Hormuz Island (2-3 days)

Hormuz island is sometimes referred to as Rainbow Island, and it’s clear why. Its multicolored mountains and beaches will surely take your breath away.

Hormuz was relatively undiscovered until recently, but it’s becoming more popular with Iranian tourists and foreign travelers alike.

The island has a laid-back atmosphere and attracts Iranian hippy types and backpackers alike. Most people who visit Hormuz end up staying longer than they planned.

Top things to do on Hormuz Island

• Red Beach: The red sand of the surrounding mountains gives the water at this beach an almost eerily red glow. One of the most popular destinations on the island.
• Hole in the rock:  This hole in the rock makes for a great photo prop, and you can see many Iranians angling for just the right selfie.
• Rainbow Valley:  Multicolored valley with a gorgeous view. Popular with Iranian buskers.
• Salt cave:  A stunning salt cave surrounded by red mountains.

All of the above and more can be visited in a day hiring a motorbike or rickshaw ($1.80 an hour). But I recommend taking your time and leisurely exploring the island.

A view from the Rainbow Valley. Can you spot all the different colors?

Where to stay on Hormuz Island

Hormuz is small and has only one town. There used to be almost no accommodation, but with its increased popularity several places have now popped up.

• Budget:  Camping – there are plenty of beaches to pitch your tent, and it’s possible to buy gas canisters on the island.
• Budget: Saboora Hostel is a simple yet atmospheric hostel charging $7 per night.
• Mid-range:  Sahel Rorkh is a regular 3-star hotel in Hormuz town.

Transportation to Hormuz

There are several ferries a day from/to Bandar Abbas, and two ferries from/two Qeshm. You can check the ferry schedule here . Both ferries take roughly one hour.

Resources for travel in Iran

• 1stQuest – here you can book accommodation, buses, and flights for Iran using international payment methods. Use code LWP-QST for a 5% discount.
• Lonely Planet: Iran – Because let’s face it, having a physical book is always best.
• World Nomads Travel Insurance – The travel insurance we used while in Iran. Highly recommended!
• Everything you need to know about taxis in Iran – A very thorough guide to not getting ripped off by taxi drivers in Iran.
• Things to know before traveling Iran – Everything we think you should know before heading to Iran
• How to access blocked sites in Iran – Don’t forget that the Iranian government censors the internet! Here’s how to get around their block.
• Couchsurfing – Extremely popular in Iran (despite being illegal) and the best way to meet locals  and  save on accommodation
• Iran rail – The unofficial page of the Iranian railways is super useful for train, bus, and ferry schedules.

And that concludes my two-week Iran itinerary. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions.

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Yay transparency! Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy or book something with our links, we’ll get a small commission  at no extra cost to you . Think of it as a way of saying thanks for making the itinerary 🙂

Alex Reynolds

60 thoughts on “ photo itinerary: two weeks in iran ”.

Iran, is very good, is very nice

I’m visiting soon Iran, I found this article very useful, because I will be new up there. I’m very much interested to see mosques and historical places and land capes in Iran.

Looking for private or tour company for 14 day tour in Iran from 15 Oct for 2 persons. (One couple). English speaking. Please recommend with iternery and price. Thank you

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The Perfect Itinerary for Iran – Essential Persia in 9 Days

December 2, 2019 by Bino 1 Comment

For a country of its size, Iran offers a plehora of things to see and do – especially if you love architecture as well as the great outdoors – that it’s probably hard to compartmentalize the country into a short one or two week stretch. Boasting some of the most beautiful cities, atmospheric desert towns, intricately constructed buildings as well as unreal landscapes, Iran is an eye-opening place and definitely has something for everyone.

The classic travel route for Iran is the one that stretches from Tehran to Shiraz, covering other cities such as Kashan, Esfahan and Yazd in between. Given that these cities are well connected, there’s little need to back track so you can either start in the north in Tehran or down south in Shiraz. This itinerary aims to show how you can cover these cities in Iran, starting from Tehran, but you can easily reverse this.

Table of Contents

Day 1 – Tehran (Azadi and Milad Towers, Golestan Palace, Grand Bazaar)

skyline of tehran

Tehran, the sprawling capital of Iran, is the largest city in Western Asia. For most travelers, the introduction to Iran, is one of congested roads and air pollution. If you happen to visit during a public holiday, it’s a totally different story and you’ll find highways almost empty.

azadi tower

Tehran has quite a number of sights worth visiting and you can easily get around by taxi or hired car. The city also has a metro and is a great alternative for getting around, especially considering the traffic jams. A must visit when in Tehran is the Azadi Tower , an architectural gem that was built to commemorate 2,500 years of the Persian empire. The tower is surrounded by a park which is encircled by a roundabout. It is possible to enter the tower for a fee but in my opinion, you’re better off admiring the curves from the park itself than to be inside the tower. 

milad tower

Another tower you can check out is the Milad Tower , which offers fantastic views of the city as well as the Alborz Mountains in the distance. Compared to Azadi, Milad Tower is a thoroughly modern construct. 

Aside from Azadi Tower and Milad Tower, most of the other sights in Tehran are conveniently located near the stations of the original (red) metro line so it would be practical to group these places together. These attractions include: Saadabad Palace , the former US embassy in Iran , Golestan Palace as well as the Grand Bazaar . Depending on how much time you have left after visiting the towers, you can visit around 1 or 2 other sights along the red metro line before calling it a day. A personal recommendation for an afternoon visit would be the Golestan Palace . This used to be the royal palace when Iran was still a monarchy. Some of the rooms here, including the Mirror Hall, Brilliant Hall and Karim Khani Nook, showcase impressive Persian symmetrical designs. Note that you’d need to purchase separate tickets to enter some of these halls.

Tip: All over Iran, you will get looks walking around as a tourist. The overwhelming majority of these have no malice in them and are just indications of curiosity. A common gesture is to say hello back which in some cases, lead to conversations and even invitations for dinner. It is up to you whether to accept or not. I have accepted one such invitation and some travelers I spoke to did the same. But that doesn’t mean that Iran is scam-free. In a separate incident, a local offered to show me around town as a goodwill gesture and later tried to extort me money for it.

Directly outside the Golestan Palace is Tehran’s Grand Bazaar . You can practically find everything here, from spices to handicrafts, apparel and of course, carpets. While Tehran is still not a touristy place, it’s useful to haggle if you intend to bring a rug back home.

Day 2 – Tehran (Tajrish, Den of Espionage)

autumn colors in tajrish

Your second day in Tehran can be spent venturing to the sights at the farther reaches of Tehran’s red metro line. A personal favorite spot is Tajrish , where the line ends. The air here is cooler and fresher, and the higher altitude makes for a refreshing change to the grit of downtown Tehran. In autumn, you can visit places such as the Saadabad Royal Complex for a burst of red and yellow foliage. Tajrish also serves as a gateway to the Darband and Tochal mountains, where one could ski during winter.

den of espionage, former us embassy in tehran

Further down near Taleghani Station is the former US Embassy in Iran, now called the Den of Espionage and converted into a museum. The site played a particular significance during Iran’s 1979 revolution when students held American diplomats hostage in the embassy for more than a year. The museum grounds offers a colorful throwback to diplomatic life from 40 years ago while the frontage has plenty of colorful anti-American murals, the most famous one depicting the Statue of Liberty with the face of a skull.

After having your fill of Tehran, you can catch a late afternoon or evening bus to the next destination – Kashan, which is around a 3-hour drive. There are plenty of departures each day from the bus terminals and there is no need to book in advance, with the exception of major holidays like Nowruz.

Day 3 – Kashan

rooftops of kashan

A relatively small town, Kashan, is a must visit especially for architecture lovers. The town has plenty of mansions that were built by rich merchant families and gardens offering a calming perspective to Iranian life – a wonderful contrast from the frenetic pace of Tehran.

historic houses in kashan

There are 4 old houses you need to visit in Kashan and these are the Boroujerdi House , Ameriha House , Tabatabaie House and the Abbasian House . All these houses boast of intricate facades but it is the Boroujerdi House which has the more stunning carvings and interiors of four while the Tabatabaie House is probably the biggest. Note that the Ameri House has been converted into a hotel as of late.

Located in the same area as the old houses is the Sultan Amir Ahmad Hammam , also known as Qasemi Hammam. Bathing was an elaborate ritual in old Persia and this is manifested in no small part in the elaborate design of the bathing pool. Covered in turquoise and gold tilework, floral patterns as well as utter symmetry that will delight architectural buffs, the bathhouse is an interesting place to visit even though it is no longer used. You can also check out the rooftop for a view of the hammam’s bulbous domes as well as the windcatchers from the mansions in the distance. 

agha bozorg mosque

On the way to the bazaar of Kashan, the 18th century Agha Bozorg Mosque is a recommended stop for its symmetrical design and layered courtyard that extends underground. 

Optional: If you have a half-day to spare in your Iran trip, an excursion to the village of Abyaneh is recommended. The town is known for its reddish hue which permeates all the buildings. Visiting here is all about soaking the charming ambiance and interacting with friendly villagers. There is no specific must-see here except for the panorama of the reddish village from afar. 

With the exception of Fin Garden , the bulk of Kashan’s tourist spots are within walking distance of each other so my suggestion is to visit the Fin Garden as a stop if you are going on a day trip or excursion to Abyaneh. Otherwise, you can hire a taxi or private car to get you there and back to town. Fin Garden is a typical example of a Persian style garden – characterized by a long water feature that leads to a central structure – and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 4 – Isfahan

Catch a morning bus to the city of Isfahan. From Kashan, the trip to Isfahan takes just a little under 3 hours.

sheikh lotfollah mosque

Called half the world by Iranians, Isfahan is easily the most touristy city in Iran, and with good reason. Its humongous and spectacular public square – the Imam Square – is one of the highlights of any visit to Iran. Flanked by the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque on one side and the Imam Mosque on the other, as well as well-manicured lawns and horse-drawn carriages going around, this public square is the second largest in the world after Tiananmen Square in Beijing. 

Located at the opposite side of the square, the Ali Qapu Palace is another place worth visiting. The highlight here is the music room which have deliberate and attractive holes on the walls to help with the acoustics.

chehel sotun palace

Around a 5 to 10 minute walk to the west of the square is Chehel Sotoun , also called the Palace of 40 Columns. Located in the middle of a park, the interiors of this palace is marked by grand frescoes depicting ancient battles (the Battle of Chaldiran in particular) while the exterior has 20 columns supporting it. Despite only having 20 columns, the 40 columns in the name is brought about by the reflection from the elongated pool in front of the palace, which when reflected shows 40 columns.

Another palace to check out in the area, to the south of Chehel Sotoun, is Hasht Behesht . This is another palace surrounded by a park and is notable for its elaborate ceilings.

If you still have time after this, a walk back to Imam Square is highly suggested. The square takes on a different scene at nightfall, with families out and about and many of the buildings floodlit. The sound of the Islamic call to prayer with the square as backdrop is perhaps one of the most exotic moments one can experience in Iran.

