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Open trips to Iran
Post yours and see who is going on your dates. Asking to join a trip is always free.
Best time to go
Spring (April-May) and autumn (late September-early November) are ideal across most of Iran: mild days, blossom or golden light in the gardens, comfortable city walking. Persian New Year (Nowruz, around March 20-21) is the joyous national holiday: everything celebrates but transport and sights fill with domestic travelers, so book ahead and expect some closures. Summer (June-August) is scorching in the deserts and south (Yazd, Persepolis 40°C+) but pleasant in the mountains and cool Caspian north. Winter brings skiing near Tehran (Dizin, Shemshak) and crisp, quiet city visits, though the desert nights turn cold. Always verify current entry and safety conditions before timing a trip.
Top places
Costs
| Budget, per person | Typical |
|---|---|
| Backpacker, per day | $25-45 |
| Mid-range, per day | $55-100 |
| Comfort, per day | $170+ |
| Hostel/guesthouse dorm (Isfahan) | $8-15 |
| Traditional hotel double | $30-65 |
| Kebab / dizi meal + tea | $3-7 |
| Tehran-Shiraz domestic flight | $25-50 |
| Intercity VIP bus (long route) | $6-12 |
With a partner, rooms, taxis and boats are the easy things to share. Our guide to splitting travel costs with a travel partner has a simple way to keep track. Estimates in US dollars, for planning only.
Getting around
Domestic flights are cheap and useful for the long hops (Tehran-Shiraz, -Yazd): book through a local agency since foreign cards won't process. The intercity VIP buses are excellent value and comfortable, linking every city frequently; trains (including overnight services) are pleasant on key routes. Within cities, Tehran has a useful metro, and the local ride-hail apps (Snapp, Tapsi) are cheap and bypass haggling: have your accommodation help you set one up, or use metered taxis. Many travelers hire a driver-guide for the classic Tehran-Kashan-Isfahan-Yazd-Shiraz loop, which is efficient and often required for certain nationalities. Roads are good between cities; traffic in Tehran is intense.
Money and staying connected
This is the crucial logistics point: international sanctions mean foreign credit/debit cards DO NOT work in Iran: no ATMs for you, no card payments. You must bring all the hard currency (USD or EUR, clean notes) you'll need and exchange it, or: far easier, buy a prepaid local "tourist card" (e.g. Mah Card, Daric) you load with your cash on arrival and use like a debit card everywhere. The currency is the rial (IRR), but Iranians quote prices in toman (1 toman = 10 rials): confirm which every time to avoid a 10x confusion. SIMs (Irancell, Hamrah-e Aval) are cheap; note that some Western apps/sites are blocked and many travelers use a VPN (have it installed before arrival). Always reconfirm current sanctions/payment realities before you go: they shift.
Culture and etiquette
Iranian etiquette centers on taarof: an elaborate, gracious ritual of offering and refusing (a shopkeeper may decline payment two or three times; you insist gently and pay). Hospitality is intense and sincere; accept tea, expect invitations, reciprocate warmth. The legal dress code is real and must be respected: women are required to cover their hair with a headscarf and wear loose clothing covering arms and legs; men avoid shorts in public. (Note that enforcement and social norms around this have been in flux in recent years: follow current local guidance and err toward respect.) Remove shoes entering homes and mosques; don't eat or offer with the left hand. Avoid political debate in public. Useful phrases: "Salam" (hello), "Merci"/"Mamnoon" (thank you), "Lotfan" (please), "Chand?" (how much?), "Befarmaeed" (please/go ahead: you'll hear it constantly). Praise Persian poetry, gardens and food, and hearts open.
Health and safety
Iran's everyday street crime is low and hospitality is famously protective of guests: but this is a country where you must take official travel advisories seriously and check them right before any trip, as the political and security situation can change quickly and some governments advise against travel or have specific warnings (including dual-national detention risks for some passports). Practical health: tap water is generally safe in cities; the main hazards are intense desert heat, sun and traffic. Pharmacies are good and medicines cheap, but bring any prescriptions (and documentation) you rely on. Respect all rules around photography (avoid government, military and some infrastructure sites) and demonstrations (stay away entirely). Travel with up-to-date local advice and a registered guide where required.
General guidance, not medical or security advice. Check your government's travel advice and a travel clinic before you book.
How many people visit
International arrivals to Iran over the most recent years with data, roughly number 16 of 31 in its region by reported arrivals.
Source: UN Tourism (UNWTO). Years marked * are estimates: this country's measured baseline scaled by UN Tourism's published regional recovery rates, shown until measured figures are out.
Key facts
- Largest city
- Tehran
- Languages
- Persian (Farsi)
- Population
- 92.4 million (2025)
- Area
- 1,648,195 km² (636,371 mi²)
- Calling code
- +98
- Region
- Southern Asia
Travelling solo in Iran
Arriving alone is fine: plenty of people start a Iran trip on their own, and a travel partner can be someone you share one day with or the whole route.
Meeting someone new? Talk here first, meet somewhere public, and read our travel safety guide.
Visa check
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Travelling to Iran with a travel buddy
How do I find a travel buddy for Iran?
Make a free profile and add your Iran trip with rough dates. You will see travelers going on your dates and open trips to Iran you can ask to join, or you can post your own trip and let partners find you. Asking to join a trip is always free.
When is the best time to visit Iran?
Spring (April-May) and autumn (late September-early November) are ideal across most of Iran: mild days, blossom or golden light in the gardens, comfortable city walking. Persian New Year (Nowruz, around March 20-21) is the joyous national holiday: everything celebrates but transport and sights fill with domestic travelers, so book ahead and expect some closures.
How much does a day in Iran cost?
Typical costs, in US dollars: backpacker, per day: $25 to $45; mid-range, per day: $55 to $100; comfort, per day: $170+; hostel/guesthouse dorm (Isfahan): $8 to $15; traditional hotel double: $30 to $65; kebab / dizi meal + tea: $3 to $7; tehran-Shiraz domestic flight: $25 to $50; intercity VIP bus (long route): $6 to $12. These are estimates for planning only. With a travel partner, rooms and taxis are easy to share.
Is Iran good for solo travelers?
Arriving alone is fine: plenty of people start a Iran trip on their own, and a travel partner can be someone you share one day with or the whole route.
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