All Iran

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Iran

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

Updated November 21, 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

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See All 54 Things To Do in Iran

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Architecture 18
Sacred Spaces 8
Ancient 8
Ecosystems 8
History 7
Architectural Oddities 7
Caves 6
Religion 6

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Stories About Iran

Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel's journey from a chair she found on the street in London.

How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire

Donning heavy wool skirts and hobnail boots, this intrepid explorer retraces the steps of legendary women adventurers.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura
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, Atlas Obscura

Podcast: Songs of Ice

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

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, Atlas Obscura
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, Atlas Obscura
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, Atlas Obscura
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, Atlas Obscura
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, Atlas Obscura
Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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