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11

Tehran Travel & Sightseeing Guide

A trip to Tehran
Over past decades, Tehran has exploded from a modest city to a
buzzing metropolis of nearly 14 million people. The snowy peaks of
the Alborz mountain range pierce the city’s northern landscape,
creating a striking contrast with the modern streets overflowing with
cafés, restaurants and museums.

Flights to Tehran
Flights to Iran generally arrive at Mehrabad Airport although certain
routes have recently been moved to the newly built Imam Khomeini
International Airport. Mehrabad receives many international flights
from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, but there are no direct
flights from North America or Australia. The drive to the city centre
is relatively short, and taxis are readily available outside of the
airport. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Tehran try Ebookers.

Imam Khomeini International Airport receives mostly flights from
cities in the Middle East although it is planned to become Tehran’s
main airport. A taxi ride to the city centre can take over an hour in
traffic from this new airport.

Travellers should be aware that an exit fee is usually required upon
leaving through these airports.

Tehran

Sightseeing to Tehran
Tehran has a wealth of museums to visit, whether you are interested in
fine arts, dazzling jewels or luxurious carpets. The National Museum
of Iran has an enormous collection of historical artefacts and ancient
art, and is located next to the Islamic Arts Museum. The Treasury of
the National Jewels houses some of the world’s most expensive jewels
while the more modest National Gallery of Rugs is worth a visit as
well.

One of Tehran’s popular sites is the Golestan Palace, with its
impressive museum and tranquil gardens. The S’ad-Abad Palace Complex
is another lovely attraction, boasting 18 palace museums also set
within an oasis of gardens. For people-watching, head to Ferdoosi Square in the city centre, which
is surrounded by an area of quaint shops and avenues.

Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
Falafels and kebabs can be found at food stands all over the city,
offering a cheap and delicious meal option. Traditional Iranian
restaurants are also easy to come across, as are places serving up
international cuisine. During the day, cafés and teahouses are packed
with lively crowds of people, although the scene quiets down
significantly at night. Traditional Iranian music locales and some
cafés on Darband street offer the chance for a relaxing evening, but
Tehran is not the destination to choose for partying.

Fun by day - shopping and activities
One of Tehran’s strongest attractions is the huge number of beautiful
parks located right within the city. It is difficult to single out the
best of the city’s 800 parks, but Niavaran, Baharan and Laleh are
just three to begin with. Tehran’s high altitude means that
temperatures are more moderate than other Middle Eastern cities
although summers can get quite hot.

The massive Grand Bazaar on the southern end of Tehran is a must-see
with row after row of stalls selling every item imaginable. Even those
not looking to buy should visit this market for a big gulp of local
culture. An escape from the city is a simple task in Tehran, with popular ski
resorts and mountain villages under two hours away. Two towns worth
visiting are Fasham and Lavasan, located in the Alborz mountains.

Daytrips
Tehran is a sprawling metropolis with plenty of activities, venues and sightseeing attractions. But for those that wish to escape the noise of the city for a day, there are a couple of daytrips worth considering. The cities and villages along the Caspian Sea offer mountain views, clean air and more serene settings. Hiring a taxi for the day is an affordable option and an easy way to get to the surrounding cities.

Namakabrud is located about 4 hours, 30 minutes away from Tehran and offers visitors gondola lifts for aerial views of the town’s green coast. Ramsar is a town also along the Caspian Sea, known for its superb views of the Alborz Mountains. Again, driving is the best way to explore this area.

If escaping the city for snow and skiing, then taking a trip to the Dizin Ski Resort is an option. It’s located in the Alborzs Mountains and roughly a three-hour drive from the centre of Tehran.

Must-see attractions
The historical museums, cultural artworks and open parks are the most popular reasons for tourists to visit Tehran. The Archaeology Museum is a great place to start a sightseeing expedition around the city. However, the Contemporary Arts Museum offers a more modern take on Iranian art and designs, along with the Abghine Glass Museum.

Strolling through Tehran’s parks is a must but choosing the best ones to visit can be a challenge. Park Daneshjou is centrally located on Enghelab Avenue and includes City Theatre. Park Jamshidieh is at the northeast end of Tehran and holds the title as one of the last parks of the Pahlavi era. Park Saaii is another popular park that is conveniently situated on Vali-Asr Avenue.

For more physical and outdoor activity, Darband and Darakeh are hotspots for mountain climbing. Football is a passion for the people of Tehran and as a result, there are several stadiums for the game. For those visiting during the season, be sure to visit the largest stadium of them all, Azadi Stadium, to watch an Iranian Premier League match.

Best time to go
Tehran’s summer time weather can feel much like a burning inferno at various stages of the season. It is highly recommended to take climate and weather into consideration when visiting the city. The spring, winter and autumn months are fairly comfortable and the most popular seasons for visiting Tehran.

The global climate is another factor to consider when travelling to Iran. For safety reasons it is extremely advisable to check the current relationship between the country of your passport and Iran before travelling.

Rainy day suggestions
If in Tehran on a rainy day, spend some time at a few of the city’s cultural and artistic venues. The Cinema Museum has been open for roughly 10 years and offers interesting perspectives and insights while the Islamic Period Museum offers both artistic and religious artefacts of Islam and Iran.

If museum hopping does not sound appealing spend some time roaming through the Azadi Tower, which was built to commemorate Persia’s 2,500th anniversary. Sampling local cuisine can be another way to remain indoors. Checlokababis are local Iranian restaurants spread throughout the city which offer inexpensive cuisine with high quality meats and vegetables, and make for great rainy day venues.

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