Travel Guide to Iran 2026: Isfahan, Shiraz, Persepolis & Yazd (Read the Warnings First)
Thinking of a trip to Iran? This travel guide to Iran starts with the 2026 safety situation, then covers where Iran is, the seasons, visa rules, the 10 most famous places, how a classic route looks, costs, culture, and the leading universities. From the blue-tiled mosques of Isfahan and the gardens of Shiraz to the ruins of Persepolis and the mud-brick wind towers of Yazd, Iran has some of the richest heritage on Earth, with 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This guide is honest that, right now, governments advise against all travel.
Last updated: October 2026 · Entry rules and costs in this travel guide to Iran were checked against official sources
📊 Quick Facts for Your Travel guide to Iran
- Capital: Tehran💡 A city of over 9 million below the Alborz mountains
- Currency: Iranian rial (IRR)💡 Prices are usually spoken in tomans; bring cash. Check rates
- Language: Persian (Farsi)💡 Azerbaijani Turkic, Kurdish and other languages are also spoken
- Population: About 92 million💡 Second-largest in the Middle East
- Area: 1,648,195 km²💡 The world's 17th-largest country
- Time zone: UTC+3:30, no daylight saving💡 Convert times
- UNESCO sites: 30💡 Alamut Castle was added in 2026
- Power: 220 V, plug types C and F💡 Standard European two-pin plugs
ℹ️ Figures in this travel guide to Iran are 2026 estimates from official and international sources.
📍 Where Is Iran?
Iran lies between the Caspian Sea to the north and the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to the south. It borders Iraq and Turkey to the west, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to the north, and Afghanistan and Pakistan to the east. A high central plateau of deserts is ringed by the Zagros and Alborz mountains.
In normal times Tehran is about 6 hours by air from London. The classic route runs south from Tehran through Kashan, Isfahan, Yazd and Shiraz. Check distances with our distance calculator.
📅 Best Time to Visit Iran
In normal times, the best months to visit Iran are March to May and September to November, with mild days of about 18–28°C. Nowruz, the Persian New Year around 21 March, is a festive but very busy fortnight. Summer is extremely hot in the deserts of Yazd and Kashan, while winter brings snow to the mountains and skiing near Tehran.
Nowruz, rose season in Kashan and Shiraz gardens.
Very hot in the desert; cooler on the Caspian coast.
Comfortable weather for the classic city route.
Snow in the mountains; mild on the Gulf islands.
📅 Use the seasons in this travel guide to Iran to match your trip to the weather, festivals and prices you want.
🛂 Iran Visa & Entry Requirements (2026)
Visa rules (for reference): almost all visitors need a visa, normally arranged through an approved e-visa reference before travel. Citizens of the USA, UK and Canada must travel on an organised tour with a licensed guide for their whole stay. In 2026 none of this changes the advice: the US and UK advise against all travel.
- PassportValid for at least 6 months; Israeli stamps or visas can lead to refusal.
- Dual nationalsIran does not recognise dual nationality and may impose exit bans.
- MoneyForeign cards do not work; visitors must carry all their money in cash.
- AirspaceIranian airspace has been closed repeatedly during the 2026 war.
🔗 Official sources: Iran Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-visa · US travel advisory for Iran. Entry rules change, so always confirm before booking and avoid paid look-alike sites.
🛂 Entry rules in this travel guide to Iran were last checked in October 2026.
🕌 10 Most Famous Places in Iran
These are the best-known sights in this travel guide to Iran, with the best months to see them in normal times. Some have been close to areas hit in the 2026 war; do not plan a visit while governments advise against travel.
One of the world's largest squares, with the Shah Mosque and Ali Qapu Palace (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: Mar–May, Sep–NovSi-o-se-pol and Khaju bridges over the Zayandeh River.
💡 Best time: EveningsThe ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: Oct–AprThe Pink Mosque, Eram Garden and the tomb of the poet Hafez.
💡 Best time: Apr–May, Oct–NovA mud-brick old city of wind towers and Zoroastrian sites (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: Oct–AprMerchant houses, the Fin Garden and the rosewater festival.
💡 Best time: Apr–MayA Qajar palace of mirror halls and tiles (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: All yearOne of the largest covered bazaars in the world (UNESCO).
💡 Best time: May–OctThe mountain fortresses of the medieval Nizari Ismailis (UNESCO 2026).
💡 Best time: May–OctCanyons, mangroves and red-earth beaches in the Gulf.
💡 Best time: Nov–Mar🗺️ How a Classic 7-Day Route Looks: Tehran, Kashan, Isfahan, Yazd & Shiraz
This is the route most visitors took before 2026, by domestic flights, trains and buses. It is not a recommendation to travel now; follow your government's advice.
Follow this route from our travel guide to Iran day by day, or shorten it to fit your trip.
- Tehran: Golestan Palace, the National Museum and the Grand Bazaar.
- Kashan: traditional merchant houses and the Fin Garden.
