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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Iran

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

Updated January 8, 2025

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  1. Fars Province
  2. Hamedan
  3. Isfahan
  4. Kish
  5. Shiraz
  6. Tabriz
  7. Tehran
  8. Yazd

Unusual Attractions in Iran

See All 53 Things To Do in Iran

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Architecture 17
Ecosystems 8
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Sacred Spaces 8
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Architectural Oddities 7
Geology 6
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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

Podcast: Songs of Ice

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

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
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
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
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
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
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

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