It’s time to explore the land of wonders in real. Where to be able to experience the sun hit among the sandy seas sides; while being able to do ski in one of the most equipped ski resorts of the Middle-East. Besides all of these breathing facts about this destination’s nature aspects; It’s home to the marvelous heritages of a 2500 year civilization.
This article is all about those superb & comprehensive guides & facts about the beloved country of Iran; powered by Espad Travel, an Iranian online travel agency who is in love with making the world familiar with Iran and make them enthusiastic for traveling after disappearing of the miserable coronavirus.
In order to be more aware of the rest of Iran travel information, tours and travel services, just refer to Espad Travel website.
Safety in Iran
Contrary to the negative propaganda of some Western media, Iran is a safe country. It does not pose a threat to citizens and tourists. In recent years, despite the rise of terrorist groups such as ISIS and the Taliban in the Middle East and some of their attacks in the heart of Europe. Better to know that, Iran has been immune from such human rights practices and is known as the safe island of the Middle East. Despite the relative insecurity that prevails in the world, not one single terrorist incident has been reported in the country.
Internet in Iran
Unlike the negative propaganda of some Western media, there is internet in almost everywhere (except for the depths of the caves and mountains) and it is very easy to access. Just get off the plane as soon as you get off your plane and buy a SIM card at a very reasonable price (less than $ 15). Once you activate your SIM card, high-speed Internet is accessible, and will be able to stay in touch with family and friends with voice and video applications. Carrying a passport to buy a tourist SIM is a must. In Iran, 3 operators are providing telecommunication and internet services. First mobile operator and Irancell offer exclusive services to tourists and you can use this service by purchasing a product called “Tourism SIM”. Remember that these SIM cards are only valid for 30 days. If you would like to stay longer in Iran, you can buy the Wright SIM card operator or use the other types of First and Irancell mobile operators.
Iran Money System
You can use the Euro, Pound or Dollar to pay for major travel expenses, such as your accommodation fare or a taxi that will take you from the airport to the hotel. But for lesser costs, you need to convert your money into Iranian currency. There are currency exchanges at Iran’s international airports. Hotels also have this facility. Valid currency exchanges are also available in all major Iranian cities where you can use their services.
Cultural taboos in Iran
Staring at people, especially Iranian women, and kissing and hugging non-homosexuals in public places is incompatible with Iranian public culture. Also, the pioneering of men in reaching out to Iranian women is also contrary to the rules of the association. In Iranian law, such cases are not very popular. When photographing cultural landscapes, especially if the subject is an Iranian citizen, it is best to get permission. Like many people in the world, Iranians like to respect their privacy.
General beliefs in Iran
In the Iranian culture of mosques, shrines are respected and their visit, like all other religious sites around the world, requires respectful behavior and humility. Because of the congregation’s prayer at noon and after sunset, it is not possible for tourists to visit some of the great mosques. Visits will not be interrupted after the congregational prayer lasts a few minutes.
Dress code in Iran
In Iranian law, women wear hijabs. However, the Iranian veil differs greatly from what is used in some countries and is varied and colorful. Any type of dress that is not too thin and covers the hands, feet and hair, is considered to be an Iranian veil and there are no restrictions on the color and design of the dress. This hijab is enough for a trip to Iran. In other words, in Iran, the veil is not treated excessively and you will find out by watching the coverage of Iranian citizens.
Under Iranian law for men, wearing sleeveless blouses and trousers that are too short, though not legally prohibited, is not permitted in public places. It is necessary to cover some of the hair for tourist women in Iran. It is advisable for tourist women to wear a scarf or shawl in their handbag in order to respect the culture of their host community, in order not to have problems preparing it at the airport. If you don’t have a scarf with you, there is nothing special except spending a little time and money buying it from the store.
Alcohol and Drug Laws
Under Iranian law, the transportation and use of alcohol and drugs, including Marie Joanna, is prohibited in public places and there is no official service center for its customers. However, in Iran, as in many countries, the trafficking and distribution of banned substances and substances is a significant social disadvantage.
Halal food in Iran
According to Iranian regulations, only halal food is offering in this country. Halal food is not serving alcoholic beverages. The trap that is to be used for cooking meat is slaughtered in a special way. Also the meat of some animals such as pigs, dogs, mice, etc. are not used in Iran because of their lack of solvency.