Day 5 – Isfahan

There are plenty of things to see in Isfahan so 2 full days is just about the bare minimum. For the second day, you can check out the attractions farther out from the square – including the Jameh Mosque, Vank Cathedral as well as Sio-se-pol Bridge and Khaju Bridge. The bridges are best visited towards sunset when they’re lighted up so I would suggest starting at the Jameh Mosque.

The Jameh Mosque of Isfahan is the main mosque of the city and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right in 2012. It is the oldest mosque in Iran that still stands to the present day, dating back from the 8th century. Adjacent to the mosque is Isfahan’s own Grand Bazaar. While not as charming as the bazaar around Imam Square, the former presents a more authentic side to local life.

A nice change from the mosques is the Vank Cathedral , a church located in the neighborhood of Jolfa south of the river. The cathedral is a stunning mix of Islamic and Christian architecture, with all the hallmarks of Persian-style symmetry. From the outside, the church actually looks like a mosque with its bulbous dome but once you’re in, you’ll see frescoes depicting Biblical stories such as Adam & Eve as well as events from the life of Jesus Christ. The area surrounding Vank Cathedral in particular, is brimming with cafes, and is a nice place for an afternoon rest especially when it gets very hot.

khaju bridge

As night falls, head over to check out the two beautiful bridges – Sio-se-pol as well as Khaju Bridge which are both lit up. Even during the dry months when you can barely see the river, these 17th century bridges still function to transport people between the north and south side of the city. 

Day 6 – Yazd

Many travelers tend to bypass Yazd in their Iran trip due to its slightly out-of-the way location from the main north to south route. To do that would be a mistake, in my opinion. Yazd is different from the other cities. There is a romantic, fairy-tale like quality to this town that brings to mind stories such as Aladdin. Think: maze-like alleyways made of clay, bumping into random mansions or historic houses turned hotels and being invited to rooftops to appreciate the windcatcher-dominated skyline of the old town.

amir chakmaq mosque

Although there are quite a few sights in town, wandering and getting lost inside the old town is perhaps the biggest draw of the city. The most recognized building in town, the Amir Chakmaq Mosque , is worth a visit. The structure is noted for its arched alcoves which get lighted up at night. I visited twice – once during the day, and another time to appreciate it at night. Just next to the Amir Chakmaq complex is a zurkaneh or a house of strength. The Saheb-al-Zaman Zurkaneh (workouts occur Saturday to Thursday from 7 to 8PM) is the place to go to witness men working out using traditional wooden clubs – in sync to the tune of local music and trance-like chanting.

Another interesting place to visit in Yazd is the Atashkadeh or the Zoroastian fire temple. A nice break from Islamic architecture, this is the place to visit to understand more about one of the world’s oldest religions. The temple also contains what is said to be the oldest continuously burning flame.

Day 7 – Yazd

ceiling of dolatabad gardens

Your second day in Yazd can be spent visiting attractions you did not manage to cover the previous day. While there are still more to see in Yazd such as the Dowlatabad Gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Water Museum for a fascinating peek of how water is distributed in this desert city and Yazd’s own Friday Mosque , I would recommend spending a couple of hours just getting lost in the old town. Perhaps you can stumble upon a nice-looking old house or two. Compared to the ones in Kashan, some of the traditional houses in Yazd have been converted into restaurants and cafes. It’s a highly atmospheric affair sipping on a cup of tea (or two) and downing a hot stew especially on a cold day.

The afternoon can be spent catching a bus to the next destination – Shiraz. The Yazd to Shiraz bus ride is the longest in this trip and takes over 5 hours. It will be well into the evening once you arrive in Shiraz.

Day 8 – Shiraz

There is probably no other city in Iran that conjures romantic images as much as the city of Shiraz. The city of poets as well as wine. This city is undoubtedly the premier city in the southern part of Iran and the well-developed infrastructure attests to this. Despite the city’s size, many of the sights are actually within walking distance from the main street – Zand Boulevard. 

arg of karim khan

Start your day at the Arg of Karim Khan , an 18th century brick citadel typical in the Middle East. Its location and traditional appearance near a busy roundabout in downtown Shiraz makes for an interesting contrast.

vakil mosque

Turn right and walk through Vakil Bazaar where you can make a stop at the Vakil Mosque with its spectacular columns. Next, make your way to Lotf Ali Khan Zand Street which is parallel to Zand Boulevard. Your priority in the morning should be to visit Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque . Just another mosque you say? If you are active in social media, especially instagram, this is one place you must check out in Shiraz. Within walking distance from the mosque is the Narenjestan Garden , the first of many gardens you will encounter in Shiraz. The gardens and the house within the compound were built by the wealthy Qavam family in the 1800s. The gardens are known for its tile work depicting 3 figures from the Qajar Dynasty.

eram gardens

The rest of the day should be spent visiting sights that are further afield. The Eram Garden , is in my view, the most impressive among Iran’s gardens. The building fronting it, is painted in a soothing white and is decked with numerous paintings. From Narenjestan, allow around 15 minutes drive.

Day 9 – Persepolis

Allow around half a day to venture out of Shiraz to visit the biblical city of Persepolis. One of the great wonders of the world, ranking up there with Angkor Wat, Machu Picchu, the Forbidden City and Taj Mahal; this ancient city embodies Persian heritage so much so that the last Shah of Iran used it as a site for his coronation in the 1970s.

naqsh-e-rustam

Although laying in ruins, there is still quite a bit of structure left to allow visitors to imagine what it must have looked like back in the day. Bas reliefs on the walls show how various civilizations paid tribute to the Persian empire, bringing gifts to the king. To reach Persepolis, you can book a private tour which includes a visit to Naqsh-e-Rustam as well. 

With a morning departure, you can expect to be back in Shiraz by earl afternoon, after which you can spend the rest of the day doing some last minute souvenir shopping or catching your flight out of Iran.

Tips for Visiting Iran

• Many nationalities can obtain a visa-on-arrival for Iran, but there are cases where having a pre-arranged visa or visa authorization code makes sense such as for avoiding long waits at the airport for getting the visa. You can get a pre-arranged visa authorization code if you prefer to avoid that risk.
• Iran is still mainly a cash society. You’ll find that your Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards don’t work. Euros and US Dollars work best for changing money. Many merchants even accept direct payment in these currencies over the ever-depreciating Iranian Rial.
• Many merchants have the habit of quoting prices in tomans rather than Rial, which is the official currency. As a rule of thumb, 1 toman = 10 Rial.

Where to Stay in Iran

Tehran – Pretty much a budget option, Firouzeh Hotel has been a favorite among intrepid travelers particularly due to its very helpful receptionist/s who can give plenty of tips on Tehran. 

Kashan – One of the city’s tourist attractions, the Ameriha House, has been turned into a hotel called Saraye Ameriha Boutique Hotel and is currently the top-ranked hotel in Kashan. I personally stayed at the Ehsan House just a few blocks down the road. It’s clean, adequate and also presented in the Persian style, though with less character than its top-ranked rival.

Yazd – Hidden within the snaking alleys of the old town, Kohan Hotel is a charming option with its traditional courtyard typical of houses in Yazd as well as Persian style rooms. If the caretaker is feeling extra friendly, you might be invited up to the rooftop to check out the hotel’s windcatcher as well as admire the ones from the neighboring houses. 

Esfahan – For unabashed Persian splendor, the palatial Abbasi Hotel is generally considered the most luxurious hotel in Esfahan though newer boutique options such as Ghasr Monshi Hotel are taking market share away from the Abbasi.

Shiraz – Darbe Shazdeh is a beautiful boutique hotel located not far from Vakil Mosque. Some rooms come with glass stained windows similar to the ones in Nasir ol Molk Mosque. For a more budget option, Sasan Hotel is a reliable hotel just off Zand Boulevard

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Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Alternatively, you can also email me at b i n o (at) iwandered.net. You can follow I Wander on Facebook , Telegram , or Instagram . Also, if you liked this article, please feel free to SHARE or RETWEET

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December 3, 2019 at 5:42 pm

I have been thinking of a trip to Iran for a while now and your post is a great starting point for a tour of the country. I wasn’t aware of the beautiful Kashan, thank you!

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1 – 3 Weeks in Iran: The Ultimate Iran Itinerary

Iran, a country that is a dream to many travelers. Filled with delicious cuisine, beautiful architecture, and out of this world like landscapes, there is something in Iran for everyone. However, knowing where to go in a country as large as Iran can be difficult so to help you out we have created the ultimate Iran itineraries for you below. No matter if you have one week, two weeks or three weeks to spent in Iran, the destinations below are the ones you will want to add to your Iran bucket list . Explore the bustling cities of Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan or go off the beaten path in the East and South of Iran; there are simply so many things to do and see, and you don’t want to miss out, because you never know when you’ll be back. Keep on reading to find out which destinations in Iran you should add to your itinerary…

Please note: This post contains affiliate links. This means that purchasing a product or service via these links may earn us a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).

1 Week in Iran: Iran’s Most Beautiful Cities

Only have a short amount of time available? Don’t worry, there is a lot to see in a week, and even a week in Iran is worthwhile your time. 1 Week in Iran is just enough time to see Iran’s most famous and most beautiful cities: Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz. Travel from North to South and stop in Isfahan, a city that is said to be half the world, and see some of the most beautiful mosques, landscapes and eat some of the most delicious Persian cuisine. Have a taste of some of the best Iran has to offer, and leave the smaller cities and off the beaten path destinations for your next visit to Iran. If you only have limited time, and budget is not something you take into account, you might want to fly to save some time and spent all your time in the cities. To give you a better idea of where the cities are located, check out the blue markers on the map below. Keep on reading to see why Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz should be on your itinerary!

2 – 3 Days: Explore Tehran

Tehran, Iran’s capital and largest city, is a place you cannot leave of your Iran itinerary. Explore the vibrant hustle and bustle of this concrete jungle, a place that many people tend to leave of their itinerary, which is a shame as it has so much to offer. Wander around the Tehran’s bazaar, visit the former US embassy (now named the Den of Espionage) or admire the beautiful architecture of Golestan palace. These are just a couple of the many things to do in Tehran . As Tehran is home to Iran’s largest international airport, this will be most likely your start and ending point of your trip to Iran, and as such the perfect place to meet other travelers. We recommend to spend at least 2 days in the city, and if you have another day left, use it for a day trip to the mountains surrounding Tehran. From Tehran you can make your way North, should you have a lot of time, or if you are on a strict timeframe, head down South to the beautiful city of Isfahan!

Where to stay in Tehran

There is no shortage of hostels in Tehran, making it easy for the budget backpacker to find a place to stay. From private rooms to dorms, there is something for everyone’s liking in Tehran! Some of Tehran’s most popular places to stay, as of early 2019, are Hi Tehran Hostel , See You in Iran Hostel and Tehran Heritage hostel . And the best thing is, you can now easily book these all on Hostelworld, to see all hostels in Tehran available just click here ! Looking for more info, check out our complete blogposts on the best hostels for budget backpackers in Iran here .

