Iran Travel Guide

For a heritage-focused trip, compare three anchors: Golestan Palace in Tehran, a walled Qajar-era complex of palace buildings mostly used as museums, set around gardens; the Meidan Emam in Esfahan, a Safavid square of about 9 hectares ringed by two-storey arcades, mosques and a bazaar entrance; and Persepolis in Fars, an Achaemenid royal terrace begun around 518 BCE. Iran's official tourism portal adds religious sites, ecotourism, handicrafts, cuisine and winter ideas such as Qeshm Geopark, and the climate guide mentions ski resorts including Abali and Dizin.

Read the current warnings before you plan anything. The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), in an update dated 27 October and still current on 3 November, advises British nationals against all travel to Iran. It describes a deeply unpredictable regional situation, strikes on infrastructure, disrupted communications and possible airspace closures. It also says other foreign nationals have been unfairly detained. That is one government's advice for its own citizens, so check what your own government says and what it means for your insurance. Do not assume that a different passport removes the wider risks.

If you continue planning after reviewing the advisories, allow for cancellations, strict dress and photography rules, patchy connectivity and difficult payment arrangements. It suits you less if you need dependable card payments, spontaneous photography, alcohol, or rigid non-refundable bookings. Every route here depends on flights, borders and networks that can change at short notice.

The three clusters offer different experiences: a museum-palace in the capital, a walkable square with a bazaar, and a large open-air archaeological site. Confirm current journey times and transport options before combining more than one. A single base is often kinder to a short trip than three.

Each site has its own pressures. UNESCO lists rising tourist numbers and fire among threats to the Esfahan square, and growth of Marvdasht town and polluting industries near Persepolis. Confirm opening arrangements and which areas are accessible before you plan your day around any of them.

Tehran and Golestan Palace

The palace sits in the historic core of the capital. UNESCO describes eight main palace structures, mostly used as museums, set around gardens, showing Qajar-era blending of Persian crafts with European influence. It suits a museum-style visit inside a city stay. Confirm current opening hours, tickets and the route from your accommodation before setting the day’s programme.

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Esfahan and Meidan Emam

A square about 560 m by 160 m, framed by the Royal Mosque, Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque, Ali Qapu pavilion and the Qeyssariyeh portico, which leads to a 2 km bazaar. It rewards slow walking, shopping and architecture, all in one district. The downside is visitor pressure, which UNESCO lists among threats to the site. Confirm access to individual buildings on the day.

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Persepolis and Fars

Persepolis lies at the foot of Kuh-e Rahmat in south-western Iran. Its terrace holds the Apadana, the Throne Hall, carved friezes and tall slender columns. It suits travellers who want a dedicated archaeology day rather than a city stroll. Ask about walking surfaces, stairs, shade and transfers from your base. Separately, FCDO lists a past attack at a shrine in Shiraz, so factor the current security picture into where you stay.

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Turn your itinerary into suitable bookings: verify entry eligibility, compare transport and accommodation, then add the services you need. Service links open Safrat’s main website; availability and conditions are confirmed within the selected service.

Iran's official climate guide says temperatures vary widely by region. Summer can be hot and humid near the Caspian in the north and the Persian Gulf in the south. Higher elevations can be chilly even in mid-August, and the west and mountain areas call for a cardigan or light jacket. Winter ranges from mild to cold, with heavy snow in the high mountains and temperatures that can drop below zero. Spring and autumn are described as relatively mild, though rain is possible.

Hazards cut across seasons. FCDO says some provinces can flood in spring, naming Khuzestan, Golestan and Lorestan, and that many parts of Iran face earthquake risk. It also lists altitude sickness as a risk in parts of the country. If your plan includes mountains or ski resorts, pack for cold and check your insurance for the activity. A resort named in a guide does not confirm it is operating on your dates.

Ramadan dates vary by year. During daytime fasting hours FCDO advises against eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public, including in a car. Hotels and restaurants serving daytime food may seat you apart from fasting guests. Check shop and restaurant hours, and allow a pace that suits your group. Weigh all of this against the regional tension warnings, since the calendar alone will not make the trip stable.

