Within days in Iran, it quickly climbed up to become a favorite country for me. With around 50 countries under my belt, that is quite a tough achievement with India holding the throne since I first visited the country in 2012.
How did this happen? There are so many reasons to love Iran, and the Iranian people are one of the major parts! Then come all the breathtaking nature and astounding architecture which you are going to explore in this Iran itinerary.
While you would need months to explore the whole country, I have put together an itinerary for 10 days in Iran to see some of the main sites in north and central Iran. If you stay longer in the country, you should definitely travel further south and if you have less time, then you can pick some of these places instead of all.
This is part of my own Iran itinerary that I followed when I was there, though I stayed longer in the country and spent a longer time in some of the destinations.
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How to get to Iran
I suggest you take a flight to and from Tehran where this Iran travel itinerary starts and ends. Not only is it Iran’s main airport, but for those that are eligible for a visa on arrival, it’s one of the airports that offer it.
Once you have picked up your bag and got out of the restricted area, go up the escalator to your right to exchange money. No foreign debit or credit cards work in Iran, so make sure you bring enough cash for the whole trip. You don’t need to exchange it all at once, though.
Taxis to Tehran have a fixed price so don’t let them make you pay more.
For a complete guide to what you need to know before you travel to Iran, make sure you read my complete guide of Iran travel tips.
Iran itinerary 10 days
It can be hard to choose an itinerary, Iran has so much to offer you could travel for months and not see it all. I have picked out a good blend of culture, nature, and activity so you get a good taste of Iran during your trip.
If you have more time and want an unforgettable hiking experience, one of the world’s best mountains to climb is towering above Tehran – the mighty Mount Damavand.
Day 1: Arrival in Tehran
First of all, you’ll want to install yourself at the guesthouse. I stayed at 2 different ones and have been recommended a third one warmly which I will test out on my next trip. Here are my suggestions.
Where to stay in Tehran
HI Tehran Hostel
A great hostel with super friendly staff and a nice common area with a kitchen. I stayed here when I first arrived in Tehran, and it felt so nice and safe there. Especially as it was ok for women to take off their headscarves which usually takes a while to get used to.
The hostel is close to the main metro line which makes it easy to travel around to the main attractions in Tehran.
By now, my favorite hostel in Tehran for sure.
Book your stay with HI Tehran Hostel here
See You In Iran Hostel
At the end of my trip I went to this hostel, simply because I had been recommended the place by other travelers. It was a good place, also here some women took off their headscarves, though the girls working there had them on at times.
See You In Iran Hostel was a friendly hostel in an area with many restaurants and great teahouses.
Book your stay at See You In Iran Hostel
Tehran Heritage Hostel
I was recommended Tehran Heritage Hostel by more than one traveler that had stayed there. Some of them referred to it as THE place to stay, so I am really eager to check it out on my next trip to Iran.
This hostel offers dorms, privates, yurts and even a heritage room which is a traditional room they discovered when renovating the building.
Book your stay with Tehran Heritage Hostel here
Tehran sightseeing
If you have time for some sightseeing make sure you go to Golestan Palace. This is one of the oldest historic structures in Iran’s capital city and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013.
Opening hours are 09:00-19:00 in the spring and summer months while it closes one hour earlier in autumn-winter.
Not too far from Golestan Palace you find the Grand Bazaar. And this is grand! You can get lost for hours to end in the windy streets passed old dusty carpets, food stands, and other antiques. Why not spend some time trying local food?
Day 2: Day trip to Darband
If you have hung around my blog for a bit, you know I’m not much of a big city person and whenever I can escape to nature I do so. Tehran is huge and messy and there are some majestic mountains towering over the city. Why not go and check them out?
So, get up early, have a good breakfast, tie your hiking boots, fill up your filtered water bottle, buy some nuts, fruit, and other snacks to put in your backpack and head to the metro towards northern Tehran.
Once you get out of the metro (end stop), ask for a shared taxi to Darband. They leave frequently and only take about 10 minutes. It’s also ridiculously cheap. There is a small bazaar at the metro stop, so you can buy your snacks there if you haven’t before.
