In the past, everyone believed that Iran was a dangerous country and a lover of nuclear weapons. Today, Iran has become the most exponentially growing tourist destination in the world.
From the most hospitable people to the oldest history, amazing buildings, the most desolate deserts, green mountains, islands and many other things, tourists gradually realize that Iran is the ultimate destination.
However, due to its recent opening to tourism, it is not easy to travel in Iran, because it has some difficulties and characteristics, from strict Islamic rules to credit card problems, and even needs to obtain special travel insurance.
But don't worry.
After more than two months of visiting this country twice, I have compiled 80 travel tips to Iran on this blog, which will help you easily plan your trip.
80 useful tips for traveling to Iran
In the whole article, you will see that I mentioned 1stQuest many times. It is an Iranian company that provides different services such as visas, travel insurance, domestic buses and air tickets, hotel reservations and even travel packages. They are a good company to help me sort out my visa. In addition, they are one of the very few companies that allows you to use an international credit card to purchase any service.
Some quick tips for traveling in Iran
1 - When to go to Iran - Iran is a large country with many climate zones, ranging from the arid areas of the Persian Gulf to the wetlands in the northwest provinces. Ideally, visit the northern mountains in late spring, summer and early autumn. On the other hand, the classic Persian city Esfahan, Yazd, Kashan and Shiraz may become very hot in summer, so winter, spring and autumn are the best months to visit them. In addition, in summer months, we should avoid southern provinces, including Gershim Island and Banda Abbas, because the temperature may be as high as 50 degrees Celsius and the air is very humid. Finally, Tehran is very cold in winter and hot in summer. Therefore, spring and autumn are ideal months to travel to Iran. You can also visit Persian cities in summer, no problem, but just prepare for the high temperature!
2 - What to do in Iran? From the classic Persian historical trail to the consideration of magnificent Islamic architecture, hiking, visiting the Persian Gulf Islands, meeting Iranian nomads, making local friends, and even going to Mashhad for a pilgrimage, Iran can become a destination for all types of tourists, including history and adventure lovers.
3 - Consider going out of the inaccessible places - I went to Iran in 2015 and 2018. It took only three years, and the situation has changed significantly. The classic Persian city Yazd, Esfahan, Shiraz and Kashan are full of tour groups, overpriced restaurants and souvenir shops. Local interactions involving residential invitations are usually infrequent and often involve divestitures. However, if you deviate slightly from your comfort zone, your experience may be completely different from that of the local people. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you go to other places near the city and find other provinces, such as Golestan, Kurdistan or Tabriz and Mashhad.
4 - Everyone returns to Iran - I have been to Iran twice. This is the only country I plan to visit for the third time. I'm afraid there will be a fourth visit. This is not just me, but many travelers I met on the road. Everyone likes Iran because it is a huge country with many scenic spots, and because of its people and security, it is very pleasant to travel in Iran.
Visa to Iran
5 - Visa on arrival (VOA) - Everyone can obtain a visa on arrival, except citizens of Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Colombia, India, Iraq, Jordan, Nepal, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka. Iran's International Airport
6 - The only real requirement is to have an effective host contact - In the process of obtaining VOA, the authorities can contact your host, whether they are hotels or friends. If they can't contact them, they may let you wait for a long time at the airport.
7 - Waiting time varies from 2 to 6 hours - at least, you must wait at the airport for 2 hours. On my second visit, I had to wait for more than 5 hours because I had a new passport and no return ticket.
8 - Visa fees - prices range from 40 euros to 150 euros, depending on nationality. I hold a Spanish passport and pay 75 euros, which I believe is the price of other European nationalities.
9 - If you enter land, you cannot obtain VOA - If you travel to Iran by land, you need to arrange a visa in advance.
10 - How to obtain a visa in advance - If you do not want to wait at the airport, want to obtain a visa or enter the land route, you should obtain a visa in advance. To do this, you need to obtain an authorization code from the authorized company, and you will easily get a visa at the airport or embassy (if you enter by land).
11 - New summer 2018 - Iran no longer signs passports - The Iranian seal on passports may be a problem, especially if you travel to the United States. That is why, from July 2018, they will issue your visa on another piece of paper.
12 - Usually, they give you a maximum of 30 days - a monthly visa is the standard number of days for them to travel in Iran.
13 - But you can easily extend your visa - you can extend it twice for 30 days. This means you can stay in Iran for up to 90 days. An extension can be arranged in all provincial capitals.
