وبلاگ سپهران | Travel Guide | Tehran Travel Guide
Tehran travel guide, the beating heart of Iran
Tehran, as the capital of Iran, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. There are various reasons why people choose this city for their travels. Some visit for its historical and cultural attractions, some for buying and selling various goods and conducting business transactions, some to visit family, friends, and acquaintances, some to participate in work and educational events, and others travel to Tehran for educational and research purposes.
No matter what reason or motivation you have for traveling to Tehran, our goal is to help you have the best experience of your trip to this city by providing a “Complete Tehran travel guide.”
If you are traveling to Tehran for the first time or have visited this city before but need more information about it, this guide includes comprehensive information that will help you in planning your trip to Tehran. It includes tips such as the best sightseeing places in Tehran, favorite spots, top restaurants, shopping and entertainment, as well as guidance for using public transportation and other urban services.
Therefore, by studying this guide, you can make the best plans for your trip to Tehran, and with complete planning, proceed to buy Tehran airplane tickets and travel to Tehran. Stay tuned with the Sepehran blog.
Tehran Province, with Tehran city as its center, has an area of about 13,640 square kilometers and a population exceeding 13,267,637 people. It is bordered by Mazandaran province to the north, Qom province to the south, Arak(Markazi) province to the southwest, Alborz province to the west, and Semnan province to the east.
Tehran province has three climatic regions: the northern heights, the foothill areas, and the dry and semi-dry areas, like the Qazvin plain and the Qom desert and dry areas of Semnan province, which are adjacent to Tehran province and are negative factors affecting the climate of Tehran province, causing heat and dryness, accompanied by dust and sand.
The name Tehran was mentioned for the first time in the late second century BC as one of the dependencies of Rey, and the oldest existing Persian document indicates that Tehran existed before the third century AH.
Archaeological excavations in the village of Darus, Shemiran, and the Qeytarieh heights show that civilized people lived in this area in the second millennium BC and three thousand years ago.
Also, in the excavations of the railway area, remnants of the life of ancient humans have been found. Tehran, before and after Islam, was subordinate to Rey. So, rey was one of the large and reputable cities of the East and has always been a religious area, and the people of the Dolab village, Tehran, Ahal-e Vanak, and Farahzad were Shia Muslims.
It is better to have the following items with you when traveling to Tehran:
There are different ways to travel to Tehran as follows:
In the following, we will describe these methods.
Traveling to Tehran with a tourist tour is a popular option for those looking for a great travel experience with proper planning. In this way, you can travel to Tehran by selecting your desired tourist tour. Tourist packages for traveling to Tehran include tickets (plane, train, bus), hotel accommodation, airport transfer, and various sightseeing tours.
Travel tours to Tehran may include various programs such as visiting historical and tourist attractions, experiencing local culture and customs, or including recreational programs and shopping in local markets.
In addition, travel tours allow you to experience traveling with a group of other people; traveling in a group with a tour guide will help you to visit Tehran’s historical and tourist sites more quickly and comfortably and have a mental background of the history of the visited sites. Also, in group tours, you can benefit from hotel services, transfers, and daily breakfasts.
Traveling to Tehran by private car is one of the most comfortable and easiest ways to travel to Tehran. With a private car, you can benefit from different roads and less traffic compared to the busy traffic of public transportation.
If you intend to travel to Tehran from the western cities of the country, you should first get yourself to Hamedan and then go to the capital via the Hamedan-Saveh and then Saveh-Tehran freeways.
Freeway No. 2 is one of the most famous routes to access Tehran from northwestern cities of Iran such as Rasht, Zanjan, Tabriz, and Urmia. The end of this freeway leads to the Tehran-Karaj highway, and you can access the Tehran-Azadegan highway. The Azadegan highway is one of the main access routes of Tehran, which has been stretched from the north to the south of the city and provides access to different parts of this city.
The Tehran-Pardis freeway is another route to access Tehran. This freeway leads to Shahid Babaei Highway located in the east of Tehran. Through this highway, you can access the Pardis-Roudehen route and northern cities of the country such as Mazandaran and parts of Northern Khorasan.
If you intend to travel to Tehran from the northern cities, you can take the Firuzkuh road to reach the east of the capital. However, the Haraz road is the shortest route from the north of the country to Tehran.
