Things to do in Iran

25 things to do in Iran

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Explore the ancient ruins of Persepolis

  Walk among the colossal staircases, imposing gateways, and exquisite bas-reliefs of the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, a UNESCO World Heritage site set against a stark desert backdrop.

  Fars Province, near Shiraz

• Marvel at Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

  Visit early morning to see sunlight stream through stained-glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across Persian rugs and intricately tiled floors, earning it the nickname 'Pink Mosque.'

  Shiraz

• Wander through Naqsh-e Jahan Square

  Stroll this immense UNESCO-listed courtyard, flanked by majestic Safavid-era architecture, where locals picnic, fountains sparkle, and horse-drawn carriages ply the perimeter against a backdrop of blue-tiled domes.

  Isfahan

• Admire the tilework of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

  Step inside this intimate masterpiece with its pale golden dome and mesmerizingly detailed interior; the changing light reveals the dome’s peacock-feather centre, a highlight of Safavid artistry.

  Isfahan

• Visit the Imam Mosque (Shah Mosque)

  Stand beneath the soaring blue-tiled portal and discover the stunning acoustics of the prayer hall, where every whisper reverberates under a dome decorated with intricate geometric and floral motifs.

  Isfahan

• Get lost in the Grand Bazaar of Isfahan

  Navigate a labyrinth of covered lanes filled with the scent of spices, the gleam of hand-hammered copper, and the clatter of carpet-sellers under historic brick vaults stretching for kilometres.

  Isfahan

• Sip fragrant saffron tea at Azadegan Teahouse

  Settle into a dimly-lit corner among antique teapots, oil lamps, and Persian miniatures, enjoying a steaming glass of tea and a bowl of ash-e reshteh in the soul of old Isfahan.

  Isfahan

• Walk across the Si-o-se-pol Bridge at sunset

  Join local families strolling the 33-arch span as dusk colours the Zayandeh River and reflections dance on the water, creating a timeless scene of Isfahani social life.

  Isfahan

• Discover Golestan Palace in Tehran

  Roam a opulent Qajar-era complex of mirrored halls, marble thrones, and shaded gardens, a UNESCO site that was the seat of Persian power for centuries in the heart of the capital.

  Tehran

• Explore the National Museum of Iran

  Trace Iran’s epic history from Paleolithic tools to Sasanian silver, including the famed Salt Man mummies, in a building whose entrance arch mimics the great vault of Ctesiphon.

  Tehran

• Ascend the Milad Tower for panoramic city views

  Rise 435 metres above Tehran’s sprawling cityscape to a rotating restaurant and open observation deck, where the Alborz mountains frame the urban horizon on clear days.

  Tehran

• Ski the slopes of Dizin Ski Resort

  Carve through fresh powder at one of the Middle East’s highest and longest ski areas, with lifts reaching 3,600 metres and views of Mount Damavand’s volcanic cone on the horizon.

  Alborz Mountains, Dizin

• Hike to the base camp of Mount Damavand

  Trek through wildflower-strewn highlands to Goosfand Sara, the traditional starting point for ascents of Asia’s highest volcano, with sweeping views of the 5,671-metre snow-capped giant.

  Mazandaran Province

• Camp under the stars in Dasht-e Lut

  Spend a night on the vast, otherworldly yardangs and kaluts of the UNESCO-registered Lut Desert, where summer ground temperatures are among the hottest on Earth and the Milky Way blazes.

  Kerman Province

• Wander the windcatcher-lined lanes of old Yazd

  Get lost in the adobe maze of this desert city, where towering badgirs (wind towers) catch the breeze and rooftops offer sunset panoramas over golden-brown buildings.

  Yazd

• Contemplate the Towers of Silence in Yazd

  Ascend two barren hilltop dakhmas just outside the city, where Zoroastrians historically laid out their dead for sky burial, surrounded by a stark and deeply evocative landscape.

  Yazd

• Visit the Zoroastrian Fire Temple of Yazd

  Peer into the sanctuary where a flame said to have burned for over 1,500 years is kept alight, symbolizing eternal wisdom in a simple but profoundly atmospheric temple.

  Yazd

• Gaze at the mirrorwork in Shah Cheragh shrine

  Enter a dazzling world of millions of mirrored shards and chandeliers that refract light into infinite sparkles, burying the tombs of two brothers in a glittering blanket of devotion.

  Shiraz

• Feast on Persian stews at Shahrzad Restaurant

  Savour iconic dishes like fesenjan (pomegranate-walnut chicken) and tender lamb shank in a sumptuously tiled historic dining hall that has welcomed visitors for generations.

  Isfahan

• Hunt for spices in the Grand Bazaar of Tehran

  Navigate a bustling kilometre-long labyrinth of saffron, dried limes, Iranian pistachios and barberries, haggling cheerfully with merchants beneath high vaulted ceilings.

  Tehran

• Step back in time in the red village of Abyaneh

  Walk through a russet-hued historic settlement on the slopes of the Karkas mountains, where elderly residents still wear traditional colourful dress and the dialect echoes ancient Persian.

  Isfahan Province

• Photograph the surreal Valley of Stars on Qeshm

  Explore wind-eroded marl and sandstone pillars, arches and canyons that form a Martian-like landscape, especially haunting in the golden hour when shadows stretch across the ridges.

  Qeshm Island, Hormozgan

• Boat through the Ali-Sadr Cave

  Ride a paddle boat on the crystal-clear underground rivers threading through a vast water cave, one of the world’s largest, with enormous chambers encrusted with stalactites and stalagmites.

  Hamadan Province

• Admire the Friday Mosque of Isfahan

  Trace over a thousand years of architectural evolution in this UNESCO-listed congregational mosque, a gallery of brick domes, stucco mihrabs, and exquisite Seljuk-era geometric order.

  Isfahan

• See the Treasury of National Jewels

  Gaze upon the opulent Darya-ye Noor diamond, the Peacock Throne, and gem-encrusted crowns shielded behind a bank vault door, a dazzling collection reflecting centuries of Iranian monarchy.

  Tehran