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Things to Do in Iran

From the ruins of Persepolis to the tiled squares of Isfahan - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Iran holds one of the richest concentrations of pre-Islamic and Islamic architectural heritage anywhere in the world, from Persepolis's 2,500-year-old ceremonial ruins to Isfahan's tiled mosques and squares, widely regarded among Islamic architecture's finest examples. Travel for many Western nationalities requires more planning than most destinations, and checking current travel advisories and entry requirements for your specific nationality is essential before booking.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

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Persepolis

The ceremonial capital of the ancient Achaemenid Empire, founded around 518 BC, with monumental staircases and relief carvings that remain remarkably well preserved for their age.

📍 Fars Province, near Shiraz

🚉 There is no bus to the ruins: taxis and tours run the 60km from Shiraz in about an hour, usually combining Persepolis with Naqsh-e Rustam a few kilometres further on.

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Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Isfahan

One of the largest city squares in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage site ringed by the Shah Mosque, the Ali Qapu Palace and a historic bazaar - widely considered the centerpiece of Persian Islamic architecture.

📍 Isfahan

🚉 Nearest station: Imam Hossein on the Isfahan metro, a 10-minute walk to the square - the square itself is one of the largest in the world and entirely pedestrian.

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Shiraz

Known as Iran's city of poets and gardens, home to the tombs of the poets Hafez and Saadi, and the pink-tiled Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, famous for the stained-glass light patterns it casts each morning.

📍 Shiraz

🚉 Shiraz has a metro line linking the airport road, the bazaar and Namazi; the Nasir al-Mulk pink mosque and Hafez's tomb are short taxi rides from the centre.

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Yazd

A desert city built almost entirely from mud-brick, with an extensive network of windcatchers (badgirs) used for centuries as a form of passive cooling, and one of the world's oldest Zoroastrian fire temples.

📍 Yazd

🚉 Nearest station: Yazd, on the Tehran-Kerman line, about 3km from the old city - the mud-brick lanes and the Amir Chakhmaq square are walkable once you arrive.

Mark Iran, get the stamp

🇮🇷IRANVISITED

🇮🇷IRANLIVED

🇮🇷IRANWISHLIST

In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.

Open MyPassportStory

Planning questions

How many days do you need in Iran?

10-14 days lets you combine Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz and Yazd along the classic Persian heritage route.

What's the best time to visit Iran?

March-May and September-November have the most comfortable temperatures. Summer is very hot, particularly in desert cities like Yazd.

Is Iran good for a first-time visit?

This depends significantly on your nationality - citizens of some countries face considerably more restrictions and paperwork than others, and checking your government's current travel advisory and Iran's entry requirements for your passport is an essential first step.

Do I need a visa to visit Iran?

Most nationalities need a visa, and requirements, cost and process vary significantly by passport - some nationalities require a registered tour guide throughout the visit. Check the official visa information for your nationality: mfa.gov.ir.

What are some things to do in Iran on a tight budget?

Iran remains relatively inexpensive for food and domestic transport for many visitors, with local Persian food, buses and many historic site entry fees costing comparatively little - though currency exchange and international card access can be genuinely complicated depending on your home country's banking relationship with Iran.

Can I rent a car in Iran, and what licence do I need?

Check your government's travel advice before planning a trip, as several nationalities face restrictions or advisories, and many visitors are required to travel with a licensed guide. On driving itself, Iran recognises an International Driving Permit alongside a home licence, and the minimum age is generally 25. Two practical points matter more than the paperwork: foreign bank cards do not work anywhere in the country, so all money must be brought in cash, and city traffic in Tehran and Shiraz is fast and improvisational. Intercity buses and the rail network are cheap and comfortable alternatives. Iran's own government sites are frequently unreachable from outside the country, so confirm both the visa and the driving requirements directly with an Iranian embassy or consulate before you travel; the official e-visa system is at evisatraveller.mfa.ir.