Public transportation in Iran
In Iran, the intercity buses are dividing into male and female sections. It is best to enter a section that matches your gender. Also in Iran the usual taxi service routine is that 4 passengers (one passenger in the front seat and three passengers in the back of the taxi) board. If you want to be the sole taxi driver, you should get a “taxi cab” which will cost more. In some major cities, in addition to high-speed bus and subway systems, there are taxi-based apps such as Snap. You can use their services by purchasing an Iranian SIM card and installing these apps on your mobile phone.
Health Services in Iran
There are toilets in many hotels and tourist destinations and you will not have to worry about it. But in most public places there are no toilets and you have to use an Iranian toilet. The toilet is located on the ground floor and, unlike the toilet, has no seating position. You must squat on the floor to use the toilet. Today, almost all toilets use a water hose. Keep in mind that in most public toilets in the city and between roads, paper towels are not useful. (Iranians use water for washing instead of napkins). If you insist on using a napkin, place a few leaves in your handbag or pocket.
Solo trips to Iran
Backpacker tourists, like those traveling on tour in Iran, are also fully secure. However, it is advisable to use valid vehicles in places licensed by the Tourism Organization of Iran.
Let’s go through the next part of this article and explore The most highlighted Iranian cities :
Tehran Travel Guide Overview
Rested on the slopes of the Alborz mountains and the famous mount Damavand, Tehran is the world’s 15th most populist city and 28th largest city in the world. It’s best known with Azadi and Milad towers. Initially, It was a little town with strategic importance. So, Agha Mohammad Khan, the first Qajar king, appointed it as Iran’s capital in 1778.
Nowadays, Tehran is mostly known with crowds, smog-filled weather, and traffic-clogged streets. But, there’s much more than these troubles to discover in this overflowing city. There are lots of parks and cozy places you should visit which we’ll cover soon in this post.
This marvelous city is situated about one mile above the sea. Thus, it’s cooler than most of the other capitals in the middle east and you can enjoy a great climate during your tour in this city. In the summer, however, the temperature might reach up to 40 centigrade degrees.
Besides, another characteristic of the city is its museums telling you the story of ancient Persia in this modern age. Therefore, some people call it the city of museums. To name a few, carpet museum of Iran, Golestan Palace, and National Jewelry Museum are some of these must-see museums. It is also considered an important business city in Iran and the middle east since lots of international exhibits are held there, annually., and consequently, there are modern and well-equipped hotels in Tehran. Ref. https://espadtravel.com/
Best time to travel to Tehran
Since it is not located in the deserts, there are some cooler times to travel. New Year holiday, Nowruz, is in the spring. This holiday starts on March 21st and it’s the best time for your tour in Tehran. Also, people leave Tehran, heading for their cities resulting in lighter traffic. You can also breathe this mild weather during April, May, September, and early November. While in the not-so-cold winter the air pollution increases, the weather in summer may get very hot and humid.
What to eat in Tehran
The rich culture of Iran is evident in all areas of Iranians’ life and the food is no exception. Although Tehran is not dependent on a particular culture or tribe, it has some delicious Persian foods to serve its guests. Some must-have traditional and local foods of Tehran are:
Dizi: AKA “Abgoosht”, this food is a bean broth coming from more than a century ago. And, it’s a mixture of beef, lamb, and chickpeas.
Ash Reshte: This traditional soup is a delicious mixture of chickpeas, beans, herbs, and noodles. Also, sometimes some yogurt is added as a topping.
Fesenjan: This dish is from the Achaemenid Empire, 515 B.C. and there are walnuts, pomegranate paste, and chicken meat.
These are only a few of delicious foods in Tehran and of course all around Iran. You will have a wide range of options to eat in Tehran.
Tehran Hotels
As mentioned before, Tehran is the businessmen’s destination from all over the world. So, the hotel industry has been developed drastically. You have a wide range of choices for accommodation in Tehran. According to TripAdvisor , you can choose one of the following hotels or hostels based on your budget:
Iran Cozy Hostel
Ibis Hostel
Tehran Heritage Hostel
Hotel Markazi Iran
Niloo Hotel
Parsian Azadi Hotel
Espinas Palace Hotel
Espinas Hotel
Things to do in Tehran
Golestan Palace: This grand building is located elegantly in 15-Khordad street. It’s the symbol of Qajar architecture decorated with professionally painted tiles. Don’t miss the beautiful garden, Main Hall, and Negar Khaneh during your visit of Golestan Palace.
