Iran
Asia · Tehran · IR
Iran is a nation of the ancient civilisations of the Persian plateau, a country of the ruined palaces of the empires, the tiled domes and the bazaars of the great cities, the deserts and the mountains that frame them, and a modern, complicated society that has kept its extraordinary culture and hospitality intact through everything. The ruins of the Persepolis, the ceremony of the court that the Alexander burned, the gardens and the mosques of the Isfahan, the poets of the Shiraz and the desert towns of the east fill an itinerary of the astonishing depth, while the cities rise around the monuments with a daily life that is far friendlier and more modern than the outside assumptions. The country rewards the traveller who comes with patience and an open mind with the finest Islamic architecture in the world and a welcome that is legendary.
Overview
Iran is a country in Asia. Its capital is Tehran and the international dialling code is +98. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Persian. Local currency is the Iranian Rial (IRR). Our guide covers 1 airport, including Imam Khomeini International Airport. We also list 1 city in Iran: Tehran.
The Ruins of the Persepolis and the Empire of the Kings
The ruins of the Persepolis, the ceremonial capital that the kings of the Achaemenid empire raised beside the plain of the Marvdasht, are among the most impressive and the most moving archaeological sites of the ancient world, the great stairways, the columns and the reliefs of the audience halls recording the tribute processions of the whole known world. The ceremonial complex, with the gate of the nations, the palace of the hundred columns and the reliefs of the bowls and the crowns of the subject peoples, still carries the imperial programme of the greatest of the ancient empires, and the tomb of the king on the rock face above the plain completes the monumental circuit. The museum of the site and the surrounding landscape of the high plain give the ruins their setting. It is the essential monument of the history of the country.
The Mosques of the Isfahan and the Square of the Imam
The city of the Isfahan holds the greatest ensemble of the Safavid capital, the royal square of the Imam with its arcades, its bazaars and its two great masterpieces, one of the most beautiful urban spaces ever built. The mosque of the Shah of the square, with its turquoise domes, its muqarnas and its tiles, is the celebrated image of the Persian architecture, and the mosque of the sheikh of the Lutfullah, the intimate jewel of the square, is the most refined of the Safavid work. The pavilions and the gardens of the royal ensembles, the bridges of the city over the river and the great bazaar of the square fill the days of the Isfahan, and the evening light on the domes is among the great sights of the Islamic world. The city is the cultural heart of the country.
The Gardens of the Shiraz and the Tombs of the Poets
The city of the Shiraz, the garden city of the south with its roses, its wine and its poetry, holds the most beloved sites of the Persian soul, the tomb of the Hafez, the great lyric poet of the country, whose marble pavilion draws the visitors of every generation, and the tomb of the Saadi with its peaceful garden. The gardens of the city, the Eram garden and the garden of the Narenjestan, set the pavilions and the cypresses of the classic Persian design beside the streams of the old watercourses, and the mosque of the Nasir al-Mulk, the pink mosque whose morning light through the stained glass is the most photographed interior of the country, fills the early hours with its colours. The bazaar of the city and the ruins of the palace complex of the Karim Khan complete the circuit of the gentle, literary capital of the south.
The Desert of the Kavir and the Towns of the Wind Towers
The great plateau of the centre of the country holds the deserts of the Kavir and the Lut, and the towns and the caravanserais of the desert routes, the old staging world of the silk roads, dot the edge of the emptiness. The city of the Yazd, the desert capital of the Zoroastrians with its wind towers, its mud-brick quarters and its alley-cathedral of the fire temple, is the great landmark of the desert life, and the silence of the surrounding dunes and the daylights of the salt flats are the classic excursions of the region. The villages of the desert, with their underground water channels, their fortified houses and their peaceful rhythms, and the nights of the dry air full of stars, complete the picture. It is a beautiful, austere, strangely spiritual world at the heart of the plateau.
The Bazaar of the Tehran and the Modern Capital of the Museum
The capital of the country, the great modern city of the Tehran beneath the snows of the Alborz, is the dynamic, surprising face of the nation, and its museums hold some of the most extraordinary collections of the Middle East. The national museum of the jewellery, with the treasures of the old court, the archaeological collections of the national museum and the galleries of the modern art, one of the important modern museums of the world, give the city its cultural depth, and the old bazaar of the city, the warren of the carpet, the spice and the craft markets, runs the trade of the old Iran beside the metro and the modern malls. The cafes, the bookshops and the intellectual life of the capital complete the picture of a society that is far more open, curious and creative than its reputation.
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- Capital
- Tehran
- Currency
- Iranian Rial (IRR)
- Languages
- Persian
- Calling code
- +98
- Internet TLD
- ir
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Iran.
Airports (1)
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All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Iran?
Tehran is the capital of Iran, and the country sits in Asia.
What currency is used in Iran?
You pay with Iranian Rial (IRR) in Iran. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Iran?
The languages we list for Iran are Persian. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Iran?
The dialling code for Iran is +98 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Iran?
Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) in Tehran is the airport we cover for Iran.
Which cities in Iran do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Iran: Tehran (capital).