Top 10 Places to Visit in Iran

1. Tehran
Tehran, the capital of Iran, is obviously the first place to see. Close to the ancient city of Rey, Tehran is a glittering city full of concrete-structured buildings and traffic. Tehran is also very close to the beautiful Alborz mountains for skiing or hiking. Being so close to the mountains, Alborz offers great opportunities to escape from the chaos and complexity of the city and fill our minds with beautiful views.
Tehran's population is around 11 million and approximately 40% of the country's economy comes from here. The city also hosts Jamshidieh, Mellat and Shahr parks. It is also home to the Golestan and Niavaran palaces, the famous Azadi Tower, Tehran Zoological Park and the Iran Malik National Museum. Moreover, the tomb of Imamzade Saleh and Tehran's historical Grand Bazaar (Bāzār-e Bozorg) are also located here.

2. Isfahan

Isfahan is one of the most important and historical cities of Iran. Located 420 km south of Tehran, Isfahan is the country's 3rd largest city and has a population of 1.4 million (according to the 2004 census). The city is home to several Safavid palaces, as well as very beautiful mosques, squares and other architectural structures, making Isfahan the pearl of Iran. These magnificent Islamic and Persian monuments consist of Sheikh Lutfullah Mosque, Shah Mosque and Grand Mosque of Isfahan, Khaju Bridge, Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Chehel Sutun, Si-o-she pol, Hasht Behesht and Ali Gholi Agha Bath. Additionally, Vank Cathedral and Isfahan Fire Temple, a few non-Islamic monuments, are also located here.

3. Shiraz

Situated in ancient Persia, Shiraz is the city of poets, philosophers and religious men. Shiraz is also the site of Arg-e Karim (refuge of Karim Khan) and the mausoleums of famous poets Hafez and Saadi. An ancient site of Persepolis is also located here, which can be easily visited by buses departing from the city. Persepolis is a place of tower columns filled with sphinxes and fantastic staircases, and wall decorations depicting various people, dating from 550 BC, during the reign of Darius and Xerxes. Persian king Karim Khan made Zent the capital of his kingdom from 1766 AD until it was seized by the Qajar Dynasty in 1791 AD. Shiraz has many places to visit such as Wakil Mosque, Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, Mirror Mosque, Vakil Bazaar, Eram Garden, Afifi-Abad Garden, Bagh-e-Jahan Nama Garden, Kavam House, Vakil Bath, Quran Gate and Persian Museum. place available.

4. Yellow

Sari, which is not much known outside of Iran, is a small city located in the greenery of the Mazandaran province on the edge of the Caspian Sea. Sari is the provincial capital and is located between the Caspian Gulf and the Alborz mountains. The city is famous for its natural beauty, orange groves and Badab Surt Natural Waterfall. There are also a few places to see in Sari, with the Clock Tower located in Clock Square and several historical mausoleums. Sari is a convenient point of transportation to visit the cities around Mazandaran. For example; Nur, located on the Caspian coast, Babol and Amol, known as the orange spring. The region is worth visiting to see its green landscapes and pleasant weather.

5. Yazd

Located in the heart of Iran, Yazd is an ancient and desert city, slightly different from the previous cities. Known as the "city where sand towers rise", Yazd is famous for its traditional brocade fabrics, silk weavings and unique architecture. Located 270 km southeast of Isfahan province, Yazd has a hot and dry climate as it is located between the Kebir Desert and the Lut Desert. Important places to visit include Bagh-e-Dolat Abad, Jameh Mosque, Bogheh-ye-Sayyed Roknaddin, Khan-e-Lari, Alexander's Prison, Amir Chakmaq Complex, Dakmeh-ye-Zartosh (an ancient Zoroastrian “tower of silence” ), and Ateshkadeh (an ancient Zoroastrian “fire temple”).

6. Tabriz

Tabriz is located in the north-west of Iran, known as the Natural Azerbaijan region (it is not actually Azerbaijan, but they have common borders to the north). This city, called the “city of mercies”, is one of the most historical and important cities in Iran. It also has several historical and beautiful places such as Tabriz Blue Mosque and Rab'-e-Rashidi University (a 700-year-old historical university). Other places to see include Tabriz Bazaar, Tabriz Constitutional Building, Quran Museum, Arg-e Tabriz and Anglican Church. It is also a historically important city, as it houses the country's first post office, first fire station, and first public library. Important poets who lived here are Mevlana and Şems-i Tebrizî.

7. Kandovan

Kandovan, which is a village rather than a city, of course depends on the definition of city, is famous for its neat stone constructions. Kandovan, 50 km south of Tabriz, is located in East Azerbaijan Province and is famous for its houses inside the stones on the rocks. Some of these houses are more than 700 years old and are still used for the same purpose. Some of these ancient buildings were whitewashed and given a more modern appearance. These houses, furnished with carpets and fabrics, host communities of approximately 170 families.

8. Kerman

Kirman is a desert city located in the south-east, making a living through trade. It is located in the southwest of the Lut Desert. It is also in the arid and semi-arid surrounding desert of Kerman Province, of which it is the capital. The city consists of mud houses and an ancient market. This is a place where many different ethnicities live together, including the Baluch people from the West. There are also tourist attractions such as Arg-e-Bam, Ganjali Khan Bath, Shah Nematollah Vali's tomb and Shazdeh Garden.

9. sand

Qom is the historical center of the Shiite Islamic world, where Imam Ali Reza's sister is buried. The tomb was turned into a golden-roofed shrine visited by thousands of pilgrims. Qom is located in northern central Iran, between the banks of the Qom River and the Kebir Desert, 147 km south of Tehran. In addition to being a frequent destination for pilgrims, Qom also gained importance during the 1979 Iranian revolution when Ruhollah Khomeini declared the city his platform. There are many tombs to visit in this city, where ten kings and almost 400 saints are buried.

10. Mashhad

Finally, we come to Mashhad. According to Shiite Muslims, it is considered the holiest city in Iran because Imam Reza's burial and tomb are here. Mashhad is located in Razavi Khorasan Province, in the valley of the Kashaf River in the north-east of Iran, and is known as the second most populous city in the country after Tehran. The city is in the form of a circle, where religious buildings and streets spread from the center to 12 neighbors around it. Since Mashhad is a holy city, life revolves around the tomb of Imam Reza. Approximately 1.5 million tourists, 23% of whom are Iraqi tourists, come to visit the tomb of Imam Reza every year. There are other places worth seeing, such as the Mehdi Gholibek Bath, Nader Shah Tomb and the bazaar called Bazar-e-Reza.