Amazing places to go when you visit Iran

Table of Contents

Visit Iran

Visit Iran
Visit Iran

If you arrived on this page, I am sure you are curious and whiling to visit Iran right?

So, let me tell you from the start, that Iran is an amazing country.

Do you have any doubts about it?

I know that the general opinion in the West is that Iran is a dangerous country.

The NEWS in Europe and the US tell us about a different Iran. They describe a place full of violence that makes us believe the country is populated with mad, unfriendly and ferocious people.

Well, we got that wrong…

Visit Iran
Visit Iran – 79 reasons and places that will make Iran your next travel destination

Is Iran safe to travel?

  • First: Iran is one of the safest places I’ve ever been to. Crime is much lower than in most European countries and the U.S.A.
  • Second: Iranian people are among the friendliest and most hospitable in the World;
  • Third: Iran is quite developed, clean, and its population are well educated and have cultural / political awareness.

I’m sure that your opinion about Iran will change after you check out these 79 reasons and places that will make Iran your next travel destination.

NOTE: I visited Iran three times already. First time in 2004, when the country was totally unknown to westerners. The second time was in 2012 when I traveled with my wife, and we left Iran with the desire of coming back soon. And we did. In early 2018 we explored Iran for two months, driving our own campervan – YES! #VANLIFE in Iran is possible! Expect some future blog posts about it soon.

Visit Iran

1- Arg-e Rayen Citadel in Rayen

Citadel Arg Rayen in Rayen - Places to Visit in Iran
1,000 years old Arg Rayen Citadel in Rayen – Places to Visit in Iran

2- Ali Qapu Palace in Isfahan

Ali Qapu Palace in Isfahan - Visit Iran
Ali Qapu Palace in Isfahan built in the 16th century. The interior decoration of this palace is incredible

3- Golestan Palace in Tehran

Golestan Palace in Tehran - UNESCO Sites in Iran
Golestan Palace in Tehran built in the 16th century – UNESCO Sites in Iran

4- Naqsh-e Khostam

Naqsh-e Khostam ancient necropolis from 1000 BC - Sightseeing in Iran
Naqsh-e Khostam ancient necropolis from 1000 BC – Sightseeing in Iran

5- Alis Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage

Alis Malt Beverage - What to drink in Iran
Alis Malt Beverage – What to drink in Iran

6- Amir Chakmak Mosque Complex in Yazd

Amir Chakmak Mosque in Yazd - Monuments and Sightseeing in Iran
Amir Chakmak Mosque in Yazd from the 16th century – Monuments and Sightseeing in Iran

7- Architecture in Tehran

Architecture Tehran - Visit Iran
Architecture in Tehran – Visit Iran

8- Arg-e Bam Citadel in Bam

Bam Citadel - UNESCO Sites in Iran
Bam Citadel, was the largest adobe building in the world – UNESCO Sites in Iran

9- Ateshkadeh Zaroastrian Fire Temple in Yazd

Zoroastrian Religion Ateshkadeh Fire Temple in Yazd - Religion in Iran
Zoroastrian Religion Ateshkadeh Fire Temple in Yazd – Religion in Iran

10- Bastani Traditional Restaurant in Isfahan

Bastani Traditional Restaurant in Isfahan - Where to eat in Iran
Bastani Traditional Restaurant in Isfahan – Where to eat in Iran

11- Market Bazar-e No in Shiraz

Market Bazar No in Shiraz - Where to go in Iran
Market Bazar No in Shiraz – Where to go in Iran

12- Market Bazar-e Vakil in Shiraz

Market Bazar Vakil in Shiraz - Where to go in Iran
Market Bazar Vakil in Shiraz – Where to go in Iran

13- Begh-e Melli Complex in Tehran

Begh-e Melli in Tehran - Monuments and Sightseeing in Iran
Begh-e Melli in Tehran. The National Garden gates built in 1906 – Monuments and Sightseeing in Iran

14- Boat Bandar Abbas to Qeshm Island

Boat Bandar Abbas to Qeshm Island - What to do in Iran
Boat from Bandar Abbas to Qeshm Island through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf – Visit Iran

15- Iranian Breakfast

Iranian Breakfast - What to eat in Iran
Iranian Breakfast with tomato scrambled eggs and fresh Mango Juice – What to eat in Iran

16- Busy Streets in Tehran

Busy Streets Tehran - Visit Iran
Busy Streets of Tehran – Visit Iran

17- Caravanserai and Textile Museum in Meybod

Textile Museum in Meybod - What to do in Iran
Textile Museum in Meybod – What to do in Iran