If the beauty of the route is also important to you, you can choose the Chalous road for this purpose. Freeway number seven also provides access to Tehran from the southern cities. This freeway is one of the most important land routes of the country and passes through cities such as Qom and Isfahan. The most famous part of this route is the Persian Gulf freeway, which is considered the connecting bridge from Tehran to Qom.
The cost of traveling to Tehran by private car varies and depends on the distance, the number of passengers, the cost of gasoline, and the condition of the vehicle. Also, expenses such as value-added tax, import tax, and insurance must be considered.
Traveling to Tehran by bus is one of the economical and comfortable ways to travel to the capital. Buses pass through Tehran from different cities of Iran. Some of the advantages of traveling by bus to Tehran include the following:
Our recommendation is to check the seat distribution, return conditions, and travel duration before buying a ticket from any transportation company. Also, it is better to check your ticket information at least one day before departure and go to the related station for bus travel to Tehran. Initially, you must purchase your ticket from one of the bus transportation companies. There are different companies that offer bus tickets for travel to Tehran. You can visit the website to buy bus tickets online.
1. South Terminal (Star and Tawan companies)
This terminal is located in the south of Tehran and is used for traveling to the southern cities of Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd and Bandar Abbas. You can also use this terminal to travel to Kerman, Hormozgan and Khorasan Razavi.
2. West Terminal (Tehran and Shahab bus companies)
This terminal is located in the west of Tehran on Ayatollah Kashani Street and is suitable for traveling to the western cities of Tehran, Khorramabad, Ilam, Kermanshah, Hamadan and other western cities of Iran.
3. East Terminal
This terminal is located in the north of Tehran and is suitable for traveling to the northern cities of Tehran, Rasht, Amol, Babol, Sari, Nowshahr and other northern cities of the country.
Azadi Terminal is also used in the center of Tehran and for traveling to different cities.
Traveling to Tehran by plane is one of the fastest and easiest ways to travel to this city.
Mehrabad Airport is located in the center of Tehran and is one of the busiest airports in Iran. This airport is for domestic flights and all flights from different cities of Iran to Tehran land in this city. Mehrabad Airport has six active terminals and due to its convenient location, you can reach it by metro.
Due to the existence of this airport, the Tehran air route is considered one of the most popular routes among domestic trips. In any city you are in, you can easily book a plane ticket to Tehran and easily travel to this city by plane.
To fly to Tehran, you can use domestic and international airlines, although these companies offer different services and facilities in their flights.
Traveling to Tehran by train is one of the popular options for traveling to this province. Various trains depart from different provinces and cities to Tehran. To travel to Tehran by train, you can use the website of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways or purchase a ticket through your train book.
Some of the famous trains going to Tehran are:
The departure time of different trains varies depending on the route and type of train. For example, the express train between different cities and Tehran departs at different times, but the Pardis train has at least one departure time per day.
Our recommendation is to visit the official website of Iran Railways for ticket purchase and information on prices and departure times of different trains.
If you don’t have much time and want to tour Tehran in a short period, we suggest a three-day trip to Tehran. You can plan your three-day trip as follows:
If you are interested in historical attractions, Tehran is a suitable city for you. You can visit a large part of the historical attractions of this city by visiting the Grand Bazaar of Tehran. In this area, in addition to access to Tehran Bazaar and its wide variety of goods, you can also access Golestan Palace.
So, golestan Palace is one of the most beautiful palaces in Tehran that can fascinate you with its attractive architecture and design. To fully visit this palace, you need about 5 to 6 hours, and you can visit places such as Marble Throne Veranda, Karim Khani Nook, Picture House, Special Museum, Main Hall, Mirror Hall, Brilliant Hall, Shams-Al-Emareh, Wind Tower Building, etc.
Haj Ali Darvish’s coffee shop, known as the smallest coffee shop in the world, has the tastiest and most fragrant teas. After the coffee shop, with a 5-6 minute walk, you will reach Marvi Bazaar, which is the stock market for cosmetics and sanitary ware. Marvi’s falafel is also one of the oldest and most famous falafel shops in Tehran, located in this alley, which can provide a pleasant lunch experience for you. After lunch, you can head to Naser Khosrow and visit Darolfonoon School and Roshan Saray.
