تخت جمشید
Takht-e Jamshid
Persepolis (Takhte Jamshid)
Usage
The ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire (c. 518 BC). UNESCO World Heritage Site near Shiraz.
Grammar Note
"Takhte Jamshid" = "Throne of Jamshid" — the Persian name. The Greek name "Persepolis" means "city of the Persians".
میدان نقش جهان، اصفهان
Meydān-e Naqsh-e Jahān, Esfahān
Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Isfahan
Usage
One of the world's largest squares (2nd largest). UNESCO World Heritage. Faces Imam Mosque and Ali Qapu Palace.
Grammar Note
"Naqsh-e Jahan" = "image of the world" — expressing the Safavid cosmological vision.
شیراز
Shirāz
Shiraz (city of Hafez and poetry)
Usage
Hometown of poets Hafez and Saadi. Gateway to Persepolis.
Grammar Note
The wine grape name "Shiraz" is popularly said to come from this city, but that is not established. Alcohol is now prohibited in Iran.
بازار بزرگ تهران
Bāzār-e Bozorg-e Tehrān
Tehran Grand Bazaar
Usage
One of the world's largest bazaars — a labyrinthine commercial district with thousands of shops selling gold, carpets, spices, and crafts.
Grammar Note
"Bozorg" = great/large. Tehran's Grand Bazaar is the economic and social heart of Iran.
یزد
Yazd
Yazd (ancient mud-brick desert city)
Usage
One of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. UNESCO World Heritage. Zoroastrian holy city famous for wind towers (badgir).
Grammar Note
"Yazd" means "sacred" in Avestan (Zoroastrian scripture language). Home to a Zoroastrian fire temple where the sacred flame still burns.
قلعه الموت
Qale-ye Alamut
Alamut Castle (Castle of the Assassins)
Usage
An impregnable mountain fortress in the Alborz range. 11th–13th century stronghold of the Nizari Ismailis (the "Assassins").
Grammar Note
The English word "assassin" is said to derive from "hashishi" — allegedly connected to this order (though this etymology is debated).
کاخ گلستان، تهران
Kākh-e Golestān, Tehrān
Golestan Palace, Tehran
Usage
UNESCO World Heritage. Qajar dynasty palace complex. A masterpiece blending Persian, European, and Islamic architectural styles.
Grammar Note
"Golestan" = "gol" (flower/rose) + "-estan" (place suffix). Same name as Sa'di's classic Persian text "Gulistan" (Rose Garden).
فرودگاه بین‌المللی امام خمینی
Forudgāh-e Beynolmelali-ye Emām Khomeyni
Imam Khomeini International Airport (Tehran, IKA)
Usage
Iran's main international gateway, about 50 km south of central Tehran and served by a branch of Metro Line 1. Most domestic flights use Mehrabad instead, so allow time to transfer
فرودگاه مهرآباد
Forudgāh-e Mehrābād
Mehrabad Airport (Tehran, THR)
Usage
Tehran's in-city airport in the west of the capital, handling most domestic flights. It sits next to Azadi Tower and is over an hour by road from the international airport (IKA)
فرودگاه بین‌المللی شهید بهشتی اصفهان
Forudgāh-e Beynolmelali-ye Shahid Beheshti-ye Esfahān
Isfahan Shahid Beheshti International Airport (IFN)
Usage
Airport about 20 km northeast of Isfahan, with domestic flights to Tehran and other major cities plus some international services
فرودگاه بین‌المللی شهید دستغیب شیراز
Forudgāh-e Beynolmelali-ye Shahid Dastgheyb-e Shirāz
Shiraz Shahid Dastgheib International Airport (SYZ)
Usage
Southern Iran's largest airport, just south of Shiraz. It is the gateway for visiting Persepolis and has international flights to the Gulf states
فرودگاه بین‌المللی شهید هاشمی‌نژاد مشهد
Forudgāh-e Beynolmelali-ye Shahid Hāshemi-Nezhād-e Mashhad
Mashhad Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport (MHD)
