The 12 things to do in Tehran

Are you going to Tehran, north of Iran? Discover our top of the 12 essential things to do in the capital of the country!

The capital of Iran located in the north of the country, at the foot of the Elbourz Mountains and the Caspian Sea, Tehran is the largest city in the country with, in 2015, approximately 9 million inhabitants and more than 15 million people throughout the urban area. Perched between 1,100 metres and 1,700 metres of altitude from south to north, the city extends its ramifications on 686 km2, the entire territory of the commune of Arles (13). Due to its position between the mountain and the desert, the Tehran agglomeration has several climatic influences, with a fresh and semi-humid climate in the north and hot and dry areas in the south.

Historic, cultural, major political center in Iran, Tehran has many monuments to visit. It is also a very student city, with around 50 institutions of higher education.

What are you looking for in Tehran? You will not be bored by visiting Tehran. You have been listed a selection of 12 essential things to do in the Iranian capital.

1. The Milad Tower

The emblematic Tour of Tehran, tour Borj-e Milad is the highest in the country and the sixth highest telecommunications tower in the world, reaching 435 metres at its summit. Open since 2009, it has been seen everywhere, especially since the northern quarters. It is impossible to visit Tehran without climbing. You will find a cultural centre, an exhibition hall, a panoramic restaurant, a luxury hotel and a breathtaking view of the city.

2. Spend in the Azadi Tower

Tour Azadi is another symbol of Tehran: inaugurated in 1971 to celebrate the 2,500 years of history of the Persian Empire, the authorities changed it into an emblem of the 1979 Islamic revolution. It culminates at 45 meters high and is fully covered with white marble. Under the tower, visit the dedicated museum and its fountains.

3. Imam Zadeh Saleh Mosque

What to do in Tehran? Are you not going to leave Iran without seeing this famous blue meringue with rounded forms? The Mosque of the imam Zadeh Saleh is to be seen even if you are not Muslim. Dressed next to the Place Tajrish north of the city, this mosque is a must-see visit. The decoration, the careful paintings of the facades and the ornament of the interior will subjugate more than one!

4. The Palace of Golestan

Located in the historic district of Tehran, the Golestan Palace – meaning "flower garden palace" – is a bonus if you only know what to do in Tehran. This is the former royal palace of the dynasty Qajar a Turkmen dynasty that reigned over the country between 1786 and 1925. This palace is part of UNESCO’s world heritage and mixes the Persian and Western architecture styles. Located near the beach City Park , the Palace is surrounded by sumptuous gardens where it will make a good stroll.

5. Sa’dabad Palace

Set built by Qadjare dynasty and dynasty Pahlavi in the early 20th century, Sa’dabad Palace is located north of the city, between the foothills of the Mounts Elbourz and the Darband District Valley. The Palace houses museums – the Water Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Hossein Behzâd Museum – to discover an important part of Iran’s rich and powerful cultural history.

6. The Palace of Niavaran

You don't know what to do to Tehran? Visit the Niavaran Palace a palatial complex in the Shemiran district, north of the agglomeration, built under the instigation of Iran’s last shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi . The palace was completed in 1968 and served as a residence for the royal family before the Iranian revolution of Ayatollah Khomeini (1979).

7. The Tehran Grand Bazaar

How to visit Tehran without going to hum the popular atmosphere of the locals Grand Bazar ? Would you consider going to Marseille without seeing the Calanques? The Grand Bazar, these are shopping galleries with high and arched ceilings, decorated with multiple colors where everything is exchanged in a friendly climate, at the bottom of the noisy and crowded alleys of the world. You'll be pissing about everything: spices, handmade persian carpets, decorative objects, various utensils, silk scarves, beard fabrics, cakes and confectionery, phones... To immerse yourself in Iranian culture and visit Tehran authentically, this is where you have to go.

8. Ayatollah Khomeini Mausoleum

What to do in Tehran? The Ayatollah Khomeini Mausoleum is an unstoppable visit. It is a funeral complex located south of the city. It is dedicated to Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini (1902-1989), an iconic figure of the Iranian revolution in 1979. The mausoleum houses the remains of Ayatollah and his wife. In construction since 1989, the complex will be a centre of 20 km2 with four minarets, under a giant dome gathering prayer rooms, Islamic university, memorial centre and souvenir shops.

9. Eram Zoo Park

Also known as Tehran Zoological Gardens, Eram Zoo Park is located west of the city. It has been home to more than 290 species of animals, including 121 natives of Iran, since 1992. It is a place that will seduce children and adults, where to observe tigers, leopard, lynx, wolves, primates, reptiles, birds, turtles and many others. Are you still wondering what to do in Tehran?

10. The National Museum of Iran

If you love culture and history, Iran National Museum – also the archaeological museum of Iran – is the place to go to visit Tehran. It retraces the history of the city and the country since Antiquity. Opened in 1937, it has many pottery objects, of metal, books and pieces of ancient Persia, but also objects dating from Neolithic, Paleolithic, and from pre-Islamic times. The museum contains eight different rooms dedicated to the different eras of history.

11. Mount Tochal

Have you seen everything and no longer know what to do to Tehran? You see the mountains north? You can hike in the slopes of the Elbourz Mountains and pass from a temperature of 40°C to 10°C! Along a 12-kilometre peak ridge line at 3,942 metres above sea level, hikes provide an extraordinary view of the city of Tehran. We access it by a cable car at the start of Tajrish to the north of Tehran, Tochal ski resort . We can access a dozen summits from the peak.

12. Sorkheh Hesar National Park

Why not enjoy, coming to visit Tehran, Sorkheh Hesar National Park and its 9,380 hectares directly accessible to the east of the city? You can climb to 1,547 meters above sea level to take a bit of softness – if you come in summer, the days can be torrid – in this protected area. In winter, the area serves as a starting point for bird migration. Attention, due to its semi-arid climate, the annual average thermal amplitude is important: 19°C between day and night!

How to go to Tehran?

To get to Tehran, you must take the plane because the neighbouring countries (Irak, Kuwait, is Turkey) are dangerous areas, at war or at high geopolitical tensions. It is therefore not advisable to go there by land. Many companies – Air France, Iran Air, Alitalia, Lufthansa or KLM operate direct flights from Paris. For a flight at the best price, please consult our partner Ulysses .

Where to stay in Tehran?

To know where to sleep by visiting Tehran , it is better to target the historic city centre, the Elahieh and Tajrish neighborhoods: less polluted, less noisy, cooler because on the heights.