Cities in Iran → Top 20 Historic Towns & Villages
Iran’s history & places to visit – Cities in Iran bring history up-close to the traveller who heard, but never visited them, for visitors interested in culture, Iran presents magnificent ruins of ancient cities, glorious mosques and mausoleums, and museums so captivating that they will surely leave your feet sore.
Whether you travel in Iranian cities such as Esfahan or Tabriz, explore the Zagros Mountains of Central Iran, or traverse the deserts around Kerman, you will discover the true essence of Iran- It is a country where the desert glory of ancient Persopolis exists alongside the dynamic present of today’s traffic-choked Tehran, at its core you’ll traveling through a land of warm and fascinating people living within an ancient and sophisticated culture. Embrace Iran, and allow the Iranians to embrace you – it’s the most priceless of experiences.
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Best Places to Visit – Must-See cities in Iran for Every Traveler
Tehran – Capital City Of Iran
Tehran is the city travellers love to hate, with many avoiding a stay here altogether en route to Iran’s more popular tourist destinations. But as to discover more, the capital’s gorgeous galleries, sociable locals and exhilarating pace give it a beautiful side too.
This tightly packed Capital city of Iran with over 15 million living in and a relatively short history, is where change happens first. Politically and socially it’s Iran’s cutting edge, and from the relatively bold fashion statements of its youth to the range of restaurants, cafés and art galleries, as a visitor you can’t help but notice. Also, the Milad Tower has become the symbol of Tehran since its inauguration date in 2008.
History of Tehran
From the mid-16th century, Tehran’s attractive natural setting and good hunting brought it into the favour of the Safavid kings. It developed from a moderately prosperous trading village into an elegant, if dusty, city, and European visitors wrote of its many enchanting vineyards and gardens. In 1789, Agha Muhammed Khan declared Tehran as a Capital, and six years later had himself crowned as Shah of all Persia. The town continued to grow slowly under later Ghajar rulers.
From the early 1920s, the city underwent extensive modernisation with a grid system, initiating a period of phenomenal population growth and uncontrolled urban development that persists to this day. If you need landmarks, the Alborz mountains, known as the ‘North Star’ of Tehran, are to the north; and the huge telephone office at Emam Khomeini Square dominates inner southern Tehran.
Top sights & Best things to do in Tehran
Tehran sights and attractions including, the National Museum of Iran houses a marvellous collection including ceramics, stone figures and carvings dating from around the 5th millenium BC. Many of the relics come from excavations at Persepolis, Shush, Rey, and Turanj Tappé, and they will likely hold more significance if you visit these archaeological sites first.
The Glass & Ceramics Museum is one of the most impressive in Tehran, not only for its professionally organised exhibits, but also for the building itself. The Reza Abbasis Museum, another stunner, contains examples of Islamic painting, pottery and jewellery. The National Palace (White) Museum used to be the last Shah’s palace and is now a complex of museums. Check out things to do in Tehran Iran
Tehran’s best non-museum sight is the grand bazaar, so big it’s practically a separate city, the historic Golestan palace and, also, worth a look are the busy Emam Khomeini Mosque, the drab Armenian Sarkis Cathedral, and the city’s parks and gardens.
Just about every budget place to stay in Tehran is in the southern part of the city, within about a 1km radius of Emam Khomeini SQ. This is also the place to look for a good Tehrani style kebab and rice. Four and five-star hotels scatter throughout the city, with most located in convenient areas if you plan to use public transport, such as Tehran’s efficient subway system.
Esfahan – Iran’s top tourist destination
The cool blue tiles of Esfahan’s Islamic monuments and the city’s majestic bridges contrast perfectly with the hot, dry Iranian countryside around them. Esfahan offers a visual feast, and you won’t tire of visiting all its sights. Among best cities in Iran, not only is the architecture superb and the climate pleasant, but there’s a fairly relaxed atmosphere here, compared with many other Iranian towns.