Darband chairlift
Once you get dropped off in Darband, there is a chair lift that takes you above the little mountain village. Make sure you ask what time the last chair lift goes back down so you don’t miss it.
From the top of the chair lift, there is a path passing several tea houses, restaurants, and the odd mountain gear shop. This is the perfect place to stop for a cup of tea and a chat with the locals.
Hiking
There are surely some mountain guides that will offer you their services along the way. If you are not keen on walking the mountains yourself, it is a great way of sustainable tourism to support a local guide.
I went solo and once I got to a bridge crossing the river, I walked to the left up some stairs.
First, I crossed the bridge and walked on the other side for a bit, but it was so many leaves on the path after a while that I didn’t find it safe walking alone up the steep hills.
So, I turned back and crossed the river back again, and walked up the stairs. Once I got passed the last houses, I turned around to the most mesmerizing view! A foggy Tehran in the far end. But all around me, I was surrounded by mountains.
Further up the path, you’ll see a set of large, slim waterfalls on the other side of the valley. You can walk as long as you please. Just remember to get down before sunset.
Explore Darband and eat street food
Once down the chairlift again, walk the streets of Darband. The little mountain village wakes up at night and lights up the valley with millions of lanterns and lights. The street food starts to get prepared along the main path and a delicious blend of spices penetrates your nostrils as you walk past.
Make sure you try the brown beans they cook in water and spice mix. Pro tip! Peel them before you eat them!
Get back to Tehran before the last metro leaves. The shared taxis to the metro, stop running at some point after dark. Not sure what time, but I had to take a private taxi back down to the metro.
Day 3: Bus to Kashan and sightseeing
Have an early breakfast and go to Tehran South Bus Terminal. I suggest you get a Snap!. If you need more information about Snap!, read my complete guide for Iran travel tips.
There are buses from Tehran to Kashan every half an hour, so you don’t have to book in advance. For more leg space, make sure you get on a VIP bus. They are a little bit more expensive, yet super affordable. The bus takes about 3 hours.
Where to stay in Kashan
Kooshk E Honar
Kooshk E Honar is a small, personal guest house with private rooms and shared dorms. There is a little café at the guest house, run by a sweet, young couple that serves breakfast, but you can get lunch and dinner there too. The guest house is walking distance from the historical houses and other tourist attractions in Kashan.
Book your stay at Koosh E Honar here
Hostel Green House
Hostel Green House was recommended to me by other travelers that loved the atmosphere. The owner, Ali, was super friendly and helped out with everything they needed and the hostel was situated within walking distance from the historical houses.
Book your stay with Hostel Green House here
Pro tip! I suggest you book your desert tour for day 5 as soon as you arrive at the guest house so you secure a spot. I just asked the guest house owner which made a couple of phone calls and booked me in. Feel free to change around day 4 and 5 if that assures you on a desert tour.
Lunch
If you stay at Kooshk Honar I suggest you have a quick lunch there, if not, ask at your guesthouse where they recommend you have nice local food to a reasonable price.
Kashan sightseeing
With half a day in Kashan, I Suggest you visit Agha Bozorg Mosque first. This is an incredibly beautiful mosque and without a doubt one of the most underrated landmarks in Asia. Women must wear a chador to enter, but you will get one on the way in, free of charge.
The old woman that was handing them out when I visited, helped me put on the chador perfectly, and helped me take it off again without losing my headscarf in the act.
This is without a doubt one of the greatest sights in Kashan! Verses of the Quran are inscribed in tiles and mosaics throughout the mosque.
After visiting the mosque, spend some time getting lost in the streets if you have time before dark.
Then head to the bazaar. The old caravanserai inside the bazaar is one of the most astounding in Iran. Old dusty, luxury carpets have been sold there back to Qajars times up until today. It is not as huge a bazaar as the one in Tehran, but still, it’s worth spending time there. I found it somewhat calmer.
Dinner
Ask at the guest house where their favorite restaurant is and try something new.
Day 4: Fin Garden and Kashan historical houses
Fin Garden
Start the day with early breakfast and go to Fin Garden. You can either book a private driver by asking at your guesthouse or you can book a Snap!
