Best things to do in Tehran
Find out more about those top places in Tehran
Welcome to the fascinating city of Tehran, Iran’s number one city. The mention of Tehran usually leads to different kind of responses usually form the people who know what to expect from the city and the ones who do not.
Located north of the country along the backdrop of Alborz mountains, it is one of the most underrated tourist destinations – which is often due to lack of proper publicity by the government and security concerns in the nation.
A proper tour of the city will have you visiting the magnificent Golestan Palace, bargaining at the Grand Bazaar and skiing on the Mount Tochal.
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Tehran Grand Bazaar
Situated right in the center of the city is The Grand Bazaar, the number one place for buying and selling in Tehran. This historical site has been around for centuries; it is split into several corridors each featuring vendors selling different items. A must visit for tourists and a good place to find whatever item you seek such as carpets, spices, bags – if you can’t find what you are looking for at the Grand Bazaar you probably won’t find it anywhere else in Iran. There are also restaurants located at the Grand Bazaar if you desire to have a taste of the local delicacies.
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Mount Tochal
The Mount Tochal is another one of Tehran’s lovely places to visit, best for those interested in “winter sports” but still a good place to visit for everyone. The Mount Tochal is located at the Alborz mountain range and it is its highest peak at elevation of 13,005 ft (3.96 km). Also, doubling as a skiing resort, it features a gondola lift if you are looking to have a full view of the mountain range and several tea houses for relaxation.
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Tabi’at Bridge
The multiple awarding architectural structure is an 890 ft (271.27 m) bridge connecting Taleghani park and Abo-Atash park. Tabi’at meaning “nature” was designed by Leila Araghian and according to her - she wanted the bridge to “be a place for people to stay and ponder, not simply pass”. The Tabi`at is simply amazing and a must visit.
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Golestan Palace
There is one place you should not miss out on seeing when visiting Tehran is the Golestan Palace. The Palace is one of Tehran’s oldest buildings, built during the reign of Tahmasp I, an influential Shah of Iran. The former royal Qajar complex consists of 17 structures including museums, fountains, halls and palaces and was used for important occasions such as coronations and weddings. Its main attractions include the Marble Throne, Karim Khani Nook, Brilliant Hall and Howz Khaneh (Pond House). It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Azadi Tower
One of Iran’s most famous landmarks - built in 1971 to mark the 2,500th year of the foundation of the imperial State of Iran. The Azadi means “Freedom Tower”, it stands as a height of 148 ft (45.11 meters) and was designed by architect Hossein Amanat. It is a Y-shaped building with an obvious classical Iranian architectural influences. Underneath the tower is the Azadi Museum that contains some of Iranian artifacts such as marble sculptures, gold pieces and pottery.