Esfahan, is a city for walking, exploring the historic Safavid-era bazaar, relaxing in beautiful gardens, and meeting the friendly locals.
Sights to see while in Esfahan
The 16th-century half-rhyme Esfahan nesf-é jahan (Esfahan is half the world) highlights the city’s grandeur.
There’s so much to see that you’ll probably have to ration your time and concentrate on must-sees such as the Jame Abbasi Mosque, a magnificent building completely covered in Esfahan’s trademark pale blue tiles; Naghsh-e Jahan Square, one of the largest town squares in the world; the Chehel Sotun Museum & Garden, a marvellous 17th century pavilion and a great place for a picnic; and the Vank Cathedral, the historic focal point of the Armenian church in Iran.
Taking tea in one of the teahouses in the Bazaar or around the old bridges is also an essential part of the Esfahan experience.
Esfahan is about 400km (250mi) south of Tehran. Several flights make the trip daily. There are regular comfy buses, depart hourly from each side, to Tehran, Shiraz and other domestic cities, as well as to Istanbul. The express train between Esfahan and Tehran might be a preferable alternative to sitting all night on the bus. Check out Things to do in Isfahan
Shiraz – Hub of culture among cities in Iran
Shiraz ranked as one of the most important cities in the medieval Islamic world and served as the Iranian capital during the Zand dynasty (1747-79), a period when builders constructed or restored many of its most beautiful buildings.Through its many artists and scholars, Shiraz has been synonymous with learning, nightingales, poetry, roses and, at one time, wine.
Today Shiraz is a relaxed, cultivated city, with wide tree-lined avenues and enough monuments, gardens and mosques to keep most visitors happy for several days. The university here is one of Iran’s finest, and you’ll come across lots of students eager to speak English, sometimes bette than you !~
Highlights of a visit to Shiraz city in Iran include the restful tomb and garden of Hafez & Saadi, two celebrated poet; the Shah-Cheragh mausoleum, an important Shi’ite place of pilgrimage which attracts hordes of supplicants; the Pars Museum, which contains Zand dynasty relics; and the delightful Eram garden, where the 19th century Ghajar palace lies alongside a pretty pool.
Persepolis – An ancient capital of Persain Empire
Persepolis is 57km (35mi) from Shiraz, just off the Esfahan road, accessible from Shiraz by bus and shared taxi.
The ancient Persepolis, the Throne of Jamshid, was a massive and magnificent palace complex built from about 512 BC and completed over the next 150 years. Alexander the Great’s forces burned Persepolis to the ground in 331 BC. Historians debate whether this destruction was accidental or a retaliatory act for Xerxes’ destruction of Athens.
The ruins you see today are a mere shadow of Persepolis’ heyday glory, but you can still get a great idea of its majesty if you carry a map, or hire a guide and use a bit of imagination. Incredibly, dust, earth, and the sands of time covered the entire site before archaeologists rediscovered it in the early 1930s.
Rather than being an ancient city in Iran – One of the first things you’ll see is Xerxes’ Gateway, covered with inscriptions and carvings in Elamite and other ancient Farsi languages. The gateway leads to the immense Apadana Palace complex where the kings received visitors and celebrations were held. Plenty of gold and silver was discovered in the palace, but it was predictably looted by Alexander the not-so-Great, and what he left behind is in the National Museum in Tehran.
The largest hall in Persepolis was the Palace of 100 Columns, probably one of the biggest buildings constructed during the Achaemenian period, once used as a reception hall for Darius I.
Yazd – A historic intrigue desert town in Iran
Perhaps, among all the desert towns in Iran , Yazd will impress you with its very unique architecture, winding lanes, forest of badgirs (Ancient Wing Towers), mud-brick old town and charismatic accommodation, Yazd is one of the highlights of any trip to Iran.