Start the second day with a stroll in Tajrish. This place is one of the old neighborhoods of Tehran, and its market is also a suitable place for shopping. The presence of Imamzadeh Saleh Tehran in this area has made it more popular among the people.
In addition, the Iranian Art Garden Museum, Bagh Ferdows Cinema Museum, and Time Museum are also located in this area. If you are interested in visiting historical palaces, you can visit Saadabad and Niavaran palaces located in this area. These two palaces also have various attractions that will take about a day to visit all. For lunch, you can also visit one of the famous restaurants in the area, such as Shemroon Kebab House or Ruhi.
You can dedicate the last day of your trip to Tehran to nature. There are large parks in Tehran that are unique in their kind. Taleghani Park, one of the largest parks in Tehran, was opened in 1982. This park is connected to the Water and Fire Park via the Nature Bridge, and its various restaurants and cafes are a good place for a delicious meal. Melat Park is another famous and old park in Tehran that can provide a pleasant experience with its extraordinary space. Also, on the third day, you can visit Milad Tower.
Of course, Tehran tourism is not limited to the above areas and Tehran city has different scenic areas, each of which can be an amazing experience for you. Some of the sights of Tehran are as follows:
If you plan to choose Tehran as a pilgrimage destination, there are several pilgrimage attractions in the city. Places like Imamzadeh Saleh, Zein Ali and Ein Ali, Shah Abdul Azim shrine, Holy Sarkis Church, etc., are part of the city’s pilgrimage attractions.
Imamzadeh Saleh is located in the north of Tehran, in the Tajrish area. This Imamzadeh is one of the famous and old pilgrimage sites in Tehran, and according to statistics, 30,000 people visit this Imamzadeh daily for pilgrimage. Imamzadeh Saleh is one of the children of Imam Musa Kazim and is counted as a brother of Imam Reza. According to the inscriptions, the initial structure of this Imamzadeh was built in 700 AH.
Shah Abdul Azim shrine is located in the south of Tehran and the ancient city of Rey. Shah Abdul Azim is a descendant of Imam Hasan (AS), and the shrine’s building has been expanded during the Ilkhanid, Safavid, and Qajar periods. This building, with its large central courtyard and beautiful golden dome, attracts the attention of every tourist and pilgrim.
Many travelers believe that autumn and spring are the best seasons to travel to Tehran. However, if you don’t like crowds, the best time to travel to Tehran is during Nowruz. During this time, traffic is at its lowest, and you can enjoy the blue sky of the city to the fullest. During these days, you can enjoy the tourist attractions of this city without wasting time.
Tehran, always alive, even at night, always has busy and traffic-filled streets. However, during Nowruz, the situation is entirely different, and a significant part of the city’s population goes on a trip. Many go to their hometowns, and some choose other cities. This situation causes the city’s streets to be empty of traffic, and there is no severe pollution.
During Nowruz, there is no traffic plan, and you can go to any part of the city without traffic and restrictions. During Nowruz, you can easily take yourself from the easternmost point of Tehran to the westernmost point in 15 minutes and enjoy driving on its empty streets.
Whether you are traveling to Tehran for business or leisure, choosing the right hotel can be a memorable and crucial experience for you. There is a wide range of options available for staying in Tehran. If you are looking for luxury and opulence, 5-star hotels in Tehran are a suitable option for accommodation. For travelers who are looking for a mix of traditional and modern space and are looking for a more intimate and unique experience, boutique hotels in Tehran are another suitable option that have reasonable costs for accommodation.
Name of the hotel | address |
Location |
Espinas Palace Hotel |
Saadat Abad, the end of Yadgar Imam Highway, Behrood Square | |
Parsian Esteghlal Hotel |
Shahid Chamran Highway and Vali-Asr Street | |
Simorgh Hotel |
Valiasr St., not reaching Saei Park | |
Vernus Hotel |
Valiasr, Keshavarz Boulevard, after Sasan Hospital | |
Razaz Boutique Hotel | Baharestan square after Sarcheshme intersection of Afshar alley |
If you are looking for a unique accommodation experience during your trip, it is better to visit the best ecotourism destinations in Tehran. These accommodations are located outside the city and in nature. By staying in these places, embrace nature, create lasting memories, and enjoy the beauty at the same time. Staying in Tehran’s ecotourism accommodations offers a refreshing perspective on the trip and allows you to connect with nature and experience traditional life in the modern age.
