Articles about Iran
General Information:
Capital: Tehran
Language: Persian / Farsi
Religion: 99.4% Muslim (89.46% Shia / 9.94% Sunni) ; 0.4% Christians; 0.03% Zoroastrian
Population: 83 million (2019)
English-friendly: Not many people speak English in Iran. Young people tend to know a bit of English and they will be keen to speak with you because unfortunately Iranians do not have many opportunities to practice English with foreigners nowadays.
Wi-fi reliability: Wi-fi is often not reliable in Iran and, most importantly, internet is censured. Therefore, you will need a VPN to access “western websites”
Currency: Iranian rial. Be aware that you will not be able to withdraw cash in Iran. Therefore, you need to plan in advance how much you are going to spend and bring cash with you. You can either exchange cash at the official money exchanges or, at a better rate but it is officially illegal, on the black market (it is very common, there will be plenty of people offering you this). All major currencies are accepted. For our Scottish friends, we are sorry but most of the time they do not accept Scottish pounds but only English ones. Although we tried to explain that it is the same currency, they did not accept them
Average cost per day: 20$ or less (2018), Iran is very cheap for western tourists.
Visa: Obtaining a visa for Iran really depends on your nationality. Most of EU nationals should not have any problem obtaining a visa either on arrival or online (click here). Some other people (British and Americans for example) may have to go to the consulate
Safety: Despite the general considerations, we think Iran is a safe country to travel. Please be aware that you need to respect the dress code imposed by the Sharia when you are there (long trousers for men / headscarf, long sleeves and not adherent trousers or skirts for women)
When to go:
Spring (Late March – May): This is probably the best period to visit Iran. With the Nowruz (Iranian New Year) on it’s way, the weather gets extremely pleasant throughout the country, all transportation services are tripled, prices rise significantly, and tourist attractions get very busy. Forward planning is recommended for this season. Be aware that it may be more expensive visiting Iran during Nowruz! Average temperature: 10 °C – 24°C
Summer (June – August): The weather gets very hot during these months. Walking and sightseeing could be very exhausting. The northwest of the country and also the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea are still mild during summer, and both are the main destinations of domestic travelers. Prices are low and it’s not the worst time, but if you can’t tolerate hot weather it is not the best time to visit Iran Average temperature: 20°C – 35°C
Autumn (September- November): September and October are other great times to visit Iran. The rainfall is very rare, the temperature starts to drop, and the weather gets cooler especially in October and early November. The crowds aren’t too intense and almost disappear at the end of September because the school holidays finished. The prices are lower than in April and May. We visited Iran in October and we had good weather most of the time, it got a bit cool in Tehran around the end of the month but Autumn is definitely recommended! Average temperature: 18°C-22°C
Winter (December – Early March): Winter in Iran can be very cold and snowy, particularly in the capital. The rain is also highly probable. The days are short, and the sun sets around 5 pm. Passionate about skiing? It’s your time so! Average temperature: 4°C – 10°C
*Average temperatures in Tehran