The Azadi Tower in Tehran

3 Days: Visit Isfahan

“Isfahan is Half the World” as the saying goes. In the 16th century the reigning Shah Abbas chose Isfahan as its capital, filling it with bridges, mosques, gardens and many more wonderful architecture that can still be admired today. Many successors kept on adding beautiful architectural pieces, and as such Isfahan is still one of the most beautiful cities for architecture lovers, and photographers, visiting Iran. Admire some of Iran’s most beautiful mosques, such as the Shah Mosque , explore Isfahan’s bazaar or simply watch daily life go by at the Naqsh-e Jahan square. These are just some examples of the many unforgettable things to do in Isfahan . 3 Days should give you enough time to see some of Isfahan’s most beautiful highlights and experience some of Iran’s culture. For many travelers Isfahan is the highlight of their trip, especially those who are only visiting Iran’s cities, it is simply a place you cannot leave out of your Iran itinerary!

Where to stay in Isfahan

With the rising popularity of tourism in Tehran it isn’t hard to find budget and non budget accommodation in Isfahan. For budget accommodation, check out Hostelworld , as this is currently one of the few booking websites that allows you to book accommodation in Iran. Some of the most popular hostels in Isfahan are currently RagRug Hostel , a modern hostel located slightly out of the center of Isfahan, and Mahbibi Hostel , a more traditional hostel in a central location. These hostels both offer a selection of dorm rooms and private rooms, perfect for travelers visiting Iran on a budget .

The Jameh Mosque in Isfahan

2 -3 Days: Explore beautiful Shiraz & Persepolis

Shiraz, Iran’s 5th largest city, is located in the South of Iran and is one of Iran’s most popular tourist destination. The reason, its close proximity to the remains of Persepolis. And while Persepolis is a beautiful place, a place that draws tourists from all over the world, it isn’t the only reason you should visit Shiraz. Shiraz is also home to the tomb of Iran’s most famous poet, and to one of the most colorful and unique mosques in Iran: the Nasir al Mulk Mosque . Take a walk through Shiraz’s bazaar, explore Shiraz’s most beautiful mosques or simply indulge in the delicious Persian cuisine, these are just some of the many amazing things to do in Shiraz . You will need a full two days to admire the highlights of Shiraz, and if you are a history lover and came to Iran to see the ruins of Persepolis, you will need at least another half a day, as Persepolis is located 60km out of Shiraz. From Shiraz you can either decide to fly back to Tehran, if you are on a time crunch, or to enjoy the beautiful train ride through the desert and mountain landscapes of Iran.

Where to stay in  Shiraz

With most of Shiraz’s attractions being centrally located it is easiest to find a centrally located hostel, especially for those traveling Iran on a budget , so you can explore the city by foot. The easiest way to book accommodation in Shiraz is by using Hostelworld , as this is currently one of the few booking sites available that allows you to book a hostel in Iran. Currently, one of the most popular hostels in Shiraz is Taha Hostel but there are plenty of other options out there which you can find here !

2 Weeks in Iran: Highlights of Iran

If you have a little bit more time to spend extend your trip to a two week trip in Iran. While a week will give you just enough to scratch the surface of Iran’s beauty, two weeks will allow you to not only see the big cities, but also to see some smaller desert cities, which will guaranteed add value to your trip to Iran. From these desert cities it is easy to explore nearby deserts, mountains and see some of Iran’s most beautiful landscapes. Most people traveling to Iran will follow the itinerary below, as this covers the highlights of Iran. It will offer the best of both worlds: nature and architecture, and will allow you as a traveler to see what Iran is like! Curious to see what you should add to your Iran itinerary, check out the map below. Instead of just seeing Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz, consider adding the two desert cities, Kashan and Yazd to your trip, read on below why these should be on your itinerary.

2 – 3 Days: Explore Kashan

Kashan, located conveniently between Tehran and Isfahan, is a town that is famous for its traditional houses, and impeccable views. Wander through the small alleys of the old town, visit the bazar, awe at the architecture of the traditional buildings or simply enjoy the view. From Kashan many travelers opt to either spent a day, or even a night in the desert, one of the most famous things to do in Kashan. A day could be all you need to explore this cozy city, but we recommend to spent at leas two days here to fully take it in, and not only explore Kashan, but also its surroundings. To find out exactly what there is to do in Kashan check out our complete guide to Kashan here . From Kashan, instead of taking the bus to Isfahan, opt to book a private tour, easily to be shared with other travelers, to see some of the beautiful stops between Kashan and Isfahan such as Abyaneh and the mosque in Aran va Bidgol.

Where to stay in Kashan

Accommodation in Kashan isn’t hard to find as it has is becoming more and more popular with tourist to visit this beautiful city. The best thing is to find accommodation that is located in the older part of town, as this will easily allow you to walk to the major sights and save some money on transport. Currently, the easiest way to book a hostel is by using Hostelworld , as this is one of the few booking sites out there that allows you to book hostels in Iran. Currently, one of the most popular places to stay for backpackers is Sana Historical Hostel , but you can find all available hostels in Kashan here .

The Agha Bozorg Mosque in Kashan

2 – 3 Days: Visit Yazd

Yazd, another desert city, located East of Isfahan. Yazd is the perfect stop between Isfahan and Shiraz, and can easily be added if you have more then a week to spend in Iran. There are many reasons to visit Yazd: to see the traditional wind towers of Yazd, created to keep the houses cool during hot summer days, to learn more about Zoroastrianism, or again, to explore the beautiful deserts of Iran. It doesn’t matter if you are an architecture lover or a nature lover, there is something for everyone in Yazd. Two days will be enough to see the city itself, if you have an extra day left in your Iran itinerary consider spending a day in the desert by booking a tour, available at one of the many tour offices in the heart of Yazd.

If you are looking to see a bit more off the beaten path of Iran, consider spending a night/day in the nearby town of Taft, at the lovely Nartitee Ecolodge. You will be warmly welcomed by a friendly family who cooks the most delicious food, will be able to tell you more about Zoroastrianism and has bikes available to cycle through the beautiful surroundings. The accommodation is simple, but so peaceful and surrounded by beautiful surroundings. Visiting Taft for a day was one of the highlights of our four week trip to Iran. Find out more info on Nartitee here .

Where to stay in Yazd

Besides deciding to perhaps stay in Taft for a night, it is easiest to book a local hostel with a central location for Yazd. From here it will be easy to find restaurants and many of Yazd’s most beautiful sights. One of the most popular hostels currently available on Hostelworld is Badgir Hoste l. To see all hostels available in Yazd here , to find the best fit for you. Looking for an overview of the best hostels in Iran, be sure to check out our complete guide to budget accommodation in Iran here.

The Jameh Mosque in Yazd.

3 Weeks in Iran: off the beaten path Iran

Want to turn two weeks to three weeks in Iran? Don’t worry, there is enough to see and to do in Iran to keep you busy for weeks. If you have more then two weeks to spend in Iran, consider going off the beaten path in Iran. Instead of making your way from Yazd to Shiraz, opt to go more East, and more South in Iran, this is the itinerary we followed below ourselves for 3,5 weeks in 2017. Visit one of the most unique and beautiful deserts of Iran: the Lut desert and make your way South to explore the beautiful Persian gulf area. This is the ultimate itinerary for adventure travelers, who love to see a bit more then the touristic sights in Iran. While you might run into a few other tourists in these areas, you can easily also go without seeing any for days. Visit the Lut desert and visiting the Persian Gulf is a unique experience, and perfect if you are looking to see a bit more of Iran’s unique and beautiful landscapes. Keep on reading to find out a bit more on these unique destinations!

2 Days: Desert Tour of the Kaluts

If you have been in the Middle East or Africa before then the sand dune deserts of Yazd and Kashan might not be that spectacular to you. If that is the case you might want to skip on the more touristy desert tours, and opt for a more off the beaten path desert instead: the Dasht-e Lut desert, also named the Lut desert. The Lut desert is located East of the city of Kerman and is home to Kaluts, unique sand formations like no where else in the world. It is the Kaluts that earned this desert a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The easiest way to visit the Lut desert is by setting up a tour from Kerman, this is also the most advisable way to visit the Lut desert as visiting the Kaluts without a guide is illegal, the reason being their concern for your safety. The Lut desert is partially located in the Sistan and Baluchestan region, for which many countries give a strong negative travel advice due to the drug smuggling that happens in these regions. We experienced none of these dangers when visiting the Lut desert and considered it one of the most unique experiences of our trips. Read more about safety in Iran and other tips in our article on 86 things you must know before traveling to Iran .

Lut Desert in Iran.

2 – 3 Days: Qeshm Island

Qeshm Island is located in the Persian Gulf and has slowly been gaining popularity with foreign tourists visiting Iran, and we cannot blame them, as it is one of the most stunning and unique locations of Iran. Not only many off the beaten path travel bloggers, but also vloggers, are now visiting this stunning part of Iran known for its rugged landscapes and delicious Persian sea food cuisine. Explore the wildlife of Qeshm, tour the island for some of the unique landscapes such as Chahkooh Valley or perhaps explore the world’s longest salt cave, you can do it all on Qeshm Island. If you are planning on visiting Qeshm Island be sure to check out our complete Qeshm island travel guide , containing all info on how to get there, things to do and many more tips!

Valley in Qeshm Island.

1 -2 Days: Hormuz Island

East of Qeshm Island you can find the small island of Hormuz, known for its red color earth that makes the whole island look like it located on another planet. While small, this island is simply like no other, offering stunning landscape views a rainbow valley and some beautiful unique red sand beaches. As Hormuz island is small you can easily combine visiting the island with a visit to Qeshm and simply scooter or take a tuktuk around the island for a day. But it might be worthwhile your time to stay the night and see the sunset, and the sunrise over the beautiful Persian Gulf before making your way back to the main land. There are ferries going daily to the mainland coastal city of Bandar Abbas (from where the ferries to Qeshm also leave). From Bandar Abbas make your way up North to the beautiful city of Shiraz to end your trip.

Red Landscapes of Hormuz.

Make it 4 Weeks in Iran

And there you have it, a one to three week itinerary for Iran, each depending on personal preferences and amount of time available. However, the adventure doesn’t have to end there, as there are many more beautiful places to visit, enough to keep you busy for weeks. If you are looking to add some more off the beaten path destinations to your itinerary you might want to check out these places:

• Mashhad – Mashhad is located in Northeast Iran and is mainly known for religious pilgrimage reasons, and while fairly unexplored, it is actually the second largest city of Iran.
• Tabriz – Tabriz is located North of Tehran, and for most people is considered a bit too far out of their itinerary for Iran. However if you have the time it might be worth exploring as it is home to one of the oldest bazaars in the Middle East.
• Kermanshah –  Kermanshah is located in the Kurdish region of Iran (West Iran). Due to its location it is often skipped by travelers, meaning only the most off the beaten path travelers head this way.

And there you have it, everything you need to know to create your ultimate Iran itinerary. Looking for more inspiration on Iran? Find all our blogposts on Iran here or check out our complete Iran travel guide … and oh, don’t forget to pin it!

