woman tourist in iran

Solo Female Travel in Iran: how to travel to Iran as a woman

This post is all about travelling to Iran as a woman. Is solo female travel in Iran safe? What should I wear as a woman travelling to Iran? What else should I know before I go.

Traveling to Iran as a woman is perfectly safe, but does require some preparation. This post with tips and advice is based on my own experience traveling in Iran as a solo female traveler. I travelled for one month throughout the country including some off the beaten path destinations using public transport.

From the cherry blossoms in the Alamut valley , to the green hills of Iranian Kurdistan , the stepped village of Masuleh , the Grand bazaar in Tehran , traditional houses in Kashan , the desert in Yazd and the beautiful cities of Shiraz ,  Isfahan , Tabriz and Qazvin . I even visited religious Qom .

The truth about travelling to Iran as a woman

After my visit to Iran one of the most frequent questions I got is whether it was safe for me to travel to Iran as a woman. My short answer would be yes and i would recommend Iran to anyone considering it.

Iran is one of the safest countries in the Middle east and Iranians are among the friendliest people I have met in my travel history

However, that said I wished there were some things I knew before as a solo female traveller in Iran. The internet seems to go from the extreme positive, claiming there are no problems at all, to the extreme negative, thinking any women must be mad for even thinking about it.

Neither advice is very useful if you plan your travels to Iran as a woman. Solo female travel in Iran is a great experience, but it requires some homework before you go. The following advice for women travelling to Iran will prepare you for your trip, whether you travel alone, with friends or with your partner.

1. What to wear as a woman travelling to Iran

What is the hijab.

Iran is one of the few countries in the world where the hijab is mandatory. Hijab basically means to adhere to the Islamic dress code and in practice there is quite some flexibility in the interpretation of what this entails.

So what does this mean for woman traveling to Iran and what should you wear? Iranian law stipulates that women should cover their hair, legs and arms. I personally haven’t seen the morality police, but I heard they are still around.

At the one hand, they will not give tourists a hard time, but on the other hand it is better to be on the safe side, especially if it comes to prevent sexual harrasment that I will discuss later.

Locals will often help you and approach you in a friendly way if your dress code is not what it should be, for example if your headscarf is not covering your chest enough.

What is a chador?

So what do women in Iran wear? Here are some useful terms that you may hear or see when you are traveling in Iran as a woman.

The chador is an Iranian invention and consists of a full body length fabric (often black) tossed over the women’s head that only leaves the face open.

A chador is not mandatory in Iran. At certain shrines and mosques you must wear them, but then they are provided to you as a lot of Iranian women themselves do not use a chador throughout the day.

Wearing a chador requires some practice and it looks easier than it is. Luckily, they will forgive you as a tourist for your clumsy fight with all the fabric and gravity pulling it down.

What is the niqab?

The niqab is the Arabian dress that consists of a black cloak leaving only the eyes open. This is not at all mandatory in Iran and is in fact extremely rare. I have not seen anyone in Iran wearing the niqab.

On the contrary, most women in Iran are very creative with the enforced dress code and continuosly look for the boundaries of what is allowed.

The hijab in practice

The young women know how to dress well and look surprisingly sexy. The mandatory manteau, a jacket that falls to the knees and covers your butt has become a true fashion accesoire, just like the head scarves that are draped to reveal as much hair as is allowed. Jeans or leggings can be as tight as possible. Layers of make-up applied to perfection provide the finishing touch.

And then, under all this, you’d expect some fancy high heel sandals, but no, what you will find are a pair of sporty sneakers. Honestly, this aspect of Iranian fashion remained a mystery to me.

Anyways, I felt pretty underdressed in my oversized backpackers clothes that i brought with me. Except for my comfy sneakers maybe. Below are some tips for you as a woman travelling to Iran

Dress code for women travelling to Iran

1. Buy one shawl that you can use as a headscarf in a colour that can fit with most of your clothes. Iran is a great place to buy them.

My suggestion is to bring one for when you arrive and do some shopping along the way. The headscarf can and should also be used to cover part of your chest.

2. Long sleeves and long pants are the way to go . It doesn’t need to be baggy as long as it does not reveal too much of your bottom.

Your upper dress should preferably come all the way to your knees so tunics are perfect to bring along. You can also buy a manteau when you are in Iran.

3. Opt for darker colours . Bright colours are still rare and limited to the more liberal cities. However, it doesn’t need to be all black either.

2. Solo female travel in Iran is rare

Most women in Iran rarely go out on their own, let alone travel to foreign countries. Preferably they go with their husbands, fathers or brothers, but at least with friends or family. For iranians going together is just much more fun. Iranian’s favourite pasttime is going for a picknick with the entire family. The more, the merrier.

