IRAN
Tourist Attractions

For almost all types of travelers, Iran has something to offer. If you are interested in culture, Iran will be your heaven. If you are into art, the architecture and museums will leave you satisfied and for nature lovers, Iran has some of the most breathtaking natural attractions you will find anywhere in the world.

IRAN
Tourist Attractions

For almost all types of travelers, Iran has something to offer. If you are interested in culture, Iran will be your heaven. If you are into art, the architecture and museums will leave you satisfied and for nature lovers, Iran has some of the most breathtaking natural attractions you will find anywhere in the world.

Tourist Attractions in Tehran

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Tehran
The capital of Iran is a mix of tradition and modernity. It’s a bustling, vibrant, busy, and somewhat messy city, with amazing museums, galleries, cafes and restaurants.

Being the famous capital of the country and having a multinational population, Tehran is home to various attractions. One is the huge traditional market called the Grand Bazaar. It is very old; a maze of corridors with many interesting market shops selling everything from carpets and jewelry to pots and pans. There are banks, restaurants, teashops and mosques, a fascinating attraction for any traveler to Tehran.

Not far from the Bazar, there is the Golestan Palace, another well-known tourist attraction in the city. There you can find opulent tiled mirrored halls. Another place to visit is the Treasury of National Jewels which is based in the central bank of the country and located in the important commercial center. There is a wonderful collection of gemstones and jewels and it is by far the largest jewelry museum in the world. Within walking distance, you will reach the National Museum of Iran which exhibits a magnificent collection of ceramics, stone figures, and carvings dating back to the fifth millennium BC. Other tourist attractions include Saad Abad Palace, a collection of palaces in a large garden where Iran’s last King and his family lived, Niavaran Palace (located in the northern Tehran foothills with several hectares of nice gardens and five separate museums), Tabiat Bridge, Milad Tower and the Tochal sports and recreational complex.

 

places to visit in Iran - Tehran

Tourist Attractions in Kashan

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Kashan
Along with the famous Iranian cities such as Isfahan and Shiraz, Kashan is definitely on every traveler’s itinerary because of its historical sites. There are many palaces and historical houses from the Qajarid and Safavid eras in this beautiful town.

The Fin Garden is a good example of a Persian garden containing a Fin Bath where Amir Kabir, the most famous Qajarid prime minister, was murdered. Soltan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse is another attraction featuring fine architecture which dates back four centuries. In addition, you can visit some amazing historical houses such as Borujerdis House, Tabatabaei House, and Abbasi House. The latter has been turned into a traditional restaurant where you can taste the best examples of Iranian cuisine.

Another nice attraction of this wonderful city is the 7000-year-old Sialk Hills, located in the suburbs of Kashan. Many believe that the hills feature the remnant of an ancient ziggurat that would have existed millennia ago.

In the Seljuk period, Kashan was famous for its textiles, pottery and tiles, producing the very best in the industry. Nowadays, the city is better known as a major centre for the production of rose essence, sold in many shops around the tourist attractions and stores in the city’s bazaar.

 

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Kashan

Tourist Attractions in Isfahan

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Isfahan
220 kilometers south of Kashan sits the majestic city of Isfahan. Known as "half the world" among Iranians, the city has been the capital twice in the history of the Persian empire.

Isfahan is a world-famous historical city which receives a huge number of tourists from all over the world every year. It is a famous tourist destination for many reasons. The tree-lined boulevards, marvelous gardens and great Islamic buildings are visually fascinating. Numerous artisans work here and this has given it a reputation as being a living museum of traditional culture and industry.

Naqshe-Jahan Square is one of the most beautiful attractions in the world and a UNESCO heritage site. Around the square, you will find Ali Qapu, a fine historical palace, Masjed-e Jameh Abbasi (Shah mosque of Isfahan), a magnificent construction with features of Islamic architecture and Iranian art. All around the square is the traditional market of the city known as Bazaar-e Bozorg, which continues for kilometers. Life is always buzzing in the plaza, especially at dusk, when families gather to picnic on the grass and chat.

Chehel Sotun Palace is another amazing site to visit. Here you will see the beautifully painted frescos of the Safavid period. Not far from the palace you can visit Isfahan’s famous blood vessel, the most popular river in central Iran, Zayandeh-Rud, and the historical bridges Si-o-se Pol and Pol-e Khaju. On the other side of the river there is the Vank church and the Armenian Cathedral located in the Julfa district. These are interesting places to experience different religious minorities in Iran.

 

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Isfahan

Tourist Attractions in Yazd

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Iran
Located in a desert area, Yazd has Iranian architecture adapted to the climate and is known as “the city of windcatchers”. The city was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site mostly because of its ancient architecture, which every traveler falls in love with.