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25 Unmissable Things To Do In Tehran: Iran’s Chaotic Capital

Posted on Last updated: December 15, 2023

Categories Iran

Expert travel storyteller Jordan Adkins, founder of InspiredByMaps.com, brings a decade of adventures across 101 countries and 450+ UNESCO sites into rich, off-the-beaten-path narratives, melding ecological expertise with genuine, seasoned travel insights. His full bio can be found here.

Crazy, chaotic, surprising at every turn – Tehran, the smoggy capital of Iran, is more than just an eternal traffic jam.

The political, cultural, and economic heart of the Islamic Republic, one can not truly experience this dynamic country without spending at least a few days here…And don’t worry, there is no shortage of things to do in Tehran!

While many travelers make the mistake of rushing past Tehran in a race to the more historical cities of Iran, there is so much more here than meets the eye. With 14 million inhabitants, Tehran is one of the most dynamic and interesting cities in the world.

With glorious museums, huge bazaars, captivating people, and yes – even the notorious former US embassy, that was the focal point of the Iranian hostage crisis.

Thankfully today, Tehran is the most liberal and secular place in Iran, a city whose inhabitants are constantly pushing up against authority, whether it’s at one of Tehran’s many universities, in a contemporary coffee-shop or a modern art museum.

Through Tehran, you can get an idea of what the future of Iran might look like if many of the regimes more progressive elements get their way.

Throw in a spectacular mountain range, a few architectural gems, delicious food, and some of the friendliest people in the world, and you begin to see why Tehran is one destination in Iran you absolutely cannot miss!

25 Unmissable Things To Do In Tehran: Iran’s Chaotic Capital 🇮🇷

Page Contents

1. Tehran Grand Bazaar

2. tabi’at bridge / nature bridge tehran, 3. azadi tower, 4. golestan palace unesco world heritage site, 5. hi tehran hostel, 6. us den of espionage / embassy of the united states in tehran, 7. museum of the qasr prison, 8. tochal telecabin tehran, 9. skiing in iran, 10. tehran metro art, 11. wander tehran, 12. tehran museum of contemporary art (tmoca), 13. sa’d abad museum complex, 14. park e shahr / tehran city park, 15. museum of ancient iran, 16. museum of the islamic era, 17. islamic revolution & holy defense museum, 18. imamzadeh saleh / tajrish mosque, 19. tehran shopping malls, 20. saint sarkis cathedral, 21. sharaf al-eslami restaurant, 22. cinema museum of iran, 23. snapp / iranian uber, 24. tehran coffeeshops, 25. tehran street food, how to get to tehran iran, where to go after tehran when you visit iran.

Characterized as an old historical bazaar, but the Tehran Grand Bazaar is so much more than that, still to this day acting as a vital economic center of Tehran where everyone comes to buy anything.

You name it; you can find it here if you wander for long enough through its seemingly endless labyrinths of covered alleys. Make sure you have a map on your phone and then get as lost as you can, safe in the knowledge you will somehow find your way back!

Incredibly photogenic, be sure to visit the Tehran Grand Bazaar in the morning before all the stock gets refilled in the afternoon by scary fast-moving haulage equipment, which somewhat distracts from the experience.

Iranian carpet sellers will undoubtedly try to befriend you. They can make an interesting guide if you don’t mind the hard sell at the end (although in our experience they knew Westerners generally couldn’t afford their outrageous prices and were just happy to chat!)

A 270-meter three-level bridge connecting two parks in Tehran, the Tabi’at Bridge is probably the most beautiful piece of urban architecture built since the revolution.

Opened in 2014, the Tabi’at Bridge (also known as the Nature Bridge in Tehran) is a popular hang out for Iranian’s who come to enjoy a variety of dining options, views, and relaxation areas. Even more incredibly- the Tabi’at Bridge was the brainchild of an Iranian architecture student, Leila Araghian, who was only 26 at the time.

Winning design competitions all over the world – the Tabi’at Bridge should not be missed, and we can’t wait to see what Leila Araghian comes up with next!

An icon of Iran known around the world, the Azadi Tower – known as the Shah’s Memorial Tower before the revolution – marking the west entrance to Tehran and is part of the Azadi Cultural Complex.

There is a museum underground which is included in your ticket are you can either walk or take two elevators up the 45-meter tall structure. And yes, the entire thing is clad in cut marble so you can imagine how incredible it looks at sunset (though the views at the top are pretty incredible too!).

The Azadi Tower was built to mark the 2,500th anniversary of the foundation of the Imperial State of Iran by architect Hossein Amanat who based the design upon classical Iranian architecture. The entire grand design was financed by the huge wealth generated by Iran as a major oil-producing nation before the revolution; however, as a member of the persecuted Bahá’í Faith, Amanat fled Iran to Israel during the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

He went on to design the equally famous Bahá’í Arc buildings in Haifa, Israel, and weirdly enough – the House of Worship in Samoa.

The incredibly lavish Golestan Palace is widely regarded as a defining work of the Qajar era thanks to the marriage of Persian craft architecture with Western influences.

That is why it was rewarded UNESCO World Heritage Status , and quite rightly, I think!

The Palace is one of the oldest buildings in Tehran, and when the Qajar family came into power here in 1779, they made this remarkable the capital of Iran – where it has stayed ever since. Glorious and outrageously excessive, the Golestan Palace is one thing to do in Tehran you absolutely cannot skip.

However, be aware that with a total-ticket price of 850 000 rials (app. 25USD), it is tied with the far less-worthy Sa’d Abad Museum Complex for the most expensive museum in Iran.

Information about Iran can be hard to come by outside the country, so it pays to have a super-reliable place to connect with travelers with helpful locals on hand when you arrive.

This is why I loved staying at HI Tehran Hostel , a full-renovated hostel in a quiet street just minutes from many of Tehran’s top tourist attractions and a Tehran Metro Station. While the modern facilities, spacious dorms, and private food and free breakfast were excellent, what I loved most was the atmosphere as the staff would always be chatting at the communal breakfast table and answering everyone’s questions.

It’s also a great place to meet other travelers, either beginning or ending their trip to exchange money, find companions, get ideas, or just to swaps stories! I stayed here both at the beginning and end of my journey and would return to HI Tehran Hostel in a heart-beat!

Oh, and another nice bonus: HI Tehran Hostel provide an invitation via email needed to get the Iran visa on arrival at Tehran Airport, and the immigration staff seems to be so familiar with the hostel they didn’t even bother calling to confirm.

This meant I was out of the airport while other travelers were waiting for their hostel to answer the phone in the middle of the night (though I later called the hostel at 3 AM when I was lost, and they responded in a few seconds – they really are 24/7)

The famous former US embassy in Tehran, where 52 diplomats were taken hostage for 444 days by students during the 1979 revolution!

Even today, the massive compound is still controlled by the Student Basij Organisation, who are tasked with defending the revolution and have turned the building into a museum. Be sure to take the free tour to make the most of the colorful propaganda both visually and spoken.

It is also absolutely fascinating to see the once-secret rooms used for spying now embarrassingly on full display – and to get a real sense of the work undertaken in the US embassy before the revolution.

Truly like walking back in time and straight onto a movie set, you can’t miss the opportunity to visit the historic US Den of Espionage.

Newly opened, the Museum of the Qasr Prison in Tehran is a dark look into the Pahlavi-era prison complex, renowned for psychological and physical torture.

Former prisoners still guide here somedays and will share memories of their torture, including broken teeth and amputated limbs. The former Qasr Prison gardens have been turned into a beautiful park, and while the main historic prison building may be the focus (with stunning brickwork none the less) don’t miss the much darker and newer concrete building at the back of the complex where recordings still play the screams of torture.

Here you get an intensely real look into what life was like in this prison just before and during the revolution here, but it is not for the faint-of-heart.

If the inevitable smog of Tehran gets a bit too much for you – why not head to the mountains with the Tochal Telecabin / Sky Lift! Located in the north of Tehran.

You can make a 45 minutes trip straight up and then couples with a short scramble you can easily summit Mt Tochal (3933m). As you would expect, the views are out of this world – both of the mountains and back down over the chaos that is Tehran – and if you’re feeling fit, there is plenty of hiking opportunities at the different stations along the way!

Super popular with local Tehranis during the weekend, but don’t make the same mistake as us and try to visit the Tochal Telecabin during the week – We were told it is closed for the first three days after the weekend, every week?! So that means the Tochal Telecabin opening hours are supposably Wednesday – Saturday, but best to call ahead before making the trip out there (best reached by taxi) and to go early as the last car back down is apparently 3 PM…

Like many things in Iran, it’s better not to question it!

Even though the majority of Iran is pretty much a desert, there is still some great skiing in Iran – and some of the cheapest skiing in the world!

While global warming seems to be shortening the season for skiing in Iran, you can get some pretty good powder for skiing in Tehran from January. The Tochal Ski resort is located at the end of the above cable car and makes a great day-trip, but if you are really serious, you are going to want to head to the nearby Dizin Ski Resort or Shemshak Ski Resort from Tehran. Not what you were expecting to do in Iran, right!

Just make sure you have everything you need for your first time skiing as you won’t be able to buy in Iran.

Continually expanding, the Tehran Metro is the lifeline of Tehran and carries over 3 million passengers a day while the streets above are in near-constant grid-lock.

Cheap and easy-to-use, there is also a bonus for tourists – if you pay attention, the Tehran Metro is the best place to see propaganda in Iran!

Constantly changing, pay special attention to the platforms, or the long entrance corridors to see cartoons and artwork depicting everything from the morals taught in the Quran and daily life in Iran to rather harsh and graphic anti-US and anti-Israel pieces. It doesn’t have as much artistic merit as the Stockholm Metro Art or Msheireb station in nearby Doha, Qatar … but it arguably more interesting!

While these Tehran metro cartoons make a great picture to share with friends back home, be discrete when taking photos and remember that the views expressed are directly from a government department and by-and-large not reflective of Iranian society at large (or at least many of the more liberal Tehranis)…

While each time crossing the road might be a near-death experience, there is no better way to get to experience the social fabric and stumble upon hidden gems in Tehran than to simply wander.

Instead of taking a taxi or heading a few stops on the Tehran Metro, why not get your walk on and see what you come across! Small parks, street food, intriguing shops, and hidden bazaars, there really is no telling! Expect a great many people to stop, and thank you for visiting Iran — and question you on your experiences in Iran so far.

Besides, if you ever are lost these people are great to help you find the nearest Metro, coffee-shop, museum or restaurant!

While Iran might not be a world leader in contemporary art today, you should still visit the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art to see the stunning collection of 19th and 20th century’s world-class European and American pieces.

Opened by Empress Farah Pahlavi in 1977 – just two years before the Revolution – TMoCA is said to hold the most valuable collections of modern Western masterpieces outside Europe and North America . However, most were hidden away until recently when they have again been put on display.

Possibly even more intriguing, however, is the liberal Tehranis that are drawn to the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. Inside you’ll find many people rebelliously removing their hijabs, and you could easily imagine yourself in an art gallery in Western Europe or the US!