People will be curious why you are travelling alone. Iranians are polite, but they find it strange and they might pity you. This poor girl, all alone, no family, no friends. In the worst case people might be suspicious and think there must be something wrong.

This can result in families adopting you or people judging your behavior and approaching you with a mix of curiosity and condescension. One of the first Farsi words I learned was tanha (alone), because people kept repeating it to me in complete surprise.

Whatever people will think of you they always remain friendly and helpful and have good intentions. Don’t be surprised if they invite you to one of the picknick parties you come across.

3. Sexual harassment in Iran

It is likely that during your trip you will be faced with sexual harassment at some point. Most men in Iran will treat you with respect, but some see the lone white female as an opportunity.

The fact that women in Iran rarely travel alone combined with the stereotype perpetuated by the media that Western woman are more loose motivates some men to give it at least a try.

Luckily I never had an outright negative experience, except for some indecent proposals that were quite direct and easily rejected.

One guy on the street asked me if I wanted to sleep with him that night. I told him no to which he replied. Ok, no problem, welcome to Iran anyways, have a good time in my country.

Unfortunately I read stories of other solo female travellers in Iran that had more troublesome experiences. My advice below are some guidelines that I actually follow in most countries when i travel alone as a woman.

Tips to prevent sexual harassment in Iran

1. Try to avoid walking alone at night . I always make sure that I am back in my hostel once it is dark, unless I am with other people that I can trust or I am absolutely sure it is a safe neighbourhood where there would still be other people out and about as well.

This includes planning your travels in a way that you don’t arrive in a new place after dark. If you do happen to find yourself arriving somewhere at night, try to group with other travellers or ask locals to help you get a taxi.

2. Dress modestly. Following the dress code in Iran is not only mandatory, but will also help in preventing sexual harassment. Wearing clothes that are too tight or reveal too much flesh might for some men confirm the stereotypes about western women.

Iranian women might be constantly looking for the boundaries of what is allowed, but as a foreign women travelling to Iran it is better to be safe than sorry.

3. Don’t accept invitations of single men . Iran’s hospitality is central to Iranian culture in the concept of taarouf . You will get constant invitations to people’s homes and you will even find people refusing your payment for their services.

Part of taarouf is also that is is unpolite to immediately accept all these offers. Most taxi drivers do expect you to pay eventually, but the overload of hospitality is more tricky. For a foreigner it is hard to distinguish between the genuine invitation or politeness.

No matter how friendly, be on your guard when a single men invites you to his home. It is not appropriate in Iranian culture for men to invite a single lady and your acceptation might confirm his thoughts that western woman are in for more.

4. Do not go with a man alone to secluded areas . They might want to show you their shop or guide you to show you something special. It is better to stay around other people and politely decline.

5. Stay friendly, but keep a distance in your interaction with man . Being too friendly can be misinterpreted and can result in uncomfortable situations. Rather than giving a handshake for example, it is better to place your hand over your heart.

Also don’t be offended if a man does not shake your hand. It is in fact, a sign of respect in Iranian culture and he might greet you as well by placing his hand over his heart.

6. Use your instinct . If it doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t. If you don’t like a situation then be polite, but firm. Let the person know that his attention is unwanted and the situation makes you uncomfortable.

7. Ask for help, preferably from other women . If you feel a man is following you or keeps harassing you, don’t hesitate to ask for help from people around you. Often this will scare the person away.

4. Iran’s gender segregation in public

Gender segregation still dominates public life in Iran, but don’t be fooled by the seemingly conservative behaviour in public.

Iranians are experts in bending the rules and doing what they want while appearing to follow them. Iranian’s inventiveness and creative solutions to the restrictions put upon them kept surprising me.

Iran’s public gender segregation comes along with a complex set of unwritten rules that are hard to decipher as a foreign women travelling in Iran. Here are some that I figured out

The complex rules on gender segregation

1. In city buses the back is for women , but you need to pay in the front. You can get in the back and give the money to one of the men that will pay for you or enter in the front to pay and then climb under the barrier to the women’s section.

In practice I saw some women just walk to the back of the mens section and stand or sit near the barrier, especially when the womens section was more crowded.

2. In long distance buses men and women that are unrelated to each other can not sit next to each other . As buses fill up the puzzle gets more complex and results in a lot of shuffling around, untill the last seat is left. This can only be filled by someone of the same gender. At the next stop the game begins again.

3. The metro has its own women carriages . This is the place where women also sell female products from sexy lingerie to sanitary pads, which kind of makes me wonder what they sell in the men’s carriages.

