Travel guide
Know before you go
Honest, up-to-date answers to the questions travelers ask most about Iran — from visas and guide rules to money, transport and the best time to visit.
Practical essentials
- Iran Visa GuideHow the Iran tourist visa really works: most nationalities get a 30-day visa via a prior e-Visa authorization code, applied through a licensed Iranian agency 2-6 weeks ahead. The authorization code is NOT the visa - you still collect the visa at an Iranian airport on arrival, or at an embassy if you cross a land border. US, UK and Canadian citizens must travel on a pre-arranged guided tour with an MFA-approved itinerary.
- Do I Need a Guide? Iran Rules by NationalityWhether you must travel with a licensed guide in Iran depends entirely on your nationality. Citizens of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada must be accompanied by a government-licensed guide at all times outside their hotel, on a fixed MFA-approved itinerary. Most other nationalities - including the EU - need no guide and can travel independently, but still apply for the visa through an agency.
- Is Iran Safe to Visit?Everyday crime is low and travelers consistently describe Iranian hospitality as exceptional - many say they felt safer than at home. Several governments still keep elevated advisories, mainly citing arbitrary-detention risk for dual nationals and regional instability. As a tourist following the rules and your guide's advice, the practical risks are low: keep clear of borders, protests and military sites, and treat traffic as the main daily hazard. Check current conditions with us before you travel.
- Visiting Iran as a Dual CitizenIf you hold a second passport alongside a US, UK or Canadian one, plan carefully. Travelers consistently report that entering on the non-Western passport - and getting the visa on that passport - means you are treated as that nationality and do not need a guide. Iran does not recognize dual nationality. This is traveler-shared experience, not legal advice, so check your own case with us before you book.
- Money in IranForeign Visa and Mastercard cards do not work in Iran because of sanctions. Bring enough USD or EUR cash and exchange at official shops, or load a prepaid Iranian tourist debit card to pay like a local — we issue and deliver these ourselves as part of our money service. Hotels usually can't take an international card or a safe online prepayment, so most travelers reserve without prepaying and settle in cash on arrival, or let an agency book.
- Getting Around IranHow to travel between Iranian cities. The Tehran-Isfahan train is comfortable and has female-only and family cabins, but runs roughly once a day, sells out fast, and can't be booked from abroad on raja.ir - so reserve ahead through an agency. VIP buses are comfortable and almost always available as a fallback. Self-driving means a large cash deposit, chaotic roads and patchy signal, so most first-timers choose a private car and driver.
- Staying Connected in IranGoogle, WhatsApp, Instagram, X, YouTube, Facebook and Telegram are filtered, so install and test a VPN before you arrive. An eSIM is the easiest data option; a local SIM (MCI/Irancell) is cheap but needs passport registration and is sold at the airport. Coverage is good in cities and at tourist sites but can drop in deserts and remote areas, and connectivity can change suddenly.
- Iran Itineraries: The Classic Route & How Long to StayThe classic first-timer route runs Tehran - Kashan - Isfahan - Yazd - Shiraz, taking in Persia's greatest cities, the central desert and Persepolis. Around two weeks covers it comfortably; add Tabriz, the desert or the Persian Gulf and you'll want closer to three. We tailor the pace, stops and style - independent or fully guided - to you.
- Best Time to Visit IranSpring (mid-March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the sweet spots, with mild weather across most of the country. Summers are punishing in the central deserts and the south, while winters suit skiing near Tehran and warm escapes on the Persian Gulf. Watch the calendar: Nowruz (Persian New Year, around 21 March) brings beautiful celebrations but packed transport and closures, and Ramadan changes daytime eating and opening hours.
Culture & context
- Travel Norms & EtiquetteDress code is legally required: women cover their hair with a headscarf and wear loose clothing; men avoid shorts. Learn taarof (ritual politeness), mind opposite-gender contact, don't eat in public during Ramadan daylight, ask before photographing people, avoid military sites, and note alcohol is illegal. A little tipping is customary, and small gifts go a long way with host and nomad families.
- Iranian CuisineAn overview of Persian food: kababs, herb-and-fruit stews (ghormeh sabzi, fesenjan), saffron rice with tahdig, tahchin, dizi/abgoosht, fresh breads, tea and doogh, plus sweets (gaz, sohan, faloodeh, saffron bastani) and regional styles (Gilani north, Bandari south). Very vegetarian-friendly; halal, no pork, no alcohol.
- A Short History of Persia / IranA timeline from Elam and the Achaemenids (Cyrus, Persepolis) through Parthian/Sasanian, the Islamic golden age, Mongol/Timurid, Safavid Isfahan, Qajar Tehran and the Pahlavi era to the 1979 Islamic Republic - each era tied to the sites where you can see it.
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