The Fin Garden is a green breeze in the middle of the desert. The oldest surviving garden in Iran. With beautifully ornated buildings surrounding the lush, greenery crisscrossed with a water system creating turquoise lanes spotted with fountains. The sound of the running water and the birds singing makes it hard to believe you are in the middle of desert land in central Iran.
Visit the Historical Houses
After exploring Fin Garden, head to the historical houses. They are all clustered together, so your driver will know where to drop you off.
You can get a ticket that gives you entry to Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse, Abbasi House, and Tabatabaei House and it’s worth it! The three sights are truly mesmerizing. My favorite is the bathhouse. So incredibly colorful and the rooftop is pretty cool too!
I suggest you have lunch or dinner at the restaurant at Abbasi House. It’s a bit expensive for being Iran, but worth it considering where you are.
There are also other restaurants around the historical houses. I was recommended one on the other side of the square from Tabatabaei House, but it was closed when I went there.
Day 5: Maranjab desert tour and Salt Lake
Have breakfast before pick up for the desert tour. The driver will take you to different places in the desert. There is an old caravanserai that used to house travelers on the old desert trade road all the way back to the 17th century. It is still today possible to sleep there, though it’s far from luxury.
The highlight with the day is the Salt Lake, a huge plain in the middle of the desert. The perfect place for creative photographing. Then there is the sunset. There is nothing like a desert sunset when the shadows melt with the golden sand and the sunset colors the horizon in pastel colors.
When you get back after sunset, look for a nice place for dinner. My suggestion is to get a private driver for the next day, as Abyaneh village is impossible to get to by public transport. Ask at your guesthouse to organize a driver that takes you to Abyaneh on the way to Isfahan. Book your hotel there in advance so you get dropped off at the right place.
Day 6: Abyaneh and Isfahan
Abyaneh
Get up early for breakfast before leaving for Abyaneh. This is one of the oldest villages in Iran dating back 2500 years. It has become a popular day trip for tourists as the villagers still hang on to their old customs, clothing, and language from before Islamic times.
Abyaneh is also called the Red Village as the clay used to build the houses contains a large amount of iron oxides.
After a couple of hours walking around the village and seeing the main sights, including the viewpoint of the village, you can either have lunch there or continue to Isfahan and have your lunch there.
There is a cost to enter Abyaneh which goes to maintaining the village, but it is a good thing to consider having lunch there to leave the villagers some income besides this.
Read more about responsible tourism here
Isfahan
Continue the journey to Isfahan. The drive takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Once you get to your guesthouse, make sure you book your bus and accommodation in Garmeh including a desert tour the day after you arrive (if you haven’t already). Since 10 days in Iran is quite tight on time, it would be disastrous if they were fully booked the days you planned to go!
Where to stay in Isfahan
Anar Guesthouse
Anar Guesthouse is an awesome place to stay if you are looking for friendliness and a place to feel at home away from home. It is run by two sisters, and one of them even run a Persian Cooking Class you should attend if you would like to learn how to create amazing Persian food!
They have both dorms and private rooms, WiFi and a delicious breakfast included.
Book your stay with Anar Guest House here
Sightseeing in Isfahan
Whether you choose to have lunch before you get to Isfahan or not, you should spend the evening walking around the Armenian quarter. The one in Isfahan is one of the largest Armenian quarters in the world. Make sure you don’t miss the Vank Cathedral.
After dark, go see the Si O Se Pol Bridge and the Khaju Bridge. The latter is a unique experience at night when men gather under the bridge to sing and dance, mainly on Fridays. Have some street food and tea while you watch the spectacle. Or if you are a guy, why not join them?
Day 7: Sightseeing in Isfahan
Have an early breakfast, as today is going to be full of spectacular sights! Don’t forget to have your camera fully loaded with enough space on your memory card because you are about to spend the day in one of Iran’s most beautiful cities!
A 10 days Iran itinerary won’t give you as much time in Isfahan as the city really deserves, but luckily a lot of the main attractions are all centered around one square. The Naqsh-e Jahan Square.
