Iran is one of the world's oldest civilizations and one of its most misunderstood destinations. Travelers who make the journey discover a country of staggering historical depth, architectural brilliance, extraordinary natural landscapes, and some of the most generous hospitality encountered anywhere in the world.
Isfahan centers on the Naqsh-e Jahan Square — one of the largest and most beautiful public squares ever built. The Imam Mosque with its soaring turquoise tilework and the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, which glows amber at sunset, achieve a perfection of Islamic geometric art.
Shiraz is the city of poets, gardens, and wine-dark roses. Nearby Persepolis — the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire — stands in haunting, colossal ruins with columns and bas-reliefs among the finest in the ancient world.
Yazd, a mud-brick city inhabited continuously for three millennia, is a UNESCO testament to desert architecture. Wind towers, Zoroastrian fire temples holding flames burning for 1,500 years, and the ancient bazaar define its character.
Tehran, at the foot of the Alborz Mountains, has the National Museum, the Grand Bazaar, and mountain neighborhoods with cafes and ski resorts within easy reach.
Persian cuisine is ancient and elegant: saffron-scented rice dishes, pomegranate and walnut stew, herb-filled flatbreads, and the sour-sweet flavor profiles that have influenced cooking from Istanbul to Delhi. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures. Iran rewards those willing to look beyond the headlines.
