Tabriz is the second largest city in the country and known for its Blue Mosque (1465). The covered bazaar Qaisariyeh dates from the 15th Century. About 22 miles from salt lake lies Oroumiyeh, the supposed birthplace of Zoroaster (Zarathustra). The cities of Ardebil, Astara, Bandar Anzali and Rasht on the Caspian Sea are also worth a visit.

The Golden Triangle is the common name for the delineated by the cities of Hamadan, Kermanshah (Bakhtaran) and Khorrambad region. This part of the country has a rich history, so you can visit the remains of 6000 year old settlements. Hamadan was the summer residence of the Persian Emperor (Susa was the winter residence). The main attraction is the impressive stone lion from the time of Alexander the Great. Kermanshah is a good starting point for excursions to Tagh-e Bostan and its relief from the Sassanid period and Bisotun. The Seleucid Temple of Artemis at Kangavar consists of large, fallen columns, which are now being rebuilt.

Shiraz is the capital of Fars province with many buildings dating from the 9th Century. The Persian poet Hafiz and Omar Chaijam lived here. 50 km away lies Persepolis, capital of Darius I. Here are the palaces and others was the ceremonial seat of Darius on a huge platform, carved from the mountain Kuh-e Rahmat. Although Alexander the Great burnt the city, the ruins are still impressive. 40 km southeast of Susa, the archaeological site Changha Zanbil.

Khorasan is a large province in the east. In the early Middle Ages it was a center for scholars. Mashhad is a former trading post on the Silk Road and one of the holy cities of Islam. The mausoleum of Imam Reza (8th Imam of the Shiites) is located here.

Tehran

Tehran, the capital city, is predominantly modern parts of the old town have been preserved. The Shahid Motahari Mosque has eight minarets, offers a good view over the city. The bazaar, which is open daily except Fridays and religious holidays, is one of the largest in the world. Another bazaar is located in the suburb of Tajrish in the north of the capital. In the maze of covered alleys precious carpets, silver and copper work, and food and exotic spices are offered for sale. The various trades have separate areas on the market and you can watch craftsmen at work. In Tehran, there are several interesting museums including the Abgineh Museum (Iranian Pottery), the Rea Abbasi Museum (collection of Iranian calligraphy and paintings), the National Museum (Iran Bastan Museum), which Rassam carpet culture and art collection with carpet weaving school, the Carpet Museum, whose oldest carpet is 450 years old, and the Museum of Anthropology. The cultural centers Bahman Azadi Khavaran and the National Library and the zoo are also well worth a visit. From Tehran to offer trips in the Alborz Mountains, where there are ski resorts with ski lifts and ski runs. The ski season lasts from January to March.

Excursions:

The historic towns Rey, Varamin, Qazvin and Shemshak are easily accessible from Tehran.

Isfahan

Esfahan is the former capital of Persia and was classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Center of the city is a beautiful place that is about seven times as big as Saint Mark’s Square in Venice. Here is the Masjid-e Imam Mosque, with its blue tiles, the landmark of the city and perhaps one of the finest Islamic monuments. The mosques, palaces, bridges and gardens are architecturally interesting. The Friday Mosque (Masjid-e Jomeh) is today a museum of Islamic architecture. The Shaikh-Lotfullah Mosque is famous for the Stalaktiteneffekt the north entrance.

Kerman

In Kerman in the southern desert region, there are several beautiful mosques, a very old bazaar, old bathrooms. The ruins of a citadel in the city of Bam was destroyed by an earthquake in late 2003. Visitors are strongly advised to book tours only at state-approved tour operators.

Occur in the province of Kerman are often severe earthquakes that cause most of the houses built of mud bricks and over again to collapse. Of tourist travel to the affected area is therefore not recommended as before. When traveling – especially for individual or trekking trips – in the provinces of Kerman and Sistan-Balutschestan there is a substantial risk of kidnapping.