This is one of the largest squares in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With two of the most important mosques sitting on one side each, the Sheik Lotfollah Mosque and the Shah Mosque there is no doubt you have to go there.
On the square, you also find Ali Qapu Palace, with its beautifully painted and carved interior. The palace’s terrace also has one of the best views of the square.
For lunch, head to Azadegan Teahouse, which is popular both with the locals and tourists. They serve traditional dishes and could make up vegan options too. But the main attraction isn’t the food, it’s all the antiques that decorate the walls and hang from the ceiling. A truly unique place.
After lunch, walk through the bazaar which has its main entrance on the opposite side of Shah Mosque. The bazaar leads you to Isfahan’s biggest mosque, the Jameh Mosque, which means “main mosque”. It’s not hard to understand why. It’s huge and absolutely mesmerizing.
The rest of the day you can choose to walk back through the bazaar and hang out at the square, or you can take a Snap! to the Jewish quarter and have your dinner there.
Day 8: Travel to Garmeh
When I was there, there was only one bus to Garmeh from Isfahan and it left at 13:00. In fact, the bus doesn’t go to Garmeh at all, but to Khur. You will get off a bit before continuing by taxi to Garmeh, which takes approximately 20 minutes. Just let the bus driver know you are going to Garmeh and he will tell you where to get off.
There were no taxis waiting when I got off the bus, so the driver made someone on the street call a taxi for me and two Chinese guys that were going there too.
You will get to Garmeh for dinner if you take the bus. As it is a good 7+ hours travel by bus and taxi, I recommend you take a private car and leave early in the morning. The drive will be much shorter. This way you get to explore the little oasis of Garmeh which is totally worth it!
Where to stay in Garmeh
Ateshooni Guesthouse
This is the only place to stay in the oasis and they have higher prices than elsewhere in Iran but it includes all meals, which makes it not so bad after all. If you haven’t already booked your night bus back to Tehran, ask them to do it as soon as you get there. It can also be an idea to book your guesthouse in Tehran if you are not going to the airport on the same day.
You can book your stay with Ateshooni Guesthouse directly on their website
Day 9: Desert tour and night bus to Tehran
The desert tour is with Maziar, the owner of Ateshooni Guesthouse. He is a great guy that will show you incredible sites in the desert including a salt river. He heats up wonderful food over a fire in the middle of the desert. He can make both vegan and vegetarian food, just let him know in advance.
You’ll enjoy a memorable sunset and millions of stars once it gets dark. After a chat around the fire and lots of cups of tea, the journey goes back to the guesthouse.
You’ll have time for dinner before the night bus goes back to Tehran.
Day 10: Sightseeing in Tehran
If you have time for sightseeing the last day, points of interest are the Azadi Tower, Tabi’at Bridge, and Imamzadeh Saleh Mosque. There are also plenty of nice tea houses in Tehran that you should enjoy to round off your Iran itinerary.
Make sure you have enough time to get to the airport as it can take time to get out of the city. It can be a good idea to drive 1,5-2 hours before you have to be at the airport.
READ: Countries off the beaten path you should not miss!
Reflections after 10 days in Iran
I hope you enjoyed this 10 days Iran itinerary. Though it is not enough with 10 days in Iran, you will get a good feel for some of the best places and not to mention the super friendly people.
Make sure you respect the laws and customs of Iran and especially the locals. They will most likely give you everything they can, so make sure you show appreciation and give back if you can.
In case you missed it, make sure you read this post before you go: Iran travel tips: All you need to know before you travel to Iran
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What a wonderful post! I always hear nothing but the most positive of things about Iran from the people to the food, from the culture to the landscape. It’s a place I can’t wait to visit and this post has given me some great ideas for when I do. Thank you!
Thank you! I hope the circumstances make it possible to travel soon so you can visit Iran!:)
This is a wonderful guide! Those mountain shots are just incredible. I would love to plan a trip to Iran in the near future.
Thank you! I really hope it will be possible to visit Iran pretty soon so you can visit. I want to go back there too!
Great travel itinerary! I would be interested in visiting to immerse myself in the culture.
Thank you! Oh, you really should as soon as travel opens up again in the world!