Usage
Iran's second-busiest airport by passengers, with heavy year-round traffic from pilgrims heading to the Imam Reza Shrine
فرودگاه بین‌المللی تبریز
Forudgāh-e Beynolmelali-ye Tabriz
Tabriz International Airport (TBZ)
Usage
Main airport of northwestern Iran, with international flights to Istanbul and nearby countries. The base for touring the Azerbaijan region
فرودگاه بین‌المللی کیش
Forudgāh-e Beynolmelali-ye Kish
Kish International Airport (KIH)
Usage
Airport on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf. The island is a free-trade zone where visa-free entry is allowed, with frequent flights from Tehran
فرودگاه بین‌المللی بندرعباس
Forudgāh-e Beynolmelali-ye Bandarabbās
Bandar Abbas International Airport (BND)
Usage
Airport of the southern port city on the Strait of Hormuz, the starting point for ferry trips to Qeshm and Hormoz islands
فرودگاه شهید صدوقی یزد
Forudgāh-e Shahid Saduqi-ye Yazd
Yazd Shahid Sadooghi Airport (AZD)
Usage
Small airport just west of Yazd city, mainly serving domestic routes to Tehran and Mashhad
فرودگاه بین‌المللی اهواز
Forudgāh-e Beynolmelali-ye Ahvāz
Ahvaz International Airport (AWZ)
Usage
Airport of the main city in southwestern Khuzestan province, the entry point for the ruins of Susa and Chogha Zanbil
ایستگاه متروی تجریش
Istgāh-e metro-ye Tajrish
Tajrish Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Northern terminus of Metro Line 1, high up in north Tehran. Close to Tajrish Bazaar, the Emamzadeh Saleh shrine, and the trailhead at Darband
ایستگاه متروی میرداماد
Istgāh-e metro-ye Mirdāmād
Mirdamad Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Metro Line 1 station in north Tehran's office and shopping district, with many hotels and restaurants along Mirdamad Boulevard
ایستگاه متروی شهید بهشتی
Istgāh-e metro-ye Shahid Beheshti
Shahid Beheshti Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Interchange between Metro Lines 1 and 3, in the business district along Beheshti Avenue with mid-range hotels and airline offices
ایستگاه متروی طالقانی
Istgāh-e metro-ye Tāleqāni
Taleghani Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Metro Line 1 station within walking distance of the former US Embassy building, famous for its murals, plus museums and bookshops
ایستگاه متروی دروازه دولت
Istgāh-e metro-ye Darvāze Dowlat
Darvazeh Dowlat Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Interchange between Metro Lines 1 and 4 in central Tehran — the key transfer point between the north-south and east-west lines
ایستگاه متروی امام خمینی
Istgāh-e metro-ye Emām Khomeyni
Imam Khomeini Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Interchange between Metro Lines 1 and 2 and one of Tehran's busiest stations. Do not confuse it with the airport station of the same name
ایستگاه متروی پانزده خرداد
Istgāh-e metro-ye Pānzdah-e Khordād
Panzdah-e Khordad Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Metro Line 1 station and the stop for Tehran's Grand Bazaar and Golestan Palace — get off here for the old city
ایستگاه متروی راه‌آهن
Istgāh-e metro-ye Rāhāhan
Rah Ahan Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Metro Line 1 station connected directly to Tehran's central railway station. Get off here for overnight trains to Mashhad or Isfahan
ایستگاه متروی ترمینال جنوب
Istgāh-e metro-ye Termināl-e Jonub
Terminal-e Jonoub Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Metro Line 1 station linked to Tehran's South Bus Terminal, where long-distance coaches leave for Isfahan, Shiraz, and Kashan
