Travel to Iran: five places worth visiting
The capital Tehran
The vibrant Iranian capital Tehran is always worth a visit. Tehran is located in the north of Iran, not far from the Caspian Sea. The best way to travel to Iran is via Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport.
The sights in Tehran include palaces and museums. The Golestan Palace, which was built at the end of the 18th century, was the seat of the Persian ruling families.
In the north of Tehran is the Saadabad palace complex, a 110-hectare building complex. Saadabad originally served as a royal summer residence. Today, Saadabad houses the residence of the President of the Republic as well as several museums.
Would you like to get a good overview of Tehran? Then visit the 446-metre high Milad Tower, Tehran's television tower, which was opened in 2006.
Persepolis: residential city of the ancient Persian Empire
Explore historical sights during your stay in Iran. Persepolis, one of the capitals of the ancient Persian Empire, is located in the south of Iran. You can fly from Tehran to Shiraz (around 60 kilometers from Persepolis).
Persepolis was founded in 520 BC and destroyed by Alexander the Great around 200 years later. The Shah of Persia had Persepolis restored in 1971 - on the occasion of the 2500th anniversary of the Persian monarchy.
Visit the elaborately designed palaces of various Persian kings. Also worth seeing are the so-called Hundred Columns Hall and the Apadana Palace Hall, which impresses with its 20-metre-high columns.
Mashhad: a holy place of the Shiites
Mashhad, the second largest city in the country with a population of 2.5 million, is located in north-eastern Iran. You can reach Mashhad by train from Tehran.
Mashhad, the capital of the province of Razavi-Khorasan, is one of the seven holy places of the Shiites. Mashhad is home to the tomb of Imam Alī ibn Mūsā ar-Ridā, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. Over 20 million pilgrims and tourists visit Mashhad and the Imam's tomb mausoleum every year.
Historical sights in Isfahan
During your trip to Iran, you should definitely visit the metropolis of Isfahan. The provincial capital of Isfahan is located 300 kilometers south of Tehran in the center of the country.
Isfahan enchants visitors with its magnificent historical buildings, most of which were built between 1598 and 1722. At that time, Isfahan was the capital of the Persian Empire.
One of the top sights in Iran is the central Imam Square Meidan-e Emam. Measuring 560 meters by 160 meters, Imam Square is one of the world's largest fully enclosed public squares.
Imam Square is surrounded by historic arcades and monumental buildings:
- The royal mosque on the south side of Meidan-e Emam is richly decorated. Its dome reaches a height of 54 meters, its minarets 52 meters.
- The 42-metre-high Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque is considered a unique mosque due to its particularly ornate decorations.
- One of the impressive palaces on Imam Square is the High Gate, which also served as the entrance to the former imperial residence buildings.
- To the north of the Meidan-e Emam is the magnificently designed entrance portal to the Royal Bazaar.
Tabriz: Azerbaijani Cultural Center
Today's state of Iran unites different cultures. Tabriz, the capital of the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan, is located in the north-west of Iran. Use the train connection from Tehran to get there.
Tabriz is considered the cultural center of the Azerbaijanis living in Iran.
The sights of Tabriz include
- the Blue Mosque (Kabud Mosque), built in 1465,
- the Historical Bazaar, which reflects the economic importance of Tabriz as an important station on the historic Silk Road,
- the Azerbaijan Museum, one of the most important archaeological museums in Iran.