These are editorial ideas for pacing, not packages, verified schedules or safety endorsements. Nights are suggestions only. Confirm transport, site access and the current security picture first, and leave buffer time for disruption.

Choose the base by what you want to see. Golestan Palace is in Tehran's historic core, and the Meidan Emam is the centre of Esfahan's sights and bazaar. For Persepolis, compare how you would reach the site from each possible base before committing nights. Check the real location rather than relying on a city name or photos.

Iran's official portal lists hotels, vacation rentals, ecotourism houses, travel agencies and tour guides, and points to accreditation portals called JANA (tourism facilities) and SADRA (travel service centres and guides). Use them to verify that a property or guide is accredited, then confirm availability, meals and cancellation terms directly. FCDO also notes that Iranian hotel managers could ask couples to show a marriage certificate to share a room, so ask in advance about documents.

You can compare hotel options for your dates, but check the results for your exact city rather than assuming coverage. If you have mobility needs, ask in writing about stairs, lifts, room layout and transfers. Photos do not prove accessibility. A refundable rate is worth paying for while conditions stay uncertain.

The official currency is the Iranian rial, but people use the toman in daily life. One toman equals ten rials, so 1,000 tomans is 10,000 rials. Ask which unit a quoted price uses before you pay. This is a unit difference, not an exchange rate.

Payment arrangements need advance planning. FCDO says getting cash in Iran is extremely difficult and non-Iranian debit and cash cards will not work. Travellers cheques usually cannot be changed, and changing money on the street is illegal. Selected foreign currencies can be exchanged at some exchange offices, though changing money may be problematic. FCDO adds that euros and US dollars are more commonly accepted than pounds sterling. Work out a legal way to obtain enough rials before you go. If you cannot, FCDO says to reconsider the trip.

Build your budget from quotes for your actual dates and party: flights, accommodation, local transport, site tickets, guides, meals, connectivity, insurance, and a cushion for rebooking. Check the payment currency, refund terms and the amount you need to carry legally before confirming bookings.

Flights are the main variable. FCDO says a limited number of commercial airlines still operate international flights out of Iran and that Iranian airspace may close at short notice. It also cites reports suggesting roads, railways, bridges and airports have been affected by strikes. Look at the flight search for your departure airport and dates, but treat results as a starting point. A search page does not prove a route operates. Keep fares changeable, and note how you would leave if your outbound flight were cancelled.

Do not assume a land exit is a dependable fallback. FCDO says borders may close at short notice, that entry to neighbouring countries is not straightforward, and that some will ask for extra paperwork. Requirements depend on your passport, so check the other country's rules in advance. Its advice on specific crossings is written for British nationals and cannot be applied to you.

On the ground, FCDO describes a high road accident rate and informal roadblocks, sometimes staffed by inexperienced officers. It advises carrying identification, avoiding disputes, and staying at the scene of any accident until police arrive. It recommends pre-booked taxis over street-hailed ones and warns against motorcycle taxis after tourists were robbed. If you plan to drive, check which licence or permit Iran accepts for your licence's country of issue. The UK's permit rule is not a general one. Maritime travellers should note FCDO's warning that parts of the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Caspian are politically and militarily sensitive.

FCDO reports ongoing communications disruption and limits on internet access, and says landline, internet and mobile services have been blocked, slowed or shut down without warning, nationally or locally. That can also affect location services. Download offline maps, save addresses and bookings, and agree a fallback way of reaching family. Before choosing a travel eSIM, check Iran coverage, device compatibility and activation conditions. Do not assume any plan overcomes network shutdowns.

FCDO also says you need permission to import or use drones or satellite phones, and that using a laptop in public can be misread as suspicious, especially if it holds photographs. Plan how you will handle navigation and photo storage accordingly.

