5 Awesome Reasons to Visit Tehran, Iran

Tehran is a bustling metropolis of over 8 million people that serves as the capital city of Iran. Located in the northern part of the country, near the Caspian Sea and at the foot of the Alborz Mountains, Tehran’s history dates back 8,000 years, becoming the capital in 1796 during the Qajar dynasty.

Here are 5 awesome reasons to visit Tehran.

1) Immerse yourself in the rich historical and cultural heritage of Tehran

Tehran has a rich history that’s been through significant change over the centuries, having been inhabited since at least 6000 BCE and forming part of the ancient city of Ray, an important administrative and commercial centre during the Achaemenid and Sassanian Empire periods.

To get a comprehensive overview of Iran’s rich history and heritage, visit the National Museum of Iran. It consists of two main sections, the Museum of Ancient Iran and the Museum of Islamic Archaeology and Art of Iran.

The Museum of Ancient Iran’s permanent exhibition area covers 3 floors displaying artefacts from the Lower Palaeolithic period (over 1 million years ago) to the end of the Sassanian era (651 CE). Visitors can peruse ancient clay tablets with cuneiform inscriptions, Bronze Age-era weapons, stone reliefs from Persepolis (the capital of the Achaemenid Empire) and coins minted during the Parthian period.

The Museum of Islamic Archaeology and Art of Iran similarly covers 3 floors, with the ground floor hosting temporary exhibitions and the first and seconds floors displaying Islamic artefacts in chronological order. It’s a must-visit for anyone interested in Islamic art, history and Persian culture. You’ll get to see pottery and metalwork from the early Islamic period (7th–10th centuries), astrolabes from the Seljuk and Ilkhanid Periods (11th–14th centuries), and miniature paintings from the Timurid and Safavid Periods (15th–18th centuries).

And if you want to experience the opulence and grandeur of Iran’s royal past, check out the Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that once served as the royal residence for the Qajar dynasty. The palace complex is an architectural masterpiece that includes tranquil gardens, colourful tiled mosaics and regal arches. But it’s perhaps even more impressive from the inside. Step into the Main Hall Entrance or Marble Throne and you’ll instantly be met with a dazzling reflection of light from the mirror work (Aineh-Kari); intricate mirror pieces decorating the walls, arches and ceilings.

2) Experience the hustle and bustle of Tehran’s Bazaars

While Tehran has its fair share of modern shopping centres such as the Iran Mall and Palladium Mall, traditional bazaars are where you can get a shopping experience that transports you back into Tehran’s historical past. Bazaars have served as centres of trade and commerce for centuries, and they still play a vital role in supporting the economies of various cities throughout Iran.

The Tehran Grand Bazaar is a labyrinthine shopping complex that dates back to the Safavid era. Housed within a maze of domed ceilings and brick archways, there are thousands of shops lined across miles of interconnected corridors and alleys, selling pretty much anything and everything from carpets and spices to textiles and handicrafts. There are also various chaikhanes (tea houses) where you can relax with a cup of traditional Persian tea and watch the magic of one of the oldest continuously operating markets in the world.

Tajrish Bazaar, located in the north of Tehran, offers a more relaxed alternative to the bustling grand bazaar, but it too can get crowded and lively! Much like the Grand Bazaar, Tajrish Bazaar has a wide range of products to peruse and purchase. Visitors in particular point out the pleasant aromas of spices and fresh fruit, as well as finding hidden gems as they wander through the bazaar’s narrow alleys.

Unlike high end malls that are contemporary and polished, Tehran’s bazaars offer a more authentic shopping experience. Products in malls are often standardized and mass produced, whereas in bazaars, you’ll be able to find unique, one-of-a-kind products. And unlike malls that have fixed prices, bazaars are more interactive where bargaining is an expected practice. It’s seen as more of a social interaction rather than an attempt to drive the price down as low as possible. So it’s advisable to be polite and friendly, and to start off bargaining by suggesting a conservative price of 20-30% lower than the quoted price.

3) Admire Tehran’s stunning natural beauty

Perhaps less known about Tehran is that it’s a bustling urban centre of 8 million people that’s integrated with and surrounded by diverse natural landscapes. The most noticeable feature is the Alborz Mountain Range, which dominates Tehran’s northern skyline. It’s a imposing sight to have a metropolis with an imposing mountain range as its backdrop.

Mount Tochal is a mountain peak just north of Tehran that rises to over 13,000 feet and is accessible via the Tochal Telecabin, one of the longest gondola lifts in the world. Mount Tochal is a great place to go hiking and take in stunning, snow-capped mountain views. And there’s even the Tochal International Ski Resort, one of the few places in the world where you can ski with a view of a major city in the distance.

Another way to reach Mount Tochal is via Darband, a picturesque hiking trail that takes about 4 to 6 hours to get to the mountain. But even if you’re not planning to hike, Darband is a popular destination in its own right where tourists and locals hang out on the weekends and holidays, often setting up a picnic while enjoying the fresh air and scenery. It’s a 4,700 metre green valley surrounded by the rocky cliffs and steep slopes of the Alborz Mountains, with waterfalls, the River of Darband Valley and colourful traditional tea houses.

