Must See

Alborz Mountains

The Alborz mountain chain stretches from the borders of Armenia in the north-west of Iran to the southern end of the Caspian (Mazandaran) Sea, ending in the east at the borders of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The largest mountain in the Middle East, Mount Damavand, is located in the range. The mountains are home to a number of resorts, offering cable car facilities as well as ski slopes. Some of the most popular resorts include Dizin, Shemshak, Tochal, and Darbandsar. Dizin is excellent for beginner and intermediate skiers, whilst Shemshak caters to more advanced skiers.

The Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle is the name given to the area encircled by the ancient cities of Hamadan, Kerman-shah and Khorramabad, and is a region rich in historical links from the time when the Silk Road passed through its pleasant rolling countryside.

Hamadan, 400 km southwest of Tehran, is believed to be amongst the oldest Iranian cities and one of the oldest in the world. It was the summer capital of the Parthian rulers (63BC-220AD), although one of the few easily visible signs of the city's antiquity is the Stone Lion, dating back to the time of Alexander the Great (around 330BC). The stone lion - one part of the 'Lions Gate' - sits on a hill where a Parthian era cemetery is said to have been located.

Kermanshah, 80 km from the border with Iraq, is a good base for visiting the Taq-Bostan Grottoes, which have several excellent 5-7th century bas-relief carvings. On the high road from Hamadan to Kermanshah is the town of Kangavar, where archaeological remains of a Hellenic-style edifice have been uncovered. These remains were once thought to be a Temple of Artemis (Anahita Temple), although the structure is now thought to have been a late Sasanian palace.

Esfahan

Also known as Isfahan, this city, located about 340 km south of Tehran, is known as the jewel of Iran. It flourished from 1050 to 1722, particularly in the 16th century, when it become the capital of Persia. Even today, the city retains much of its past glory. It is famous for its Islamic architecture, with many beautiful boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, mosques and minarets, and has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The city's most remarkable feature is its magnificent central square (Naghsh-e Jahan or Imam Square), which is approximately seven times larger than San Marco in Venice. The city's mosques are also well worth a visit, including the Friday Mosque (Masjid-e Jomeh); the Shaikh Lotfullah Mosque (which is known for the stalactite effect of its northern entrance) and the Imam Mosque, which is roofed with the largest dome in the city at 52 metres height.

Esfahan is home to a number of palaces, such as the Ali Qapu (Sublime Gate) Palace on the western side of the Naghsh-i Jahan Square; the 17th century Hasht Behesht (The Palace of Eight Paradises); and Chehel Sotoun (The Palace of Forty Columns), a charming pavilion in the middle of a park at the far end of a long pool, where Shah Abbas II and his successors would receive dignitaries and ambassadors.

Visitors can also visit nearby Manar Jonban, a fourteenth-century tomb with 'swinging' minarets, or climb the Ateshkadeh of Isfahan, a Sassanid-era tower located on a mountaintop about 8 km west of Isfahan for a wonderful view over the city.

Kerman

Over 1,000 km south of Tehran is the city of Kerman. Situated in the southern desert region, the 4th century city has several stunning mosques and a ruined citadel, and has traditionally been a centre for the production of fine Persian rugs.

Persepolis

About 70 km from Shiraz is the ancient city of Persepolis, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. It is best known for the Ceremonial Seat of Darius, built on an enormous platform carved out of the Kuhe Rahmat. The largest and most complex building in Persepolis was the audience hall, or Apadana, with 72 columns, accessible by two large sets of stairs.

Shiraz

The city of Shiraz in the southwest of the country is thought to have been the home to the winemaking process, and has given its name to the famous grape now grown across the world. It was the capital of Persia during the Zand dynasty from 1750 until 1781 and is known as the city of poetry, wine and roses. Several of the buildings date back to the ninth century, and there are many excellent parks and gardens.

Tabriz

Set on the north of the volcanic cone of Sahand, south of the Eynali mountain, is the country's second-largest city, Tabriz. Its bazaar, located in the centre of the city, is one of the oldest and largest in the Middle East, and is thought to be the largest closed one-roofed structure in the world. It consists of some sub-bazaars including Amir Bazaar (for gold and jewellery), a shoe bazaar and Mozzafarieh (carpet bazaar). The Blue Mosque (Masjed-i Kabud), built in 1465, is one of the city's most famous landmarks. Although it was severely damaged in an earthquake in 1778, leaving only the entrance, it was reconstructed in the early 1900s by the Iranian Ministry of Culture.

Tehran

This sprawling modern capital is Iran's trendsetter, whether for fashion, restaurants or politics. Visitors may wander the maze of vaulted alleys in the north, or visit the Grand Bazaar, one of the world's largest. Tehran has many interesting museums to visit, such as the Rea Abbasi Museum (housing a rare collection of Iranian calligraphy and paintings); the Carpet Museum, whose oldest carpet is 450 years old; the Abgineh Museum of Iranian Pottery; and the Anthropological Museums in Golestan Place.

One of Tehran's highlights is the Shahid Motahari Mosque, complete with eight minarets, from which a wonderful panorama of the city can be seen. Other attractions include the opulent Golestan Palace (the former royal Qajar complex) and Jamshidieh Park, which is located at the base of the Kolakchal Mountain and is home to traditional teahouses, picnic areas, and hiking trails that run from the lower area of the park to the top of the mountain.