ایستگاه متروی شهرری
Istgāh-e metro-ye Shahr-e Rey
Shahr-e Rey Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Southern Metro Line 1 station in Rey, an ancient city older than Tehran, within walking distance of the Shah Abdol-Azim shrine
ایستگاه متروی حرم مطهر امام خمینی
Istgāh-e metro-ye Haram-e Motahhar-e Emām Khomeyni
Haram-e Motahhar (Khomeini Mausoleum) Metro Station, Tehran
Usage
Station near the southern end of Metro Line 1, connected to the vast gold-domed Khomeini Mausoleum on the highway toward Qom
ایستگاه متروی فرودگاه امام خمینی
Istgāh-e metro-ye forudgāh-e Emām Khomeyni
Imam Khomeini Airport Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Station on the Metro Line 1 branch serving the international airport. Trains are infrequent, so check the timetable before relying on it
ایستگاه متروی صادقیه
Istgāh-e metro-ye Sādeqiye
Sadeghiyeh Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Major interchange in western Tehran: the western end of Metro Line 2 and the starting point of Line 5, the suburban line to Karaj
ایستگاه متروی میدان آزادی
Istgāh-e metro-ye Meydān-e Āzādi
Azadi Square Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Metro Line 4 station on the huge roundabout around Azadi Tower, also close to Mehrabad Airport and the West Bus Terminal
ایستگاه متروی تئاتر شهر
Istgāh-e metro-ye Teatr-e Shahr
Teatr-e Shahr (City Theatre) Metro Station, Tehran
Usage
Metro Line 4 station in front of the distinctive round City Theatre, near the bookshops of Enghelab Avenue and the University of Tehran
ایستگاه متروی میدان انقلاب اسلامی
Istgāh-e metro-ye Meydān-e Enqelāb-e Eslāmi
Enghelab Square Metro Station (Tehran)
Usage
Metro Line 4 station at the main gate of the University of Tehran, in a student quarter full of bookshops, stationers, and budget hotels
ایستگاه متروی گلشهر
Istgāh-e metro-ye Golshahr
Golshahr Metro Station (Tehran Line 5, Karaj)
Usage
Western terminus of Tehran Metro Line 5, the suburban line, located in Karaj city. The cheapest way to travel between Tehran and Karaj
ایستگاه راه‌آهن تهران
Istgāh-e rāhāhan-e Tehrān
Tehran Railway Station
Usage
Hub of Iran's rail network, on Rah Ahan Square in south Tehran and linked to Metro Line 1. Overnight trains depart for Mashhad, Isfahan, Yazd, and Tabriz
ایستگاه راه‌آهن مشهد
Istgāh-e rāhāhan-e Mashhad
Mashhad Railway Station
Usage
One of Iran's busiest railway stations, about 12 hours by overnight train from Tehran. Book ahead during pilgrimage season, when trains sell out
ایستگاه راه‌آهن اصفهان
Istgāh-e rāhāhan-e Esfahān
Isfahan Railway Station
Usage
Station on the southeastern edge of Isfahan, 20–30 minutes by car from the centre — arrange onward transport before you arrive
ایستگاه راه‌آهن شیراز
Istgāh-e rāhāhan-e Shirāz
Shiraz Railway Station
Usage
Large station in southwest Shiraz and the southern end of the line from Tehran. Services are limited, so compare with flights and buses
ایستگاه راه‌آهن یزد
Istgāh-e rāhāhan-e Yazd
Yazd Railway Station
Usage
Key stop on the Tehran–Kerman/Bandar Abbas line, about 10 minutes by car from the old city — the pivot for touring the desert route by rail
ایستگاه راه‌آهن تبریز
Istgāh-e rāhāhan-e Tabriz
Tabriz Railway Station
Usage
Rail hub of northwestern Iran, served by overnight trains from Tehran and historically the departure point for international trains toward Turkey
ایستگاه راه‌آهن کاشان
Istgāh-e rāhāhan-e Kāshān
Kashan Railway Station
Usage