Wedged between the northern Dasht-e Kavir and southern Dasht-e Lut, it doesn’t have the big-ticket sights of Esfahan or Persepolis, but as a whole, and in the context of its relationship with the desert, it is at least as enchanting. Walk through the old town, explore the maze of historic streets and lanes (and your imagination), then return to a hotel that highlights Yazd’s history.. It also serves as an ideal base for day trips to several evocative villages and smaller desert towns.
Yazd has long been famous for its silks and other fabrics, even before Marco Polo passed through.
And while weaving remains an important industry, it is tourism on a far grander scale than Polo would have imagined that has been booming since the traditional hotels began opening. While nothing like Qom, Yazd is a fairly conservative town, especially in the olde quarter area.
Originally settled 5000 years ago, Yazd has an interesting mix of people, 10% of whom follow the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism. An elegant ateshkadeh (fire temple) near the city centre shelters an eternal flame and visitors are welcome to get to know this ancient tradition. You may check out more about Religion Of Iran
Bam – A desert oasis in southern Iran
Bam is a pleasant town in Kerman province Iran where the eucalypts are likely to make any Aussie homesick, and the date palms clearly indicate a desert oasis. Bam’s incredible ancient city which makes it truly special. Although some of the surviving structures must have been built before the 12th century, most of what remains dates from the Safavid period (1502-1722). Up to 13,000 people once lived in this 6 sq km (2 sq mi) city until it was abandoned following an Afghan invasion in 1722. The city was abandoned again in about 1810 after bloodthirsty invaders from Shiraz popped in, and then was used as an army barracks until the 1930s. It is now completely deserted.
Numerous steep and narrow stairways lead to the pinnacles of the outer clay wall which almost circles the entire city. From the wall you can see the curved ice house, which housed enormous chunks of ice in winter, melting to become drinking water in summer. The inner citadel dominated the town. The garrison’s extraordinary echo likely served as a deliberate, ancient loudspeaker system.
Bam is in south-eastern Iran. The bus from Tehran, 1260km (780mi) away, takes about 15 hours, so you might consider flying. There are two flights a week between Tehran and Bam, and more frequent flights between Tehran and Kerman, which is about three hours north-west of Bam by bus or shared taxi.
Chogha Zanbil – A surviving ziggurat & An Elamite City in Iran
Alongside the Dez River, there’s ruins of an ancient cities in Iran – this remarkably well-preserved ziggurat of Chogha Zanbil is the best surviving example of Elamite architecture anywhere, and it has now been registered with UNESCO. Originally it had five concentric storeys but only three remain, reaching a total height of some 25m (82ft). It’s hard to believe that such an imposing landmark remained lost to the world for over 2,500 years until an oil company’s aerial survey accidentally spotted it in 1935.
The Ziggurat of Chogha Zanbil is in southern Iran, near the Iraqi border, 45km (28mi) east of Shush, which is accessible by train and bus from Tehran and all other towns & cities in Iran. Because Chogha Zanbil is way off the beaten track tourist sight, you should consider chartering a taxi or getting a bus to drop you off at the main highway turnoff and then hitching. Alternatively, a tour guide will do all above with a reasonable price for a day trip.
Masulé – Mountain villages in Iran
Among the traditional and unspoiled mountain villages in Iran and the Caspian Province of Gilan, Masulé stands out as the most breathtakingly beautiful. Located at a cool 1050 meters (3444 feet) above sea level, the village features several irregular levels of terraced cream houses that seem to grow naturally from the landscape.
The steep slope eliminates the need for a network of alleys; instead, the flat roofs of many houses create a pathway for the level above.
There are enough facilities here (Homestay and local foodies and restaurant), but Masulé’s inspired setting makes it worth the effort to get here. Masulé is 56km (35mi) from Rasht, a city in northern Iran, which is six hours north-west by bus from Tehran. From Rasht, take a succession of shared taxis or charter your own.
Ali Sadr Caves – Remarkable caves in Hamadan, a western city in Iran
If you reckon seeing another mosque, archaeological site or museum in any of the Iran cities or town, take a detour to these remarkable caves, about 100km (62mi) north of Hamadan in western Iran.