18- Zoroastrian Shrine in Chak Chak

Chak Chak Zoroastrian Shrine - Visit Iran
Chak Chak Zoroastrian Shrine with an ever-dripping mountain spring

19- New City Center in Bam

Bam new city - Places to Visit in Iran
Bam new city – Places to Visit in Iran

20- Iranian Craftsmen

Skillful Iranian Craftsmen - What to buy in Iran
Skillful Iranian Craftsmen – What to buy in Iran

21- Eat Fresh Blackberries

Fresh Blackberries - What to eat in Iran
Eat Fresh Blackberries selling on the street – What to eat in Iran

22- Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom

Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom - Religion in Iran
Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom – Religion in Iran

23- Fortress Arg-e Karim Khan in Shiraz

Fortress Arg Karim Khan in Shiraz - Places to Visit in Iran
Fortress Arg Karim Khan in Shiraz built in 1766 – Places to Visit in Iran

24- Jameh Mosque in Isfahan

Jameh Mosque in Isfahan built in 1611 - UNESCO Sites in Iran
Jameh Mosque in Isfahan built in 1611 – UNESCO Sites in Iran

25- Fresh Fruit Juices

Fresh Fruit Juices - What to drink in Iran
Fresh Fruit Juices – What to drink in Iran

26- Gold Markets in Tehran

Gold Markets in Tehran - Visit Iran
Gold Markets in Tehran – Visit Iran

27- Vank Cathedral in Isfahan

Holy Savior Christian Cathedral in Isfahan - Religion in Iran
Holy Savior Cathedral in Isfahan from the Armenian Christians – Religion in Iran

28- Iranian Ice Cream

Iranian Ice Cream - What to eat in Iran
Iranian Ice Cream – What to eat in Iran

29- Ice House in Meybod

Ice House in Meybod - Sightseeing in Iran
Ice House in Meybod – Sightseeing in Iran

30- Imam Khomeini Mosque in Tehran

Imam Khomeini Mosque in Tehran - Religion in Iran
Imam Khomeini Mosque in Tehran – Religion in Iran

31- Imam Reza Shrine and Mosque in Mashhad

Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad - Religion in Iran
Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad – Religion in Iran

32- Imam Square in Isfahan

Imam Square in Isfahan - UNESCO Sites in Iran
Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan built in 1598 – UNESCO Sites in Iran

33- Iranian Food

Iranian Food - What to eat in Iran
Iranian Food – What to eat in Iran

34- Iranian Sweets

Iranian Sweets - What to buy in Iran
Iranian Sweets – What to buy in Iran

35- Jameh Mosque in Yazd

Jameh Mosque in Yazd - What to visit in Iran
Jameh Mosque in Yazd built in the 14th century – What to visit in Iran

36- Jamkaran Mosque in Qom

Jamkaran Mosque in Qom - Religion in Iran
Jamkaran Mosque in Qom – Religion in Iran

37- Aliqapu Bazar Artistic Complex in Isfahan

Market Bazars in Isfahan - What to see in Iran
Market Bazars in Isfahan – What to see in Iran

38- Old Village in Kharanaq

Kharanaq Village - Places to Visit in Iran
Kharanaq Adobe Village – Places to Visit in Iran

39- Malek National Library and Museum in Tehran

Malek National Library and Museum in Tehran - What to do in Iran
Malek National Library and Museum in Tehran – What to do in Iran

40- Mausoleum of Imamzadeh-ye Ali in Shiraz

Mausoleum of Imamzadeh-ye Ali Ebn-e Hamze in Shiraz - Religion in Iran
Mausoleum of Imamzadeh-ye Ali Ebn-e Hamze in Shiraz – Religion in Iran

41- Melli Park in Shiraz

Melli Park in Shiraz - Visit Iran
Melli Park in Shiraz

42- Old City in Meybod

Meybod old city - Places to Visit in Iran
Meybod old desert city – Places to Visit in Iran

43- Modern Art Sculpture Gardens

Modern Art Sculptures - What to see in Iran
Modern Art Sculptures in Gardens – What to see in Iran

44- Naqsh-e Rajab

Naqsh-e Rustam ancient necropolis from 1000 BC - Sightseeing in Iran
Naqsh-e Rajab archaeological site of the Sasanian dynasty from 224 AC to 651 AC – Sightseeing in Iran