Intermediate stop between Tehran and Isfahan, about 3 hours from Tehran — usable for a day trip to the historic houses and Fin Garden
ایستگاه راه‌آهن قم
Istgāh-e rāhāhan-e Qom
Qom Railway Station
Usage
About 150 km south of Tehran and a stop for most southbound trains, heavily used by pilgrims visiting the Fatima Masumeh Shrine
ایستگاه راه‌آهن کرمان
Istgāh-e rāhāhan-e Kermān
Kerman Railway Station
Usage
One of the terminus stations in southeastern Iran, connected to Tehran by overnight train and the base for reaching Bam and the Lut Desert
ایستگاه راه‌آهن اهواز
Istgāh-e rāhāhan-e Ahvāz
Ahvaz Railway Station
Usage
Main station of the southwest and a key point on the north-south trunk line from Tehran, the base for visiting Khuzestan's ancient sites
ایستگاه راه‌آهن بندرعباس
Istgāh-e rāhāhan-e Bandarabbās
Bandar Abbas Railway Station
Usage
Terminus on the Persian Gulf coast, linked to Tehran via Yazd and Kerman, and the starting point for the ferry piers to Qeshm Island
راه‌آهن سراسری ایران
Rāhāhan-e Sarāsari-ye Irān
Trans-Iranian Railway
Usage
The 1,400 km line linking the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf, completed in 1938. Its tunnel- and bridge-heavy mountain sections became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021
تهران
Tehrān
Tehran
Usage
Iran's capital of about 9 million people, spread along the southern foot of the Alborz range. The further north you go, the higher, cooler, and more upmarket the districts
مشهد
Mashhad
Mashhad
Usage
Iran's second city and the centre of the northeastern Khorasan region. The Imam Reza Shrine here draws tens of millions of pilgrims a year
اصفهان
Esfahān
Isfahan
Usage
Safavid capital of the 16th–17th centuries, called "half the world" for its blue-tiled mosques and bridges. The heart of tourism in Iran
تبریز
Tabriz
Tabriz
Usage
Capital of East Azerbaijan province in the northwest. Largely Azerbaijani (Turkic) speaking, famous for its UNESCO-listed covered bazaar and carpets
کرج
Karaj
Karaj
Usage
Capital of Alborz province, about 40 km west of Tehran. A large commuter city connected to the capital by Metro Line 5
قم
Qom
Qom
Usage
Shia religious city about 150 km south of Tehran, packed with seminaries. Dress and behave conservatively here
اهواز
Ahvāz
Ahvaz
Usage
Capital of Khuzestan province in the southwest, an oil city on the Karun River. Summer temperatures approach 50°C
کرمانشاه
Kermānshāh
Kermanshah
Usage
Largely Kurdish city in the western Zagros mountains, the base for the Sasanian rock reliefs of Taq-e Bostan and the Bisotun inscription
ارومیه
Orumiye
Urmia
Usage
Capital of West Azerbaijan province on the west shore of the salt lake of the same name, and the access point for the Turkish border and Armenian church sites
رشت
Rasht
Rasht
Usage
Capital of Gilan province on the Caspian coast. Rainy and green, and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy known for its food
همدان
Hamedān
Hamadan
Usage
Highland city at about 1,850 m, built on ancient Ecbatana, capital of the Medes. Home to the tomb of Ibn Sina (Avicenna)
کرمان
Kermān
Kerman
Usage
Capital of the southeastern desert province, known as the base for the Lut Desert and Bam, and for teahouses set in restored historic bathhouses
قزوین
Qazvin
Qazvin
Usage
About 150 km northwest of Tehran and a Safavid capital in the 16th century. The gateway to the castles of the Alamut valley
زنجان
Zanjān
Zanjan
Usage
Northwestern provincial capital famous for silverwork and knives, about 30 minutes by car from the UNESCO-listed Soltaniyeh dome