The caves, discovered only 60 years ago by a local shepherd looking for a lost goat, are up to 40m (130ft) high, and contain several huge, deep lakes. Nothing lives in the clear water – bats don’t even hang around here – and there are no signs of any previous inhabitants. Frequent minibuses travel between Ali Sadr village and Hamadan, which is in turn accessible by bus from Tehran, 336km (208mi) to the north-east.
Kashan – A historic town in central Iran
City of Kashan and its surrounds have been home to human settlements since at least the 4th millennium BC. However, legends intertwine with much of what we know about Kashan’s history. What we know for certain is that invading armies twice destroyed Kashan. The city rebuilt its walls, and during the Seljuk period (AD 1051–1220), it gained fame for its textiles, pottery, and tiles.
Kashan was an oasis in the edge of the desert, also favored by Shah Abbas that he chose to be buried here instead of in his capital, Esfahan.
An earthquake in 1779 destroyed much of Kashan, but the subsequent Qajar period brought lavish construction.
The must-see sights and attractions include the fine covered bazaar of Kashan and several meticulously restored historic houses and mansions that have become synonymous with the city. The bazaar is deceptively large and has an enchantingly lethargic atmosphere that serves as the perfect counterfoil to the frantic bustle of Tehran and the sightseeing intensity of Esfahan.
Accommodation is plentiful to book and you’ll still need a very good excuse for skipping Kashan – it just might be one of the unexpected highlights of a trip to Iran.
Kerman – A Historic Southeastern city in Iran
The desert trading city of Kerman Southeastern Iran has long been a staging point for people passing between Persia and the Indian subcontinent and today it remains the best place from which to explore southeastern region of the country. Sheltered from the vast Dasht-e Lut by the barren Payeh Mountains to the north, its position and elevation make the weather relatively mild in summer, but cold in winter.
Kerman is a melting pot, blending Persians with the more subcontinental way of life of the Baluchis. This mixing is most evident in the historic and very lively bazaar, which is the highlight of any visit. There are enough other sights to keep you for a day or two.
Things to do while in Kerman city, Iran
Kerman’s environs are extremely dry and the city – and province to which it gives its name – are highly dependent on Qanats (an underground water channels).
Activities to do plus attractions in Kerman including the historic Ganj-Ali khan complex expanding to a beautiful mosque, covered bazaar, an old bathhouse. other activities well around an adventures to visit Shahdad & Lut desert, believed to be the hottest uninhabited place on earth. Kerman would ideally takes 2-3 days of your trip in Iran.
Kermanshah – The largest city in central west Iran
By far the largest and busiest city in central west Iran, Kermanshah developed in the 4th century AD astride the Royal Road to Baghdad. Its strategic position has brought both prosperity and attack as it has been suffered missile damage during the Iran–Iraq War.
Briefly renamed Bakhtaran in the 1980s, the city is a melting pot of Kurds, Lori and other Iranians minorities. Though not a major tourist draw, its backdrop of glowing red-rock mountains is impressive and, if you’re passing through, don’t miss the ancient rock carved Taq-e Bostan
Mash’had – Holiest city in Iran
Mashhad is Iran’s holiest and second biggest city. Its raison d’être and main sight is the beautiful, massive and ever-growing Haram (shrine complex) commemorating the AD 817 martyrdom of Shia Islam’s 8th Imam Reza.
The pain of Imam Reza’s death is still felt very personally over a millennium later and around 20 million or perhaps more pilgrims converge here each year to pay their respects to the Imam.
Witnessing their tears is a moving experience, even if you’re not a Muslim yourself. If you notice a lot of lovey young couples, that’s because the city’s also a haven for honeymooners, who believe sharing it with the Imam will bless their marriage.
Things to see while visiting Mash’had
Away from the Haram Shrine Complex there are few sights, but Mashhad is a good place to buy carpets, it’s a natural staging post for travel to Turkmenistan or Afghanistan, and offers many interesting excursions into little-touristed Khorasan.
