Ebrat Museum
There is nothing subtle about the Iran Ebrat Museum, a one-time prison of the shah’s brutal secret police that now exhibits that brutality with an equal measure of prorevolution propaganda. The prison is an incongruously attractive building, with wings radiating from a circular cou
Arg
The ancient mud city of Bam is the largest adobe structure on earth and, until the 2003 earthquake, it was one of the jewels in Iran’s tourism crown. The site has been occupied for almost 2000 years and post-earthquake analysis revealed the walls were first built using Sassanian-st
Apadana Palace & Staircase
Important Persian and Median notables were probably ushered to the Apadana Palace to the south. Constructed on a terrace of stone by Xerxes I, the palace was reached via another staircase. Although it can be difficult to picture the grandeur of the palace from what remains, the bas
Kakh
This, the only surviving palace on the royal precinct that stretched between Naqsh-e Jahan (Imam) Sq and Chahar Bagh Abbasi St, this Safavid-era complex was built as a pleasure pavilion and reception hall, using the Achaemenid-inspired talar (columnar porch) style. There are histor
Bagh
Designed for Shah Abbas I, this lush garden is renowned as being the very epitome of the Persian garden; it was recently added to the World Heritage Sites list. In the surrounding areas, water is scarce; inside the garden it flows with superabundance, channelled from a natural spri
National Museum of Iran
This modest museum is no Louvre, but it is chock-full of Iran’s rich history. Designed by French architect André Godard and completed in 1928, it’s one of the more attractive modern buildings in Tehran, blending Sassanian principles such as the grand iwan -style entrance with art d
Tehran Bazar
The maze of bustling alleys and the bazaris (shopkeepers) that fill them make a fascinating, if somewhat daunting, place to explore. Traders have been hawking their wares on this site for nearly 1000 years, but most of what you see today is less than 200 years old and is no archite
Foreign Pilgrims Assistance Office
Friendly, multilingual staff who live to assist foreign visitors with the shrine will show you a 20-minute video and shower you with books on all things Shiite. However, once you’ve visited this office there’s no escape from the free, friendly but over-protective guide/minder they
Bazar
Stretching for 1200m from Tohid Sq northeast to Shohada Sq, Kerman’s Bazar-e Sartasari is one of the oldest trading centres in Iran. This main thoroughfare is made up of four smaller bazaars, and a further 20 or so branch off to the north and south. It is, however, easy enough to n
Treasury of National Jewels
Owned by the Central Bank and accessed through its front doors, the cavernous vault that houses what is commonly known as the ‘Jewels Museum’ is probably Tehran’s biggest tourist drawcard. If you’ve already visited the art gallery at the Golestan Palace, you will have seen painting
Masjed
The richness of this mosque’s blue-tiled mosaic designs and its perfectly proportioned Safavid-era architecture form a visually stunning monument to the imagination of Shah Abbas I and the ability of his architect.Work started on the magnificent entrance portal in 1611, although it
Sa’d Abad Museum Complex
Set on 104 hectares of spectacular mountainside parkland, the Sa’d Abad Museum Complex was a royal summer home during the Pahlavi period. The site’s 18 buildings house museums dedicated to subjects as diverse as the royal dishware, royal automobiles and miniature paintings. To see
Golestan Palace
In what was once the heart of Tehran is this monument to the glories and excesses of the Qajar rulers. Between Imam Khomeini Sq and the bazaar, the Golestan Palace complex is made up of several grand buildings set around a carefully manicured garden. You must buy a separate ticket
Iranian Artists Forum
One of lots of galleries around this part of Tehran, this is something of an art hub, with eight gallery spaces over two levels exhibiting works in all media on a monthly rotation. Theres also a cracking shop, a vegetarian restaurant and a cafe. Its a great place to meet locals.
Tabriz Bazaar
The magnificent, labyrinthine covered bazaar covers some 7 sq km with 24 separate caravanserais and 22 impressive timchehs (domed halls). Construction began over a millennium ago, though much of the fine brick vaulting is 15th century. It is a Unesco World Heritage Site. There are
Persepolis
Magnificent Persepolis embodies the greatest successes of the ancient Achaemenid Empire…and also its demise. The monumental staircases, exquisite reliefs and imposing gateways leave you in no doubt how grand this empire was, just as the broken and fallen columns attest that its end
Doing business & staying in touch while in Iran
Iran: Doing business & staying in touch
Iran Weather, Climate and Geography
Iran Weather, climate and geography
Iran History, Language and Culture
Iran History, Language and Culture
Iran Travel Guide and Travel Information
Iran Travel Guide
