Best Places to Visit in Iran
It might seem impossible, make a list of 10 best places to visit in Iran, but we give it a shot. Her's our list (in random order) of 10 best places to visit in Iran.
Isfahan
One of those legendary cities in the world; a name filled with history, romance and wanderlust; Isfahan. No visit to Iran could miss out it's most beautiful city. Isfahan is blessed with one of the world's most beautiful squares; the Naghsh-e Jahan square, surrounded by beautiful mosques, domes, palaces and the grand bazaar of Isfahan.
Qeshm Island
One of the islands in the Persian Gulf and a natural wonder. Qeshm is like walking in a movieset full of bizarre moonlike landscapes. It's one of the world's few geo-parks, because of it's amazing and unique geological structures. And there's more; beaches, snorkeling, turtles, dolphins, Bandari culture and villages, mangroves and shipyards where they still build wooden ships like time stood still.
Mt. Damavand
Iran is blessed with beautiful landscapes, most notably deserts and mountains. Iran's most famous peak is the volcano of Mt. Damavand. With it's 5600 meters peak it's the highest volcano in Asia and Iran's highest peak. The mountain is not that far from Tehran, located in the Alborz mountains. It's a great area for hiking and it's not even that difficult to climb the peak for experienced hikers. The ascent starts from the village of Polour, count on 2-3 days to reach the top.
Yazd
A traveller's favorite, the desert city of Yazd. A beautiful historic centre filled with narrow lanes, qanats (ancients canals), imposing and hidden mosques, badgirs (wind towers), small boutique hotels, cafe's and restaurants. The city lies on the edge of the Dasht-e Kavir desert and is a good base to start your journey into the desert. Don't forget to visit nearby charming towns like Meybod, Saryazd and Fahraj.
The city is a famous city for zoroastrians. Visit the fire temple and the Towers of Silence
Persepolis
If you visit one archeological site in Iran, of course it has to be the ruins of the famous city of Persepolis. Once the ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire where kings like Darius and Xerxes received their guests. Destroyed by Alexander the Great, left to ruins till the last shah decided to use it for the celebration of the 2500 anniversary of the Persian empire. Now it is the no.1 site to visit in Iran. Don't forget to visit the tombes of the kings in nearby Naqhs-e Rostam.
Kalut desert
Iran is a must-visit for desert-lovers. And one of the best places to see are the strangely shaped rock formations in the Kalut desert (Dasht-e Lut). This moonlike landscape is shaped by wind- and water erosion in one of the hottest places on earth. It's a great place to camp, make a desert trekking by foot or 4W drive, but you can visit the best parts also as a day trip from nearby Kerman. But you will miss the wonderful sunset over the desert.
Tehran
Ok, it might not be the most beautiful city in the world, and yes its a congested and polluted concrete jungle with little architectonical highlights, but you cannot understand Iran without visiting its capital. And once you get to know it, it's a surprising fascinating city. Meet the young population in the green parks or one of the hipster coffee bars, smoke sisha in the teahouses at the foot of the mountains, get lost in the bazar and visit one of the musea and the old palaces of the shah.
Shustar, Susa and Choq-e Zanbil
In the southern province of Khuzestan you will find 3 of the most important historic sites of Iran, easily visited in one day trip. In the pleasant visit of Shustar you will find a sophisticated irrigation system with watermills dating from 5th century B.C.. In Shush (Susa) you can visit the excavations and the mausoleum of Daniel, built in the typical style of Khuzestan. Through the excavations of Haft Teppe you will reach the impressive ziggurat by Choq a Zanbil. It is one of the few remaining ziggurats, built in the 13th century before Christ.
Kashan
One of the most pleasant cities to visit is the town of Kashan. The city is famous for its marvelous merchant houses and had one of the country’s most famous gardens, The Fin Garden. And garden's in a dry desert-like country like Iran, are something special. Here's where people meet, drink tea, find shade, water and green. Kashan has some lovely boutique hotels too.
Chelgerd, Koohrang mountains
A trip to Iran is not complete without experiencing the life of the nomads, preferably in a beautiful mountain setting. And no place is better than Chelgerd, where Bakhtiari nomads gather in the summer mountains in the pastures of the Koohrang mountain range. A great place to go hiking, horse riding and meet the friendly nomads of Iran.
