Azadi Square Square

Address: Azadi Square (Meydan-e Azadi), Tehran, Iran

Hours: Open 24 hours

Admission: Free

Azadi Square is a major public square in the west of Tehran, Iran, dominated by the white concrete Azadi Tower built in 1971 to mark a national commemorative occasion. It is one of Tehran’s principal civic spaces and a frequent venue for official events and public gatherings.

The square’s key feature is the Azadi Tower, a 45-metre-high structure designed as a ceremonial gateway and landmark. The paved plaza around the tower accommodates large crowds and is crossed by major arterial roads, making it a focal point for demonstrations and state ceremonies.

The tower was designed by architect Hossein Amanat and completed in 1971; beneath it there is exhibition space that has been used for small displays and a museum. Since its completion the square has been a recurring site for national commemorations and public events, and its name was changed to Azadi - meaning freedom - following the 1979 revolution.

Azadi Square sits on the western approaches to central Tehran and is served by Azadi metro station and multiple bus routes, providing direct links to central Tehran and the wider metropolitan area.

• Transport links: A metro station and major bus routes serve the square, making it a primary transit hub for western Tehran.
• Best time for photos: The monument is most photographed at dawn or dusk when the tower’s geometric forms are most visually distinct against the skyline.

What to See#

• Azadi Tower: The white, flared-arch **Azadi Tower**, completed in 1971 at the centre of the square, rising about 45 metres and serving as the site’s dominant landmark.
• Tower museum and exhibition space: An underground exhibition space and small museum beneath the tower that houses displays and historical material related to the monument.
• Main plaza: The large paved plaza around the tower used for parades, public gatherings and demonstrations along the main west Tehran avenues.

Azadi Square (Meydan-e Azadi) is in western Tehran. Take Tehran Metro Line 4 to Meydan-e Azadi station - the square is immediately accessible on exiting the station.

By road it lies on Azadi Street in the city; it is within Tehran itself so travel time from other central districts is by city taxi or bus and varies with traffic.

• Take the metro to Meydan-e Azadi (Azadi Square) to avoid Tehran's frequent surface traffic jams and allow extra time for security screening around the tower.
• Visit around sunrise or sunset for the best photographic light on Azadi Tower and to avoid the busiest mid-day periods; enter the tower's base to see the museum inside, which many people miss.
• Prefer weekdays to Fridays (the main local day off) if you want fewer local crowds congregating on and around the square.