Things to Do in Iran

There are 260 attractions in Iran. Chogha Zanbil, ancient elamite ziggurat and unesco world heritage site, is the most popular.

Most Popular By Name
Chogha Zanbil
1
Chogha Zanbil
Ancient Elamite ziggurat and UNESCO World Heritage site
Archaeological Site
Imam Reza shrine
2
Imam Reza shrine
Major Shia pilgrimage complex and ornate mausoleum
Building
Persepolis
3
Persepolis
Ruined ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire
Archaeological Site
Naqsh-e Jahan Square
4
Naqsh-e Jahan Square
Grand Safavid-era square surrounded by monumental buildings
Square
Golestan Palace
5
Golestan Palace
Qajar-era royal complex in Tehran with ornate tilework
Historical Site
Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque
6
Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque
Colorful mosque famed for morning stained-glass light displays
Mosque
Shah Mosque (Isfahan)
7
Shah Mosque (Isfahan)
Masterpiece Safavid mosque renowned for blue tilework and dome
Mosque
Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex
8
Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex
Vast covered bazaar hub in Tabriz with caravanserais
Historical Site
Pasargadae
9
Pasargadae
Ancient Achaemenid royal tombs and archaeological ruins
Archaeological Site
Historic City of Yazd
10
Historic City of Yazd
Ancient desert city noted for windcatchers and adobe
Historical Site
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
11
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
Ornate Safavid-era mosque with intricate tilework
Mosque
Vakil Mosque
12
Vakil Mosque
18th-century Shiraz mosque with tiled prayer halls
Mosque
Tomb of Hafez
13
Tomb of Hafez
19th-century tomb and poetic memorial in Shiraz
Tomb
Alamut Castle
14
Alamut Castle
Mountain fortress and Ismaili stronghold with dramatic ruins
Ruins
Caspian Sea
15
Caspian Sea
World's largest inland sea bordering five countries
Spa
Zagros Mountains
16
Zagros Mountains
Extensive Iranian mountain range with folded geology
Mountains
Lake Urmia
17
Lake Urmia
Large Iranian salt lake currently facing severe shrinkage
Lake
Mount Damavand
18
Mount Damavand
Iran's highest peak and potentially active stratovolcano
Mountain
Behistun Inscription
19
Behistun Inscription
Ancient multilingual rock relief and bilingual inscription
Monument
Qeshm Island
20
Qeshm Island
Iranian island with unique geological formations
Island
Kish Island
21
Kish Island
Iranian resort island and free-trade tourist zone
Island
Jameh Mosque of Isfahan
22
Jameh Mosque of Isfahan
Historic congregational mosque showcasing Persian Islamic architecture
Mosque
Ecbatana
23
Ecbatana
Ancient Median capital near modern Hamadan with historical ruins
Archaeological Site
Hormuz Island
24
Hormuz Island
Strategic Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz
Island
Naqsh-e Rostam
25
Naqsh-e Rostam
Ancient necropolis with Achaemenid royal rock-cut tombs
Archaeological Site
Milad Tower
26
Milad Tower
Telecommunications tower in Tehran with panoramic city views
Building
Shahr-e Sukhteh
27
Shahr-e Sukhteh
Ancient Bronze Age city ruins in southeastern Iran
Archaeological Site
Takht-e Soleymān
28
Takht-e Soleymān
Sasanian-era archaeological site with a sacred fire temple
