My trip in Persia, Iran, today, it is a very big and interesting trip, and it contains many surprises and information

My trip in Persia, Iran, today, it is a very big and interesting trip, and it contains many surprises and information

 Iran is a vast and very diverse country that has a lot to discover through its historical monuments and stunning landscapes. Understandably, this can leave you feeling overwhelmed to plan your activities in the country. In order to make the most of your time here, I will tell you about my experience in Iran that I hope you will benefit from.

Tourism in Iran

Day 1 - Tehran

If you are traveling to the country, you will likely land in Tehran at Imam Khomeini Airport. Take a bus or a taxi from outside the airport to the center of Tehran to your hotel or favorite place of residence and I will tell you a secret that North Tehran is very close to European civilization and is very convenient, as through what I have found that Tehran is divided into four sections. If you have time in the evening, wander the bustling streets of Tehran and head to a restaurant serving traditional Iranian dishes for a delicious introduction to the country.

Day 2 - Explore Tehran - Travel to Tabriz

Tourism in Tabriz

Golestan Palace was built during the Qajar dynasty that came to power in the 18th century. The palace buildings are among the earliest examples of architecture in modern Tehran today, where you will see carefully juxtaposed examples of Persian, Western, and Russian styles.

The Grand Bazaar in Tehran is a must-see destination for any visit to Tehran, and it is often said to be the heart of Persian culture as well as commerce. The bazaar, or market merchants, have historically wielded a great deal of political power over the years. In the run-up to the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the former Shah bulldozed new avenues through the bazaar and subsidized supermarkets in an effort to remove some of the bazaar and commercial market's power to serve his political needs. At present, it is estimated that the Tehran bazaar controls a third of the entire retail sector in Iran.

There are many great restaurants in Tehran, but after a tiring day of sightseeing, there is nothing more satisfying than a warm bowl of dizi, or “abgosht,” a traditional broth with lamb and lentils. Bagh Saba Restaurant is a great place to have this dish, where you can also enjoy the local atmosphere of a traditional Iranian restaurant. Next, you should take a flight to Tabriz, which takes just over an hour.

Day 3 - Tabriz

Tabriz is the capital of East Azerbaijan Province in northwestern Iran.

Head to the Kabud Mosque, often also referred to as the Blue Mosque. Originally completed in 1465, it has since been restored but retains some stunning blue mosaic tiles at its entrance. Today it stands tall as a remarkable sign in this region of Iran.

The Azerbaijan Museum is also a great option if you are a fan of history or archeology, or if you are interested in learning more about the ancient history of the city and the surrounding area. The museum is home to everything, from prehistoric finds to 20th century sculptures by Iranian artist Ahed Hosseini. Another point of interest is the Grand Bazaar, which is located on the ancient Silk Road.

Day 4 - Kundovan

Take a trip to Kundovan in the volcanic heights of Mt. Sahand.

For more than 700 years, the people of this region have been building their homes in the surrounding mountains and stone formations. Of course, these days families have extensively modernized their homes with electricity and running water.

Day 5 - Shiraz

Tourism in Shiraz

Shiraz is the city of romance and poetry. It is also home to the Nasr al-Muluk Mosque, famous for its stained glass windows that appear to show multiple colored shapes around the mosque when light passes through them.

Another beautiful site in Shiraz is Eram Gardens. Here you can stroll through the luscious and meticulously preserved gardens and admire the enormous biodiversity of the flowers and trees that live here.

If you have time, also make sure you pay a visit to Shah Chirag, the resting place of Ahmed and Muhammad, brothers of Imam Reza. The mausoleum of Shah Chirag houses an impressive mosque that is well worth a visit, with the highlight being the dazzling interior.

Day 6 - Ancient Persia

From Shiraz, you can take a tour of three important sites in ancient Persia. The first of these is Persepolis, known as Takht-e Jamshid in Persian. Despite the fact that much of this wonderful ancient capital of the Achaemenid Empire is now on display in many European museums, it is well worth the time to see the original grandeur of this ancient city in its original glory.