Be aware that during major pilgrim seasons, almost all accommodation and transport will be booked out months in advance. Contrastingly, at other times Mashhad offers about the best-value accommodation in Iran. Winters can be very cold and bone freezing, with snow on the ground for up to five months a year. Summers are contrastingly hot. April is ideal.
Introducing Qazvin
Qazvin is famed for carpets and beautiful mountainous countryside sceneries and, as locals said, the seedless grapes. The city was once capital of all Iran and has a considerable sprinkling of minor attraction and sights, but for most Western travellers its foremost role is as a launch point for excursions to the famous Castles of the Assassins in the marvellous Alamut Valley.
History Of Qazvin
Founded by the Sassanian king Shapur I in the 3rd century AD, Qazvin prospered under the Seljuk rulers, who erected many fine buildings. It had a second, much later burst of prominence when the second Safavid shah, Tahmasp I (r 1524–76), transferred the Persian capital here from Tabriz. A great patron of the arts, his ambitious architectural plan for Qazvin proved to be only a dress rehearsal for Esfahan, where his successor, Shah Abbas I, set up court in 1598.
Introducing Tabriz – Iran’s Third Largest City
A fascinating covered bazaar, a deeply human heart and passionately helpful locals make this gigantic, sprawling city a surprisingly positive and the third largest cities in Iran. It had a spell as the Iranian capital and has proven extremely influential in the country’s recent history. Sometimes stiflingly smoggy and hot in summer, it can be freezing cold in winter, but the Azari (people of Tabriz) welcome is generally very warm any time of year.
Don’t miss an excursion to Kandovan, Iran’s ‘Cappadocia’
Introducing cities in the Persian Gulf region
Whether you’re watching the sun set over the Gulf, scrambling over the ruins of the Portuguese castle at Hormoz, or just dropping down several gears to the ultra-relaxed pace this region operates, you can’t escape the fact that the Persian Gulf offers a different experience to the rest of Iran. There’s the geographical contrast – the coast and islands of the Gulf itself – but the major difference comes from the variety of people and how they live.
History Of Persian Gulf
The history of the Gulf is tied inextricably to trade. Africans, Arabs, Indians and Europeans as far back as Alexander the Great have passed by this way, some finding business so good they’ve set up shop and stayed.
The result is a rich hybrid of ancient Persia and Arabia that is best seen in Bandari communities, such as Bushehr, Hormoz and Minab. These communities are unusual in Iran, with most Bandaris being Sunni Muslims, speaking Arabic at home and wearing more colourful clothes.
They’re known as Bandaris because they live in bandars (ports). Qeshm Island is probably the highlight of the Gulf, and its tiny village of Laft is the jewel in its sun-scorched crown. Sitting with the locals as the sun sets over the forest of badgirs (windtowers) and lenjs (traditional long-tail wooden fishing boats) is almost worth the trip to the coast by itself.
Introducing Kisha Island – Iran’s Bali?
‘Oh, but have you been to Kish? You absolutely must go.’ Travelling in Iran you’ll likely hear this more than once. When you ask what makes Kish special, you’re told, “Kish is wonderful; everything works there.” It is clean, shopping is cheap, you can swim and so on.
Yes, all of this is true. Kish, the desert island that the last shah began transforming into a playground for the rich and famous during the 1960s, is now viewed by Iranians like Americans view Hawaii or Aussies see Bali. The island is both a novelty – for most Iranians this is the only beach resort they’ll ever be able to visit – and more liberated than the rest of Iran.
Kish is a free-trade zone and, as one islander told us, many Iranians understand the ‘free’ to apply to social activities as well. whatever, if you’re in Kish Island, try to visit local sights, the green wrecked ship and communities, you’ll love your stay more.
Rasht – Largest city of Caspian region, Iran
Rapidly expanding Rasht is the capital of Gilan province and by far the largest city of the Shomal (Caspian littoral) region. Gilan has had extended periods of independence and the lispy local Gilaki dialect remains noticeably distinct from Farsi, its reversed adjective–noun order causing much amusement for other Iranians.