Archaeological Site
Bam Citadel
29
Bam Citadel
Ancient mudbrick citadel in Bam, UNESCO site
Archaeological Site
Azadi Tower
30
Azadi Tower
Iconic Tehran monument symbolizing modern Iran
Tower
Azadi Stadium
31
Azadi Stadium
Tehran's large national stadium hosting football matches
Stadium
Tus
32
Tus
Ancient Persian city, burial site of poet Ferdowsi
Archaeological Site
Tomb of Cyrus the Great
33
Tomb of Cyrus the Great
Achaemenid-era tomb at Pasargadae, Iran
Monument
Abu Musa
34
Abu Musa
Iranian island in Persian Gulf with strategic importance
Island
Anshan (Persia)
35
Anshan (Persia)
Ancient Elamite city and archaeological site in Fars
Archaeological Site
36
Gonbad-e Qabus (tower)
11th-century brick tower, UNESCO-listed mausoleum and landmark
Tower
Kharg Island
37
Kharg Island
Strategic Persian Gulf island serving Iran's oil exports
Island
Sabalan
38
Sabalan
Dormant volcanic peak in Ardabil, features thermal springs
Mountain
Saint Thaddeus Monastery
39
Saint Thaddeus Monastery
Armenian monastery in Iran; one of oldest churches
Religious Site
National Museum of Iran
40
National Museum of Iran
Iran's national museum showcasing Persian antiquities
Museum
imam Khomeini Mausoleum
41
imam Khomeini Mausoleum
Vast mausoleum complex and pilgrimage site for Khomeini
Monument
Blue Mosque, Tabriz
42
Blue Mosque, Tabriz
Historic Tabriz mosque famed for turquoise tilework
Mosque
Chehel Sotoun
43
Chehel Sotoun
Safavid-era pavilion in Isfahan with mirrored hall
Palace
Goharshad Mosque
44
Goharshad Mosque
Historic Mashhad mosque noted for Timurid tilework
Mosque
Hamun Lake
45
Hamun Lake
Seasonal endorheic lake in Sistan Basin
Lake
Istakhr
46
Istakhr
Ancient Persian city ruins near Persepolis region
Archaeological Site
Saint Stepanos Monastery
47
Saint Stepanos Monastery
Medieval Armenian monastery complex carved into riverside cliffs
Religious Site
Soltaniyeh Dome
48
Soltaniyeh Dome
14th-century mausoleum with monumental brick dome and tilework
Monument
Vank Cathedral
49
Vank Cathedral
Armenian cathedral in Isfahan noted for frescoes
Church
Fin Garden
50
Fin Garden
Historic Persian garden with Safavid-era pool and pavilion
Historical Site
Taftan (volcano)
51
Taftan (volcano)
Active stratovolcano and Iran's southeastern high peak
Mountain
Ashuradeh
52
Ashuradeh
Island in Caspian Sea off Mazandaran coast
Island
Namak Lake
53
Namak Lake
Large salt lake near Qom, Iran
Lake
Gundeshapur
54
Gundeshapur
Ancient Sassanian city, once a major medical academy
Archaeological Site
Plasco Building
55
Plasco Building
Former Tehran high-rise that collapsed in 2017
Building
Tehran Grand Bazaar
56
Tehran Grand Bazaar
Historic covered bazaar complex central to Tehran commerce
Market
Jamkaran Mosque
57
Jamkaran Mosque
Important Shia pilgrimage mosque near Qom
Mosque
Sahand
58
Sahand
Volcanic mountain massif near Tabriz, popular for hiking
Mountain
Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art
59
Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art
Major Tehran art museum housing modern Iranian collection
Museum
Tepe Sialk
60
Tepe Sialk
Prehistoric Iranian archaeological mound with ancient ziggurat remains
Archaeological Site
Ali Qapu
61
Ali Qapu
Safavid ceremonial palace in Isfahan, elevated music hall.