14 - Iran and Israel - For more details on Israeli stamps, please read: Avoid Israeli stamps - FAQ
15 - Citizens of the United States, Britain and Canada need to travel - these three countries cannot travel to Iran independently, so they should contact travel agencies.
16 - More information about visas - For more information, please read my Iranian visa guide
Insurance to Iran
17 - Most general insurance companies do not cover travel in Iran - because of sanctions, popular insurance providers, such as world nomads, will not cover you.
18 - IATI Insurance is the insurance company I recommend to Iran - IATI is one of the few companies whose policy is applicable to travel in Iran. They provide various plans and good reports at competitive prices. In addition, readers who oppose the compass can get an exclusive discount of 5% (you will see the discount after calculating the quotation).
19 - If you do not have travel insurance, you must buy it at the airport - If you do not have an effective travel policy in Iran, or basically you cannot prove it, they will let you buy it before obtaining VOA. Prices range from 14 euros to 34 euros, depending on the number of days, but you should know that insurance coverage is more limited than IATI or any other company.
Iran Travel Guide - What you need to know about money
20 - The official currency is the Iranian Riyal - its value is very low: 1USD=43428IRR
21 - The fluctuation of Iranian Riyal is huge - make sure to check the current exchange rate before leaving Iran, because the value is very unstable.
22 - Exchange currencies in Iran - There are exchange offices everywhere, always accepting euros, dollars and pounds. In addition, there is a black market, which means that in all cities, you will always find random people willing to buy your currency. It's good to exchange with them, but just make sure to calculate your money twice, because some of them may try to cheat you.
23 - Wait, Rial or Tomans- Because their currency is very low, in order to simplify things, most places will tell you the price of Tomans, which is the same value divided by 10. At first, it is a bit confusing, but you will soon get used to it.
24 - Foreign credit cards do not work - because of sanctions, you cannot use international credit cards when traveling in Iran, so please bring cash.
25 - However, you can purchase a local credit card - for those who do not want to carry a lot of cash, you can purchase a local credit card and recharge it. Many companies provide this service, but I recommend Mah Card Iran Travel. It works by registering on their website and providing your passport details. Once you arrive at the hotel in Tehran, they will take your credit card with you. You will receive cash and pay 20 euros for the service upon receipt of your card. I didn't use it, but I was told that it was a reliable company.
26 - You can pay by credit card anywhere - you will be surprised to find that local credit cards are accepted all over the country, including street food stalls and grocery stores in rural areas.
27 - Entrance fees - Most tourist attractions, including mosques, gardens and archaeological sites, charge between 100000 and 150000, 5 to 10 times more than the fees paid by local people.
Is it safe to go to Iran?
28 - Iran is safe - that's it. This is a safe destination with no terrorism and very low crime rate.
On the 29th - FCO said - the British Foreign Office suggested that you should avoid going to the area bordering Baluchistan and Iraq. However, I think this information is completely biased. You should be fine.
30 - There is no Islamic State in Iran - On many occasions, my friends back home told me: Be careful of the Islamic State in Iran! I love my friend, but this is a very naive comment, because first of all, Iranians are Shiites, so there is no connection between Iranians and the Islamic state. secondly, ISIS has never entered Iran.
For specific female travel advice, please read: Iran as a lone female traveler
People and culture
31 - Iran is a highly educated society - Iran is a developing country with the most highly educated people. I have been there before. Even in very rural and remote areas, such as Golestan, I met people with doctorates. Barcelona and Cambridge degrees.
32 - Iranians are not Arabs - Iranians are not Arabs, but Persians, a completely different race.
33 - However, it is ethnically diverse - from Kurds in Iran's Kurdistan to Turkmen in Golestan and Arabs from the Persian Gulf coast, there are several ethnic minorities in Iran.
34 - Iran's hospitality - Iranians are famous for their hospitality. Don't be surprised if the person you just met 5 minutes ago invited you to his home, a person you have never talked about paying for your meals at random, and basically everyone treats you like you do. They love foreigners and are trying to make the world realize that they are a very peaceful society.
35 - Accept the house invitation - If you don't eat or live in someone else's home, you can't say that you have gone to Iran completely. Promise me. It is 100% guaranteed if you leave the place where people are rarely seen and eat in a stranger's house.
36 - Wait, what is tarof- If you have travelled in Iran long enough and experienced strong local interaction, the local people will tell you something called tarof. Basically, Tarof means that the local people try to pay for your meal (or anything else), because it is in their cultural code, but they don't really want it. Say no, if they insist more than three times, it means that it is a real invitation. However, if they retreat, it means it is bluff, so this is called tarof.