Although 15km inland, Rasht is a popular weekend and holiday destination for Tehranis, for whom the greatest attraction is its ‘refreshing’ climate (ie lots of rain). It’s mildly amusing to watch local tourists driving with arms outstretched to feel the drops. But year-round downpours and steaming summer humidity don’t otherwise appeal to most foreign tourists.
The city has precious little in the way of historical buildings, but Rasht is a useful transport hub from which to visit the lush mountain forests, rice paddies and thatched-house villages of the emerald-green Gilan hinterland, most famously at Masuleh and the nearby Qal-e Roudkhan fortress. It’s also a great place to taste the garlic-stoked, vegetable-rich Gilan cuisine.
Bushehr – Iran’s main seaport city in the northern Gulf
Bushehr might not rank as a major tourist city in Iran, but visitors either rave about or criticize the old city of Bushehr, Iran’s main seaport on the northern side of the Persian Gulf. Tourists describe the once-elegant Bandari architecture, twisting mud-brick lanes, and peninsular location as both ‘a living museum’ and a clapped-out ruin resembling ‘Grozny after the third Russian war.’ Both descriptions are partly right.
The Bushehris enjoy talking to foreigners and welcome the few travelers who make it this far, though people with white skin will likely be mistaken for Russians. That is because more than 1000 Russians have been working in Bushehr for several years to complete the Bushehr nuclear reactor.
In short, if you like to go where other tourist don’t, have an interest in Bandari culture or plan on working your way along the Persian Gulf coast, then Bushehr is worth a visit. If not, it’s a long way to come for silly heat and somehow expensive hotels.
Orumiyeh city, Iran – Logical stop en route to southeastern Turkey
Known as Rezayeh during the Pahlavi era, Orumiyeh (Urmia, Urumiyeh by locals) is a logical stop en route to southeastern Turkey. It’s a large, deeply historic city but offers no must-see sights except old bazaar, Jame mosque, the Maryam Church & the historic tape Hasanlou.
Bountiful orchards made Orumiyeh the historically prosperous ‘Garden of Persia’.
For centuries various Christian groups (Chaldeans, Armenians, Assyrians & Nestorians) lived harmoniously here alongside local Azari Muslims and a thriving Jewish community. However, in the 19th century overzealous Protestant and Catholic foreign missionary activities resulted in a harsh backlash against all non-Muslims.
History of Orumiyeh city
Kurdish groups, fearing the possible loss of territory if a Christian-Armenian state were declared, initially led this effort. In 1880 the Persian army stormed Orumiyeh to counterattack Kurdish nationalist leader Sheikh Ubayd Allah.
Christians were massacred by both sides and orchards were devastated. In 1918 most of the Christian population fled from Orumiyeh, Salmas and Khoy, wisely fearing that invading Ottoman Turks could repeat the butchery that they had perpetrated on the Armenians of eastern Turkey.
Most of those who stayed were slaughtered. Some escapee Christians returned when the Turks retreated and today six different Christian faiths remain active. However, with a continual exodus of emigrants to the US and Scandinavia, the total non-Muslim population has dwindled to an estimated 4000 (excluding clandestine converts from Islam).
Introducing Central Iran
Ever since Cyrus the Great’s dramatic rise from provincial overlord to ruler of the largest empire on earth, central Iran has been something of a showcase for the region’s greatest civilisations.
The unrelenting splendour and majesty of Esfahan, the refined elegance of Shiraz and the mud-brick antiquity of Yazd, Abyaneh and Kharanaq are a fascinating contrast, representing the fusion over 2500 years of myriad cultures and starkly different terrains. Then, of course, there’s that monumental expression of artistic harmony commissioned by Darius I – Persepolis.
