Middle East
Iran
Isfahan (Naqsh-e Jahan Square, one of the largest public squares on earth), Persepolis, Yazd's desert architecture and qanat system, Shiraz gardens and the Pink Mosque, Tehran's contemporary art scene, the Lut Desert, the rose festival in Kashan, ski resorts in the Alborz, and a hospitality culture (taarof) that is genuinely uncommon elsewhere.
Plan it right
Before you book the flight
Quick checks that decide whether a Iran trip actually works on your dates.
Find it on the map
Open Iran in Google Maps and drop a pin on your base before you lose signal.
Open in Google MapsCheck the visa policy
Rules for Iran change with your nationality and current advisories. Confirm before booking anything.
Read entry rulesGet help with a visa
A reputable visa service can handle paperwork and invitation letters if you'd rather not deal with the consulate.
Compare services- 1 EUR ≈ 1,509,717 IRR
- 1 USD ≈ 1,321,909 IRR
- 1 GBP ≈ 1,771,995 IRR
Exchange Rates Updated Daily. Last updated on 11/Jul/2026.
No McDonald's benchmark available.
Use local café / fast-food meal prices instead.
Approximate McDonald's Big Mac® price where available. Prices vary by city, branch, tax, delivery channel, and date checked. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by McDonald's.
Source: Countries with McDonald's restaurants reference
No reliable McDonald's/Big Mac benchmark found; likely no official McDonald's presence
Prices Researched at May 2026
Where to stay
8+ rated stays near Iran
Booking.com opens filtered to an 8+ guest score so you can compare photos, prices and recent reviews before choosing a base.
When to go
Best: Apr-May; Sep-Oct. Spring and autumn are most comfortable across central Iran; summer heat can be severe, winter cold in mountains.
Avoid: Jul-Aug extreme heat in deserts/south; Dec-Feb cold mountains
Why it is difficult
Status, May 2026: Geopolitical tension with the West, periodic regional flare-ups; US and UK travel advisories warn dual nationals against travel due to detention risk. Inside Iran day-to-day life and tourism functioning normally; foreign tourists generally welcomed. Mahsa Amini-era unrest has subsided but morality-police enforcement of dress code remains.
Why it is worth visiting
Isfahan (Naqsh-e Jahan Square, one of the largest public squares on earth), Persepolis, Yazd’s desert architecture and qanat system, Shiraz gardens and the Pink Mosque, Tehran’s contemporary art scene, the Lut Desert, the rose festival in Kashan, ski resorts in the Alborz, and a hospitality culture (taarof) that is genuinely uncommon elsewhere.
Practical travel notes
Connectivity: VPN essential. Most Western social media and many news sites blocked. Download multiple VPN apps before arrival. SIM: Irancell or MCI at IKA airport; cheap. Dress: women must wear hijab; men avoid shorts in public. Alcohol: prohibited. Photography: avoid military, oil installations, anti-regime imagery.
Access and logistics
Tehran IKA: Turkish Airlines (IST), Qatar (DOH), Emirates (DXB), Lufthansa (FRA), Pegasus (SAW), Aeroflot (SVO), Air France (CDG), Mahan and Iran Air domestically and regionally. Overland: Turkey (Dogubayazt-Bazargan), Armenia (Meghri-Norduz), Azerbaijan (Astara), Turkmenistan (Sarakhs), Pakistan (Mirjaveh-Taftan, with security caveats), and Iraq (Sulaymaniyah and Kermanshah crossings). Money - the critical point No Western credit/debit cards work in Iran. Sanctions block international banking. Plan accordingly: Bring USD or EUR cash in clean, post-2013 bills. Exchange in Ferdowsi Square (Tehran) or at any sarafi (money-changer) - they give a far better rate than banks. 1 USD 60,000+ toman (heavily fluctuating). Iran uses two currencies in conversation: rials (official) and tomans (= rials 10). Confirm which is meant before you pay. Tourist cards (Mah Card, Daric) are prepaid rial cards you load with foreign currency on arrival - useful if carrying USD around makes you uncomfortable. Working out a sane daily budget: USD 50-80/day mid-range, less budget, more for guide-required nationalities. Sample 15-day itinerary Tehran (2) - Tabriz (2) - Kashan (1) - Isfahan (3) - Yazd (2) - Shiraz/Persepolis (2) - Kerman/Bam/Lut Desert (2) - fly back to Tehran (1).