Sa’d Abad Museum Complex: Qajars built this royal building to spend their summer. And, in the Pahlavi era, they expended it. Namely, White Palace, Green Palace, Nations Art Museum, and the Fine Art Museum are some of the highlights of this eye-catching museum.
Treasury of National Jewels: Jewels Museum is the jaw-dropping majesty of Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi kings which contains priceless gems and metals. To name a few, Globe of Jewels and the Peacock Throne are the must-see highlights of this royal museum.
Milad Tower: The world’s sixth tallest tower in 2017, is the symbol of Tehran. There’s a spectacular view of the city from the top of Milad Tower. Don’t miss the revolving restaurant and observation decks.
Tehran has much more attractions to discover and you’ll just need to have enough time and one of our professional guides to surf the attractions of the Persia’s capital.
Handicrafts
Tehran is not only the center of important businesses but also it’s where people from all over Iran come to make a better living. Therefore, they bring their culture, lifestyle, and handicrafts to this metropolis. Although we can’t relate these handicrafts to Tehran, some of the most common ones are:
- The art of the 1st century BC, glassblowing, involves inflating molten glass into a bubble using a blowpipe.
- Paintings on leather or cloth are the art of the Qajar era and are very precious handicrafts.
- Jajim is another priceless handicraft worth buying in Tehran. It’s a woven woolen cloth in various colors including turquoise.
- Sohan is a toffee made of wheat sprout, flour, egg yolks, rose water, saffron, and cardamom which makes it a must-have souvenir of Rey city, Tehran
Shiraz Travel Guide Overview
The 5th populous city of Iran, Shiraz, is located in the southwest of Iran in the Fars Province. It’s one of the oldest cities of Iran and last was the capital from 1750 to 1800 in the Zand Dynasty. Shiraz was regarded as a very important trade center for more than one thousand years. This city is also known as the City of Roses, City of Love, and the City of Gardens. There’s a rich history of science, art, and literature. Namely, the tombs of two well-known Persian poets, Hafez and Saadi are in Shiraz. Aiming to give you a clearer insight before traveling to Shiraz, we prepared this article about Shiraz as a Travel Guide.
Best time to travel to Shiraz
The average temperatures vary a lot in Shiraz since it’s located on the slopes of Zagros mountains and in the south of Iran.
Actually, there’s a warmer climate in the spring from March to May and the prices are not much expensive. In the summer, however, you can find the hotel prices at their lowest numbers since the weather is hot and sometimes humid. Ultimately, fall is the most preferred season of the year for visiting Shiraz. And, the weather is at its most pleasant atmosphere.
Food Tourism in Shiraz
Shiraz has a wide range of choice to offer when it comes to food and restaurants due to its rich culture. Some of the must-have local foods of the city are:
Kalam Polo: The most favorite dish for Shirazi people is Kalam Polo which is a mixture of rice, kohlrabies, vegetables, and tiny meatballs.
Shekar Polo: It’s a portion of delicious food for those who love sweet dishes.. It’s made of rice, sugar, saffron, and peanuts.
Ash-e Mast: It’s kind of a soup which is served cold, in spite of other soups. Ash-e Mast is a delicious mixture of meat, yogurt, rice, and split peas.
Koofteh Holoo: Iranians may think of peach when they hear Koofteh Holoo, but the ingredients don’t include peach. Instead, there are enough amounts of corn flour, rice, meat, egg, carrot. Additionally, sugar adds a sweet taste to it.
Faloodeh Shirazi: It’s one of the well-known desserts in Iran and is one of the must-have desserts during your tour in Shiraz. This mixture of semi-frozen vermicelli-sized noodles, sweet syrup, rose water, and lemon juice. You can find the best shops serving Faloodeh behind the Karim khan Citadel.
Shiraz Hotels
Annually, thousands of local and foreign tourists travel to Shiraz. Therefore, this city provides them with fine accommodation services and hotels. Travelers can find luxurious hotels with full amenities or they can stay in the houses of hospitable people of Shiraz.
Chamran Hotel gives you a great landscape from the city since it’s the tallest hotel in Shiraz.
Homa Hotel is a five-star luxury hotel with modern décor offering great amenities.
