The capital city of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran is also among the most populous cities of the country. The Tehran city has been divided into two parts geographically, named as Southern and Northern part, wherein the northern part is known for its modern infrastructure and prosperity and the southern is more of the rural setting.

The vast petroleum resources of Tehran contributes majorly to its economy and have also been a catalyst in its development over the years. In addition to that, the city also has numerous industrial establishments that include but are not limited to pharmaceuticals, textile, sugar, etc. The city of Tehran is also often referred to as the Pearl of Persian because of its historical heritage with beautiful parks, museums, palaces, city squares and more that speak volumes about its glorious history. Among other cities in Iran, Tehran is also the most liberal and the secular one, whereas rest of the Iran is deeply influenced by theocracy followed by stringent religious regulations that play a major role in the public life of its people.

Being the capital city of Iran, Tehran is also a major travel and business centre that provides access to other major cities in Iran through flights. Major cities that are connected to Tehran through a bus ride for international flights include Tabriz, Hamadan, Esfahan and more.

Ways to Reach Tehran

Tehran is well connected to major cities across the world through airlines that offer both direct and indirect flight options. Most of the linked flights coming to Tehran can be booked from Istanbul. You can check and compare best available flight options as per your requirement.

How To Reach Tehran City Centre From Tehran Airport

Tehran International Imam Khomeini Airport is one of the largest international airports in Iran and is well connected to the city centre through buses, cabs, rental car hire services, etc. You can visit the official website of the Tehran airport to get more details related to airport transfers from Tehran Airport. One can also take metro from the Tehran airport which is situated at the Terminal 1. One should note that there are no regular buses from Tehran airport to the city centre. For easy connectivity with metro station, the airport authorities also run minivans between the airport and the metro station. If nothing works, then car rental services are easily available at the airport.

Getting Around In Tehran Through Public Transport

As Tehran is the most developed city in Iran, it is well known for its robust and well connected metro system, which is also the best way to go round the city for both locals and travellers. The metro card issued in Tehran can also be used for travel in buses and official taxis available at the metro stations. There is also an options of local buses, but they often get stuck in traffic and are poorly managed.

Best Time to Visit Tehran

The best time to plan your trip to Tehran is around the months of spring and autumn as the weather remains pleasant for sightseeing during those months. Iranian celebrate the arrival of spring with Nowruz festival which is a joyful event to experience when in Tehran. You may find flights and accommodations a little expensive during this time as the tourist rush is higher. Your trip to Tehran should be of at least 3 days to explore the best of the city.

Popular Festivals in Tehran

There are numerous festivals that take place throughout the year in Tehran and offer great experience to travellers in terms of exploring the vibrant city and culture. Some of the popular ones are:

International Fecr Film Festival (February)
Tehran Book Fair (May)
Tehran Puppet Theatre Festival (August)
Parvin Etesami International Women's Film Festival (December)

Tourist Attractions in Tehran

Tehran is a beautiful amalgamation of oriental and Iranian civilizations which has flourished over the decades. When in Tehran there are several places that one must visit to explore the city at its glorious best. Some of them include:

Azadi Tower : One of the major and iconic symbols of the city is The Azadi Tower, built in 1971 by Mohammad Reza Shah, The Azadi Tower is the symbol of freedom and national independence. From the top of the tower you can get the glimpse of the entire skyline of the Tehran city and that view is mesmerising.

The Treasury of National Jewels Museum : Affiliated with Central Park the Treasury of National Jewels Museum is the home for the most valuable jewels and stone collections which are gathered over the years of rich Tehran history. The place offers a glorious display of Tehran’s culture and wealth of the past rulers of Tehran. The collection also includes some of the world’s most precious jewels and the estimation of its total worth is hard to made.

Golestan Palace : Golestan Palace which is also a UNESCO World Heritage since 2013 was built by the Kacar Dynasty. The 200 year old palace was constructed in 17th century and is expanded in 9 building complexes which were developed over the years. The palace was home of the Shah of the Safavid Dynasty and the Qajar Dynasty who ruled Iran from 1794 to 1925. Later on the palace was mostly used for ceremonial activities by Pahlavi Dynasty and was turned into a museum which attracts a lot of tourists.