اردبیل
Ardabil
Ardabil
Usage
Cold highland city in the northwest, home to the UNESCO-listed shrine of Sheikh Safi al-Din, ancestor of the Safavids, and known for hot springs and honey
گرگان
Gorgān
Gorgan
Usage
Capital of Golestan province southeast of the Caspian, sitting between the UNESCO-listed Hyrcanian forests and the Turkmen steppe
ساری
Sāri
Sari
Usage
Capital of Mazandaran province on the Caspian coast, at the end of the mountain pass road over the Alborz from Tehran. A summer escape from the heat
بندرعباس
Bandarabbās
Bandar Abbas
Usage
Iran's largest commercial port, on the Strait of Hormuz, with ferries to Qeshm and Hormoz islands
بوشهر
Bushehr
Bushehr
Usage
Persian Gulf port with a surviving old quarter of coral-stone merchant houses. Hot and humid year-round
کاشان
Kāshān
Kashan
Usage
Desert oasis city midway between Tehran and Isfahan, known for its 19th-century merchant mansions and rosewater production
شوش
Shush
Susa (Shush)
Usage
One of the world's oldest urban sites (UNESCO), in Khuzestan. Capital of Elam and later the Achaemenids, and home to the Tomb of Daniel
بم
Bam
Bam
Usage
Desert town in southeastern Kerman province, where the mud-brick citadel of Arg-e Bam, destroyed by the 2003 earthquake, is being rebuilt
نیشابور
Neyshābur
Neyshabur
Usage
Historic city about 120 km west of Mashhad, known for the tomb of the poet Omar Khayyam and its turquoise mines
سنندج
Sanandaj
Sanandaj
Usage
Capital of Kurdistan province in the west, where Kurdish is the everyday language and local music and weaving traditions are strong
خرم‌آباد
Khorramābād
Khorramabad
Usage
Capital of Lorestan province in the west, dominated by the hilltop Falak-ol-Aflak castle of Sasanian origin
بندر انزلی
Bandar-e Anzali
Bandar-e Anzali
Usage
Caspian port in Gilan province, known for boat trips on the Anzali lagoon wetlands and its fish market
رامسر
Rāmsar
Ramsar
Usage
Caspian coast resort town where the 1971 wetlands treaty (the Ramsar Convention) was signed. Has beaches and a cable car up the hills
ماسوله
Māsule
Masuleh
Usage
Mountain village in Gilan province built in tiers, where each house's roof serves as the courtyard of the house above. Often shrouded in mist
ابیانه
Abiyāne
Abyaneh
Usage
Red-earth village in the mountains south of Kashan, which preserves its own dialect and traditional dress such as floral headscarves
کندوان
Kandovān
Kandovan
Usage
Cave village about 60 km south of Tabriz, where people still live in homes carved into volcanic ash cones
جزیره کیش
Jazire-ye Kish
Kish Island
Usage
Free-trade island in the Persian Gulf, a duty-free shopping and beach resort destination where foreigners can enter without a visa
جزیره قشم
Jazire-ye Qeshm
Qeshm Island
Usage
The largest island in the Persian Gulf, reached by ferry from Bandar Abbas. Known for its geopark of canyons and mangrove forests
جزیره هرمز
Jazire-ye Hormoz
Hormoz Island
Usage
Small island known as the "rainbow island" for its red soil, with the ruins of a Portuguese fort. Reached by small boat from Bandar Abbas
مسجد امام، اصفهان
Masjed-e Emām, Esfahān
Imam Mosque, Isfahan
Usage
Safavid mosque on the south side of Naqsh-e Jahan Square, famous for the echo under its dome. Formerly called the Shah Mosque
مسجد شیخ لطف‌الله
Masjed-e Sheykh Lotfollah
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
Usage
On the east side of Naqsh-e Jahan Square — a small royal mosque with no minaret, prized for the cream-toned tilework of its interior
کاخ عالی‌قاپو
Kākh-e Āli Qāpu
Ali Qapu Palace
