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All Iran

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Iran

51 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Iran

Updated September 12, 2023

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Cities

Top Cities
Isfahan
Shah Cheragh
Shiraz
The Tower of Silence in Yazd
Yazd
Ebrat Museum
Tehran
Inside the tunnels of Kariz-e-Kish.
Kish
Mineral deposits paint these mountains with swaths of red and gold.
Tabriz
All Cities
  1. Hamedan
  2. Isfahan
  3. Kish
  4. Shiraz
  5. Tabriz
  6. Tehran
  7. Yazd
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
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Stories

Unusual Attractions in Iran

Shah Cheragh

Shiraz, Iran

Shah Cheragh

Mirrors and glass shards cover every inch of this arrestingly beautiful mosque.
Badab-e Surt.

Orost, Iran

Badab-e Surt

Iran's colorful terraces are a rare geological masterpiece.
The ruins of Persepolis

Fars Province, Iran

The Ruins of Persepolis

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

Shiraz, Iran

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

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

Meybod, Iran

Yakhchāls

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

Roudbar Alamout, Iran

Alamut Castle

This ruined fortress was the stronghold for a persecuted medieval leader and his infamous Assassins.
The entrance to the underground city

Nushabad, Iran

Nushabad Underground City

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

Yazd, Iran

Zoroastrian Towers of Silence

Putrefaction plateaus in Iran, where the dead were sent for decontamination before going to their final resting place.
See All 51 Things To Do in Iran

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Iran

Yakhchāl in Yazd, Iran

Meybod, Iran

Yakhchāls

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

Explore Iran

Ecosystems 8
Ancient 8
Sacred Spaces 8
History 7
Architectural Oddities 7
Caves 6
Geology 6
Religion 5
Tombs 5
Color 5
Nature 4
Natural Wonders 4

Iran Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. Avatar image for Max Cortesi
    Max Cortesi
    6
  2. Avatar image for ahvenas
    ahvenas
    5
  3. Avatar image for mariellen
    mariellen
    3
  4. Avatar image for robinrocket
    robinrocket
    3
  5. Avatar image for Aksel
    Aksel
    2

Places Edited

  1. Avatar image for vasilisapremudra
    vasilisapremudra
    17
  2. S
    soheilmamani
    9
  3. Avatar image for ahvenas
    ahvenas
    6
  4. T
    Tawsam
    5
  5. A
    aribrown
    5

Places Visited

  1. E
    ersy007
    33
  2. N
    nickfranssen
    28
  3. Avatar image for ahvenas
    ahvenas
    25
  4. M
    mtavakolig
    25
  5. L
    lorraineadams
    22

Recent Iran Activity

  • K

    kooni

    wants to go to 3N Cave - The World's Largest Salt Cave

  • B

    blackeyedpeas20official

    wants to go to Omar Khayyam Mausoleum

  • Avatar image for LeenaIB

    LeenaIB

    wants to go to Omar Khayyam Mausoleum

  • J

    Jonathann Gougnon

    wants to go to Alavian Dome

  • D

    davidvaclavek

    wants to go to Badab-e Surt

Stories About Iran

Mali Mahalingam amid the dunes of Central Nambia.

Accessible Independent Travel Is for All Ages and Abilities

See the world “any which way” you can, says a seasoned traveler in her 70s.
by Gemma Tarlach
August 24, 2023

Podcast: Songs of Ice

How to appreciate ice without getting all that cold, with the Atlas Obscura Places Team.
by The Podcast Team
January 17, 2023

Podcast: Pigeon Towers of Iran

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
August 25, 2022
Cloves and apples make a simple but meaningful memento.

Reviving the Romance of the Kurdish Clove Apple

These fragrant fruits are deeply symbolic.
by Ramsha Zubairi
June 1, 2022
For 17 days in Scotland's remote Cairngorms mountains, British traveler Elise Wortley retraced the journey of early-20th-century writer Nan Shepherd.

Returning to the Valley of the Assassins in the Footsteps of Explorer Freya Stark

British adventurer Elise Wortley is about to retrace a historic journey through Iran.
by Sarah Durn
March 14, 2022
Bread made with dots of sooragh shows off Hormuz's vibrant gelak soil.

Eating the Red Soil of Rainbow Island

The landscapes on Hormuz, Iran, are striking—and edible.
by Tia Rotolo
January 19, 2022
Geologist and guide Lior Enmar among Malcham's delicate salt structures.

The Friendly Rivalry—Between Israel and Iran—Over the World’s Longest Salt Cave

Spectacular Malcham Cave, at more than six miles, currently holds the title.
by Gitit Ginat
August 11, 2021
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.
by Winnie Lee
November 13, 2020

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