Iranians are warm, friendly and generous individuals with a strong interest in foreigners and other cultures.
The landscape of Iran is diverse, providing a range of activities from hiking and skiing in the Alborz mountains, to beach holidays by the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea.
Tourism has traditionally been characterized by significant numbers of visitors travelling to Iran for its diverse attractions, cultural splendours and a diverse and beautiful landscape suitable for a range of activities. With Gardens, Palaces, Hot Springs, Ski fields, Archaeological sites, Castles & Monuments. Museums amongst other attractions, Iran has plenty for all tastes.
The most popular tourist destinations are Esfahan and Shiraz while Mashhad and Qom attract a large number of pilgrims to its nearby holy sites.
Tehran, as Iran's showcase and capital city, has a wealth of cultural attractions. The Peacock Throne of the Persian Kings (Shahs) can be found in Tehran's Golestan Palace. Tehran is also home to the Iranian Imperial Crown Jewels, also called the Imperial Crown Jewels of Persia, it is claimed to be the largest, most dazzling and valuable jewel collection in the world.
The collection comprises a set of crowns and thrones, some 30 tiaras, numerous aigrettes, jewel-studded swords and shields, a vast amount of precious loose gems, including the largest collections of emeralds, rubies and diamonds in the world. It also includes other items collected by the Shahs of Iran during the 2,500 year existence of the Iranian Kingdom.
Culturally Iran is home to one of the world's oldest civilizations dating back several thousand years and for instance the blossoming of Persian literature, philosophy, medicine, astronomy, mathematics and art became major elements of Muslim civilization.
General Information
| Area | 1,648,195 km2 |
|---|---|
| Population | 79 million |
| Capital City | Tehran |
| Currency | Iranian Riyal (IRR) |
| Flying Time from Muscat | 2 hours 50 minutes |
| Time Zone | GMT / UTC +3.30 |
| Language | Persian |
| Religion | Muslim |
| Government | Federation |
Places of Interest
The Caspian Coast
A four-hour drive from Tehran, the Caspian is Iran's Riviera, with a narrow plain of paddy fields and orchards separating the sea from forested mountains where bears and leopards roam around ruined Mongol castles.
Kish Island Beaches
Tourists can benefit from Kish sandy beaches, coral reefs vivid with colorful fish and sea and sun all year round.
Lake Urmia
Urmia Lake has been designated as an international park by the United Nations. The lake occupies a 5700 km2 depression in northwestern Iran.
Valasht Lake
Valasht Lake with its depth ranging from seven to 28 meters and a height of 1,000 meters above the Caspian Sea level is located about 30 kilometers northeast of Kelardasht in northern province of Mazandaran.
Dizin ski resort
Dizin is a ski resort situated to the north of Tehran in the Alborz mountain range & also the most important ski resort in Iran & The Middle East.
Pasargadae
Pasargadae was the first dynastic capital of the Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus II the Great, in Pars, homeland of the Persians, in the 6th century BC. Its palaces, gardens and the mausoleum of Cyrus are outstanding examples of the first phase of royal Achaemenid art and architecture and exceptional testimonies of Persian civilization.
Soltaniyeh
The mausoleum of Oljaytu was constructed in 1302–12 in the city of Soltaniyeh, the capital of the Ilkhanid dynasty, which was founded by the Mongols. Situated in the province of Zanjan, Soltaniyeh is one of the outstanding examples of the achievements of Persian architecture and a key monument in the development of its Islamic architecture.
Takht-e Soleyman
The archaeological site of Takht-e Soleyman, in north-western Iran, is situated in a valley set in a volcanic mountain region. The site includes the principal Zoroastrian sanctuary partly rebuilt in the Ilkhanid (Mongol) period (13th century) as well as a temple of the Sasanian period (6th and 7th centuries) dedicated to Anahita.
Persepolis
The surviving ruins of Persepolis today are a mere shadow of Persepolis' former glory. It was founded by Darius I in 518 BC and was added to by the subsequent kings over a period of about 150 years. The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site.
Meidan Emam (Naghsh-e Jahan) Square
Despite being surrounded by deserts, Iranian cities are green, and the trees along the streets are well preserved. Of course, during the winter the atmosphere is a little is grey, but the difference will be seen during the spring.
All Destinations
