The Atlas Obscura Guide To Iran

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

Updated September 12, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Iran

Shah Cheragh

Shiraz, Iran

Shah Cheragh

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

Badab-e Surt.

Orost, Iran

Badab-e Surt

Iran's colorful terraces are a rare geological masterpiece.

The ruins of Persepolis

Fars Province, Iran

The Ruins of Persepolis

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

The Pink Mosque.

Shiraz, Iran

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

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

Yakhchāl in Yazd, Iran

Meybod, Iran

Yakhchāls

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

Alamut Castle.

Roudbar Alamout, Iran

Alamut Castle

This ruined fortress was the stronghold for a persecuted medieval leader and his infamous Assassins.

The entrance to the underground city

Nushabad, Iran

Nushabad Underground City

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

The Tower of Silence in Yazd

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

Yakhchāl in Yazd, Iran

Meybod, Iran

Yakhchāls

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

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Ecosystems 8

Ancient 8

Sacred Spaces 8

History 7

Architectural Oddities 7

Caves 6

Geology 6

Religion 5

Tombs 5

Color 5

Nature 4

Natural Wonders 4

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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

August 24, 2023

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

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.

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.

January 19, 2022

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.

August 11, 2021

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.

November 13, 2020

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