Other high quality hotels:
Persepolis Hotel
Royal Shiraz Hotel
Eram Hotel
Shiraz Grand Hotel
Pars Hotel
Shiraz hotel
If you want to stay in a cheaper hotel, we offer the following ones:
Jahangardi Hotel
Jam-e Jam Hotel
Eram Hotel
Arg Hotel
Shayan Hotel
Roodaki Hotel
Besides, Niyayesh gives you the comfort of stay in a traditional hotel. These hotels, however, are only a few options for accommodation in Shiraz. You can find a linger list in TripAdvisor .
Attractions to explore!
Tomb of Hafez: Tomb of Hafez, the famous Persian poet whose poems are read worldwide, is located in Hafezieh, one of the most-visited tourist attractions in Shiraz.
Vakil Mosque: KarimKhan-e Zand, the founder of Zandieh dynasty, built this grand mosque in Shiraz. The outstanding part of this building is a ceiling called Morvarid which is elegantly decorated with calligraphies of Quran verses.
Eram Garden: According to some resources, this beautiful garden dates back to the Seljuk era. And, during the Qajar era, they built a marvelous mansion at the heat of this garden. This masterpiece is an eye-catching mixture of paintings and tile works.
Arg-e KarimKhan: Another fantastic symbol of Zandieh architecture is Arg-e KarimKhan. Surrounded with four watch tours, it was the government building as well as their residential place. All of the beautifully painted rooms are connected to each other. Arg bathhouse, the first private bath in the Qajar era, is also located in Arg-e Karimkhan.
Persepolis: The capital of ancient Persia in the Achaemenid Empires, Persepolis, is the world heritage site and one of the most-visited attractions of Shiraz. The empires celebrated the new year in the palaces of this city, but Alexander burnt and destroyed Persepolis when he attacked Iran.
Nasir Al Molk: This building is the masterpiece of Persian architecture in the 19th century. Also known as the Pink Mosque, Nasir Al Molk is famous for its pink theme made from rose-pink tiles. The best time to visit it is in the morning when the majestic patterns of light decorate the hall.
Isfahan Travel Guide Overview
Known by the locals of the city also as “ Half of the World ”, Isfahan is the third-largest city of Iran. It was the capital of the Safavid dynasty in the 11th century for more than one hundred years. Ferdowsi, the famous Persian poet, called this city Sepahan in his poems. Isfahan is so well-known as the first cultural capital of Islamic countries. Also, It’s a beautiful city and is well-known as “The city of turquoise domes” due to its beautiful tile works and domes. Every year, thousands of Persian and foreign tourists travel to Isfahan.
Best time to travel to Isfahan
The weather is mild in Isfahan and temperatures feel nice during spring and autumn you can enjoy mild temperatures. In the winter, however, it feels colder with occasional rainfalls. July, August, and June are when the weather is much warmer. If you want to visit Isfahan with snow, early January is the best month and the most humid month in Isfahan is December.
What to eat in Isfahan
Biryani:
It’s the most famous food in Isfahan. Biryani is a delicious meal with a large portion of mutton or lamb which stewed and minced separately, grilled, and served with bread.
Gheymeh Rizeh:
This local food of Isfahan is rarely found in the restaurants and is well-known as one of the preferred dishes in the houses of locals. The ingredients include minced meat, grated onion, tomato, dried mint, with spice flavored taste.
Khoresht Mast:
Khoresht Mast which literally means yogurt stew and it is another famous local food. This dessert is a delicious mixture of yogurt, meat, lamb, sugar, and saffron. Khoresht Mast served cold and you can find it in every restaurant in Isfahan.
Yakhme Torosh:
This is a sweet dish combination of turmeric with lamb, quince, rice, split pea, and onion. After they strained, they mashed and served with broth which is providing in a separate dish.
Kuku Ghandi:
If you prefer sweet dishes, Kuku Ghandi is one of your options in Isfahan during your visit. Although it’s less commonly served in restaurants these days, you can still find this in some restaurants. The ingredients are: potato, egg, saffron, sugar, rose water, and lemon. You can taste some of the best Persian, and particularly Isfahani, cuisine in most restaurants of Isfahan, such as, Khan Gostar,- Shahrzad,- Azam, Jam Neshin – Shab Neshin, and Zagros restaurants to name a few, Khansalar and Ashti restaurants are for those travelers interested in eating in a traditional atmosphere.
Hermes and Faramarz restaurants can be good choices for fast-food fans.
Isfahan Hotels
Abbasi Hotel: It’s one of the best hotels in Isfahan which is situated in the heart of the city. Actually, the Abbasi Hotel building dates back to the Safavid era but now it’s a five-star hotel and the largest one in Iran. This hotel is the home of 225 guest rooms with close proximity to most of Isfahan’s attractions.
