• Visit the many great museums of Tehran, including the Abgineh Museum of Iranian Pottery. The Reza Abbasi Museum (website: www.rezaabbasimuseum.ir) houses a rare collection of Iranian calligraphy and paintings, whilst the National Museum of Iran (website: www.nationalmuseumofiran.ir) displays several archaeological and anthropological exhibits.

• Make sure you find the cultural centres of Iran's capital, including Azadi, Bahman and Khavaran, as well as a national library, a city theatre, a zoo and a university. Tehran's bazaar is one of the world's largest.

• Tour the Alborz mountain chain - a popular destination for excursions from Tehran. Mount Damavand, the Middle East's largest mountain, can be found here.

• Explore The Golden Triangle, the region enclosed by the ancient cities of Hamadan, Kermanshah and Khorramabad. Enjoy the historical associations. For many centuries, the Silk Road passed through the region's rolling countryside, and there are several indications of settlements dating back over 6,000 years.

• Discover Hamadan, the summer capital of the Persian Emperors. One of the few easily visible signs of the city's antiquity is the Stone Lion, dating back to the time of Alexander the Great.

• Make Kermanshah your base for visiting the Taghe Bostan Grottoes, which have several excellent bas-relief carvings. The site of the Seleucid Temple of Artemis is in Kangavar; it consists of massive fallen columns and is now being reconstructed.

• Take to Iran's waters and try out the waterskiing facilities at the Karadj Dam near Tehran.

• Go fishing. Many streams are well stocked with trout including the Djaje-Rud, the Karadje and the Lar. The dammed lakes of the Karadje River and the Sefid Rud are also filled with fish and the Caspian Sea is another good choice.

• Test out the slopes during January to March in the Alborz Mountains. Ski resorts include Abe Ali, 62km (38 miles) east of Tehran; the Noor Slope, 71km (44 miles) from the capital; Shemshak, 59km (37 miles) from Tehran; and Dizine near the town of Gatchsar.

• Be adventurous and go trekking and climbing in Iran's forests and mountains.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.