Nearby, you can also visit Naqsh-e Rustam, an ancient cemetery located just 12 km outside of Persepolis. These tombs belong to four Achaemenid kings and were carved from the face of the rock from a very high point. One of the tombs has been identified as the tomb of Darius I, and the others are believed to be Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I and Darius II. Conveniently located nearby are the archaeological remains of the capital of the Achaemenid Empire and one of Iran's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Day 7 - Last day in Shiraz

If you are a fan of Persian poetry, you will know that Shiraz is particularly famous for being an important location between two respected Persian poets, Hafez and Saadi. Both tombs are located in Shiraz, and Iranians and tourists alike gather to pay neighbourhoods and visit their resting places.

Currency in Iran

The Iranian rial is the official currency of Iran, divided into 100 dinars.

1 Iranian Rial equals

0.000024 USD

Day 8 - Yazd

Tourism in Yazd

Yazd is believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in Iran, and is famous for being the main center of Iran's Zoroastrian community and their history.

Visit the Towers of Silence, where in ancient times the dead were taken to decompose and be devoured by birds. In Yazd is also an ancient Zoroastrian fire temple, and it is said that theThe burning inside has been burning continuously for 1500 years!

If you still have time, head to Iskandar Prison, an ancient domed structure built according to legend by Alexander the Great to hold prisoners during his conquest of Persia.

Day 9 - Yazd

Head to Amir Shakhbak Square to visit the Husseiniya located here - a congregational hall for Shiite worshipers. The impressive facade is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.

The old houses of Yazd are also sights to be distinguished for their unique architecture. If you have the time, also head to Dolabad Park. Inside you will see an 18th century hexagonal pavilion with stained glass windows and the tallest wind tower in Iran, all decorated with a beautiful array of fruit trees and flowers.

Day 10 - Isfahan

Tourism in Isfahan

It is often said that Isfahan is “Half Jahan” or “Isfahan is half the world” meaning that if you visit Isfahan, it will be as good as visiting half the world.

Head to Imam Square, and tip – the best view of this majestic square is from Ali Qapu Palace where you can get a good view of the group of fountains and mosques that made the square so popular with visitors.

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, also known as the Ladies Mosque, was originally built for the Shah's harem. It is especially famous for its brightly colored dome ceiling where light creates the image of a peacock.

The Jameh Mosque is also nearby and is well worth a visit. It is one of the most famous mosques in the country, which is revered as a masterpiece of Persian architecture.

Day 11 - Isfahan

Head to the city's Armenian Quarter to learn about Iran's religious diversity. Armenians in Iran make up the vast majority of the Christian minority, and in the area you will see many churches including the 17th century Vank Cathedral. The interior of the cathedral is lavishly decorated and showcases more architectural wonders to you.

Zayandeh Road is a river that runs through Isfahan, dividing it into two parts. It is vast but shallow - often dry in summer - and is well known to travelers largely because of the bridges it is built on. One of these bridges is the 33 bridges known as curved arches. These bows also make great vocals, often attracting singers to recite songs under them.

Day 12 - Kashan

Tourism in Kashan

On your way back to Tehran, a stop in Kashan is recommended. Kashan is a city formerly famous for its textiles and ceramics, but may be of interest to travelers for the Fen Garden, as well as the large number of bazaars and baths.

Fin Garden is a stunning and peaceful historical Persian garden where Amir Kabir, the Qajar advisor, was murdered by Nasir al-Din Shah in 1852. Nowadays it is a great place to wander and explore the beauty of Kashan.

From here, the hotel is within walking distance of the bazaar areas where you can pick up some rose water - a specialty of the city, as a souvenir.

Day 13 - Kashan - Tehran

Before embarking on the rest of your trip to Tehran, head to the Agha Bozorg Mosque in Kashan. This mosque was built in the late 18th century and is famous for its magnificent architecture, especially the symmetrical design, which is a trademark of Islamic-Iranian architectural designs.

Day 14 - Tehran

If you still have some time to spare before you make your trip, head to the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, located in Laleh Park. In addition to being home to the largest collection of modern art in Iran, it also houses the most valuable collection of Western art outside of Europe and the United States including some pieces by Warhol, Liechtenstein, and Hockney.

What to know before visiting Iran

The truth is that traveling in Iran definitely has its quirks, and being a Muslim country means there are a few things you need to know about religion and culture before you go so you can show absolute respect.