Kowsar Hotel: Kowsar Hotel is another five-star hotel located in the heart of Isfahan. There are about 200 rooms in this hotel offering full amenities and a mixture of modern and traditional design.
Safir Hotel: Hotel is Located in front of Abbasi Hotel, Safir Hotel is a 4-star hotel in one of the main streets of Isfahan, the Chaharbagh Abbasi Street.
Piroozy Hotel: Piroozy Hotel is located in the heart of Isfahan and can offer you fine amenities of a four-star hotel, it has about 100 rooms.
Beside above , you can find other less expensive hotels in these areas including:
Setareh Hotel in Naqsh-e Jahan Square,
Melal Hotel in Kamal Esmail St.,
Atigh Hotel in Ibn-e Sina St.,
Sepahan Hotel in Ostandari St.,
And Safavi Hotel in Felestin St. as 3-star hotels.
In addition, you can choose:
Viana Hotel in Kashani St.,
Mahan Hotel in Bozorgmehr St.,
Jame Firoozeh Hotel in Ostandari St.,
And, Karoon Hotel in Hakim Nezami St.
as one/two-star hotels if you’re looking for more economic accommodation in Isfahan.
What to explore in Isfahan?
Masjed-e Shah:
The elegantly designed Masjed-e Shah is one of the masterpieces of Iranian Islamic art. This mosque is over 400 years old and is famous for its blue and yellow tiles. Also, the entrance portal and the turquoise dome give it a stunning view.
Naqsh-e Jahan square is one of the other major attractions of Isfahan which was built during the Safavid era. The square is near some of the must-see historical buildings including Ali Qapu, Masjed-e Shah, Sheikh Lotf Allah mosque, and Qeysarie Gate. Additionally, it’s the home to more than 200 shops most of which are selling souvenirs of Isfahan.
Bazar-e Bozorg:
Bazar-e Bozorg is among the oldest and largest bazaars in Iran. It links Naghsh-Jahan to Masjed-Jameh, two major old mosques of Isfahan. Some parts of this bazaar are more than 400 years old, while other parts date back to a thousand years ago. You can find different souvenirs and clothing shops in Bazar-e Bozorg.
Nazhvan Park:
It’s the largest park in Isfahan which gives a relaxing experience to get away from hustle and bustle of the city. Moreover, you can enjoy other attractions in this park including Birds Garden, Isfahan Aquarium, Seashell Museum, Reptile House, and Butterfly Collection. A chairlift over the river, a water park for the kids, and Ladies Garden are other facilities of Nazhvan Park.
Kakh-e Chehel Sotoon:
This building is another masterpiece of the Safavid era and attracts lots of visitors every year. It’s stretched between Naghsh-e Jahan Sq and Chahar Bagh Abbasi St.The Great Hall is decorated and situated elegantly with the art collection of tile works and miniatures.
It’s a World Heritage Site under the name Persian Garden.
Other attractions of Isfahan are:
1- Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
3- Ali Qapu
4- Hasht Behesht Palace
5- Chahar Bagh School
6- Si-o-se Pol
7- Khaju Bridge (Shahi Bridge)
8- Marnan Bridge
9- Pol-e-Joui or Choobi (Joui Bridge)
10- Vank Cathedral
11- Manar Jonban (the swinging minaret)
12- Atashgah (Fire Temple)
Handicrafts in Isfahan
Minakari (Enemal work):
Isfahan is the birthplace of this art, which is decorating the surface of metals with beautiful colors.
Khatam Kari:
It’s another valuable handicraft of Isfahan in the wood industry. The skilled artists, use small pieces of materials like silver, gold, brass, aluminum, and wood to create fantastic artworks. Usually the smaller the art pieces, the higher is the value.
Kashi Kari (Tiling):
Tiling is one of the oldest artworks used in the construction of prehistoric buildings. Isfahan is the birthplace of tile works and Persian architects used them for interior and exterior decoration as well as tiled dishes, pots, and other things more of which are exported.
Ghalam Kari (Engraving):
Actually, Ghalam Kari has its origins in India but the first artworks were created in Isfahan. It’s the art of printing on the cloth using a mordant.Meta: Isfahan is the third largest city in Iran and has a lot to offer to the tourists. Click here to get an insight into Half of the World.