Name of the hotel |
address |
Location |
Hezaro Yek Shab Hotel |
Firouzkoh, 20 km after Damavand – Sarbandan region | |
Emarat kaj ecotourism resort | Peshwa of Khave village, Taleghani St | |
Kadkhoda ecotourism | Valiasr St., not reaching Saei Park |
In Tehran, you will have a wide range of tourist attractions to choose from, each of which is enjoyable to visit. If you are interested in visiting historical sights, you can visit the best museums in Tehran, palaces, and gardens. If you are interested in nature and camping, Tehran is also a suitable option for travel.
So, if you are interested in watching football, you can watch your favorite game in the largest stadium in the country. You can also visit luxury shopping centers, water parks, and cinemas.
Name of the hotel | address |
Location |
Sa’dabad Complex |
Tajrish Square, Taheri St |
|
Chitgar Lake |
Tehran-Karaj highway | |
Eram Park Zoo |
Tehran-Karaj highway | |
Iran Wildlife and Nature Museum – Dar Abad |
Shahid Bahonar Square, Dar Abad Street |
|
Abali Ski Resort |
Haraz road, 7 km east of Abali | |
Cinema Museum of Iran |
Tajrish Square, Vali Asr St | |
Tajrish Traditional Bazaar |
Shahdari St,Tajrish Square | |
Azadi Sport Complex |
West of Tehran |
Tehran’s religious places include buildings registered in UNESCO (World Heritage) along with countless historical and natural sites. In the following, we will introduce some of them separately.
Cultural heritage |
natural heritage |
Sepe Bank Coin Museum |
Darband |
National Garden |
Darakeh |
Post and Communications Museum |
Abali ski resort |
Tabiat bridge |
Jamshidieh Park |
Saad Abad Historical Collection |
Chitgar Lake |
Doctor Hasabi Museum |
Tochal complex |
carpet Museum |
bird garden |
Tehran is recognized as a center for many artistic activities and ancient handicrafts due to its historical, economic, and social position.
Tehran, the bustling metropolis of Iran, is not only a city rich in culture and history, but also a shopper’s paradise. If you are a shopping enthusiast and want to experience buying any kind of goods in Tehran, Tehran’s modern and lively shopping centers are waiting for you.
Name |
Tel |
Location |
Kourosh Mall |
02144000010 | |
Bamland Shopping Mall |
02140443080 | |
AVA Platt |
02126122426 | |
Tirazheh Shopping Center |
02144491723 | |
Mega Mall |
02144694471 | |
Palladium Shopping Center |
02122663066 | |
Almas Iranian Shopping Center |
02122964145 |
We have already identified tourist attractions, handicrafts, and shopping centers in Tehran, but we have not mentioned Tehran souvenirs. It is better to know that Tehran has souvenirs that are not found in other cities of Iran, some of which are edible and some are handicrafts.
Edible souvenirs of Tehran: Sohan of Rey, ShahriYar raisins, Aluche and Lavashak of Darband, Abali yogurt, Damavand apple, etc.
Handicrafts of Tehran: Carpet weaving, Firoozkooh Jajims, glassblowing and glass carving, precious rugs, etc.
If you are a fan of eating and belly wandering in Tehran and want to have a pleasant and unique experience in this field, luxury and high-energy restaurants in Tehran are the best choice for you. In this section, we will provide you with a list of the best restaurants in Tehran so that you can enjoy the experience of eating in the capital of Iran with any taste. A place where you can enjoy quality and varied foods.
Classic traditional restaurants |
Modern restaurants and nations |
Fast foods |
Khesht Besht restaurant |
Tehran 360 Restaurant |
Captain Lounge Restaurant |
Alighapoo Restaurant |
133 Restaurant |
Chicken Factory |
Vakil al-Tojjar restaurant |
Giovanni Italian Restaurant, Tehran Pars |
Meykhosh Restaurant |
Khoone Restaurant | Lebina Restaurant |
Loki restaurant asp |
Tehran, the capital of Iran, with its varied and delicious foods, is one of the best destinations for lovers of local foods. If you are interested in experiencing the tastes and foods of this region, we will introduce you to a list of the most delicious local and traditional foods.