45- Narein Castle in Meybod

Narein Castle in Meybod - Places to Visit in Iran
Narein Castle in Meybod – Places to Visit in Iran

46- National Museum of Iran in Tehran

National Museum in Tehran - What to do in Iran
National Museum in Tehran – What to do in Iran

47- Nazar Garden and Pars Museum in Shiraz

Pars Museum in Shiraz - What to do in Iran
Pars Museum in Shiraz – What to do in Iran

48- Old Post Office in Meybod

300 year old Post Office in Meybod - Places to Visit in Iran
300 year old Post Office in Meybod – Places to Visit in Iran

49- Pasargadae

Tomb of Cyrus the Great in Pasargadae old Persian capital - UNESCO Sites in Iran
Tomb of Cyrus the Great in Pasargadae old Persian capital from 559–530 BC – UNESCO Sites in Iran

50- Peace Museum in Tehran

Peace Museum in Tehran - What to do in Iran
Peace Museum in Tehran – What to do in Iran

51- Friendly Iranian People

Friendly Iranian People - Visit Iran
Friendly Iranian People – Visit Iran

Also visit: Iran – Photos of People.

52- Persepolis

Persepolis ancient city - UNESCO Sites in Iran
Persepolis ancient city from 550–330 BC – UNESCO Sites in Iran

53- Persian Calligraphy

Amazing Persian Calligraphy - Visit Iran
Amazing Persian Calligraphy

54- Persian Gulf Coast in Bandar Abbas

Bandar Abbas Persian Gulf port city - Where to go in Iran
Bandar Abbas Persian Gulf port city – Where to go in Iran

55- Iranian Pic Nic

Iranian Pic-nic - What to do in Iran
Iranian Pic-nic – What to do in Iran

56- Pigeon Tower in Meybod

Pigeon Tower in Meybod - Places to Visit in Iran
Pigeon Tower in Meybod – Places to Visit in Iran

57- Faloodeh Dessert in Shiraz

Faloodeh dessert from Shiraz topped with rose water and pomegranate jam - What to eat in Iran
Faloodeh dessert topped with rose water and pomegranate jam – What to eat in Iran

58- Empty Beaches in Qeshm Island

Qeshm Island Beaches - Visit Iran
Qeshm Island Beaches

59- Shahr Park in Tehran

Shahr Park in Tehran - Where to go in Iran
Shahr Park in Tehran – Where to go in Iran

60- Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan - Monuments and Sightseeing in Iran
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan – Monuments and Sightseeing in Iran

61- Shohada Martyrs Museum in Tehran

Shohada Martyrs Museum in Tehran - What to do in Iran
Shohada Martyrs Museum in Tehran – What to do in Iran

62- Si-o-se Pol Bridge in Esfahan

Cross the river of Si-o-se-Pol Bridge in Isfahan built in 1599 - What to do in Iran
Cross the river of Si-o-se-Pol Bridge in Isfahan – What to do in Iran

63- Iranian Souvenir Shops

Souvenir Shops - What to buy in Iran
Souvenir Shops – What to buy in Iran

64- Iranian Street Falafel

Street Falafel - What to eat in Iran
Street Falafel – What to eat in Iran

65- Tea Houses in Isfahan

Iranian Tea in a Traditional Chaykhana Tea House in Isfahan - What to drink in Iran
Iranian Tea in a Traditional Chaykhana Tea House in Isfahan – What to drink in Iran

66- Central Market Bazar in Tehran

Market Bazar in Tehran - Where to go in Iran
Market Bazar in Tehran – Where to go in Iran

67- Tomb of Aramgah-e Hafez in Shiraz

Tomb of Aramgah-e Hafez in Shiraz - Places to Visit in Iran
Tomb of Aramgah-e Hafez in Shiraz – Places to Visit in Iran

68- Towers of Silence in Yazd

Towers of Silence in Yazd - What to Visit in Iran
Towers of Silence in Yazd – What to Visit in Iran

69- Iranian Traditional Hotels

Traditional Hotels - Accommodation in Iran
Traditional Hotels – Accommodation in Iran

70- Traditional Iranian Carpets and Rugs

Iranian Carpet and Rugs - What to buy in Iran
Iranian Carpet and Rugs – What to buy in Iran

71- Traditional Iranian Puppet Shows

Traditional Iranian Puppet Show - What to do in Iran
Traditional Iranian Puppet Show – What to do in Iran