Safety considerations
Treat security as the core planning constraint. Avoid improvising routes, keep a conservative schedule, and re-check local conditions immediately before travel.
Visa or permit notes
E-visa available at evisatraveller.mfa.ir for most nationalities - USD 75, requires LOI from an Iranian agency (typically USD 25-35). US, UK and Canadian passport holders must travel with a guide for the whole trip and apply via a registered agency; cost is significantly higher. Visa-on-arrival is possible at IKA airport for many EU passports with a pre-arranged LOI. NB: Iran is not stamped if you ask the immigration officer at the start (“no stamp please”). The e-visa is still recorded electronically; many travellers prefer this for onward US/Israel visa applications. Guides and operators (from the archive) Against the Compass and Untamed Borders both run dedicated Iran group tours (the visa-required nationalities prefer these). Caravan Sahra, Iran Doostan and Pasargad are large Tehran-based agencies that handle LOIs and full itineraries.
Local guides, drivers and fixers
These contacts may help with guiding, transport, permits, logistics, translation, or local arrangements. Always confirm prices, availability, safety conditions, and exact services before booking.
Ehsan Niroumand (Persian Walk)
Tour Guide / OperatorIran
Highly recommended; has guides in Isfahan, Yazd, Shiraz, Bam
Zahra (Let's Go Iran)
Tour CompanyIran
Fantastic, budget tours; hooks up with best guide Farri
Email: zahra letsgoiran com
On the ground
10 practical tips
The decisions that separate a smooth trip from a stranded one.
Choose the strongest season
Use Apr-May; Sep-Oct as the first planning window for Iran, then check weather, access and local conditions again before booking.
Avoid the hardest months
Be cautious about Jul-Aug extreme heat in deserts/south; Dec-Feb cold mountains, because the wrong season can make transport, outdoor access and backup plans much harder.
Confirm entry rules first
Verify current entry rules through official channels before booking; recent planning notes suggest E-visa available at evisatraveller.mfa.ir for most nationalities - the current official process may require supporting documents from an Iranian agency (typically USD 25-35), but this should not be treated as final.
Plan the access route
Build the itinerary around the real access route: Tehran IKA: Turkish Airlines (IST), Qatar (DOH), Emirates (DXB), Lufthansa (FRA), Pegasus (SAW), Aeroflot (SVO), Air France (CDG), Mahan and Iran Air domestically and regionally.
Re-check security conditions
Check official advice and detention-risk warnings before booking Iran, especially if you hold dual nationality or plan photography near sensitive sites.
Plan cash and payments
Check how you will actually pay for hotels, drivers and emergencies in Iran, because international cards, sanctions or banking restrictions may limit normal payment options.
Secure scarce accommodation
Book the first night and trusted transfers before arrival in Iran, then avoid relying on last-minute local arrangements in sensitive areas.
Use local support selectively
Shortlist a reputable local operator for Iran before departure, then confirm route, permissions, security expectations, inclusions and cancellation terms in writing.
Build in buffer days
Treat 7 to 14 days, depending on route and security constraints as a planning range for Iran, but add buffer time if the route depends on flights, boats, permits, road conditions or security checks.
Decide if the trade-off fits
Choose Iran for Isfahan (Naqsh-e Jahan Square, one of the largest public squares on earth), Persepolis, Yazd's desert architecture and qanat system, Shiraz gardens and the Pink Mosque, Tehran's, but only if you are comfortable with the main trade-offs: political instability, health or safety concerns, difficult permits.
Good to know
Iran FAQ
Honest answers, including the ones that might change your plans.
Can tourists visit Iran?
Tourism may be possible in parts of Iran, but conditions can change quickly. Check current government travel advisories, embassy guidance, local contacts, and recent traveller reports before booking.
What visa do you need for Iran?
Visa and permit rules vary by nationality and can change without much notice. Use this guide as a starting point, then confirm current requirements with official government, embassy, or consulate sources.
What is the best time to visit Iran?
The usual planning window is Apr-May; Sep-Oct. Weather, access, holidays, security conditions, and transport schedules can still affect the final route.
How long do you need for Iran?
A realistic first plan is 7 to 14 days, depending on route and security constraints. Add buffer days for permits, route changes, weather delays, and unreliable transport.