40 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.

Roudbar Alamout, Iran

Alamut Castle

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

Yakhchāls

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

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.

See All 40 Things to Do in Iran See All 40 Places

Unique
Food & Drink
in Iran

Persian Ice Cream Sandwich

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

Medlars

The anus-shaped fruit tastes like cinnamon applesauce.

Stinging Nettles

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

Faloodeh

This crunchy, sweet, and tart noodle sorbet is one of the world's oldest frozen desserts.

See all 11 things to eat in Iran See all 11 things to eat in Iran

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

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William E. Whitehouse, surrounded by images of pistachios.

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The Temple of Apollo, Delphi.

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