Usage
Six-storey palace on the west side of Naqsh-e Jahan Square. Its balcony overlooks the whole square, and the top-floor music room is famous
کاخ چهل‌ستون
Kākh-e Chehel Sotun
Chehel Sotoun Palace (Forty Columns)
Usage
Safavid reception pavilion in a garden in Isfahan. Its 20 columns reflected in the pool appear as 40, giving it its name. One of the UNESCO Persian Gardens
سی‌وسه‌پل
Siose Pol
Si-o-se-pol (Bridge of 33 Arches)
Usage
17th-century bridge over the Zayandeh River in Isfahan; the name means "33 arches." Busy with strollers at dusk, though the riverbed is often dry
پل خواجو
Pol-e Khāju
Khaju Bridge
Usage
17th-century two-tier bridge and weir over the Zayandeh River in Isfahan, known for locals gathering to sing under its arches at night
مسجد جامع اصفهان
Masjed-e Jāme-e Esfahān
Jameh Mosque of Isfahan
Usage
A UNESCO site in its own right in the old city. Layers of building from the 8th century on let you see 1,200 years of Iranian architecture in one place
کلیسای وانک
Kelisā-ye Vānk
Vank Cathedral, Isfahan
Usage
17th-century Armenian church in Isfahan's Jolfa quarter. Mosque-like outside, but covered inside with biblical frescoes
آرامگاه حافظ
Ārāmgāh-e Hāfez
Tomb of Hafez, Shiraz
Usage
Tomb of the 14th-century poet Hafez, an octagonal pavilion in a garden. Iranians come to open his poems for divination. Open into the evening
آرامگاه سعدی
Ārāmgāh-e Sadi
Tomb of Saadi, Shiraz
Usage
Tomb of the 13th-century poet Saadi in a garden in northeastern Shiraz, with an underground fish pool beneath the mausoleum
مسجد نصیرالملک
Masjed-e Nasir ol-Molk
Nasir al-Mulk Mosque (Pink Mosque)
Usage
19th-century mosque in Shiraz. Morning sun through its stained glass paints the carpets in colour, so come early
شاه‌چراغ
Shāh Cherāgh
Shah Cheragh Shrine, Shiraz
Usage
Shia shrine in Shiraz famous for its interior of countless mirror shards. The city's holiest site; women are lent a chador at the entrance
ارگ کریم‌خان
Arg-e Karim Khan
Karim Khan Citadel, Shiraz
Usage
18th-century Zand-era fortress in central Shiraz, known for one visibly leaning tower. A useful landmark for orienting yourself
باغ ارم
Bāgh-e Eram
Eram Garden, Shiraz
Usage
UNESCO-listed Persian garden next to Shiraz University, with cypress avenues, a Qajar mansion, and roses in spring
بازار وکیل
Bāzār-e Vakil
Vakil Bazaar, Shiraz
Usage
Shiraz's 18th-century covered bazaar selling spices, carpets, and crafts, adjoining the Vakil Mosque and an old caravanserai
نقش رستم
Naqsh-e Rostam
Naqsh-e Rostam
Usage
Cliff-face royal necropolis about 6 km north of Persepolis, with the tombs of Achaemenid kings including Darius I and Sasanian rock reliefs
پاسارگاد
Pāsārgād
Pasargadae
Usage
The first Achaemenid capital, about 130 km north of Shiraz (UNESCO). The stone tomb of Cyrus the Great stands alone on the plain
مسجد جامع یزد
Masjed-e Jāme-e Yazd
Jameh Mosque of Yazd
Usage
14th-century mosque at the heart of Yazd's old city. Its pair of minarets, among the tallest in Iran, are visible from all over town
مجموعه امیرچخماق
Majmue-ye Amir Chakhmāq
Amir Chakhmaq Complex, Yazd
Usage
Yazd's emblem: a three-tiered arcaded facade facing a square, lit up after sunset, with a bazaar and sweet shops around it
آتشکده یزد
Ātashkade-ye Yazd
Yazd Fire Temple (Atashkadeh)
Usage
Zoroastrian temple where the sacred flame, said to have burned for over 1,500 years, can be viewed through glass. Non-believers may enter
باغ دولت‌آباد
Bāgh-e Dowlatābād
Dowlat Abad Garden, Yazd
Usage