Traditional Iranian Puppet Show in Golestan Palace, Tehran

72- Iranian Religiousness and Spirituality

Religiousness and Spirituality - Religion in Iran
Religiousness and Spirituality – Religion in Iran

73- Vakil Mosque in Shiraz

Vakil Mosque in Shiraz - Visit Iran
Vakil Mosque in Shiraz – Visit Iran

74- Iranian Street Wall Art

Wall Art - What to see in Iran
Wall Art – What to see in Iran

75- Water Museum in Yazd

Water Museum in Yazd - What to do in Iran
Water Museum in Yazd – What to do in Iran

76- Old City in Yazd

Yazd Old City - Where to go in Iran
Yazd Old City – Where to go in Iran

77- Zaid Mosque in Tehran

Zaid Mosque in Tehran - Religion in Iran
Zaid Mosque in Tehran – Religion in Iran

78- Ziai Ye School in Yazd

Ziai Ye School in Yazd - Monuments and Sightseeing in Iran
Ziai Ye School in Yazd, also known as Alexander’s Prision – Monuments and Sightseeing in Iran

79- City Center in Shiraz

City Center in Shiraz - What to visit in Iran
City Center in Shiraz – What to visit in Iran

Some ideas about Iran to be taken in consideration

  • Everything Western TV says about Iran is mostly propaganda and do not correspond to the real Iran.
  • People are more friendly than you think.
  • The country is more developed than you think.
  • Iran is relatively cheap.
  • Iran will be one of the safest countries you’ve ever been to. Crime is almost non-existent.
  • Women travelers have to cover their hair while in Iran.
  • All countries in the world can get an easy 30 day Iranian Visa on arrival at any international airport. However, this rule does not apply to nationals of the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Somalia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, United States and Uzbekistan. Visa exemption countries are Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkey, and Venezuela. Entry is banned to Israeli nationals.
  • It is very easy to get a visa extension while already in Iran. You can get up to two extensions and stay maximum three months.

Also that you should know about Iran,

Iranian sites inscribed on the World Heritage UNESCO list

Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, Bam and its Cultural Landscape, Bisotun, Golestan Palace, Gonbad-e Qābus, Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan, Meidan Emam, Esfahan, Pasargadae, Persepolis, Sheikh Safi al-din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil, Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, Soltaniyeh, Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex, Takht-e Soleyman, Tchogha Zanbil and The Persian Garden.

Imam Mosque in Isfahan - Religion in Iran
Imam Mosque in Isfahan built in 1611 – UNESCO Sites in Iran

Read the page: Unique Religious Places to Visit in Iran.

Iranian sites submitted on the Tentative List of UNESCO

Alisadr Cave, Arasbaran Protected Area, Bastam and Kharghan, Bazaar of Qaisariye in Laar, Cultural Landscape of Alamout, Damavand, Firuzabad Ensemble, Ghaznavi- Seljukian Axis in Khorasan, Hamoun Lake, Harra Protected Area, Hegmataneh, Historic ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin, Historic Monument of Kangavar, Historical Ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin, Hyrcanian Forest Caspian Forest, Jame’ Congregational Mosque of Esfahan, Jiroft, Kaboud Mosque, Kerman Historical-Cultural Structure, Khabr National Park and Ruchun Wildlife Refuge, Khorramabad Valley, Kuh-e Khuaja, Lut Desert the vicinity of Shahdad, Nasqsh-e Rostam and Naqsh-e Rajab, Persepolis and other relevant, Qanats of Gonabad, Qeshm Island, Sabalan, Shahr-e Sukhteh, Shush, Silk Route also as Silk Road, Susa, Tape Sialk, Taq-e Bostan, The Collection of Historical Bridges, The Complex of Handmade Settlements in Iran Maymand Village, The Complex of Izadkhast, The Cultural Landscape of Uramanat, The Cultural-Natural Landscape of Ramsar, The Ensemble of Historical Sassanian Cities in Fars Province Bishabpur Firouzabad Sarvestan, The Historical City of Masouleh, The Historical City of Maybod, The Historical Port of Siraf, The Historical Structure of Yazd, The Historical Texture of Damghan, The Historical Village of Abyaneh, The Historical–Cultural Axis of Fin Sialk Kashan, The Natural-Historical Landscape of Izeh, The Zandiyeh Ensemble of Fars Province, Touran Biosphere Reserve, Tous Cultural Landscape and Zozan.

Read the page: Fars Province – Iran: 23 Beautiful Places You Need To Visit.