Fortunately, these are easy to figure out before you go if you do some research. We spent one month traveling around Iran and learned a lot during our time there.

To help calm yourself about traveling in this amazing country, here is a list of the most important things to know before visiting Iran.

Iran is safe!

All the major media portray Iran as an unsafe country, somewhere where you would be in danger if you visited.

The mainstream media is wrong.

We didn't feel safe once in all four weeks we carried him on his back in Iran.

We weren't with a tour group, we didn't have tour guides, we didn't speak the local language, we took public transport and taxis, we walked the streets on our own - all you should do if you're in dangerous country.

And imagine what? Nothing bad happened to us at all!

Iranian people are very friendly and helpful. They want you to have a good time and tell your friends so that more people come to visit.

One morning we were walking down a quiet street when a car drove by and flipped over. A group of young people stopped the car, got up to us, and asked if we were okay or if we needed help.

As soon as we told them we were just looking for a coffee they took out their phones and started showing where the cafes are on the map.

They even offered us a tour, and said if the cafes were closed, they would have coffee at their house and would like to make us some.

This is just an example of dozens of interactions that happened to us when we were in Iran. Iranians love for tourists to come and roam their country.

Locals know what the media says about them and what a lot of the world thinks of their country, and people just want to show that they are kind and generous people.

Robbery against tourists is rare and even the religious police (secret police) tend to leave tourists alone.

Just be careful around bazaars and crowded places for pickpocketing. We had no problem nor heard of any other travelers having problems, but this is common in any busy place in the world.

With all that being said, there is a significant military and police presence in Iran. Do not photograph any military areas or government buildingsReport any protests if you see them.

Obviously, there are some areas in Iran where no-blocking areas are allowed, such as the borders of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, so do your research and talk to the locals if you're thinking of going anywhere near them.

There are a lot of customs to follow

When you travel somewhere you want to take in everything about the country and its people, and that includes the culture and the customs.

Iran has a few local customs that some may get used to, so it is important that you familiarize yourself with them before you go so as not to intentionally offend or disrespect anyone.

Some of the most common that get rid of tourists are:

Women must wear a headscarf (hijab) at all times in public. They should also wear loose-fitting clothes that do not show their shape.

Giving the thumbs up is considered rude, similar to giving the middle finger in Western society.

Men can wear short-sleeved shirts, but long pants must be worn at all times.

It should not touch men and women who are not related. This means not shaking hands or hugging someone of the opposite sex.

If you are traveling with your significant other, avoid any public displays of affection.

Always bring a gift if you are invited to someone's home. Candy, pastries or flowers are fine.

Now we want to make a special mention of an acquaintance- it is such a characteristic of hospitality that it is customary for a person to refuse to pay for a service, and perhaps the most confusing thing for any tourist utters.

Basically what happens is that if you make a purchase (a souvenir, a taxi ride, etc), the person may reject your payment out of orbit. It is up to you to insist despite her refusal that you want to push. After two or three times, they will accept your money.

If they keep refusing, you may have just experienced amazing Iranian hospitality! But chances are that they will accept payment once the process is complete. Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it.

The locals are so lovely that if you do something wrong, someone will approach you and tell you well. For example, if you are a lady and your head covering falls without your knowledge, a local newspaper will inform you.

Don't stress about getting dressed beforehand because shopping in Iran is cheap. Simply bring one head covering and a set of loose-fitting clothes and buy more once you get there.

Culture is the best thing about visiting Iran, and after a few days, you will begin to understand and love it just like we did.

You need a visa to enter Iran

In order to visit Iran, you will need to obtain a tourist visa. This was a very difficult process, but fortunately things got easier with the introduction of Visa on Arrival in 2016

On February 14, 2016, the Ministry of Iran announced that citizens of 180 countries can apply for a 30-day VOA at most international airports, including Tehran, Shiraz, Mashad, Tabriz and Isfahan.

There is an exception to this rule, and if you are from Canada, UK or USA, we have some bad news for you... You can only visit Iran if you join a guided tour, so there is no chance of getting a VOA and traveling independently.

You need the right dress

This follows from the customs section above, but in a bit more detail.