Towns of Central Iran
With so much on offer, it’s no surprise that the towns of Iran’s central provinces are where you’ll probably spend the most time. But it’s not just about ticking off the popular sights, because central Iran has many an unsung gem. Kashan, with its splendid mosques, gardens and magnificently restored traditional houses, is one. If you want to get off the beaten track there’s the desert oasis of Garmeh, the cave village of of Garmeh, caravanserai stops such as Zein-o-din and Toudeshk, or the chance to camp with nomads in the Zagros Mountains.
Life-style of cities & towns in central Iran
Central Iran’s people are as diverse as the places they live. In Qom they’re conservative and religious, Shirazis are laid-back and fun-loving, and the Qashqa’i and Bakhtiari nomads live a lifestyle dictated by nature.
Often you will experience the region’s cultural richness and physical beauty in combination: sitting in the garden of Hafez’s tomb discussing the ways of the world with a Shirazi medical student, perhaps; watching a nomad woman make yogurt by the herds; or drinking tea with a carpet salesman in Esfahan’s Imam Sq.
Whatever it is you happen upon, central Iran is a place you’ll remember for a long time.
Introducing Northeastern Iran
Cities in Northeastern Iran are sandwiched between the vast desert emptiness of the Dasht-e Kavir and the steppes of Central Asia, towns in northeastern Iran has a spine of mountains that become more lushly forested as you head west.
East of Minudasht the wilderness has been declared the Golestan National Park. Above the overdeveloped Caspian coast rise more forests and the grand Alborz Mountains.
Lesser known towns & cities
A trio of beautiful but busy roads take you across that dramatic range but there are lesser-known alternatives that get you into more remote, less spoilt zones around Alasht and Baladeh. Historically, the area developed as Khorasan (Where the [Iranian] Sun Rises) and Tabarestan/Mazandaran (the southeastern Caspian littoral).
Millennia of culture reached a zenith here around 1000 years ago, producing many of the era’s great scientists and poet-philosophers. But the 13th- and 14th-century ravages of the Mongols and then Tamerlane were so complete that Tabarestan’s settled civilisation was virtually wiped out.
Even now the sites of several once-prosperous Iran cities in here are mere undulations in the steppe. A few marvellously over engineered towers, most astonishingly at Radkan and Gonbad-e Kavus, are the last witnesses of former glories.
Mashhad is also the logical staging point for visiting Afghanistan or Turkmenistan. But rather than face the bureaucratic hassles of the latter, consider exploring northeastern own culturally Iran Turkmen cities of Kalaleh or Gorgan.
Gonbad-é Kavus – A town in northeastern Iran
Gonbad-é Kavus is a spectacular tomb tower, a stunning memorial to the remarkable Ghabus, a prince, poet, scholar, general and patron of the arts. He ruled the surrounding region at the turn of the 11th century and decided to build a monument to last forever. The 55m (180ft) tower was completed in 1006, six years before Ghabus was slain by an assassin.
Town of Gonbad is 93km (58mi) north-east from Gorgan, a sizeable town in northern Iran near the Caspian Sea.
Things to Do in Gonbad-e Kavus
The best things to do in Gonbad-e Kavus including visiting Turkmen race horses club, spend some time to visit the notably Gonbad tower, the Alagol, Almagol and Ajigol Wetlands and the Tomb of Khaled-e Nabi.
Introducing Southeastern Iran
This is frontier territory. And like the best frontiers it combines harsh landscapes, periodic banditry and warm welcomes to form a unique and exotic Iran travelling experience. The region stretches east across ancient Kerman province, through high deserts scarred by brown snowcapped mountain ranges and coloured by occasional oasis towns and seasonal lakes.
Kerman is the main city in southeastern Iran and is, in effect, the cultural border separating the Persians of the central plateau and the more eastern-oriented Baluchis, whose dress and customs following their own traditions and habits, somehow like Baluch tribes in Pakistan.
Following ancient caravan routes southeast across the edge of the forbidding Dasht-e Lut, most travellers will stop in historic Bam and then Zahedan, the capital of Sistan va Baluchestan province.