- Isfahan: Naqsh-e Jahan Square and its mosques.
- Isfahan: the Armenian quarter, Vank Cathedral and the bridges at dusk.
- Yazd: the old city, the Jameh Mosque and the fire temple.
- Persepolis: on the way to Shiraz, with the royal tombs of Naqsh-e Rustam.
- Shiraz: the Pink Mosque in morning light, Hafez's tomb and the bazaar.
➕ In normal times, with more time: Tabriz and Kandovan in the north-west, the Caspian coast, Alamut's castles, or the islands of Qeshm and Hormuz.
💵 How Much Does a Trip to Iran Cost?
Before the war, Iran was one of the cheapest destinations in the Middle East for visitors with hard currency, but prices change quickly with inflation and exchange rates. These are rough daily costs per person in normal times, excluding flights and tours.
| Travel style | Per day (approx.) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$30–50 | Guesthouses, local food and buses |
| Mid-range | US$70–130 | Traditional-house hotels and domestic flights |
| Guided tour | US$150–300 | Required for US, UK and Canadian citizens |
💡 All prices in this travel guide to Iran are per person, per day, and change with the season and exchange rates.
💵 Because foreign cards do not work, visitors must bring all their money in cash (usually euros or US dollars) and exchange it at official exchange offices.
💡 Safety & Travel Tips for Your Travel guide to Iran
In 2026 Iran is an active war zone, with strikes on cities and infrastructure, airspace closures and a high risk of detention for foreigners. Even before the war, US, UK, Canadian and dual nationals faced arbitrary arrest. If you are already in Iran, follow your government's advice on leaving, carry your passport, and avoid demonstrations, military sites and photographing government buildings.
Women are legally required to cover their hair in public.
Foreign bank cards do not work.
Many sites and apps are blocked; access may be cut.
Never photograph military or government sites.
Alcohol is illegal for visitors.
"Merci" or "mamnoon" means thank you.
🏨 Where to Stay in Iran
While the US and UK advise against all travel to Iran, we are not recommending individual hotels. In normal times, many visitors stay in restored traditional courtyard houses in Isfahan, Yazd, Kashan and Shiraz, which are often booked through Iranian agencies because international booking sites do not take payments for Iran.
🔎 Why there are no hotel picks in this travel guide to Iran: we do not recommend individual hotels while major governments advise against all travel. We will add them if the advice changes.
🎓 Top Universities in Iran
Iran has a large university system with strong engineering and medical schools; most teaching is in Persian.
| University | City | Type |
|---|---|---|
| University of Tehran | Tehran | Public |
| Sharif University of Technology | Tehran | Public |
| Amirkabir University of Technology | Tehran | Public |
| University of Isfahan | Isfahan | Public |
| Shiraz University | Shiraz | Public |
Iran's oldest modern university (1934).
Visit website →The leading engineering and science university.
Visit website →Formerly Tehran Polytechnic, strong in engineering.
Visit website →Sciences, humanities and foreign languages.
Visit website →Known for engineering, agriculture and literature.
Visit website →🔎 How we chose for this travel guide to Iran: the oldest and highest-ranked public universities in the main cities. Last checked: October 2026.
🍽️ Persian Culture & Food
Iranian culture stretches back more than 2,500 years, from the Achaemenid kings of Persepolis to the poets Hafez, Saadi, Rumi and Ferdowsi, whose verses are quoted every day. Persian carpets, miniature painting and tilework are world famous, and taarof, an elaborate system of politeness, shapes daily life.
Persian food is fragrant rather than fiery: try chelo kebab with saffron rice, ghormeh sabzi (herb stew), fesenjan (pomegranate and walnut stew), crispy tahdig and saffron-and-rosewater ice cream, bastani.
❓ Travel Guide to Iran: FAQ
Is it safe to travel to Iran in 2026?
No. Iran has been at war since February 2026. The US rates it Level 4: Do Not Travel and the UK advises against all travel.
Can Americans or Britons visit Iran?
In normal times only on a licensed guided tour. In 2026 both governments advise their citizens not to travel at all.
Do credit cards work in Iran?
No, foreign cards do not work; visitors must bring cash.
How many UNESCO sites does Iran have?
30, including Persepolis, Naqsh-e Jahan Square and, since 2026, Alamut Castle.
Do women have to wear a headscarf in Iran?
Yes, the law requires women to cover their hair in public.
What currency does Iran use?
The Iranian rial; prices are often quoted in tomans (10 rials).
What is the best time to visit Iran in normal times?
March–May and September–November.
Is alcohol allowed in Iran?
No, it is illegal.
📚 Trusted Resources for Your Travel guide to Iran
- US travel advisory: IranCurrent US government advice
- UK travel advice: IranCurrent UK government advice
- UNESCO: IranWorld Heritage Sites in Iran
Finished this travel guide to Iran? 🌍 More Middle East and Central Asia guides: Armenia · Turkey · Oman · Uzbekistan · All of Asia
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