A sprawling 300-hectare complex built by the Qajar and Pahlavi monarchs in a similar pattern to the oil-rich rulers of Saudi and the Gulf States today…

Now open to the public, the Sa’ dabad Complex, while expensive by Iranian standards, is a beautiful place to wander and admire the natural forest, qanats, and buildings. Each museum is individually chargeable and, in our opinion — not at all worth it. Except, perhaps, for the famous Green House (with its outlandish hall of mirrors) —  which is currently under renovation.

There is also a collection of royal cars if you have a passion for vintage sports cars, but you can see them in only a few minutes. Look out for the President of Iran who has taken up residence in a private section of the Sa’ dabad Complex.

Don’t worry; there are plenty of armed guards to stop you accidentally wandering in!

A sprawling park in central Tehran near to all the major museums in the district. Take a wander through and admire the bizarre bird park, aquarium, and library.

The Tehran Peace Museum is also located here with strange opening hours – take a peek in if it is open. You can also find plenty of cats roaming around and can join in a game of ping-pong with the locals who gather here to relax and unwind.

The Park-e Shahr is probably the only place big enough to escape the constant traffic and honking in Central Tehran!

Housing historical objects from Iran’s pre-Islam, you would expect the Museum of Ancient Iran to be one of the most glorious in the country – but sadly, it is entirely underwhelming and a wasted opportunity.

Housing objects from the Shah era, the museum was opened after the revolution, and you get the feeling that the government did not want to venerate any part of Iran’s past before Islam. Still, if you’re interested in ancient history, you should still take a wander through.

Islam’s post-Islamic history is displayed next door and charged separately (and weirdly enough, the Museum of Ancient Iran is almost twice the price but nowhere near as good…)

Next door to the above Museum of Ancient Iran and far better, the Museum of the Islamic Era is one of the top museums in Tehran.

Recently reopened after a nine-year renovation, this three-story building displays over 1500 items and relics from the early Islamic period as well as Seljuk, Ilkhanid, Teymurid, Safavid, and Qajar eras. Beautifully done, you won’t want to rush through as you take in all the details of the ancient rugs, painting, plates, pots, and more.

There is also a temporary exhibition space on the ground floor changing every six months.

An outsized experiment in glorification with more than a hint of propaganda, the Iran Holy Defense Museum is easily one of the things to do in Tehran.

Focussing on the bloody Iran-Iraq war, which left over a million lives lost, there are over seven halls here going into minute details of every imaginable aspect of the conflict – though mostly through displays, walk-through models, visual effects and more. This is a very high-tech museum – if a little surreal – after which you might have a better idea of this harrowing episode in modern Iranian history.

The bridge of the martyrs here is especially fascinating —  and there are huge tanks, rockets, and planes outside.

Visit the beautiful Tajrish Mosque officially known as the Imamzadeh Saleh to see the entombed remains of Saleh, a son of the Twelver Shia Imam, Musa al-Kadhim.

One of the most famous shrines in Tehran, the interior is particularly spectacular and was our favorite mosque in Tehran. Make sure not to visit during prayer as it is far too busy, and you are likely not to be let in – but during other times, we found foreigners were welcomed, and someone is likely to take an interest in you and offer you a tour!

So as a tourist, you’re probably not going to Tehran for the shopping – and especially not given that you need to bring cash for everything you buy!

But a visit to the Tehran Shopping Malls is not just about shopping!

With giant food courts, arcades, and plenty of Iranian / independent stores, they are a socializing space for Tehran rising middle-and-upper class and a great place to meet young, educated Iranians.

While most Tehran Shopping Malls are mega-monstrosities and impressive to wander around for a bit, the best is the Palladium shopping center (with the largest toy store in the Middle East ), the Arg Commercial Complex (with its luxury stores and beautiful outdoor interactive facade)and the Sam Commercial Complex.

The largest church in Tehran, the Saint Sarkis Cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic, was completed in 1970.

While a Cathedral might not be top of your list of things to do in Tehran, you should not miss the opportunity to see Christian life play out in the Islamic Republic – complete with imposing giant walls, barbed wire, and strict security, though as a foreigner you will be welcomed in.

Forbidden from practicing their faith in public, the spires of the church are barely visible outside the compound. The surrounding area is intensely covered in pro-Islam murals and billboards.

This historic restaurant is hidden away in the Tehran Central Bazaar, but you can find Sharaf El Islam by following the throng of people until you see a line heading into a crowded basement.

Here you can try some of the best traditional food in Tehran in a crowded and frantic setting. The service is rushed, and people will hover to get a table — and  it all adds to the atmosphere! If you make it here, you’ll really be in the know, and 99% of the time, you’ll only be joined by locals.

Located in the north of Tehran is a stunning Qajar-era mansion complex with historic garden, the Cinema Museum of Iran is a curious mix of equipment, posters, and photos from the Iranian movie industry dating back over the last century – and all in English!

There is even a beautiful working cinema with ornate molding showing new and classic Iranian films – though without subtitles, but still intriguing.

So not really a thing to do, but everyone traveling to Tehran should have Snapp downloaded on their phone as it halves the price of taxi’s – and lets you get where you need to go without language barriers.

While it might be blocked on the Apple App store, you can still download Snapp for iPhone with this handy workaround. Basically, Uber in Iran, Snapp let you explore the more remote attractions of Tehran that are not easily reached via Subway, and is helpful if you’re a larger group – though prices are set and very low!

Though you will get a first-hand experience of the insane driving in Tehran.

I recommend sitting in the back-seat and potentially blindfolding yourself as some things are better not seen!

A hotbed of liberalism in Iran since the removal of sanctions — a café culture has exploded across Tehran as many more wealthy Iranians got a taste of Western culture and cosmopolitanism.

With some pretty decent views, coffee shops in Tehran are also a great place to meet young Iranians, engage in open discussion, or just to watch the unique culture that takes place here. A few years ago, many were raided as women were known not to wear hijabs inside.

Still, the authorities seem to be looking the other way again – but the morality police crackdown of 2013 makes for an exciting read. Lamiz Coffee is the Starbucks of Tehran with multiple locations (yet annoyingly no WiFi), but you should also stop by the historic Gol Rezaieh Café or the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art Café.

To be honest, so many have opened up over the past year it’s hard to keep track of the best – so just ask your hostel in Tehran for their recommendation nearby, or better yet just stop someone young and trendy on the streets!

While all over Tehran you will find plenty of traditional street food – and you should try as much as you can (check here for Iranian street food to watch out for) – we are specifically talking about the street food of 30th Tir Steet outside the National Museum of Iran. Trendy and oh-so-cool, swing by here in the afternoon or evening for a lively atmosphere, intriguing food trucks + carts, and some nice outdoor seating.

You will surely be joined quickly by locals who will be quick to recommend their favorite spots, to help you with a translation and let you know all their favorite things to do in Tehran!

The undeniable hub and main entry point of Iran getting to Tehran is easy via bus, train, and flight.

There are direct flights to Tehran daily from all over the Middle East, Europe, and even with Air Asia to Kuala Lumpur if you’re coming from that direction. You can also find direct flights to most major cities in Iran at least a few times of the week, multiple times daily for major cities.

You can also get overnight sleeper trains to and from almost every major city in Iran. As a major transport hub in Iran and the greater region, you should have no problem getting in and out of Tehran.

Are you planning on exploring more than just one city in Iran? Here are some excellent other guides and cities to continue on your trip around Iran – or you can just check out these top things to do in Iran.

And if you want even more adventure – and to get out into nature while exploring off-the-beaten-track in Iran – why not consider hiring a rental car in Iran ? What could be better, right!

Bam – A UNESCO World Heritage Listed Fortress in South Iran. This famous desert castle was devastated by an earthquake in 2003, but after a 15-year renovation is now back and open for business. Find out more in this Arg-e Bam Travel Guide 2018: Now The Most Quake-Proof City in Iran

Kerman – A rather dull city, surrounded by some of the best desert landscapes in Iran. Get off-the-beaten-track and see Iran without the tourists with these 10 Things To See And Do In Kerman Iran.

Isfahan – The most beautiful and grand city in Iran, with 3 UNESCO sites and stunning architecture – This is one city you just cannot miss. On Iran’s Golden Triangle, read the ultimate guide to Isfahan.

Shiraz – Often referred to as the cradle of Persian civilization, explore multiple ancient ruins, beautiful mosques, delicious food, and surreal natural landscapes. Intrigued? See these 12 unmissable things to do in Shiraz, Iran.

Shushtar – A hidden gem if ever there was one, Shushtar is really in the proverbial backwood. If you make the effort, however, you will be rewarded by some of the friendliest people in Iran, incredible ancient structures, and delicious food! Find out everything you need to visit Shushtar in Iran.

Tabriz – The largest city in Northern Iran with unique Azari culture, the most beautiful bazaar in Iran, and with a spectacular mountain backdrop. Read these 12 Epic Things to do in Tabriz, the 2018 Tourism Capital City of Islamic Countries

Yazd – An ancient city that appears miraculous out of a desert plateau. Yazd is one of Iran’s biggest highlights and one of the most unique cities on Earth. Check out these ten amazing things to do in Yazd, Iran.

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Best Travel Experiences in Iran

Are you looking to explore the best travel experiences in Iran?

Traveling around Legendary Iran is beyond a trip. It can indeed be challenging at first, but if you come with an open mind and an open heart, there is a whole world of exceptional experiences in Iran; Experiences that are unique to the culture, nature, and history of Iran and the traditions of everyday life in Iran. So, go beyond the obvious and discover some of the most wonderful and best Iran travel experiences.

Check out our round-up of the top 10 travel experiences in Iran and treat them as inspiration for your trip. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us .

• Best Iran Travel Tips

Spend a Day with Nomads

Spending a day or more with Iranian nomads is one of the most exceptional Iran travel experiences. Nomads have tied their simple life with the purity of nature, the singing of birds, the sound of sheep bells, the symphony of female carpet weavers, and the smell of fresh bread, soil, and grass.

The aspects of modern life have not affected their lives yet, and their daily life is truly different from what we experience in the cities.

Hence, by spending some days with nomads in their black tents, you will experience their authentic lifestyle. You can enjoy drinking tea with nomadic tribes, trekking with them, learning about their culture, and tasting local organic food.

Be Part of an Iranian Festival, an Unforgettable Experience

The varied festivals that are held throughout the year in Iran offer a vision and understanding of Iranian culture and traditions. Some of these festivals, like Nowruz, Yalda, and Sadeh (exclusively held by Zoroastrians), have originated from ancient Persian culture and beliefs.

On the other hand, some Iran events are religious such as Ashura and Tasua which is the Mourning Ceremony for Imam Hussein, or The Carpet Washing (Ghali Shuyan) Ceremony in Kashan .

Besides, there are seasonal festivals such as the Kashan Rosewater Festival during spring or the Pomegranate Festival during fall in different parts of Iran.

You can gain a deeper understanding of your destination and its people by participating in these national and local events. So, don’t miss these popular festivals for an unforgettable travel experience in Iran.

• Top 10 Festivals in Iran

Explore the Island of Seven Wonders

One of Iran‘s greatest natural wonders is Qeshm Island and its smaller Islands in the Persian Gulf, where you can see the harmony of nature‘s most beautiful colors and appearances.