37 - Persian is the official language - Persian (or Farsi), which has nothing to do with Arabic, is the language of the country. They also use the Arabic alphabet.
38 - Well educated people can speak English - In major cities, most educated people can speak impeccable English, while in rural areas, they can speak basic things.
39 - Officially, weekends are Thursday and Friday - Iran follows the official Muslim calendar, so Friday is the official rest day. For most companies and public sectors, Thursday and Friday are weekends.
Religion and Islamic law in Iran
40 - Most Iranians are Shiites - Iran has the largest Shiite population.
41 - However, there are Sunni minorities - there are important Sunni communities in Baluchistan, Golestan and the Persian Gulf.
42 - Iran is an Islamic Republic - Before 1979, Iran was ruled by a Shah who was a puppet of the United States and was leading the country to poverty. This led to a large-scale revolution. The Shah was overthrown, and the clergy took power, and the Islamic Republic of Iran was founded.
43 - This is also a religious dictatorship - freedom of speech, demonstration and protest is extremely limited in Iran, and a number of rules based on Islamic sharia law apply to all people, including tourists.
44 - Men's dress code - even at 40oC, do not wear short pot. Besides, you will be fine.
45 - Women's dress code - women need to wear a headscarf and cannot show shoulders or curves. This means that you have to wear a loose dress or skirt on your pants.
Read: Solo women traveling in Iran
46 - Of course, alcohol is illegal - in Iran, alcohol is prohibited and can only be drunk on the black market. For more information, please see the "Food and Alcohol" section.
47 - Even in this case, many Iranians have no religious belief at all - During your journey, you will meet more Iranians of all ages who do not care about religion than any other Middle East country. This is because before the 1979 revolution, Iran was very secular.
Religious Beliefs in Iran
Iranian women try to enter and exit the women's van in Tehran - I'm going to Iran
Travel tips for transportation in Iran
48 - Buses are the way to Iran - they are absolutely everywhere and the first choice for local people. There are two kinds of buses, one is budget bus, the other is VIP bus, which is about 70% cheaper.
49 - Believe me, get a VIP bus - Seriously, the difference between VIP and non VIP is so huge. The VIP bus is very comfortable, with communication and no odor. Cheap buses are terrible because they only cost a few dollars, so paying 70% extra is not a big problem.
50 - Where do you buy your bus tickets? In the past, it was a pain to buy them. Because the local website did not accept foreign cards, you had to ask your hotel (who charged a high commission) or go to the bus station, always far away from the city center. Things have changed. Now, you can easily purchase through 1st Quest (the same visa holder).
51 - Trains are also an option - some cities have railway stations. I personally took the train from Tehran to Gogan and the 23 hour train from Mashhad to Port Abbas. It's cool but not all cities have railway stations, and they run less frequently than buses.
52 - The plane is also very good - for those who are pressed for time, there are many domestic flights connecting most cities in the country. Similarly, you can book a flight through 1st Quest, because most local sites do not accept foreign credit cards.
53 - Let Snapp taxi - Snapp is just like Iran Uber. As far as I know, it is also effective in Tehran, Isfahan and other big cities. By default, it is cheaper than ordinary taxis, plus the trouble of saving all negotiations.
54 - Subway - Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz and Mashhad all have subway lines. They are cheap, fast and reliable!
55 - Driving in Iran - You can drive yourself in Iran, no problem, but pay attention, just like in the whole Middle East, people drive like crazy.
56 - Crossing the streets of Iran - For me, the worst thing about Iran is that no one will question pedestrians. You should know that when you cross the road, even if you cross the crosswalk, the car will not slow down, but will only dodge you. This is crazy. You should always be close to the local people.
Internet and SIM card
57 - In Iran, many websites are censored - including Facebook, Twitter， Pornographic websites and even international media platforms such as BBC or CNN.
58 - This means you should get a VPN - If you want to publish Facebook updates, watch some porn when you feel lonely in your room or just check international news, you must get a VPN. I suggest you read how to find a suitable VPN for Iran.
59 - Wi Fi sucks - a lot, almost everywhere.
60 - But 3G is good - Wi Fi attracts a lot. Sometimes, I am using my 3G to watch movies.
61 - Obtaining an IranCell SIM card - Based on my experience, Employees at the IranCell store speak English. For just a few dollars, you can get a lot of gigabytes and phones. I suggest you check their website for the latest plans. In Tehran, There is an IranCell store in the Imem Khomeni subway station.