Iran is an Islamic country, and therefore you have to follow the Islamic dress code. Here are some things to keep in mind.

female

Women need to cover their arms, legs and head. Including hijab, long loose-fitting shirt with long sleeves and pants.

Leggings or skinny jeans are fine as long as your tops are long and cover your bottom. When wearing pants, you need to cover up to your ankles.

The most common way to cover your head is with a scarf. Local women wear bright colors and are very elegant with their clothes, so don't think you need to wear black.

Black is still worn a lot but not so much among the younger generation.

You can wear sandals. Some guesthouses and hostels will allow you to loosen your head covering in place but check first.

male

Men are not allowed to wear shorts in public, so bring long, lightweight pants as a better option. T-shirts are good to wear in public. Men can wear sandals too.

If you dress inappropriately it's not the end of the world, and combined with a few angry looks from some of the older generations, you'll probably end up having a local friend who lets you figure out what to wear.

In Tehran, locals are pushing the boundaries in terms of what they wear in public. At the end of 2017, there was an uprising and women were not supposed to be obligated to wear a headscarf in public in Tehran, but wait until you get to the country to find out more.

Do you have a head in your truck on baggage before you arrive

When you land at the airport, it is respectful to put a scarf directly on your ladies. This will not cause you any trouble by the locals or airport officials.

Once you're in the air on an international flight, you'll see most young ladies take off their headscarves as soon as the plane leaves the ground. Just follow what the locals are doing.

BRING PHRASE BOOK OR HAVE GOOGLE TRANSLATION ON YOUR PHONE

We were quite surprised to discover that a lot of Iranians can speak quite a bit of English, but that wasn't always the case, do yourself a favor and bring something that can help translate English into Farsi.

We always travel with Google Translate and offline languages ​​saved on our phones, but sometimes using a phrasebook is the best (and most social) way to interact with people who don't speak any English.

Remember, you are in a country that does not have English as an official language, so don't be that rude tourist who gets upset if people don't understand you.

Farsi (Persian) is tough, and none of the locals expect you to learn more than to say hello and thank you while you are there, but do your best anyway, as a few extra words will go a long way in showing respect.

Also don't be surprised if you are constantly invited to tea with people so they can practice their English. If given the opportunity, make time for it, as it is an amazing experience for both the local and yourself.

Do you have a head in your truck on baggage before you arrive

When you land at the airport, it is respectful to put a scarf directly on your ladies. This will not cause you any trouble by the locals or airport officials.

Once you're in the air on an international flight, you'll see most young ladies take off their headscarves as soon as the plane leaves the ground. Just follow what the locals are doing.

What is the reason for naming Iran?

The name Persia has remained the historically common name for Iran in the world and the Western world. Until 1935, specifically on Nowruz, Reza Shah Pahlavi asked foreign delegates to use the name Iran as an official name in official correspondence.

What is the origin of the people of Iran?

Persians 63%, Turks (Azers and Turkmen) 20% Arabs 8% Kurds 6%

When did Iran become a republic?

Iran was a monarchy ruled almost uninterruptedly by a Shah or Shahanshah from 1501 until the Iranian Revolution of 1979, when Iran officially became an Islamic Republic on April 1, 1979.

Why was the Persians called by this name?

The term Persian, meaning "coming from Persia", is derived from the Latin Persia, which is derived from the Greek Persís, which took the Hellenic form of the Old Persian Pārsa, which later evolved into the modern Persian word Fārs.

When was the name of Persia changed to Iran?

The Islamic Revolution ended the rule of the Shah, who, with his modernization programs and severe suppression of dissent, had prepared a wide range of religious, political and popular sectors. Until 1936, Iran was known as Persia. In that year, Reza Shah ordered that this adjective not be used officially. Since then, this country has been known as Iran

How many nationalities are there in Iran?

According to official sources, Persians constitute 51% of the population of nearly 70 million people, while Kurds constitute 24%, Mazandarni Gilaks 8%, Azeris 7%, Lurs 7%, Arabs, Baluchis and Turkmens 2% each, and the rest of the ethnicities 1% of the population. These numbers may increase or decrease according to the sources of some of these nationalities, which claim higher numbers than those official numbers.

How many Iranian citizens?

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The population of Iran for the year 2021 is estimated at 83,992,949 people, representing 1.08% of the total world population.

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