• Qeshm Island

Traveling to Qeshm is not just about relaxing on the beaches and enjoying the water. There are many natural attractions on this island, including forests, pristine islands, valleys, caves, and a variety of wildlife, such as dolphins, turtles, and birds. As a result, it is a rich place for ecotourism and geotourism. One of the most amazing sites that draw tourists to this region is Hurmoz, the rainbow island with its red beaches.

• How to Travel from Dubai to Kish and Qeshm Islands

Lastly, Qeshm and its Islands are located in a free trade zone, allowing foreign travelers to visit them without obtaining the visa.

• How to Travel to Iran Visa-Free in 2022

Experience Rural Tourism in Iran

Leaving major cities to visit Iran villages is an excellent opportunity for cultural immersion. Consider booking a day trip to the red village of Abyaneh, located about two hours from Isfahan. Go deep into the Persian culture, drink tea with locals, and take photos with their local clothes. 

• Abyaneh, the Stepped Red Village of Iran

Or head to Urramnat Villages, the home to the Kurd ethnics, located in the lush mountainous region west of Iran. Uramannat region has unique features in terms of architecture, people’s lifestyle, and agriculture.

• Hawraman in Iran, Visiting the Stunning Kurdish Heaven

You can also visit an oasis such as Shahdad village in the Lut desert or Bafgh in the desert near Yazd.  These villages are ideal for hiking, buying Iran souvenirs, or staying over with a local family and eating their local dishes.

• Top 10 Iran Souvenirs

In short, visiting Iran villages and involving their inhabitants’ daily lives can be one of the best travel experiences in Iran.

• Top 10 Villages in Iran You Must Visit

Explore the Historic city of Yazd

Wandering in the Yazd Historic City (UNESCO site) maze-like alleys can be one of the memorable experiences of an Iran trip. Yazd is a beautiful oasis where human has adapted themselves to the arid and hot climate of the desert.

You can imagine yourself in one of the old narrations about a city far, far away while touring the adobe houses with tall windcatchers. Additionally, you can visit ancient water reservoirs and Qanats for storing water.

• Top 10 Places to Visit in Yazd

Feel Peacefulness in the desert

One of the top travel experiences in Iran is visiting the deserts. Iran has many deserts the most famous ones are Dasht-e Lut (UNESCO Site) in Kerman , Varzaneh, and Mesr deserts in Isfahan and Maranjab near Kashan . There are also some desert camps near Yazd . In the desert, you can enjoy the activities like trekking, safari, visiting extraordinary geological appearances such as Kaluts in Lut Desert, camel riding, etc.

Besides, you can stay overnight in a camp in the heart of the desert. There, you will fall in love with the desert while trying to count the millions of stars in the night sky. Also, this is a perfect opportunity to try nighttime photography.

Anyhow, visiting the deserts of Iran is going to be an incredible experience you will talk about for a long time.

• Top 10 Iran Deserts, Which One to Visit?

Enjoy Tasty Persian Cuisine

Thanks to local herbs and traditional Persian cooking methods, eating Persian food is one of the life-changing Iran travel experiences for many tourists.  Accordingly, one of the highlights of visiting Iran is trying the local cuisine and learning to cook traditional Persian foods like Tahchin or Ghormeh Sabzi. You can find different Persian cooking classes in Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, and other cities. Even if culinary art is not your favorite, diving into Iranian cuisine is one of the best ways to learn about Iranian culture. Along with the culture, the influences of the climate created different local cuisines. In other words, during your Iran trip, you’ll experience diverse traditional cuisine in the desert, The North, on the islands, etc.

• Persian Food and Drink

Generally, the popular must-try Iranian dishes include different kinds of kebab, plain and mixed rice, various stews, soups, local sweets, etc. Hence, do not miss trying Persian food in different cities of  Iran.

• Best Persian Desserts and Sweets to Try in Iran

Furthermore, Persian cuisine includes several vegetarian and vegan options such as Kashk-e Bademjan, vegetarian stews, Salads, Kookoo Sabzi, etc.

• Vegetarian Food in Iran for Tourist

Get Lost in Persian Old Bazaars

One of the top travel experiences in Iran is visiting its vibrant bazaars, where colorful markets are connected through alleyways. You will be amazed by the smell of spices in the air and the handicrafts such as Khatam, Monabat, Ghalamkar, etc. Also, visiting Persian Old Bazaars can feel like stepping back in time, and it is a great way to meet locals.

You can find an entire alley of bazaar displaying fantastic Persian rugs, while the other is dedicated to pretty copper works or wood art. In the workshops, you’ll see artisans surrounded by their craft, doing everything from carving wood to making copper dishes by hand.

You’ll find Persian Old Bazaars in most Iran cities such as Tabriz, Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman, Kashan, Zanjan, etc. Finally, you can buy precious and beautiful Iranian souvenirs from these markets.

• Top 10 Traditional Bazaars in Iran for Tourists

Broaden Your Horizon in an Islamic Country

You go to Europe to visit the churches, to Asia to visit the temples. So, when it comes to mosques and shrines and the fantastic Islamic architecture, you should travel to Iran. You can’t claim that you have understood the majesty of Persia without visiting its marvelous mosques and shrines. Accordingly, one of the top travel experiences in Iran is visiting the mosques with diverse architectures, from the legendary Shah Mosque of Naghsh-e Jahan Square (UNESCO Site) in Isfahan to the gorgeous Pink mosque (Nasir al Molk) in Shiraz. On the other hand, the outstanding decoration of the shrines in Iran, from Imam Reza Holy Shrine in Mashhad to Ali ibn-e Hamzeh Holy Shrine in Shiraz with delicate tile and mirror works, will impress you. So take some time to visit the beautiful mosques and shrines in Iran.

• Top 10 Most Beautiful Mosques in Iran

Discover Iran Glorious History in its UNESCO Sites

One of the top travel experiences you should have in a historical country like Iran is to visit its UNESCO Heritage sites. There are 26 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Iran.

• Iran UNESCO Sites

However, as Iran is so vast, it is impossible to visit all these monuments in one or two weeks. But don’t worry, there are plenty of them on the classic route of Iran including, Persepolis, Pasargadae, and Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region near Shiraz , Jame mosque of Isfahan and Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, 9 Persian Gardens in Shiraz, Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman, etc., 11 Persian Qantas in Yazd, Kerman, etc., Historic city of Yazd and more.

• Iran Classic Route Guide For Tourist

On the other hand, Iran has two registered UNESCO Natural sites that reflect the wonderful nature of Iran; the Lut Desert and the Hyrcanian Forests.

Finally, please ask your questions or share your comments regarding the top 10 travel experiences in Iran. We appreciate your valuable comments, and they will also be useful to others.

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Here’s some general information about Iran Highlights Tour:

You can add other cities, villages, sites, regions, etc to your tour. You can deduct some from your tour. As long as the tour is doable, we will do our best to help your wishes realize.

• Transportation all during the trip in a private vehicle or in a private wagon of a train or on a plane.
• Transfers are carried out in a private vehicle depending on the size of your tour.
• Accommodation in all the destinations inside Iran. They can be in two categories of standard (3-4 star hotels) or superior (5-star hotels or best in each town). You can ask for traditional house hotels, etc too.
• Breakfast is always included in all the accommodation you choose and you won’t have to pay for them separately, individually, etc. For lunch and dinner, you can choose when completing the tour inquiry form or before you finalize your tour package with us.
• Guidance of all the tour by our certified national/local tour guides.
• Admissions to enter all sites, museums, etc will always be part of the tour package.

There’s no specific date for this tour. It’s a sample tour itinerary by itself. However, we’ve tried and enriched it for years and assure you that you can make the most of your trip in such a limited time by taking it.

Type & Description of Iran Highlights Tour

Iran highlights Tour has been planned as a one-week tour to make it possible for you to see the very highlights of Iran in one week.

This tour includes the cities of Tehran, Esfahan, and Shiraz together with their sites and museums so that you can learn about Iranian culture and history in a short period of time.

You can take this tour and travel for 6, 7 or 8 days depending on your exact arrival and departure times. Your flight schedule and the exact time of arrival and departure can determine one night less or more at the first or last hotel.

Iran Highlights Tour is a guided tour in which a guide accompanies you from the start to the end. He follows the itinerary you’ve chosen, pays the entrance fees for the sites and museums, manages the tour, takes responsibility for solving any issues occurring during the tour, etc.

This is a cultural tour in which you learn about the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Iranians. Some of them are inscribed on  UNESCO’s list  and some are in UNESCO’s tentative list. Many still need to be documented to go through this process.

During the tour, you drive long and short distances and stop to see sites and people. At least every 90 minutes, you will stop to stretch your legs and relax for a while, have some refreshments, etc.

During the tour, you walk for a short/long time here and there inside the cities. If you choose to customize the tour and include some trekking, etc, you must make sure you’re fit enough to do it.

Itinerary of Iran Highlights Tour

Here’s the itinerary for this tour package:

Shiraz: 3 nights

Arrival at Shiraz International Airport. Meet with Guide. Transfer to hotel for rest.

Sightseeing in and around Shiraz:

• Nasir-ol-Molk mosque
• Narenjestan garden
• Tomb of Sa’dy
• Ali Ebn-e Hamzeh Shrine
• Karimkhany Citadel
• Vakil Mosque
• Vakil Bathhouse
• Vakil Bazaar including Saray-e Moshir
• Persepolis (UNESCO Site)
• Naqsh-e-Rostam
• Gate of Koran
• Eram Garden
• Tomb of Hafez

Esfahan: 2 nights

On the way to Esfahan, visit:

• Pasargadae & Tomb of Cyrus the Great (UNESCO Site)
• Ruins Izadkhast ancient village

In Esfahan, visit:

• Si-o-Se Pol (Allahverdikhan) bridge
• Khajoo bridge
• Chehelsotun Palace (UNESCO Site)
• Meidan-e-Emam (Naqsh-e-Jahan square) (UNESCO Site)
• Emam Khomeini Mosque (UNESCO Site)
• Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque (UNESCO Site)
• Aliqapoo Palace (UNESCO Site)
• Qeysariyeh Bazaar
• Vank Cathedral
• Jolfa Armenian quarter
• Museum of Music

Tehran: 2 nights

On the way to Tehran, in Kashan, visit:

• Tabatabaee Traditional House
• Fin Garden (UNESCO Site)

In Tehran, visit:

• National Museum (3 Halls: Prehistory, Pre-Islam & Post-Islam)
• Golestan Palace Complex (UNESCO Site)
• Treasury of National Jewels OR Carpet Museum

At the end of Iran Highlights Tour, transfer to Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) to fly out.

Send an Inquiry for Iran Highlights Tour Now!

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—Please choose an option— Traditional Hotels Standard Hotels (3-4 stars) Superior Hotels (Best in town OR 5 stars)

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This refers to the number of meals you want to receive.

