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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Iran

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

Updated January 17, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Iran

Shiraz, Iran

Shah Cheragh

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

Orost, Iran

Badab-e Surt

Iran's colorful terraces are a rare geological masterpiece.

Fars Province, Iran

The Ruins of Persepolis

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

Shiraz, Iran

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

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

Meybod, 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, Iran

Nushabad Underground City

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

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

Meybod, Iran

Yakhchāls

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

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Sacred Spaces 8

Architectural Oddities 7

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jruzickova71

wants to go to 3N Cave - The World's Largest Salt Cave
jruzickova71

wants to go to Ali Sadr Cave
jruzickova71

wants to go to Radkan Tower
jruzickova71

wants to go to Nushabad Underground City
jruzickova71

wants to go to Shah Cheragh

Stories About Iran

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

Reviving the Romance of the Kurdish Clove Apple

These fragrant fruits are deeply symbolic.

by Ramsha Zubairi

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.

Eating the Red Soil of Rainbow Island

The landscapes on Hormuz, Iran, are striking—and edible.

January 19, 2022

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.

August 11, 2021

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

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

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