Located in the oldest part of town, the Jame mosque of Yazd (Friday prayer mosque) has the tallest minarets, wonderful architecture, and a big reputation all over the country

Yazd is also a good place to find facts related to Zoroastrian tradition as the largest population of Zoroastrian Iranians live in Yazd and the surrounding towns. You will find a fire burning since 470 AD in Atashkadeh, the Zoroastrian fire temple. Another attraction is the Towers of Silence, built by the Zoroastrians as a burial place thousands of years ago.

Yazd is also known for having one of the largest networks of qanats in the world. These are gently sloping underground channels for transferring water. The three-story facade Amir Chakhmaq Complex is certainly the most famous monument in the city center, facing a square with the same name. It includes some other structures such as a bazaar and a mosque.

 

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Iran

Shiraz Tourist Attractions

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Shiraz
Considered as one of the best cultural sites of Iran, Shiraz is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. It was the capital city for various kings in Iranian history, for example, the Zand Dynasty.

Shiraz is the birthplace of the largest and strongest Persian empire, the Achaemenids. Persepolis and Necropolis are two fabulous attractions in this regard.

The name of this city is strongly associated with flowers, trees, nightingales, and poetry.  Shiraz is also well known for its rich literary history, having many scholars and poets including Hafez and Sadi. Shiraz has many other famous attractions including Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Shah-e-Cheragh Shrine (a major pilgrimage place for Iranians), Vakil Bazaar, and the Eram Garden.

 

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Shiraz

Tourist Attractions in Kerman

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Kerman
Another large city with tourist attractions in Iran is Kerman. The city is one of the oldest in Iran and is well known for its great cultural heritage and its thriving hand-woven carpet industry dating back to the late 19th century.

Ganjali Khan, the governor of Kerman, originally built a square to copy the Naghshe Jahan square of Isfahan in the 17th century. This includes a bathhouse, mosque, religious school, and bazar. The Bath Museum includes a small collection of wax dummies, demonstrating what to do in a traditional bathhouse. The bazaar is large and there are some old mosques, including Masjed-e Malek (Mosque of the King, built in the 11th century), Masjed-e Jame, Masjed-e Bazar-e Shaah (Mosque of the Shah’s Bazaar, founded under the Seljuqs domination), and Masjed-e Pa Minar (built in 1390 under the Timurids domination). At the western end of the bazaar you will find the Arg, the former citadel built in the Qajar dynasty. Other attractions in the area are Shah Nematollah Vali’s Shrine, Bagh-e Shahzadeh (Shahzadeh Garden), Arg-e Bam (Bam Citadel), and the fascinating Lut desert.

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Kerman

Tourist attractions in Tabriz​

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Tabriz
Tabriz is one of the oldest cities in Iran and is located on the hillside of the Sahand Mountain. As the most populous city in the East Azerbaijan province and the largest city in the northwest of Iran, Tabriz has a lot of historical and beautiful places.

The Blue Mosque (Masjed-e Kabud is a magnificent tiled building, and the Arg-e Alishah (Alishah Citadel) has one of the highest walls in Iran. Elgoli Park is beautiful and has been called the first internet park in Iran. Harir house is a historical building, renowned for its Iranian miniature.

Other attractions include Tabriz Bazaar, the Municipal Museum, Azerbaijan Museum, Constitution House, Qajar Museum, and Kandovan village. Regarding the crafts, Tabriz handmade carpets are famous all around the world due to their specific design and high quality. You can spend half a day in Tabriz Grand Bazar seeing all sorts of carpets. Moreover, it is one of the main commercial, industrial and cultural centers in Iran.

 

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Tabriz

Tourist Attractions in Qeshm

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Iran
Qeshm is a famous island in southern Iran, featuring stunning landscapes and several beautiful places much admired by tourists. If you are wanting scenic places to visit, here you will see many. One of the finest sites on the island is the GeoPark, the only one in the Middle East.

 

Many travelers might think of Iran as only a historical destination, but Qeshm truly shows that the country has also fabulous natural attractions as well. The Namakdan Salt Cave, Chahkooh Canyon, Harra Forest, Stars Valley, and Naz Islands are only a few of the many attractions.

The fascinating Kharbas caves are located fifteen kilometres from Qeshm City. They are amazing caves, naturally formed by receding water levels in the area 2800 years ago. Travelers can also visit Namakdan Cave, an exceptional salt cave with fine colorful crystals.

places to visit in Iran - tourist attractions in Iran
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Hello!
My name is Moein and I am an experienced licensed tour manager and guide. I am familiar with all places and events in Iran and committed to ensuring your time with me is a well-balanced mix of wonder, education and fun.