Food and alcohol
62 - What is Persian cuisine? Seriously, I can write an article about food in Iran. It has a wide variety, and many provinces have their own local specialties. Usually, most meals will be accompanied by tons of rice and bread. The most popular appetizer is eggplant based, and the main course is often gravy and gravy. Barbecue kebabs are delicious food for them to eat outside. So far, my favorite dishes are bademjan, eggplant and tomato stew; ghormeh sabzi， A stew containing a lot of spices and herbs; Grey, breakfast includes vegetable soup, chickpeas, noodles and caramel onions; And Cici, mutton (or chicken) in an earthenware pot with tomatoes, potatoes and chickpeas mashed.
63 - Vegetarians can - For breakfast, they will provide you with grey (vegetable soup) or tomato sauce omelet, as well as cheese, watermelon and nuts. For lunch and dinner, there are many vegetarian choices based on eggplant, lentils and rice.
64 - Chai- The tea culture is very strong, which is a sign of hospitality.
65 - Coffee culture is growing- One difference I noticed when I went to Iran for the second time was that coffee shops were full of authentic coffee. Of course, compared with any other drink, it is expensive, but it is necessary for me to have a good cup of coffee for breakfast.
66 - Alcohol can only be bought on the black market - usually smuggled from Armenia or Iraqi Kurdistan.
67 - But you may drink - Once, when I was hitchhiking in Golestan, a young couple from Tehran picked me up and offered me vodka. The other day, the owner of a cafe gave me a real rum mojito. I also drank homemade wine at someone's home in Shiraz and a glass of beer in Qeshm Island. As I said, many Iranians are not very religious. If you go out with the local people, you can finally have a drink.
Travel tips for staying in Iran
68 - Some popular international websites don't work - because of sanctions, websites like Booking.com don't have hotels listed in Iran and Hostelworld, you can only find budget hotels.
69 - I suggest you use 1stQuest to book all hotels - Again, people from 1stQuest have many hotels in all major cities. From luxury hotels to youth hostels, it is not easy to book hotels.
70 - Couchsurfacing - Couchsurfacing is very popular because local people like foreigners. According to Iranians, this proposal exceeds the demand. This is a good way to meet the local people, but please remember that some hosts may be very fierce and may wish to stay with you at any time.
When you travel in Iran, you will see some curiosity
71 - Nose work - you will find that in most major cities, especially Tehran and Isfahan, many women have bandages on their noses. That's because they just came from surgery. Many Persian women have arched noses. Some people are a little complicated about this.
72 - clergy - the Muslim priests you see all over Iran are Shiite clergy. Most of them are wearing white hats, which means they are ordinary people. However, those who wear black clothes are somehow related to the Prophet Muhammad. In two months, I found two of them.
73 - creepy mannequins - clothing stores have extremely creepy mannequins in all markets across the country. They are often dirty with one eye or they have no chin. I don't know if the shopkeeper realizes how strange this is.
74 - Drought in Iran - In Iran, the lack of rain is a real problem, and many lakes and rivers, including those passing through Isfahan, are completely dry throughout the country. This is one of the issues most concerned by most Iranians.
The best book to Iran
75 - Bradt - Bradt's Iran Travel Guide is always the most comprehensive national guide. I like Brad because they provide a lot of tips and cultural insights for independent travelers.
76 - Lonely Planet's Iran Travel Guide - I personally prefer Bradt, but if you are a Lonely Planet fan, they just released their latest Iran version.
77 - English - Persian phrase - It will be very useful if you want to communicate correctly with the local people outside the major tourist cities.
78 - Best Picture Novel - Persepolis - This is probably the most famous story ever about Iran. Before and after the 1979 revolution, this is a story of non religious women. A simple way to understand the complexity of Iranian society.
79 - Best political novel - Cypress - The story of a writer and his family (now a BBC reporter) who had to go into exile in Britain after the 1979 revolution. This book is not only a criticism of the dictatorship, but also explains everything he missed from Iran in a very nostalgic way.
81 - Travel package - only 369 euros, 1stQuest also provides an exclusive package for independent travelers, including 8 nights of mid-range hotels (Yazd, Isfahan and Shiraz, Tehran), 4 VIP bus tickets, visas and travel insurance. This is a very good deal. You can also use my promotion code to get a 5% discount. Click here to learn more about the packages provided by 1stQuest
82 - Border crossing - Iran has borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan. As long as you have a valid visa, all borders are open.
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