—Please choose an option— Bed & Breakfast (included in all hotels) Half Board (Bed & Breakfast + Lunch OR Dinner) Full board (Bed & Breakfast + Lunch AND dinner)

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Hugging the lower slopes of the magnificent, snowcapped Alborz Mountains, Tehran is Iran’s most secular and liberal city. Spend time here – as you should – and you'll soon realise that the city is so much more than a chaotic jumble of concrete and crazy traffic blanketed by a miasma of air pollution. This is the nation's dynamic beating heart and the place to get a handle on modern Iran and what its future will likely be.

Your next trip starts here

Go from dreaming to planning with trip planning options made to help you craft your ideal itinerary.

Attractions

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Golestan Palace

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Sa’d Abad Museum Complex

Sprawling across the foothills of Darband, this estate was a summer home to royals since the Qajar dynasty, although it was the Pahlavis who expanded it…

Grand Bazaar

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Treasury of National Jewels

Owned by the Central Bank and accessed through its front doors, the cavernous vault that houses what is commonly known as the ‘Jewels Museum’ is not to be…

Niyavaran Cultural-Historic Complex

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Iran Holy Defense Museum

This epic-scale museum, on a landscaped site of 21 hectares, is dedicated to the Iran–Iraq War, a bloody eight-year conflict that claimed a million lives…

Azadi Tower (Borj-e Azadi)

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The Evening

O.j. simpson died at 76.

Also, the U.S. is preparing for Iran to retaliate soon. Here’s the latest at the end of Thursday.

By Matthew Cullen

O.J. Simpson lived a life that made him one of the most famous people in America. He was a Heisman Trophy winner and a star for the Buffalo Bills, and he made fortunes as a Hollywood actor and a commercial pitchman — he was the first Black star of a national television advertising campaign. Then, in 1994, he was charged in the double murder of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.

Simpson, who was 76, died yesterday at his home in Las Vegas. The cause was cancer, according to his family. You can read his full obituary here .

Simpson’s 1995 murder trial held up a cracked mirror to Black and white America and mesmerized the nation, which followed along on daily national television broadcasts . The jury acquitted him, but questions about his guilt or innocence never went away.

He was found liable for the deaths in a 1997 civil trial and was ordered to pay $33.5 million, although he paid little of the debt and struggled to stay out of trouble. He sold a book manuscript giving a “hypothetical” account of the murders, but after a public outcry, Ronald Goldman’s family secured the book rights.

In 2007 he was arrested after invading a Las Vegas hotel room and taking a trove of sports collectibles. Simpson was found guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping; he served nine years in prison and was released in 2017.

Look back: Here was The Times’s front-page story on the day Simpson was acquitted.

The U.S. is preparing for Iran to retaliate soon

The top U.S. military commander for the Middle East arrived in Israel today to coordinate with the Israeli military ahead of an expected attack by Iran .

Despite recent friction, President Biden said U.S. support for Israel was “ironclad,” and he warned that Iran was threatening a “significant” attack. Over the last 10 days, Iran’s leaders have repeatedly vowed to punish Israel for a strike that killed several senior Iranian commanders in Syria.

In other news from the region, Samantha Power, the head of U.S.A.I.D., told U.S. lawmakers that a famine was underway in northern Gaza.

Prosecutors said Ohtani’s interpreter stole $16 million

Federal prosecutors in California today charged Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for the baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, with bank fraud. The authorities accused Mizuhara of orchestrating a sprawling scheme over years to steal $16 million of Ohtani’s money to feed a gambling addiction .

The prosecutors said that the money had been taken from an account where Ohtani’s baseball salary was paid, and that there was no evidence that Ohtani had authorized the withdrawals. The authorities added that there was no indication that Mizuhara had bet on baseball.

The global stockpile of cholera vaccine has run dry

Seventeen countries have recently seen cholera outbreaks, driven by climate change and conflict. Doses of cholera vaccine are being given to patients as fast as they are produced, and the global stockpile has run completely dry .

The only company that currently makes the vaccine has been working at a pace that experts describe as “heroic” to expand production. And three new vaccine makers are setting up production lines. Yet the supply this year will be, at best, a quarter of what is needed.

In other vaccine news, a new shot appears to offer strong protection against dengue fever but isn’t being made fast enough to stop a huge outbreak sweeping Latin America.

More top news

Diplomacy: President Biden wants a first-ever joint summit today with the leaders of Japan and the Philippines to project unity against China’s regional aggression.

Law: Georgia’s lieutenant governor will be investigated for his role as a fake elector for Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

Russia: Aleksei Navalny’s memoir , written during the years leading up to his death in a Russian prison in February, will be published in October.

Guns: The Biden administration approved the broadest expansion of background checks in decades in an attempt to regulate a fast-growing shadow market of weapons .

Education: Harvard became the latest university to end its test-optional application policy .

2024: We asked voters to describe the election in one word. Here’s what they told us.

Economy: Soft landing or no soft landing? With the rapid expansion of the economy and persistent inflation, “no landing” is a possibility .

Boeing: An audit found that a key supplier had used a hotel key card and dish soap in the manufacturing process. The supplier called the approach “innovative,” and Boeing signed off on it.

Health: The C.D.C. is investigating whether illnesses in several states came from counterfeit Botox .

Business: Costco started selling gold bars in October. It now may be selling up to $200 million worth of gold and silver a month.

Rescue: The Coast Guard found three lost sailors on an uninhabited island in Micronesia after they spelled “HELP” in palm leaves on the beach .

TIME TO UNWIND

A civil war film set in a near-future america.

Kirsten Dunst stars as a war photographer in a version of the U.S. where Texas and California have combined forces to fight a bloody and devastating war against what remains of the federal government. That’s the premise of Alex Garland’s new film, “Civil War,” which arrives in theaters tomorrow. Our critic called it “mesmerizingly, horribly gripping.”

Garland said the film was made to warn against the dangers of extreme partisanship. We spoke with him about what inspired the story .

Look out for more wedding dresses with dropped waists

One of the hottest trends from this month’s New York Bridal Fashion Week was the dropped waist — dresses that lower their seam line to the hips (as pictured above). “Expect this style to stay around for a while,” one bridal shop owner said.

Other nontraditional looks were also embraced on the runways, including mixed fabrics, bra-like necklines and basque waists that are a bit Marie Antoinette. Check out the highlights of the week .

For more, here are a few accessories to add a pop of personality to your wedding day look.

Dinner table topics

Resonant spaces: Where are New York’s best acoustics? We took a listening tour .

Celebrities aren’t like us: Trainers gave a thumbs down to Lenny Kravitz’s outlandish workout video .

A bright spot: Commercial Off Broadway, a long-dormant sector of the theater economy, is having a banner season .

Lost tapes: For decades, recordings from major artists have languished in storage rooms and basements. Two guys work to find them .

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT

Cook: This one-pan creamy artichokes and peas stew is a celebration of spring.

Watch: The remake of “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead” will have you laughing .

Read: Check out three new psychological thrillers .

Don’t worry: My colleague explained how she got by without knowing how to cook .

Exercise: VO2 max has become the gold standard for tracking fitness .

Chill: Experts say perfectionism is a trap. Here’s how to escape .

Hunt: Which Chicago apartment would you pick with a $500,000 budget ?

Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee , Wordle and Mini Crossword . Find all of our games here .

ONE LAST THING

The joys and challenges of caring for an octopus.

Cal Clifford wanted an octopus since he was 3 years old. Every year, he would ask for one; and every year his parents would get him octopus toys, clothes or a trip to the aquarium. Then last year, on Cal’s ninth birthday, he finally was given a real pet octopus. He named it Terrance .

Cal and his family quickly came to adore the octopus, who turned out to be quite social, but what they didn't know was that Terrance was a female. She laid 50 eggs, forcing the family to scramble to keep the hatchlings alive and to find them homes.

Have a supportive evening.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew

We welcome your feedback. Write to us at [email protected] .

Why Has Lufthansa Canceled Flights to Iran But Austrian Airlines Keeps Flying?

Gordon Smith , Skift

April 11th, 2024 at 7:02 AM EDT

The cancellations come as U.S. intelligence reports suggest an attack on Israeli assets by Iran or its proxies could be imminent.

Gordon Smith

Lufthansa has canceled flights to and from Iran as tensions escalate in the region. However, Skift has discovered that the cancellations aren’t universal, even within the same airline group.

A Lufthansa spokesperson confirmed that all of the airline’s services up to and including this Saturday have been canceled, citing “the situation in the region.”

The German flag carrier usually operates five flights a week from its Frankfurt hub to Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport. 

In contrast, Austrian Airlines has continued its regular program with a flight operating as normal from Vienna on Tuesday. A further departure is due later on Thursday.

An Austrian Airlines spokesperson told Skift that it had no plans to cancel its Tehran flights: “Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines have come to the same safety assessment of the situation on the ground. The Austrian Airlines flight planned for today will take place.”

While Austrian retains its own management team, it operates as a subsidiary of  the wider Lufthansa Group . It is unusual for two airlines within the same organization to reach different conclusions to serve a destination.

Why Isn’t Austrian Cancelling Its Flights?

The explanation lies in the logistics of the route. The company told Skift that as a precautionary measure, the usual overnight layover in Tehran will be suspended until April 13.

“Due to the shorter flight time that Austrian has compared to other airlines, it is possible to fly Vienna-Tehran-Vienna without a night stop within the legally permitted working hours of the crew.”

The airline added that Flight OS871 scheduled for today will take place, but will depart from the Austrian capital several hours late to “minimize the time between landing and departure in Tehran”.

“The safety of our passengers and crews is our top priority. The security situation on the ground is monitored around the clock and the flight program is adapted if necessary,” the company said.

Analysis of data from Cirium Diio shows the Austrian flag carrier usually flies six times a week to the Iranian capital.

Fears Mount of Iranian Reprisals

President Biden warned on Wednesday  that Iran is threatening to launch a “significant attack.” It follows an airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria last week.

U.S. intelligence reports suggest an attack on Israeli assets by Iran or its proxies could be imminent,  according to the Wall Street Journal . 

Lufthansa and Austrian are relative outliers in serving the Iranian capital from Europe. British Airways and KLM are among the big names that exited the market in 2018 citing  poor commercial conditions . 

This has left Iran Air – the country’s national airline – to operate the bulk of nonstop routes to and from Europe. It currently serves major cities including London, Paris, and Rome. Indirect options with carriers such as Emirates, Turkish Airlines, and Qatar Airways are also an option.

Airline Security in Focus

Airlines operating in the region are well-versed in making continuous security assessments.

Most international carriers halted all flights to Tel Aviv after the start of  the Israel-Gaza war in early October 2023 . While many European firms including easyJet and British Airways have resumed services, the situation for U.S. operators is patchier.

United Airlines is currently the only U.S. airline  to have returned to Israel . The company restarted flights from Newark to Tel Aviv in early March with a daily service. It said the decision followed “a detailed safety analysis.” 

Delta will resume its nonstop daily service between New York JFK and Tel Aviv from June 7. American Airlines  confirmed to Skift  that operations to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended until at least October 26.