For food, the official portal lists restaurants and traditional restaurants under food centres, and has a cuisine section for ideas. It does not certify any venue's ingredients, so ask staff directly about allergies or dietary needs. FCDO says importing pork products is illegal, and that importing, selling, making or drinking alcohol is illegal. It warns of deaths from alcoholic drinks containing methanol, which cannot be detected by taste or smell. Confirm meal arrangements with your hotel during Ramadan.

Security. FCDO says conflict began in early 2026 and the risk of sudden escalation is high, with strikes and retaliatory attacks across the region. It says Iran has stated an intention to target places linked to the US and Israel, and advises staying away from security and military facilities. It also states that terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Iran, possibly indiscriminate and in places foreigners frequent. Examples it gives include suicide bombings in Kerman in January 2024 and attacks at the Shah Cheragh shrine in Shiraz in 2022 and 2023. Its warnings on arrest and detention are aimed mainly at British and British-Iranian nationals, though it says other foreign nationals have also been unfairly detained. For British residents already in Iran it lists areas to avoid: within 10 km of the Iran-Iraq border, within 100 km of the Afghan border, Sistan and Baluchistan, and east of Bam and Jask. Check your own government's map and advice.

• Protests and photography: avoid protests, since mass arrests, including of bystanders, are reported. Photography near military and government sites is strictly prohibited and such sites can be hard to recognise. Ask before photographing people.
• Dress and behaviour: FCDO says Islamic codes of dress are strictly enforced. Women must cover their heads and wear long clothing, men should wear long trousers and long sleeves, and religious sites add requirements. It describes sex outside marriage and same-sex relations as illegal, with penalties that FCDO describes as including the death penalty.
• Crime: keep your passport safe and carry little cash. FCDO warns of robbers posing as police: ask for ID, do not hand over documents or cash, and do not get into a vehicle.
• Health: medical facilities are described as reasonable in major cities and poor in remote areas, with some basic medicine shortages. Emergency numbers are ambulance 115, fire 125 and police 110.

Consult a clinician about vaccines and your medicines. Before buying, check what travel insurance options say about Iran, medical evacuation, advisories and cancellation. A product page does not confirm cover for Iran.

Confirm the entry conditions for your own passport, residence and travel purpose with an Iranian embassy or consulate before making non-refundable bookings. Check whether you need a visa, passport validity, permitted stay, required documents and transit conditions. Advice written for British passport holders does not establish the rules for other nationalities.

If you have Iranian nationality or an Iranian father or spouse, check your position carefully: FCDO says Iran does not recognise dual nationality and may treat affected travellers as Iranian nationals. It also notes potential refusal where a passport has Israel-related stamps. Ask the responsible authority what applies to your circumstances rather than relying on a rule for someone else.

See the Iran visa information and enquiry page to check what assistance is available for your case. The link does not confirm a purchasable visa option or approval. Verify customs and medicine rules, carry copies of relevant documents and confirm any child-travel requirements. Iranian authorities decide entry, and requirements can change.

Ask the property or activity provider for written confirmation of a cot, connecting rooms, wheelchair access or airport assistance when needed. Check steps, walking, lifts and vehicle arrangements; photographs or star classification alone do not establish suitability.

Check current official guidance on health, safety, medicines and customs for your circumstances. A tourism description is not a safety guarantee, medical advice or permission to carry a medicine.

Further reading to help choose experiences and shape your itinerary. Recheck changing requirements with the responsible authority before booking.

Use these answers when comparing options. Confirm current prices, availability and product-specific conditions within the service itself.

• www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iran/print
• whc.unesco.org/en/list/1422/
• whc.unesco.org/en/list/115/
• whc.unesco.org/en/list/114/
• www.visitiran.ir/
• www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iran/print
• www.visitiran.ir/en/climate
• www.visitiran.ir/en/currency-iran-1

Content reviewed on 3 November 2026 using the dated sources below. Recheck current requirements before booking; prices, availability and operating conditions change. Suggested itineraries are planning options, not sold packages.