Good Time to Visit
Weather
Iran has a mainly desert climate: dry and hot in summer (April-October) and harsh in winter (December-February). Average temperatures in Tehran are 2°C in January and 29°C in July, whilst the city's average annual rainfall is 22 cm. The Caspian coastal strip is much wetter than the interior (80-200 cm) and rain is more widely distributed throughout the year. It is hot and humid on the shores of the Persian Gulf. Iran is highly prone to earthquakes and tremors.
Visitors are advised to bring tropical clothing from April to October, with medium-weight clothing recommended from November to March.
More information about the Iranian weather may be found in Climate in Iran.
Festivals
The Zoroastrian festival Yalda is on 21 December, the longest night of the year, when families get together to feast, as the Good versus Evil battle of day and night reaches a peak. In March, Chahar Shanbeh Suri marks the end of the Zoroastrian year. People jump through bonfires to end the old year and welcome the new.
Public Holidays
The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Iran:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 11 Febuary | Victory of Islamic Revolution |
| 20-22 March | Nowrooz |
| 1 April | Islamic Republic Day |
| 2 April | Sizdah-Bedar (Nature Day) |
| 4 June | Death of Imam Khomeini |
| 5 June | Revolt of Khordad 15 |
| Variable* | Tasu'a |
| Variable* | Ashura |
| Variable* | Arba'een |
| Variable* | Demise of Muhammad and Martyrdom of Imam Hassan (Mujtaba) |
| Variable* | Martyrdom of Imam Reza |
| Variable* | The Prophet's and Imam Jafar's Birthday |
| Variable* | Martyrdom of Fatima |
| Variable* | Birth of Imam Ali |
| Variable* | Mission of Muhammad |
| Variable* | Birth of Imam Mahdi |
| Variable* | Martyrdom of Imam Ali |
| Variable* | Eid-e Fitr (Ramadan Ends) |
| Variable* | Martyrdom of Imam Jafar |
| Variable* | Eid ul-Adha (Ghurban) - Feast of the Sacrifice |
| Variable* | Eid of Ghadeer (Muhammad's last sermon) |