National Botanical Garden of Iran : If you are in the mood to experience the flora and fauna in Tehran then National Botanical Garden of Iran is an ideal place for you. Even though the garden was founded in 1968 it become open to general public only in 2011. The Garden houses a vast variety of plants planted aesthetically across the pathway of the park offering serene walk to the visitors awa from the chaos of the city.

Niavaran Palace : Another popular palace in Tehran to visit Is the Niavaran Palace, which is also the residence of the last Iranian ruler until the Iranian revolution started. The palace complex includes the main palace museum, Ahmad Shah pavilion, Jahan Nama Museum, Sahebgharani Palace and a public library. You can also find a lot of cultural and historical artifacts placed at the Blue hall of the palace. You can also get a glimpse of the clothes, vehicles and other daily use items of the Royal family at the Museum of Royal clothes.

Sa’d Abad Museum Complex : Sa’d Abad Museum Complex consists of 18 building complexes covering the area of around 100 hectares which situated under the foothills of Darband. The museum complex is a perfect place for time travel to Tehran’s rich history of Shahs. The place used to be the summer estate of the royals during the Qajar Dynasty and was extended during Pahlavi Dynasty. The museum often conducts exhibitions at White and Green palaces which are a major tourist attraction.

Accommodation in Tehran
The city of Tehran is bustling with multiple accommodation options that fits all budget and luxury needs. Most of the hotels are near city centre following the popular international options like Espinas Hotel, the Tehran Grand Hotel, the Ferdowsi International Grand Hotel, etc. Other accommodation options include hotels like Asareh Hotel, Melal Apartment Hotel, etc. for budget travellers.

Gastronomical Delights In Tehran

A popular city centre of Iran, the capital city of Tehran is a gastronomical delight for those who love to indulge in local delicacies and have appetite for great food. Below is the list of best restaurants one can explore in Tehran.

Nayeb Restaurant, Shater Abbas, Hayyam Restaurant specializes in kebabs
Sharaf El Islam Restaurant for delectable chicken
Monsoon Restaurant for eastern food flavors
Alborz Restaurant, Alighapoo for authentic Hosseini Kebab, Sholeh zard, Fesenjoon, etc.
Gilaneh Restaurant is a seafood paradise
Tandoor for Indian food
Bistango Restaurant to explore world cuisine

Best Places For Shopping in Tehran
Tehran is a historical city and is flourished with local bazaars that have much to offer to those who love to collect souvenirs from places they visit. Having said that, Bazaar-ı Borg is considered the oldest and the biggest market in Tehran which is situated nest Golestan Palace. Here you can buy anything from jewellery, to carpets, clothes, artifacts and more. You can also get a taste of local street food while strolling through the by-lanes of this bazaar which is divided in multiple sections. Other popular bazaars to visit include Crystal bazaar and Tajrish bazaar that offer more of local options. If you are looking for shopping destinations in the city centre then Tandis, Goldis, Vanak, Diamond, Palladium are some of the popular options.

Tehran Nightlife

Due to several rules and regulations followed through the city, the nightlife varies from one region to another. You can still find some options to socialize when in Tehran that include Artists (Honarmandan) Park, Bam-e-Tehran (Roof of Tehran), Café Nazdik, Lamiz Café, etc. These are the most favoured centres of entertainment within the city. Alternatively, you can enjoy calm night walks around the city or plan a fine dine experience at some high restaurant within the city.

Things to Know Before Visiting Tehran

Despite being comparatively liberal to other cities in Iran, Tehran still follows a set of rules and regulations by religious and political authority that you must be aware of before planning your visit:

Men and women have separate seats reserved in public transport and traffic remains chaotic in the city thus one should follow precautions while moving around the place.
There is highly rooted bargaining culture in most of the bazaars so make sure to crack the best deal
The restaurant servers accept the tips only when they are offered three times, first and second offers will be rejected as per the local tradition.

Istanbul To Tehran Flight Schedule