46 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Iran - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Iran

Shah Cheragh

Mirrors and glass shards cover every inch of this arrestingly beautiful mosque.

Fars Province, Iran

The Ruins of Persepolis

The palace of the King of Kings, burned by Alexander the Great.

Badab-e Surt

Iran's colorful terraces are a rare geological masterpiece.

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

A spectacular rainbow of stained glass makes the "Pink Mosque" one of the most beautiful in Iran.

Yakhchāls

Ancient structures used to make and preserve ice in the deserts of Persia.

Roudbar Alamout, Iran

Alamut Castle

This ruined fortress was the stronghold for a persecuted medieval leader and his infamous Assassins.

Nushabad Underground City

A 1,500-year-old, 3-story subterranean city where ancient Persians took refuge in times of war.

Zoroastrian Towers of Silence

Putrefaction plateaus in Iran, where the dead were sent for decontamination before going to their final resting place.

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Unique Food & Drink in Iran

Persian Ice Cream Sandwich

Saffron, rose water, and pistachios combine in a fragrant, sweet-savory treat.

Stinging Nettles

Boil away this plant's poisonous hairs, and you're left with a tasty, spinach-like leaf.

Medlars

The anus-shaped fruit tastes like cinnamon applesauce.

Desert Truffles

So strong is Kuwaitis’ love for this seasonal delicacy that an entire market gets set up just for its sale.

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Stories About Iran

Striking from above, Hormuz Island rewards a closer look.

A Glimpse of Iran's 'Rainbow Island' From Above

It's easy to see why the island attracts artists and geology lovers.

November 13, 2020

At the port of Sharafkhaneh in 2015, an abandoned ship is stuck in solidified salt.

The Ghost Towns of Lake Urmia, Once West Asia's Largest Lake

Ships, farms, and hotels were left high and dry when 90 percent of the water disappeared.

by Solmaz Daryani

September 11, 2020

The Neanderthal premolar unearthed in Wezmeh Cave.

An Iranian Cave, a Neanderthal Tooth, And an Ice-Age Murder Mystery

Lions, cave bears, and leopards, oh my!

by Isaac Schultz

August 27, 2019

A worker picks roses as butterflies dance over the fields.

Every Spring, an Idyllic Iranian Town Turns Fields of Roses Into Rose Water

By distilling their harvest of pink roses, locals make a fragrant ingredient.

by Shervin Abdolhamidi

In an image from James Skinner's book on life in India, a surgeon works on the leg of a patient as he takes opium.

Centuries of Persian Manuscripts, Now at Your Fingertips

A deep, cosmopolitan archive appears online for the first time.

by Jonathan Carey

William E. Whitehouse, surrounded by images of pistachios.

America's Pistachio Industry Came From a Single Seed

A "plant explorer" helped establish the crop in California.

February 11, 2019

Two Iranian teenagers drink Pepsi and eat at a fast food restaurant in Tehran.

How Bootleg Fast Food Conquered Iran

Mash Donalds, Sheak Shack, and Pizza Hat are very popular.

by Sarra Sedghi

Watch the Walls Shimmer at Iran's Emerald Mosque

Shah Cheragh is one dazzling funerary monument.

January 30, 2017

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