Home to one of the world’s greatest civilizations, Iran is a land of four seasons with stunning history, architecture and landscapes. There are many ancient sights from the history books, which coexist with modern restaurants, ski and beach resorts. We tell you how to plan a vacation in this country so as not to miss anything.
How to get there
There are direct flights from Moscow to Tehran from Nordwind and Aeroflot, a ticket costs from 6,300 rubles*, travel time is 4 hours 20 minutes.
You can enter the country without a visa as part of a tourist group when booking a tour lasting up to 15 days. Russians who travel independently must obtain an e-visa. It must be registered in advance on the website of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; this cannot be done upon arrival. Visa fee – from 2,500 rubles.
To visit Iran you need a negative PCR test for coronavirus, done a maximum of 72 hours before departure, or a vaccination certificate in English (Sputnik V is suitable). 14 days must have passed since the last dose of the vaccine.
You can travel around Iran by plane, train or bus. The country has several national carriers: IranAir, Mahan Air, Aseman Airlines and Caspian Airlines.
In Iran, only local cards work – you won’t be able to pay with foreign Visa and Mastercard, including the Russian Mir card. It is better to take dollars with you and exchange them for cash Iranian rials at local banks, exchange offices or hotels.
Rules for visiting the country
In Iran you cannot smoke in public places. Also, alcohol is completely prohibited in the country: it is not even sold there. You won’t be able to bring it with you from home either – everything will be confiscated at the airport.
It is also important to remember the dress code: you should wear clothes that completely cover your arms and legs, including your ankles. The ideal set is jeans, a T-shirt and a long sleeve shirt. Girls will have to wear scarves on their heads.
Where to stay
There are no major world chain hotels in Iran, instead there are private hotels, caravanserais and historical guest houses. Typically, a trip to Iran begins in the capital – Tehran. Here you can stay for several nights or for the entire duration of the trip, and go to the sights in the format of one-day tours.
We have selected hotels in Tehran with good guest ratings for every taste and budget:
Markazi is a two-star hotel near the Golestan Palace. A night in a standard room with breakfast will cost 4,600 rubles*.
Asareh is a four-star hotel next to the Asadi Tower. There is a swimming pool, sauna and airport transfer (for a fee), next to a metro station. A standard room with breakfast costs 6,700* rubles per night.
Taj Mahal – apartments in a five-star hotel with breakfast, fitness center and spa cost 10,400* rubles per night.
Tehran
The dynamic and chaotic capital of Iran is located on the slope of Mount Tochal, which separates the city from the Caspian Sea. This is the most liberal and secular place in the country, so starting a trip here is a good way to get used to Islamic culture.
We recommend spending at least two to three days in Tehran. Visit the photogenic Grand Bazaar, the National Treasury, the Imam Khomeini Mosque, the extravagant Golestan Palace and the former residence of the Shah of Iran, the Saad Abad Complex. Among the museums, the Iranian National Museum and the Museum of Modern Art are worth visiting.
In between sightseeing, check out Tehran’s historic Gol Rezaieh coffee shop, Shemroon Cafe in the garden of the Iranian Art Museum, and the teahouse at Tajrish Bazaar. For national cuisine, head to the bazaars or local eateries – try Iranian kebab, spiced rice and Persian sweets.
Isfahan
This city is called an open-air museum: numerous palaces, arched bridges, mosques with mosaic minarets and domes and bustling bazaars are the reasons why Isfahan is included in every tourist itinerary when visiting Iran. There are also three UNESCO World Heritage Sites here – Naqsh-i-Jahan Square, Jami Mosque and the Persian Garden.
The local cuisine deserves special attention: in Isfahan they prepare the most delicious fesenjan (pomegranate stew with walnuts), tahdid (crispy fried rice) and kebab kubideh (fried minced lamb with parsley and onions).