4. Tea houses are mostly reserved for men . Solo female travellers entering them are frowned upon. This is a pity as they also serve some of the best dizi .

Luckily, some of the more luxury tea houses in the more touristic places like Esfahan, Shiraz and Yazd also serve to families and are women friendly. If you see only men in a restaurant or cafe, better to look further for a place with families.

5. Mosques and shrines have a women’s entrance where they will give you a chador to wear. Often these are white with a flower pattern and you need to give them back when you leave.

5. In shared taxi’s, called savari’s all these rules dont seem to apply and women and men that have never met before almost sit on top of each other in an effort to put as much people as possible inside.

5. The biggest danger in Iran is crossing the road

As a woman travelling to Iran it might surprise you to hear that the morality police or sexual harassment is in fact not the biggest danger you will face, neither is terrorism or islamic fundamentalists.

Iran has the highest number of road accidents in the world. The scariest thing I have done in Iran was crossing the road in Tehran and other big cities. The ongoing stream of cars look like an impossible hurdle.

Again, people are friendly. Look out for others trying to cross the road and they will help you out for sure.

6. Solo female travel in Iran is rewarding

Let me end with a positive note that solo female travel in Iran was a memorable experience. Like I said before, use your instinct, and that works the other way around as well.

Not all men in Iran are sexual predators. If something feels good and trustworthy it might as well be.

Do take up some of the invitations if they are genuine and they come from families or young couples. Which brings me to my last advice. Bring some pictures from your family to show to people. They will be curious about it and it will give you something to keep the conversation going.

Also bring some small gifts from your homecountry, like key chains or postcards, to hand out to those that help you along the way or invite you into their homes.

The men below gave me one of the best cookies I ever had in my life. Maybe the biggest danger in travelling alone to Iran is gaining weight from all the delicious food that people will share with you. Read more about Iran’s cuisine in my Persian food guide .

7. Iran should be on your bucketlist

The food, the people, the beautiful architecture, the mountains. Do you need more reasons for travelling to Iran as a woman? Read some of my posts on Iran’s beautiful cities such as Isfahan , Shiraz , Yazd , Tabriz and Qazvin . If you love nature you can check my posts on Masuleh , Alamut valley or Iran’s Kurdistan.

8. Solo Female travel in Iran is safe

Once more I want to conclude and emphasize that solo female travel in Iran is safe, if you do your homework. And if your still not convinced that travelling to Iran as a woman is not dangerous, read some other experiences of solo female travellers in Iran at Heart my backpack , Probe Around the Globe , Kami and the rest of the world and The Globetrotting Detective .

If you speak german, the books of Bruni Prasske are also a good read for solo female travellers that plan to go to Iran.

Update 2023 : A wave of protests erupted throughout Iran in 2022 and 2023. Although this is not a reason to avoid Iran, it is good to know that these protests can become violent. Due to the political situation, it is even more important to be aware of your surroundings. Avoid political demonstrations, expressing strong political opinions and respect the local rules of law. As a foreigner it is better to be safe than sorry. 

Planning solo female travel in Iran

While I arranged everything on the spot I can understand if you would like to plan things ahead of your trip. especially if you are travelling as a woman to Iran. Unfortunately, because of the sanctions most regular sites like booking and Airbnb can not book things in Iran.

1stQuest are one of the few companies where you can plan most of your trip to Iran beforehand. They can book hotels online , arrange airport pick ups , domestic flight tickets and bus tickets .

For a list of solo female travel approved hostels I can recommend my post with the best hostels in Iran .

Disclaimer : This post about solo female travel in Iran contains affiliate links. If you buy any service through any of my links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you. These earnings help me to keep Backpack Adventures alive! Thanks for your support!

21 thoughts on “Solo Female Travel in Iran: how to travel to Iran as a woman”

This was so informative, thanks for sharing! I’ve had Iran on my list for years, I’m so curious about the culture, the landscape & the traditions, etc. These types of posts keep me wanting to explore 🙂

It was such an interesting read. Your insight into the culture taught me a lot about a place I haven’t heard much about and the tips are so useful. I try to accept every culture in the countries I visit but it is hard for me to accept the segregation and how women are treated (even if it is mainly in public spaces). I can’t accept the fact the women need to be separated from the men or to cover their bodies completely. In terms of safety, I definitely agree that gaining a lot of pounds might be the real danger. Persian food is delicious!

Very sound advice! We’ve also found that women in the Middle East take fashion seriously 🙂 P.S. All these old mosques look beautiful! The tile!!

Ive always wanted to travel to Iran but it would be as a family…. how does public transport work for families?

