Persia's thousand-year legacy — the Registan of Isfahan, the rose gardens of Shiraz, the ancient fire temples of Yazd, and a culture of hospitality that overwhelms visitors with invitations to tea.
- Capital
- Tehran
- Population
- 85,961,000
- Area
- 1,648,000 km²
- Languages
- Persian (Farsi)
- Currency
- Iranian rial
- GDP
- $341,013M
Good to know
Driving side
Right
National dish
Chelo kabab, Ghormeh sabzi
Annual visitors
1,550,000 (2020)
Safety
Low (2.38/100k)
Avg temp
18.3°C
Religion
Islam
Coast
Coastal
☎ Police 110 · Ambulance 115 · Fire 123
Travel guide
Iran (Persian: ایران), formerly Persia, can be considered part of the Middle East or Central Asia; indeed the Persian Empire was the dominant Central Asian power for many centuries. The wellspring of one of the world's great civilizations, Iran is a country of striking natural beauty and gorgeous tiled mosques. Once the centre of a pro-Western monarchy, it became an Islamic Republic in 1979, a modern Islamic theocracy whose laws are based on Ja'fari Shia Islam, and since then, its history has been tumultuous. Iran is a melting pot of different cultures, with Persians, Azerbaijanis, and Kurds constituting the largest ethnic groups. Shia Islam is the state religion, although there is a sizeable portion of Sunnis, as well as long-established Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian minorities.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Iran
Best time to visit
March–May and September–November are the best seasons. Isfahan and Shiraz are most pleasant in spring. Yazd and the desert are cooler October–March. Summer (June–August) is extremely hot. Nowruz (Persian New Year, March) is a festive but busy period.
Visa
Most Western nationals including US, UK, and Canadian citizens cannot obtain tourist visas easily due to political tensions. EU, Australian, and many other nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival or e-Visa for 30 days.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (45)
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Major cities
Isfahan
Iran's most beautiful city — the Naghsh-e Jahan Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site flanked by mosques and bazaars, is breathtaking.
Shiraz
The city of poetry, roses, and wine — Persepolis ruins, Nasir ol-Molk mosque, and the tomb of Hafez are nearby.
Tehran
Iran's sprawling modern capital with world-class museums, a ski resort 45 minutes away, and extraordinary bazaars.
Yazd
A UNESCO desert city of wind towers, Zoroastrian fire temples, and one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.