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Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque, Iran

© 123rf.com / Javarman Javarman

Things to see and do in Iran

Desert oasis

Visit the miniscule oasis village of Garmeh, surrounded by date palms and centred around a small spring. Don’t expect any fancy hotels, but as a chance to experience the profound quiet of the desert, it’s second to none.

Diving

Get up close to virgin coral and colourful marine life in the waters off Qeshm Island in the south. Nearby Kish Island is another good option for scuba enthusiasts – the diving school offers a range of PADI courses.

Esfahan’s bridges

The bridges that cross Esfahan’s Zayandeh River wouldn’t look out of place in a book of fairytales. Many date back to the golden era of the 1600s – the 33-arched Si O Seh Bridge is unmissable, while the similarly majestic Khaju Bridge is split over two levels.

Football

The Tehran derby between Esteghlal and Persepolis is the most fiercely contested football match in the Middle East. It’s a day when the entire country splits its allegiance between red and blue – join more than 90,000 others for a day of singing and emotion.

Go rug-shopping

There’s literally no better place in the world to find an authentic Persian rug, and throughout city bazaars you’ll find no shortage of different vendors. Throw yourself into the experience – take tea, choose a favourite and barter with a smile.

Golestan Palace

Arguably Tehran’s key sight, this is the former royal complex of the Qajar dynasty. The site dates back several hundred years, but took on its current shape largely in the nineteenth century.

Imam Square

Esfahan’s breathtaking centrepiece is one of the largest public squares in the world, fringed by a glittering array of blue-mosaic mosques and palaces. Wander the gardens, gawp at the architecture and take time to absorb the atmosphere of this UNESCO-listed marvel.

Jameh Mosque

Another of Esfahan’s exquisite attractions, the Jameh Mosque (not to be confused with the mosque of the same name in just about every city in the country) is a masterpiece of Islamic design. It is the largest mosque in Iran.

Kashan

An oasis city with a laid-back vibe and, yes, a vivid living history. Kashan experienced lavish building works during the Qajar era, and much of this grandeur still remains.

Kerman

Initially founded as a military outpost and subsequently established as a key trading post for those passing to and from India, Kerman has some interesting museums, a number of imposing mosques and – predictably – a gloriously hugger-mugger bazaar.

Meymand

Meymand is a troglodyte settlement carved into a range of hills near the south coast. It’s been estimated that people have inhabited the area for more than 3000 years, and today’s residents still live in natural and manmade caves.

National Jewels Museum

Tehran’s National Jewels Museum showcases some of the most opulent regalia you’re likely to encounter anywhere in the world, including an ornamental world globe made from more than 50,000 different precious stones.

Persepolis

For many visitors, this is the over-riding reason to come to Iran. A short drive from Shiraz, Persepolis was once the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire in the 5th to 3rd centuries BC. The vast spread of deserted columns, stairways and gateways is a stirringly monumental sight.

Shiraz

The City of Roses, as Shiraz is known, is synonymous with images of poets, flowers and – somewhat ironically, given the nationwide alcohol ban – wine. It’s long been one of the Islamic world’s most celebrated cities, and there’s still plenty to see.

Shisha culture

Hubbly-bubbly, shisha, hookah, narghile: call it what you will, the omnipresent water-pipes still form an important part of local culture. It might not be overly healthy, but ordering a pipe and watching the world go by is a quintessential Iranian experience.

Skiing

Skiing in Iran? But of course. There are four downhill areas near Tehran alone, and costs are generally far lower than in Europe. The season in the Alborz Mountains lasts roughly from November until late March.

Tabriz

Step back in time to 15th-century Persia at the country’s second largest city. The covered Qaisariyeh Bazaar is a big draw, while the Kabudi (Blue) Mosque, built in 1465 before being destroyed by an earthquake and since restored, is another key sight.

Take tea

Chances are high that as you make your way around the country, you’ll be invited to locals’ homes for tea on a fairly regular basis. Forget any natural reserve and say yes – it may well be the most rewarding thing you do.

US “Den of Espionage”

The site of the former US Embassy in Tehran, where diplomats were once held hostage for over a year, the complex is today best known for the anti-Western murals daubed on its walls. Sobering.

Yazd

One of the country’s very oldest cities (Marco Polo made reference to it), Yazd is still characterised by winding lanes, wind towers, earth-sculpted buildings and an evocative atmosphere of ages past. Don’t miss the princely Amir Chakhmaq Complex.

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