Skift has contacted major international airlines operating to Tehran to gauge their assessment of the situation. A flydubai spokesperson confirmed all of its flights to Iran are currently scheduled to operate.

Airlines Sector Stock Index Performance Year-to-Date

What am I looking at?  The performance of airline sector stocks within the  ST200 . The index includes companies publicly traded across global markets including network carriers, low-cost carriers, and other related companies.

The Skift Travel 200 (ST200)  combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number.  See more airlines sector financial performance . 

Read the full methodology behind the Skift Travel 200.

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Israel wages war on Hamas

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April 7, 2024 - Israel-Hamas war

By Chris Lau, Catherine Nicholls, Antoinette Radford and Maureen Chowdhury , CNN

Our live coverage of Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza has moved  here .

Footage of Khan Younis after Israeli troop withdrawal shows rubble and razed buildings 

From CNN's Chris Lau

Some Palestinians who returned to the streets of Khan Younis after Israeli troops withdrew from the city have found themselves surrounded by rubble and heavily damaged buildings, footage taken by a Gaza resident shows. 

In one of the video clips, drones can be heard buzzing overhead. 

The man filming says that there was a high concentration of military equipment in this area during the military's incursion. 

The southern Gaza city of Khan Younis was designated a safe zone by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the early days of the war. 

But as the Israeli army pushed south, the city came under sustained attack, with the IDF labeling it a Hamas stronghold. 

Some of the Israeli military's offensives took place at medical facilities sheltering displaced civilians and health workers. The IDF said they located Hamas militants in hospitals. 

The military is "far from stopping" its operations in Gaza, its chief of staff said on Sunday, after the IDF said it had withdrawn its ground forces from Khan Younis after months of fierce fighting. 

This post has been updated to clarify the resident's comments in the video.

"Significant progress" in Gaza ceasefire talks, Egyptian state media report, citing senior official source

From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq

Negotiations in Cairo between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal have achieved "significant progress" and consensus on many controversial points, according to Egyptian state outlet Al Qahera News, citing a senior Egyptian official.

The official confirmed the "continuation of efforts to reach a truce agreement" in Gaza, according to the state outlet.

"The round of negotiations in Cairo is witnessing great progress in bringing points of view closer together," Al Qahera cited the source as saying, adding that there had been an agreement on "basic axes between all parties."

The source said the Qatari and Hamas delegations would leave Cairo and return within two days to agree to the final terms of the agreement. The US and Israeli delegations would leave within hours, though consultations would continue over the next 48 hours, the source told Al Qahera.

Hamas' demands: Hamas said Sunday it would like to see a "complete cessation of aggression." The group also reiterated its demands, including a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, reconstruction of the damage in Gaza from Israel's military, and a "completion of a prisoner exchange deal" involving a mutual release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Israel has repeatedly called Hamas' demands " delusional ."

Israeli military says it's preparing to shift from defense to offense on the border with Lebanon

From CNN's Ben Wedeman and Mia Alberti in Beirut

The Israeli military said Sunday it is "preparing to move from defence to attack" regarding operations on the northern border with Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have been exchanging increased fire since the day after Hamas launched the October 7 attacks in Israel, with casualties reported on both sides. It is one of multiple ongoing conflicts between Israel and Iranian proxy groups .

"During the last days, another phase of the Northern Command’s preparations for the war was completed, which revolved around raising the capabilities of emergency operational depots for the purpose of large-scale recruitment of IDF forces when necessary ... and their arrival to the front line within a short period with all the necessary equipment for combat," the IDF said in a statement.

The IDF said commanders of regular and reserve units are now ready to be deployed "within just a few hours."

The statement was released in both English and Arabic, with the statement in Arabic using slightly different language. The English-language version does not carry the phrase "preparing to move from defence to attack" and instead highlights the Israeli military's "readiness for the transition from defense to offense."

Doctors operate on children from the floor of northern Gaza hospital, while others starve in "dire" conditions

From journalist Abdel Qadder Al-Sabbah in Gaza and CNN’s Kareem Khadder and Zeena Saifi in Jerusalem

A group of American doctors who spent over a week working in hospitals in northern Gaza describe "miserable," "catastrophic" and "dire" conditions to CNN, as more people die of starvation in the enclave. 

The doctors volunteered through a World Heath Organization-coordinated mission to the north of Gaza — where little to no aid is reaching hospitals, and spent most of their time at the Kamal Adwan Hospital . 

"The situation here is dire … they’re running on solar power, there’s no fuel to run the electricity in the hospital … patients are lying on the floors in their blood because there’s no beds available,” Dr. Farhan Abdelaziz, an emergency medicine physician said. "The humanitarian crisis here is beyond what words can really convey."

Video filmed by a CNN stringer in Kamal Adwan Hospital shows the doctors operating on screaming patients on the floor, most of whom are children. Abdelaziz is seen trying to calm down a nine-year-old girl crying out in pain, caressing her hand, telling her to pray to God.

Another doctor said the hospital received "mass casualties" every day — ranging from 10 to 20 people showing up all at once.

"This morning we woke up and found out that four patients died in the ICU. One of them was about 10 years old, and the mom refused to leave the child’s bedside, refused to believe that the child was dead, refused to let the staff cover her up ... She just couldn’t believe her child was dead,” Dr. Samer Attar, an orthopedic surgeon, told CNN. The child died of malnutrition and dehydration, he said.

At least 30 Palestinians have died of malnutrition in Gaza, including over 20 children, according to the enclave's Ministry of Health. 

"These people, they just need help. They just want this to stop. … Nobody discusses politics here. They just talk about food and water and shelter, and they just want the war the end," Attar said.

Negotiations over Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal continue in Cairo, Egyptian state media reports

From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq, Kareem Khadder and Mia Alberti

Negotiations over a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, in an indirect fashion and under Egyptian mediation, continued in Cairo on Sunday, Egypt's state-run media Al-Qahera News reported Sunday, citing a senior source.

"The proposed truce includes a detainee exchange deal and mechanisms for the return of the displaced in the Gaza Strip," the news agency said in a post on X.

Hamas said in a statement as its delegation arrived Sunday that it is keen to reach an agreement that would see a "complete cessation of aggression."

The group also reiterated its demands, including a withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, reconstruction of the damage in Gaza from Israel's military, and a "completion of a prisoner exchange deal" involving a mutual release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Israel has repeatedly called Hamas' demands "delusional."

This weekend's talks come six months into the conflict, and as the Israeli military withdrew troops from the southern city of Khan Younis on Sunday, saying they will regroup and prepare for further missions in the strip.

Israeli military says it's "far from stopping" operations in Gaza as troops withdraw from Khan Younis

From Tamar Michaelis

The Israel Defense Forces is "far from stopping" military operations in the Gaza Strip, its chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said at a news conference Sunday.

"We will not leave any Hamas brigades active, in any part of the Gaza Strip. We have plans and will act when we decide," he said, adding that the military's goals in Gaza have not been fully achieved, including the return of all hostages, the return of displaced residents to the north, and the dismantling of Hamas throughout the enclave.

In response to a question about the military's withdrawal of ground forces from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, Halevi claimed Hamas' military wing had been diminished to operating as "small terrorist cells."

He reiterated that the IDF has not left the Gaza Strip and that there are "many troops at this very hour" in the strip.

The country's defense minister made similar remarks earlier Sunday, saying the withdrawing troops will regroup and then  prepare for new missions , including in  Rafah .

Israeli troops leaving Gaza will prepare for "follow-up missions," including in Rafah, defense minister says

From Tamar Michaelis in Jerusalem and Lauren Kent in London

Some Israeli troops are leaving Gaza to prepare for follow-up missions, including in the southernmost Rafah region , Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Sunday.

"We are reaching a situation where Hamas does not control the Gaza Strip and that it does not function as a military framework that poses a risk to the citizens of the State of Israel," Gallant added, in remarks during a visit to assess the Israel Defense Forces' Southern Command.

Earlier Sunday , the IDF said its 98th division had "concluded its mission" in the southern city of Khan Younis and was leaving the Gaza Strip to "recuperate and prepare for future operations."

The defense minister said Israeli forces had destroyed "enemy targets, warehouses, weapons, underground (infrastructure), headquarters (and) communication rooms" in Khan Younis.

Remember: An Israeli invasion of Rafah has been anticipated with grave concern from the United Nations and international aid organizations, as more than 1 million civilians are packed into the Gazan city with nowhere left to run .

World Central Kitchen head criticizes Israeli inquiry into "unforgivable" strikes that killed aid workers

From CNN’s Xiaofei Xu in Paris

The Israeli strikes that killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers in Gaza are “unforgivable,” the organization's founder, José Andrés, said as he criticized the  Israel Defense Forces inquiry  into the killings.

Andrés called for an independent investigation and better evidence from the IDF in an interview with ABC's Martha Raddatz that aired Sunday, adding that Israel cannot properly investigate itself.

What Israel has said: In a report published Friday, the IDF said the strike was a "grave mistake" and that troops thought they were attacking Hamas gunmen when drone strikes targeted three vehicles of the WCK late Monday night.

More from Andrés: The aid group founder doubts Israel's claim that it failed to identify the vehicles because it was dark out. Andrés said WCK vehicles are white with a colorful logo painted above, and that Israel’s high-tech drones should have no issue identifying them.

The IDF had said that because the strikes happened at night, the surveillance drones could not see the WCK logo on the vehicles, and that it is considering distributing thermal stickers for aid vehicles to prevent this happening again.

“This doesn’t seem (like) a war against terror. This doesn’t seem anymore a war about defending Israel. This, really at this point, seems (like) a war against humanity itself,” Andrés said.

He also urged the US to put out concrete measures to ensure Israel avoids killing civilians and aid workers — instead of just giving warnings. “There should already be consequences,” he said, commenting on the latest  White House warning  for Israel to do better at protecting civilians.

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Iran frees 4 conservationists who worked to save cheetahs before being convicted of espionage.

Associated Press

TEHRAN – Iran released four conservationists who had worked to save the endangered Asiatic cheetah before they were convicted on espionage charges and spent five years in prison, local media reported on Tuesday.

The Tehran newspaper Etemad said authorities released on Monday night Niloufar Bayani and Houman Jowkar, who were part of a group of five activists convicted in 2019 on internationally criticized espionage charges.

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Later on Tuesday, several Iranian media outlets, including the semiofficial ILNA news agency, said two other conservationists were also released, Sepideh Kashani and Taher Ghadirain.

The four are among more than 2,000 prisoners granted amnesty on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The United Nations Environment Program on Monday welcomed the release of Bayani and Jowkar, who are members of the nonprofit Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation. Iranian authorities released Sam Rajabi, another member of the group, in 2023.

The conservationists were arrested in 2018, along with Kavous Seyed-Emami, the 64-year-old founder of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation. Seyed-Emami, an Iranian-Canadian dual citizen, died while awaiting trial under disputed circumstances.

Bayani was sentenced to a 10-year prison term in 2019, while the others received six-to-eight-year terms on espionage charges. The case against members of the nonprofit Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation came as protests and unrest shook parts of Iran amid a government-imposed internet shutdown.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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