Dampokhtak
Sparrow meatball
Firoozkoohi Tah Chin
Wheat bulgur steam
Ghormeh Sabzi stew
And…..
Tehran is a lively and high-energy city that attracts art lovers. From historical cinemas to modern theaters, the presence of cinema towns as film locations has created this attraction for film enthusiasts to choose Tehran as a cinematic destination. In this blog post, we will go to the best cinemas in Tehran to introduce you to the best cinemas in the city.
The best cinemas in Tehran |
|
Azadi cinema pardis |
Tehran, Shahid Beheshti St., corner of Khalid Istamboli |
Iranian cinema pardis |
Shahid Hemet Gharb highway, Shahid Kharazi highway |
Kuresh Cinema pardis |
North Sattari Highway |
Mellat Cineplex |
Vali Asr Street, Hashemi Rafsanjani Highway |
Book Garden Cineplex |
Shahid Haqqani Highway, National Library entrance, Book Garden, Tehran |
The public transportation system in Tehran is divided into two categories: intra-city and inter-city.
This system includes various types of vehicles that allow people to travel within the city or between cities.
In the intra-city area, metro, buses, city taxis, and online taxis are among the most important and frequently used means of transportation. The metro provides fast and efficient services, enabling passengers to move around the city. Buses also have an extensive network that passes through different parts of the city, allowing people to go to different destinations at a lower cost. City taxis and online taxis offer more comfort and convenience to passengers who can go to their desired destinations.
In the inter-city area, train, airplane, and bus are offered as public transportation means for passengers traveling to other cities and countries. The train, as a fast and economical means, provides the opportunity for passengers to travel to other cities. The airplane, as one of the fastest means of transportation, is used for traveling to other countries. Inter-city buses are also a suitable option for passengers who prefer to travel by land.
The Tehran Metro is one of the most complex and vital public transportation networks in the city of Tehran. This modern and fast transportation system currently has seven main lines covering all parts of the city and is operated by the Tehran Metro Company, which is recognized as a symbol in Tehran, concurrent with urban growth and the country’s development role.
The operating hours of all Tehran Metro lines are as follows:
Please note that these hours may change in the future, so it is better to check updated information through the Tehran Metro Guide or official sources before traveling.
Line number |
origin |
destination |
Number of stations |
Line 1 of Tehran Metro |
Tajrish |
Kahrizak |
29 stations (north to southeast) |
Line 2 of Tehran Metro | farhangsara |
Sadeghie |
22 stations |
Line 3 of Tehran Metro | Qaim | Azadegan |
25 stations |
Line 4 of Tehran Metro | Kolahduz | Eram-e-sabz |
19 stations |
Line 5 of Tehran Metro | Golshahr | Sadeghie |
13 stations |
Line 6 of Tehran Metro | Dolatabad | Tarbiat Modares University |
13 stations |
Line 7 of Tehran Metro | Basijsan | Sanat Square | 16 stations |
As you know, Tehran has two airports: the old airport called Mehrabad, which has six terminals and mainly operates domestic flights from this airport to other destinations in the country, and Imam Khomeini Airport, which handles international flights to other countries.
In terms of facilities, both airports are equipped with the most advanced facilities in the aviation industry and connect Iran via air routes with other parts of the country and other countries. Learn more about Tehran Mehrabad Airport.
Essential information of Tehran Mehrabad Airport |
|
Terminal 1 flight information number |
02161023183 |
Terminal 2 flight information number |
02161023189 |
Terminal 4 flight information number |
02161023187 |
Terminal 6 flight information number |
02161023196 |
Mehrabad flight information number |
199 |
SMS system |
3000199 |
Mehrabad Web Site |
|
Mehrabad Airport |
Tehran essential telephone numbers |
|
Tehran code |
021 |
Masih Deneshvari Hospital |
02120109490 |
Mehrabad airport flight information |
199 |
Tehran emergency |
115 |
Police emergency center |
110 |
Fire Stations |
125 |
Water Department |
122 |
Red Crescent |
112 |
In this guide, we tried to provide you with all the necessary information for traveling to this city, although briefly. There is much to say about Tehran, many places were not mentioned and were overlooked. We will definitely refer to them in future articles. We hope this guide will help you plan your trip to Tehran and enjoy its recreations.
Frequently Asked Questions