One of the UNESCO Persian Gardens, with Iran's tallest wind tower (badgir) at about 33 m that keeps the pavilion cool even in high summer
باغ فین
Bāgh-e Fin
Fin Garden, Kashan
Usage
UNESCO Persian garden on the edge of Kashan, with spring-fed channels and cypresses. Also known as the place where the reformist chancellor Amir Kabir was killed
خانه طباطبایی‌ها
Khāne-ye Tabātabāi-hā
Tabatabaei House, Kashan
Usage
Mansion of a 19th-century carpet merchant and a prime example of sunken-courtyard desert architecture, with carved stucco and stained glass
حرم امام رضا
Haram-e Emām Rezā
Imam Reza Shrine, Mashhad
Usage
Iran's largest religious complex, the tomb of the eighth Shia Imam, with vast courtyards and museums. Foreign visitors can get a guide at the gate; photography and dress rules are strict
حرم حضرت معصومه
Haram-e Hazrat-e Masume
Fatima Masumeh Shrine, Qom
Usage
Tomb of Imam Reza's sister and Iran's second most important Shia shrine, marked by its golden dome. Access for non-Muslims is restricted
برج آزادی
Borj-e Āzādi
Azadi Tower
Usage
45 m white marble monument on a square in western Tehran, built in 1971. The landmark you pass coming into the city from Mehrabad Airport
برج میلاد
Borj-e Milād
Milad Tower
Usage
435 m telecommunications tower in northwest Tehran, with an observation deck looking over the city and the Alborz mountains
کاخ سعدآباد
Kākh-e Sa'dābād
Sa'dabad Palace Complex, Tehran
Usage
Royal estate in the wooded hills of north Tehran. Several Pahlavi-era palaces are open as museums, with separate tickets per building
موزه ملی ایران
Muze-ye Melli-ye Irān
National Museum of Iran, Tehran
Usage
Archaeology-focused museum in central Tehran holding finds from Persepolis and Susa. Worth visiting before touring the sites themselves
بازار تاریخی تبریز
Bāzār-e Tārikhi-ye Tabriz
Historic Bazaar of Tabriz
Usage
One of the world's largest covered bazaars and a UNESCO site — a maze of carpet, gold, and spice sections including caravanserais and mosques
مسجد کبود تبریز
Masjed-e Kabud-e Tabriz
Blue Mosque of Tabriz
Usage
15th-century mosque clad in deep blue tiles. Largely destroyed by an 18th-century earthquake, but the surviving portal tilework is remarkable
گنبد سلطانیه
Gonbad-e Soltāniye
Dome of Soltaniyeh
Usage
14th-century Ilkhanid mausoleum near Zanjan (UNESCO). Its huge blue double-shell dome is among the oldest of its kind in the world
طاق بستان
Tāq-e Bostān
Taq-e Bostan
Usage
Sasanian rock reliefs carved into a cliff beside a spring in Kermanshah, depicting royal investitures and hunting scenes
بیستون
Bisotun
Bisotun
Usage
The Darius I inscription on a cliff east of Kermanshah (UNESCO) — the trilingual text that was the key to deciphering cuneiform
چغازنبیل
Choghā Zanbil
Chogha Zanbil
Usage
13th-century BC Elamite ziggurat in Khuzestan (UNESCO), the best-preserved ziggurat outside Mesopotamia
سازه‌های آبی شوشتر
Sāze-hā-ye Ābi-ye Shushtar
Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System
Usage
UNESCO site in Shushtar, Khuzestan: a Sasanian network of canals, dams, and watermills where water still falls in cascades
ارگ بم
Arg-e Bam
Arg-e Bam (Bam Citadel)
Usage
One of the world's largest mud-brick citadels (UNESCO). Collapsed in the 2003 earthquake and still under restoration. About 2 hours by car from Kerman
قله دماوند
Qolle-ye Damāvand
Mount Damavand
Usage
Iran's highest peak at 5,610 m and Asia's tallest volcano. Visible northeast of Tehran; the base villages are about 3 hours away by car
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