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18 dispatches from temples, tea houses, deserts and mountain villages across the continent.

Golestan Palace

Golestan Palace (Kakh-e Golestan) is a Qajar-era royal complex of roughly eight buildings in central Tehran, inscribed by UNESCO in 2013. This guide covers its history, the building-by-building layout, the per-section ticketing system, hours, and how to reach it from the Grand Bazaar and Panzdah-e Khordad metro.

Leila Hosseini · June 5, 2026

Travel Guide Tehran5 min read

Tehran Travel Advice

Tehran sits at the foot of the Alborz mountains in north-central Iran, with a metro, a bus rapid transit network, and ride-hailing apps. Foreign bank cards do not work, so cash or a tourist prepaid card is required. As of June 2026, the US, UK, Canada and Australia advise against all travel to Iran.

Leila Hosseini · June 5, 2026

Attractions Tehran3 min read

Tabiat Bridge, Tehran

Tabiat Bridge (Pol-e Tabiat, "Nature Bridge") is a 270-metre, three-level curved pedestrian crossing in Tehran's Abbas Abad area. Designed by Leila Araghian of Diba Tensile Architecture, it connects Taleghani Park and Ab-o-Atash Park, is free to enter, and won the 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

Leila Hosseini · June 5, 2026

Attractions Tehran4 min read

Sa'dabad Complex, Tehran

The Sa'dabad Complex in Shemiran, north Tehran, is a former Qajar and Pahlavi royal summer estate converted to public museums after the 1979 revolution. Its grounds hold the White and Green palaces and a cluster of specialised museums.

Leila Hosseini · June 5, 2026

Attractions Tehran3 min read

National Museum of Iran

The National Museum of Iran is the country's largest archaeology museum. Its two buildings on 30 Tir Street in Tehran hold material from prehistory through the Sasanian era and the Islamic period, including the Salt Man, Achaemenid finds from Persepolis, and Luristan bronzes.

Leila Hosseini · June 5, 2026

Attractions Tehran3 min read

Milad Tower, Tehran

A practical guide to Milad Tower (Borj-e Milad) in western Tehran: its height and structure, observation decks, revolving restaurant, opening hours, tickets, and how to get there.

Leila Hosseini · June 5, 2026

Food & Drink Iran4 min read

Iranian Cuisine: What to Eat and Drink

What to eat and drink in Iran: chelo kabab, herb and walnut stews, four staple breads, tea and yogurt drinks, dining customs, vegetarian options, and the laws on alcohol.

Leila Hosseini · June 5, 2026

Travel Guide Iran7 min read

Iran Travel Guide

Iran is a cash-only destination where international cards do not work, hijab is a legal requirement for women, and US, UK and Canadian citizens must travel on a pre-arranged guided tour. This guide covers visas, transport, health, connectivity and current government travel warnings, with volatile details flagged for local confirmation.

Leila Hosseini · June 5, 2026

Travel Guide Tehran5 min read

Hospitals and Medical Care in Tehran

Tehran's national emergency numbers are 110 (police), 115 (ambulance/EMS), and 125 (fire). Private hospitals run International Patient Departments with English support, but payment is cash in rial because foreign cards do not work in Iran. Travel insurance is compulsory for the visa, and most Western policies exclude Iran.

Leila Hosseini · June 5, 2026

Attractions Tehran3 min read

Grand Bazaar of Tehran

The Grand Bazaar of Tehran is a covered market in the south-central part of the city, near 15 Khordad Square. It holds over 10 km of interconnected corridors, with separate sections for carpets, gold, spices, copperware, textiles and paper, plus mosques, caravanserais and banks. The Shah Mosque, renamed Imam Khomeini Mosque after 1979, stands in its northern part.

Leila Hosseini · June 5, 2026

Travel Guide Iran6 min read

Best Time to Visit Iran

A region-by-region guide to when to visit Iran: spring and autumn for the classic plateau cities, winter for the Persian Gulf islands and ski resorts, summer for the Caspian coast, and the dates to avoid.

Leila Hosseini · June 5, 2026

Attractions Isfahan4 min read

Naqsh-e Jahan Square

Naqsh-e Jahan Square, built between 1598 and 1629 under Shah Abbas I, measures 160 by 560 metres and is bordered by the Shah Mosque, the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, the Ali Qapu Palace and the gate to the Grand Bazaar.

Leila Hosseini · June 5, 2026