Tehran is also home to various green spaces, the most popular of which is Mellat Park, a 34 hectare park where you’ll find landscaped gardens, colourful flowers, a central lake, fountains, sculptures and tree species such as pine trees, willow trees and maple trees. It’s great to visit year round with striking visuals throughout the different seasons, and it’s also a habitat for birds and small wildlife.

4) Indulge in authentic Iranian cuisine

Iranian cuisine has roots that date back thousands of years with each historical era contributing to the culinary tradition. Historical texts refer to royal feasts and banquets held during the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanian eras. Influences from the Arab world diffused into Persian cuisine during the Islamic era, as well as Central Asian and East Asian influences from the Mongol and Turkic Invasions in the 13th to 15th centuries. Also with Iran being located in the heart of the Silk Road, traders and travelers from as far as India to the Mediterranean brought their recipes, cooking methods and ingredients to Iran on their long journeys.

Chelow Kabab (چلو کباب) is Iran’s national dish that consists of succulent grilled lamb, chicken or beef, served with steamed Persian rice (chelow). Variations of the kabab include Kabab Koobideh (کباب کوبیده) – made from ground lamb or beef, Joojeh Kabab (جوجه کباب) – grilled chicken, and Kabab Barg (کباب برگ) – tender lamb or beef fillet.

Another favourite is Ghormeh Sabzi (قورمه سبزی), a classic Persian stew whose primary ingredients are a mixture of finely chopped herbs, including parsley, cilantro and fenugreek leaves. Its protein base is usually lamb or beef, but there are also variations that include chicken and vegetarian options. Red kidney beans are often added along with spices such as turmeric and dried limes to give the dish an earthy, tangy flavour.

To quench your thirst as you explore Tehran, try Sharbat (شربت), a sweet, refreshing drink made by mixing a concentrated syrup that’s often infused with fruits, herbs, or flowers with cold water and ice. It’s been a part of Iranian culture for centuries, dating back to ancient Persia and is commonly served in homes and cafés.

And for dessert, traditional Persian Ice Cream known as Saffron Ice Cream or Bastani Sonnati (بستنی سنتی) is a great choice. It’s a chewy, golden-coloured ice cream flavoured with saffron, rosewater and pistachios.

The Grand Bazaar and Tajrish Bazaar are great places to explore Tehran’s street food scene. When people are eating together, dishes are often served in the centre of the table for everyone to share. Hospitality is also a big deal. In Iranian culture, guests are considered a blessing and hosting a guest is an honour. Hosts will treat guests with great respect, going out of their way to make them feel welcome and offering them lots of food.

5) Admire iconic landmarks & stunning Persian architecture

The Azadi Tower is a 45 metre tall monument built in 1971 to celebrate the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire. It’s made from 8,000 white marble stones from Isfahan and combines Persian and Islamic architecture to resemble a gateway, symbolizing a bridge between Iran’s past and future.

There’s an underground Azadi Museum that showcases exhibits and artefacts related to Iran’s history. It’s reached by descending a spiral staircase to an intimate, dimly lit interior. And if you prefer to go up instead of down, you can take an elevator up to the Azadi Tower Observation Deck, offering 360 degree panoramic views of Tehran. Popular times to visit are during sunset and night time, when the city’s lights brighten up the skyline and the Azadi Tower gets illuminated.

Another landmark from which to get a 360 degree panoramic view of Tehran is the Milad Tower. Also known as the Tehran Tower, the Milad Tower is located in the Gisha district of Northwest Tehran and is the 6th tallest tower in the world at 435 m (1,427 ft).

As well as a glass-covered Sky Dome at the 312 metre point and an open-air observation deck at the 276 metre point, there’s a revolving restaurant, which as the name suggests, slowly rotates as you enjoy delicious food, live music and changing views of the city. The Milad Tower also has several museums, a shopping mall, and if you’re feeling adventurous, a bungee jumping experience.

Throughout Tehran there are various religious landmarks that showcase a unique blend of Persian and Islamic architecture, as well as buildings whose architecture has been influenced by cultural exchange by virtue of Iran being a key crossroads on the Silk Road and a centre of commerce, trade and scholarship over the centuries.

The Imam Khomeini Mosque is an architecturally imposing yet ascetic mosque located near Tehran’s Grand Bazaar. Built in the Qajar era (early 1800s), it has a massive courtyard overseen by two towering minarets, and walls, domes and arches decorated with colourful geometric patterns and calligraphy.

The Motahhari Mosque is a large mosque in central Tehran that’s home to a large library with rare Islamic manuscripts. The mosque’s Persian-Islamic architecture is complemented with Indian and Ottoman influences, in particular the reddish sandstone and marble façade typical of Mughal Indian architecture and a multi-domed layout reminiscent of Ottoman mosques.

Imamzadeh Saleh is a famous shrine and pilgrimage site with a turquoise-blue exterior decorated with colourful tilework, floral motifs and calligraphy. The interior glass chandeliers reflect 19th-century Russian architectural influences. And the Saint Sarkis Cathedral, an Armenian Apostolic church in central Tehran, has a bell tower resembling Russian Orthodox styles, and pointed arches along the cathedral’s colonnades indicate Islamic architectural influences, likely from centuries of Armenian coexistence with Muslim societies.

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