For travellers, the region hasn’t been quite so attractive since the Bam earthquake in 2003 flattened the city and wrought havoc upon the monumental adobe Arg-e Bam. Rebuilding work on the Arg continues, and the area has fully recovered. Bam’s soothing date groves and strong tradition of hospitality still reward a visit.
But taking in a few other places will round out your trip. Sleeping in the cave hotel in Meymand is a fun way to start, and Kerman itself is interesting, and an ideal base for day- and overnight-trips to the small but historic towns of Rayen and Mahan, excursions to nomad communities and camel-trekking trips.
But the highlight is surely the journey to Shahdad and the Kaluts, where enormous ‘sand castles’ stand like broken teeth punctuating the earth for as far as the eye can see and you can sleep in a ‘million star hotel’.
Introducing Western Iran
From paddy fields to blizzards to the original Garden of Eden, this region will shatter your preconceptions of Iran.
Standing at the frontiers with Mesopotamia and Turkey, western Iran cities & towns has witnessed many of civilisation’s great empires, fortunes oscillating between trading glories and military decimation. The deeply hospitable region lacks the iconic gem-city sites of central Iran, so first-time Western visitors often skip it.
But that makes it all the more appealing for those who relish delving a little deeper and being the ‘only tourist’.
Western Iran is a linguistic and cultural patchwork: Kurds predominate in Kordestan and Kermanshah provinces; Lors in Ilam and Lorestan; Arabs inhabit southern Khuzestan; Talesh and Gilaki are the traditional languages of Gilan and Azaris whose language is more Turkish than Persian, predominate in the rest of the northwest. In the most remote regions and Kurdish towns, people still wear traditional dress.
Map of cities & population density in Iran
Top 5 Major cities in Iran
Tehran, the largest city & capital of Iran, with population of 8.7 million according to the 2016 data. It hosts approximately 11% of Iran’s population and serves as the central hub for the country’s communication and transportation networks.
As of 2019, Mashhad, with a population of 4.2 million, is the second-largest city in Iran and serves as the capital of Khorasan Razavi Province. It is one of the most sacred Shi’a cities globally, housing the Imam Reza shrine. As the principal center of tourism in Iran, Mashhad attracts between 15 and 20 million pilgrims annually.
Isfahan, the third largest city in Iran with a population of 2.5 million as of 2019, ranks among the country’s most industrialized cities. It features numerous large-scale industries and hosts several UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Isfahan is renowned for its extensive array of historic monuments, known as jewel of Persia, as well as its contributions to painting, history, and architecture.
Karaj, the fourth largest populated city in Iran with a population of 2.1 million as of 2019, acts as the capital of Alborz Province. Situated 35 kilometers west of Tehran, at the base of the Alborz Mountains, Karaj increasingly extends into the metropolitan area of Tehran.
Shiraz, the fifth most populated & largest city in Iran with a population of 1.57 million, is situated in the southwest of the country. It has maintained a moderate climate and served as a cultural motherland center for over a thousand years. As one of the oldest cities in ancient Persia, Shiraz is renowned for its association with poets, literature, and flowers. Many Iranians also regard it as the “city of gardens” and a significant hub for Iran’s electronic industries.
List of cities and towns in Iran
Iran cities and towns experiences one of the highest population growth rates in the Middle-East. Up to 2002, the urban population increased up to 60%. Most internal migrants have settled around the cities of Tehran, Isfahan, Karaj, Ahvaz, Mashhad, and Qom.
| Name | Population (Million) |
| Tehran | 10 |
| Mash’had | 4.5 |
| Tabriz | 2 |
| Esfahan | 3 |
| Shiraz | ~2 |
| Yazd | 1.2 |
| Kashan | 0.7 |
| Kerman | 0.8 |
| Qazvin | ~ 1 |
| Rasht | 0.8 |
| Kermanshah | 1 |
| Ahvaz | 1.3 |
| Orumiyeh | 0.9 |