Nickname: City of 72 Nations
Capital
Tehran
Population
~13.3 million
Iran's capital sprawls from the Alborz foothills down onto the plateau, a city of contradictions where Qajar-era palaces sit blocks from contemporary art galleries. It is the country's political and commercial engine, and for most travellers the arrival point before quieter provinces open up.
Culture & people
Iran's political and commercial capital — a dense mix of every ethnic group in the country, with Persian as the everyday language of public life.
Notable cities
Tehran
The capital itself, home to the Golestan Palace and the treasury of the National Jewels. Its museums and bazaars anchor most itineraries before travellers head to quieter provinces.
Rey
One of Iran's oldest continuously inhabited cities, now folded into greater Tehran, with the Shah Abdol Azim shrine and the Rashkan citadel ruins. It was a major Silk Road stop long before Tehran existed.
Varamin
A farming town south-east of the capital known for its 14th-century Friday Mosque and slender brick minaret. It offers a low-key look at rural Tehran province away from the city's traffic.
Highlights
- Golestan Palace, a Qajar-era jewel
- National Museum of Iran's ancient collections
- Grand Bazaar's covered alleys
- Tabiat Bridge over the Modarres highway
- Niavaran Palace complex
- Contemporary art at TMoCA
Best time to visit
April to June and late September to November bring mild days and clear views of the Alborz range, avoiding summer heat and winter smog.
Getting there
Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) handles most international arrivals, roughly 45 minutes south of the city centre by road.
The province's location, highlighted on the map of Iran.
Tell us what you want from Iran.
Send a few lines about your dates and interests. We'll come back within a day with a draft itinerary and an honest price — no deposit, no pressure.