Iran: from antiquity to modern times

Home to one of the world's greatest civilizations, Iran is a country with four seasons, a rich history, magnificent architecture and picturesque landscapes. Here you can see many ancient sights known from history books, adjacent to modern restaurants, ski and beach resorts. We will tell you how to plan a trip to this amazing country so as not to miss a single interesting detail.

Tehran

The energetic and lively capital of Iran is located on the slope of Mount Tochal, which separates the city from the Caspian Sea. It's the most open and secular place in the country, so starting your trip here is a great way to immerse yourself in Islamic culture.

It is recommended to spend at least two to three days in Tehran. Be sure to visit the Grand Bazaar, the Imam Khomeini Mosque, the Golestan Palace and the Saad Abad complex, the former residence of the Shah of Iran. Among the museums, it is worth visiting the Iranian National Museum and the Museum of Modern Art.

In your free time between sightseeing, we highly recommend hanging out at the ancient Gol Rezaieh coffee shop and the Shemroon cafe in the garden of the Iranian art museum, as well as at the teahouse at the Tajrish Bazaar. To try the national cuisine, it is worth visiting the bazaars and local eateries and trying Iranian kebabs, spiced rice and Persian sweets.

Isfahan

This ancient city is known as an open-air museum thanks to its many palaces, arched bridges, mosques with mosaic minarets and domes, and bustling bazaars. Isfahan is a must-stop for tourists in Iran also because it is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Naqsh-i-Jahan Square (the second largest square in the world!), the legendary Jami Mosque (mosques began to be built in its likeness all over the world) and Persian Gardens.

Particular attention should be paid to the local cuisine: Isfahan serves delicious dishes such as fesenjan (pomegranate stew with walnuts), tahdid (crispy fried rice) and kubide kebab (fried minced lamb with parsley and onions).

Yazd

Yazd, with its mystical charm, amazes at first sight. This city is a unique example of adobe architecture and is the center of Zoroastrianism. Unlike the noisier and more crowded Tehran and Isfahan, Yazd is an island of calm and tranquility. Key attractions include the old city, the Jameh Mosque with its tall minarets, and the Water Museum, which explains water supply in desert conditions. Don't rush to get lost in the narrow streets of old Yazd - it's better to look at the city from above. Excursions on the roofs of buildings allow you to see the city from an unusual perspective, and thanks to the close proximity of the houses, you can feel like the hero of the game about the Prince of Persia, jumping from roof to roof.

Kandovan, Osku

Kandovan means “beehive” in Persian and you can’t think of a more accurate description of this picturesque village, because all the houses here are carved right into the Sekhend volcanic massif, in igneous rock. This village was founded by refugees fleeing the Mongol invasion. Some of the cave "apartments" here are over 700 years old and are still inhabited. Thanks to the peculiarities of the rock, these dwellings enjoy a comfortable climate all year round. The village is included in the register of the National Heritage Society of Iran.

Local residents welcome tourists warmly, offering tours of their homes, serving sweets and offering unique souvenirs. Some houses also have cafes and hotels where you can stay overnight. You can get there by taxi or as part of a sightseeing tour from from Tabriz, the nearest city to the settlement.

Ruins of Persepolis

From Shiraz, the city of great poets, many flowers and the heart of Persian culture, you can reach the ruins of Persepolis, once the capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. This mind blowing historical site is comparable in importance to the Luxor in Egypt, the Pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge, the Colosseum and the Forum in Rome. After the conquest by Alexander the Great, Persepolis was partially destroyed, but many bas-reliefs, columns, statues and tombs can still be seen here.

Tip: Visit Persepolis early in the morning to take photos without the crowds and enjoy the peace, or come in the afternoon to see the ruins in the soft light of the golden hour as the sun sets.

Desert Lut

The Lut Desert, located in eastern Iran, is considered the hottest place on Earth, with a record maximum surface temperature of 78.2°C. As soon as you step out of the car, you will be scalded by hot air so that the usual temperature difference when getting off an airplane in Arab countries will seem like a light breeze. Be sure to take closed shoes with you - walking on hot sand without shoes is simply dangerous. The lifeless landscape of the desert is amazing: endless sand dunes, salt marshes, rocky formations, a complete lack of vegetation and the only river that never dries up give the impression that you are on another planet.

A road passes through the desert from southern Iran to Khorasan, but there are no populated areas. The nearest city is Kerman, from which desert excursions, including 4x4 tours, are organized.

Alborz Mountains

Let's be honest - the last thing you think about when you think about Iran is snow and cold. However, there are the magnificent Alborz Mountains - the country's northernmost range, stretching from the border with Azerbaijan in the west to the border with Turkmenistan in the east. There are four international ski resorts here - Dizin, Shemshak, Darbandsar and Tochal, which offer excellent conditions for skiing and snowboarding. The season here lasts from November to May, and heavy rainfall guarantees an abundance of snow, sometimes reaching 7 meters.

Kish Island

In addition to mountains, antiquities and oriental flavor, in Iran you can also relax on the beach - and they are luxurious here! Transparent blue water, white sand and palm trees - Kish Island in the Persian Gulf has it all. The beach season lasts all year round, although holidays here are still subject to Muslim rules: the beaches on the island, as well as throughout the country, are separated by gender. Women can sunbathe and swim only at the paid Woman’s Beach ($1 entry), and even then they must wear one-piece swimsuits.

In addition, shopping (Kish is a free trade zone) and diving are popular on the island - there are unique coral reefs around the island that attract a lot of marine life. Here you can also see the ruins of the ancient city of Harire and a sunken Greek ship. You can get to Kish Island by plane from Tehran or by ferry from the city of Charak.

You have to think twice before you travel to such a closed and not very popular country, but if you do decide to do so, you will never forget about it! Expand your horizons with fedafone and always stay connected!