Feel like the Prince of Persia
Mystical Yazd enchants at first sight: calmer and more measured in rhythm than Tehran or Isfahan, this city is a unique example of adobe architecture, as well as a center of Zoroastrianism. The main attractions are the old city, the Jameh Mosque with the tallest minarets and the Water Museum, which tells how water supply was arranged in the desert. But don’t rush to get lost in the labyrinth of streets of old Yazd, but look at the city from above – there are excursions on the roofs of buildings, and thanks to the close proximity of the houses, you can jump on them, like in a game about the Prince of Persia.
Visit Iranian Cappadocia
Troglodytes (or so-called cavemen) exist not only in movies and myths. In Kandovan you can meet them in person. Because of its appearance, the village of Kandovan is often compared to Turkish Cappadocia: residential buildings here are carved directly into the rocks of a bizarre cone shape and from the outside look like a stone beehive. Local residents are accustomed to tourists and invite you on excursions to their homes, treat you to sweets and sell unique souvenirs. Some premises contain cafes and hotels where you can stay overnight. You can get to Kandovan from Tabriz, the city closest to the settlement, by taxi or on a tour.
Climb the highest mountain in Iran
The sleeping volcano Damavand is the highest mountain in the country, shrouded in myths and legends. It is located 120 kilometers from Tehran and is visible from there in clear weather. You can climb the volcano, but it is better to do it with a professional guide and in the summer. If the option of climbing is not your thing, then you can admire the mountain from the base camp near the village of Polur.
Walk around the city that inspired Yesenin
“No matter how beautiful Shiraz is, it is no better than the expanses of Ryazan,” wrote the poet Sergei Yesenin. Shiraz is a city of great poets and flowers, the heart of Persian culture and the embodiment of its soul. Its main feature is considered to be luxurious gardens with orange trees and palaces. At least three of them are worth visiting: Narenjestan, Eram and Afif Abad. Other attractions include the Hafiz and Shah-Cherakh mausoleums, the pink Nasir-ol Molk mosque and the Vakil Bazaar.
See the ruins of the city from the history books
From Shiraz you can reach the ruins of the city of Persepolis. In its importance it is comparable to the Egyptian Luxor, the great pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge, the Colosseum and the Forum in Rome. Once upon a time, Persepolis was home to the kings of the Persian Empire of the Achaemenid era, which came to an end during the conquests of Alexander the Great. Although the commander almost completely burned the city, a lot of bas-reliefs, columns, statues and tombs remained here.
Tip: Arrive at opening time to take pictures without the crowds and enjoy a quiet walk, or in the afternoon to see the ruins during the golden hour when the sun sets.
Trample the sand of the hottest desert
The Lut Desert in eastern Iran is the hottest place on the planet, with an absolute maximum surface temperature of 78.2°C recorded. You get out of the car and you are scalded by the hot air, and stepping barefoot on the hot sand is dangerous. The lifeless landscape of the desert is mesmerizing: endless sand dunes, salt marshes, rock formations, a complete lack of vegetation and one single river that never dries up – it may seem like you are on another planet.
A highway passes through the desert from southern Iran to Khorasan, but there are no settlements here. The nearest city from which excursions through the desert, including on SUVs, are carried out is Kerman.
Go skiing or snowboarding
When it comes to Iran, snow isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but don’t let the country’s geography fool you. Here in the Alborz Mountains there are at least four international ski resorts that are worth at least a week of skiing – Dizin, Shemshak, Darbandsar and Tochal. The season lasts from November to May, and regular precipitation guarantees huge amounts of snow – sometimes up to 7 meters!
Swim in the Persian Gulf
Imagine that you are sitting on snow-white sand under palm trees, admiring the clear blue water… This seems to describe Hawaii, but no, this is the island of Kish in the Persian Gulf – the most hedonistic place in Iran. The beach season here lasts all year round, although recreation is still subject to Muslim laws: the beaches on the island, as throughout the country, are separate. Women can sunbathe and swim only at the paid Woman’s Beach (entrance is $1), and then only in one-piece swimsuits.
Shopping is also popular here (Kish is a free trade zone) and diving – the island is surrounded by unique coral reefs, around which teeming with marine life. There are even ruins of the ancient city of Harire and a stranded Greek ship. You can get to Kish by plane from Tehran or by ferry from the city of Charak.
*Prices are current at the time of publication.
