10 Places You Should Visit in Tehran Province, Iran
Tehran province, the capital of Iran, with an estimated population of 8.7 million in the city and 15 million in the Greater Tehran major city, is the crowdest province in Iran.
Although Tehran province has a large population, it’s a wonderful city.
It’s a city full of colors, hopes, and mobility; Furthermore, Tehran contains numerous tourism attractions that will astonish any visitor.
Tehran is your destination if you want to visit ancient landmarks, but it is also your destination if you would like to be modern and see trendy attractions.
If you’re planning a trip to Tehran, we’ve put up a list of 10 places you should see while you’re there.
What Are the10 Best Places in Tehran to Visit?
This list will introduce you to the ten best places in Tehran province; both modern and ancient.
1. Golestan Palace
Golestan Palace is definitely one of Tehran’s most known palaces; Also, This palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In terms of historical memory, Golestan Palace is one of Iran’s most distinctive historical collections, dating back 442 years.
This palace is an integral part of Iran’s art history, and it has become a living document of the country’s most important times.
The Safavid kings built this palace, and later empires added to it; there are 17 palaces, museums, and halls in the complex now.
The most significant developments occurred under the rule of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. Because he was the first Iranian king who frequently traveled to western countries and was inspired by their architecture. Then he tried to recreate those art pieces in Tehran.
Of the attractions in the palace itself, we can point to the stunning splendor of the image in the unique Hall of Mirrors, which draws a massive flood of tourists to visit the highest expression of the art of Iranian mirror work.
2. Milad Tower
One of the attractions Tehran province is known for is the Milad tower; over the past decades, it has become one of the symbols of Tehran.
Milad Tower, which dominates the skyline of Tehran, stands 435 meters tall, with 120 meters of antenna, making it the world’s sixth-tallest free-standing tower in 2017.
Milad Tower’s construction began in the Pahlavi period on August 19, 1975, with the Shah of Iran and the Mayor of Tehran.
By the Islamic revolution of 1979, the project stopped, and then in January 1997, the project started again and finished on October 7, 2008.
Milad Tower is a symbol of the Tehran province and is one of the top tourist spots in Tehran, as it can be seen from practically anywhere in the city due to its high height and unique appearance.
For those who would like to be in modern places, Milad tower is the best; it seems there is a city in it if you go in.
You can do these if you go to the Milad tower:
- If you go to Milad tower, you should eat at the revolving restaurant; it’s a luxurious restaurant that revolves around itself every hour.
It welcomes its guests with a variety of Persian and French dishes and live music.
This restaurant’s spectacular outlook will undoubtedly make a memorable evening for you.
- cafeteria: among other cafeterias in Milad tower, we recommend the Abshar cafeteria because it has a waterfall view and serves reasonable dishes.
- Dolphinarium: it’s mainly established for kids or teenagers to watch dolphins and take selfies with them.
3. Grand Bazaar
Do you know what a bazaar is? Bazaar is an ancient marketplace full of shops, and there are several of them in Iran, especially in Tehran province.
Grand Bazaar was created in the 19th century by Agha Mohammad Khan, the founder of the Qajar Empire, so visit if you love to see the wonders of the ancient orient.
With its ancient splendor architecture, the Grand Bazaar is one of the places we recommend you to visit in Tehran province.
If you want to buy souvenirs for your friends or family, this place is your destination; because you can find anything at reasonable prices. It contains several little bazaars, each selling specific goods. So, you should first find out which section of the market you wish to shop in.
There are also well-known restaurants in Bazaar that serve delicious Iranian meals.
4. Tabiat Bridge
Tabiat Bridge construction started in 2010 and finished in 2014. Also, its design was by Leila Araghian, a female architect.
Tabiat Bridge is in Abbas Abad, a northern Tehran neighborhood that was designed as a housing area for several military branches but has now become a destination for libraries and museums.
It connects Abo Atash Park on the west to Taleghani Park on the east across a major highway, making it Iran’s largest pedestrian bridge.
Yearly, thousands of Iranians and tourists enjoy the remarkable scene of this bridge and take selfies.
No tourist should miss the opportunity to visit Tabiat Bridge while traveling in Tehran province.
5. Darband
If you are into nature and would like to experience eating or hiking in Tehran’s nature, you should visit Darband.
Darband, previously a village near Tajrish, Shemiranat, is a district within Tehran province. It’s the beginning of a hiking track that leads to Mount Tochal, which stands over Tehran.
In Darband, there are so many cafes and restaurants which are usually crowded in the evenings.
One of the popular things in darband is that there are many hookah cafes; hookah is a traditional Iranian pipe that you should try if you like to smoke.
6. The National Jewelry Treasury
This museum is absolutely the most glorious place in Tehran province. In the Safavid era, the king decided to preserve the national jewels in this museum, so he sent ambassadors to neighboring countries to buy jewels.
They started collecting and preserving the jewels because Safavid kings loved art, and also, it was a sign of how powerful the kings were.
While visiting this museum, you can see the pink-colored diamond of Darya-ye-Noor, which contains182 Carats and was brought from India by Nadir Shah, the peacock throne, built-in 1798, among other valuable royal jewels.
If you like to know more about Persian kings, their victories or failures you should visit this museum.
7. Tajrish Bazaar
Tajrish Bazaar is in the north of Tehran province and is one of the oldest bazaars in Iran. If you visit there, you can see that the Bazaar still has preserved its ancient type of architecture.
Like the other ancient Bazaars, Tajrish Bazaar contains mosques, so if you go there, visit the mosques besides buying products.
One unique feature about this Bazaar is that the names of the shops are carved with tiles on their heads, which is fascinating. These tiles have given the market a distinctive look.
Passing through the main entrance of Tajrish market, one is welcomed by a vivid hall filled with a wide variety of foods, vegetables, and people; a vibrant scene of colors, smells, and tastes.
We recommend you visit this Bazaar to see its colorful and lively texture, then go for a meal in the traditional restaurants or cafés.
8. Chitgar Lake
Chitgar Lake, also known as Persian Gulf Lake, is an artificial lake in Tehran’s western city.
This lake has various attractions for travelers; there are some restaurants nearby that provide delicious Persian cuisines. There is a large shopping area nearby to buy gifts for your family or friends from Tehran.
It’s connected to Chitgar park from the west and east sides. Also, the clean weather freshens your soul.
Its construction began in 1968, but due to funding constraints, it was stopped; nevertheless, in 2010, the project was restarted.
So, if you want to breathe in one of the cleanest air in Tehran province, you should visit Chitgar lake.
9. Shemshak Ski Resort
Do you enjoy skiing in winter? Well, you should visit this resort; because you will have so much fun. This resort is the preference of skilled skiers because of its conditions.
It’s located in Shemshak, and you will arrive there by a ninety-minute drive from Tehran. If you want to spend the night there, there are two hotels available.
You can find winter there in all the seasons, that is why no matter which season you visit Tehran province, you can still go to Shemshak ski resort and have fun.
Because of the slopes, this resort, according to people’s experiences, is suitable for skiers of various abilities.
If you don’t have any experience in skiing, we still recommend you visit this resort and enjoy your first experience of skiing or appreciate the fresh air.
10. Azadi Tower
The most famous symbol of Tehran province is the Azadi Tower. While Milad Tower is becoming more worldwide, it’s still Azadi Tower that is the symbol of Tehran.
This tower’s construction started in 1972 during Pahlavi’s period. After the Islamic revolution of 1979, this tower got its current name, which means “freedom.”
These were the 10 places you should visit during your trip to Tehran province; do not miss seeing them because each represents the city’s culture and identity.