Palace
Band-e Kaisar
62
Band-e Kaisar
Ancient Roman-built dam-bridge near Shushtar
Archaeological Site
Bakhtegan Lake
63
Bakhtegan Lake
Former large salt lake in Fars, now reduced
Lake
Dzordzor Chapel
64
Dzordzor Chapel
Medieval Armenian chapel relocated to avoid flooding
Religious Site
Larak Island
65
Larak Island
Strategic Persian Gulf island near Strait of Hormuz
Island
Saint John Church
66
Saint John Church
Historic Armenian church in East Azerbaijan province, Iran
Religious Site
Shah Cheragh shrine
67
Shah Cheragh shrine
Major Shia pilgrimage shrine in Shiraz with mirrored interiors
Religious Site
Taq-e Bostan
68
Taq-e Bostan
Sassanid rock reliefs and royal caves near Kermanshah
Archaeological Site
Bishapur
69
Bishapur
Sassanian-era city ruins with carved rock reliefs
Archaeological Site
70
Farsi Island
Small Iranian island with strategic military installations
Island
Hasht Behesht
71
Hasht Behesht
Safavid pavilion in Isfahan with ornate tilework
Palace
Ka'ba-ye Zartosht
72
Ka'ba-ye Zartosht
Ancient stone tower at Naqsh-e Rustam, enigmatic inscriptions
Tower
73
Qumis, Iran
Ancient Parthian and Sasanian settlement ruins
Archaeological Site
Sirri Island
74
Sirri Island
Persian Gulf island hosting oil facilities and helipads
Island
Zard-Kuh
75
Zard-Kuh
High Zagros mountain with glaciated peaks
Mountains
Alvand
76
Alvand
Prominent mountain massif near Hamadan, Iran
Park
Fatima Masumeh Shrine
77
Fatima Masumeh Shrine
Major Shia pilgrimage shrine and mausoleum in Qom
Religious Site
Lavan Island
78
Lavan Island
Iranian island hosting major oil and gas facilities
Island
Agha Bozorg Mosque
79
Agha Bozorg Mosque
18th-century Isfahan mosque notable for its symmetrical courtyard
Mosque
Babak Fort
80
Babak Fort
Hilltop castle ruins linked to Persian resistance leader
Castle
Jameh Mosque of Yazd
81
Jameh Mosque of Yazd
Ancient Persian Friday mosque noted for tall minarets
Mosque
Jiroft culture
82
Jiroft culture
Early Bronze Age archaeological culture from southern Iran
Archaeological Site
Maharloo Lake
83
Maharloo Lake
Salt lake near Shiraz with seasonal pink waters
Lake
Sa'dabad Palace
84
Sa'dabad Palace
Palace complex and former Pahlavi royal residence
Museum
Tomb of Ferdowsi
85
Tomb of Ferdowsi
Monumental tomb honoring Persian poet Ferdowsi in Tus
Tomb
Yadegar-e Emam Stadium (Tabriz)
86
Yadegar-e Emam Stadium (Tabriz)
Large multiuse stadium in Tabriz, major football venue
Stadium
Fire Temple of Yazd
87
Fire Temple of Yazd
Zoroastrian fire temple in Yazd housing eternal flame
Monument
Hengam Island
88
Hengam Island
Persian Gulf island noted for coral reefs and beaches
Island
Kavir National Park
89
Kavir National Park
Salt desert national park with diverse wildlife
National Park
Niavaran Palace Complex
90
Niavaran Palace Complex
Tehran palace complex showcasing Pahlavi-era royal residences
Museum
91
Qandil Mountains
Remote mountain range straddling Iran–Iraq border
Mountains
Toghrol Tower
92
Toghrol Tower
12th-century Seljuk brick tower and royal tomb
Tower
Ganj Dareh
93
Ganj Dareh
Early Neolithic settlement with ancient mudbrick remains
Archaeological Site
94
Gate of All Nations
Persepolis monumental gateway built by Xerxes
Monument
Palace of Ardashir
95
Palace of Ardashir
Sassanid-era palace near Firuzabad with distinctive arches
Palace
Shahdad
96
Shahdad
Town near the Lut Desert, gateway to Kaluts formations
Archaeological Site
Azadi Square
97
Azadi Square
Large Tehran square anchored by the Azadi Tower
Square
Carpet Museum of Iran
98
Carpet Museum of Iran
Museum exhibiting Persian carpets and weaving traditions
Museum
Ganjnameh
99
Ganjnameh
Ancient Achaemenid rock inscriptions near Hamadan
Religious Site
Dena
100
Dena
Mountain peak in Iran's Zagros range
Mountain