If you are a family you might consider using taxi’s for shorter distances, the prices might not differ too much, otherwise it works fine. If man and women are related to each other they can sit next to each other as well. I have met others that travelled as a family, with young children even and people seem to be even more friendly and helpful.

Where did you stay in Tehran? Can you recommend hotels that you felt were safe and clean?

I stayed in Tehran hostel. I am not sure the hostel is still open. In general I felt very safe as a solo female traveller in the hostels where I stayed.

Wow this is such an engaging post. I love your detail and how you open up our eyes to travelling somewhere that the media shine a shadow over. Thank you. Kx

May I ask what country you’re from? Are you American? I just read online Americans can’t travel alone and need a guide. Can you confirm or deny this?

I have never considered this as a place to visit but your post was very informative and well written. I enjoyed learning about this area #wbps

Great post with very important information. I really would like to go there. Photos are great too.

it was nice to read your article. Thanks for sharing and keep traveling around

It is very good that you can travel to Iran as a single woman

Thank you for sharing information and experiences

Hello, this was amazing to read as I’m wanting to travel to Iran, I know a lot of people that I’ve been talking to for a while online and they’ve been very respectful and caring towards me and love showing me around on video call, also taught me some Persian language, but I was just wanting to know if I would be aloud to go over there solo, as. From the UK, thank you xx

Due to COVID there are more strict entry requirements at the moment. You can check the current situation for UK nationals here https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iran/

We are very happy that you were satisfied with your trip to Iran.

THANK YOU! Cannot wait to travel to this incredible country.

I am glad you enjoyed your travel to Iran and I hope to read more abut your travel in this country.

Hi, this is a lovely read. I would love to know how did you manage travel and sightseeing- are there any tour operators/travel agencies that you recommend?

I travelled independently and arranged everything myself. Therefore i have no personal experience with any tour operator

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Solo Female Travel Iran: 11 Tips For Traveling To Iran As A Woman Alone

This post contains affiliate links to trusted partners. If you purchase through these links, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

By Agnes Simigh. This solo female travel Iran guide contains affiliate links to trusted partners!

Considering traveling to Iran as a woman alone ?

It’s great that you’ve decided to travel to Iran, despite it being a country with one of the worst reputations in the media.

Likely, you’ve had some serious discussions with your family before the trip to convince them that everything will be fine.

Because here’s the truth about Iran tourism:

Iran is safe and is also one of the most rewarding travel destinations.

Moreover, Iran is a country where you feel special as a solo female traveler because you’ll receive so much kindness from locals who want to ensure you return home with pleasant memories.

But when you enter the Islamic Republic, you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons of solo travel . There are some important considerations to keep in mind as a woman if you want to avoid inconveniences or even punishments.

Table of Contents

Free Solo Female Travel E-Course  

Now, before we dive into our  solo female travel Iran guide, I invite you to grab a seat in the  free Savvy Solo Traveler E-Course .

The six-day e-course is designed to help you feel confident about booking your first solo trip and exploring the world alone.

Lessons include:

• Common solo travel fears and how to overcome them
• How to choose your perfect solo trip
• How to tell loved ones you’re hitting the road solo
• Mentally preparing for your solo journey without losing your mind
• Essential steps for staying safe on a solo trip
• How to take amazing solo selfies

Once you’ve grabbed your seat, keep reading to learn some important things to know before visiting Iran — one of the top places for solo travel in the Middle East !

11 Tips For Traveling To Iran As A Woman Alone

Living in Iran as a woman — or even a man — comes with some very specific rules.

And while these rules are sometimes laxer for visitors, this is not always the case. Plus, as a visitor to another country, it is also smart to do as the locals do and follow the local laws. This is very important to understand if you want to travel solo successfully .

1. You must follow the compulsory dress code as a solo female traveler

You may have been to other countries in the Middle East and saw local women wearing chador or hijab while foreigners were still moving around freely in their Western clothes.

This is not the case in Iran.

Foreign women must follow the rules as soon as they land in Iran. The only place you can remove your headscarf is in your hotel room. 

But it is a misbelief that women must wear a black full-body chador. You will see that Iranian women like colors. Only those from conservative, religious families cover themselves in black chador from head to toe, but it is not the norm.

According to Islamic law, women must cover their whole body except:

• The wrists to the fingertips, 

• The ankles to the toes and, 

• The face. 

But this is not exactly how most Iranian women dress up.

In practice, they do not fully comply with the Islamic dress code. They wear trousers and manteau (tunic) that let their ankles and wrists be seen.

The rules have not changed, but the control is less severe today.

It seems complicated at first to understand what you can wear as a solo female traveler in Iran. Officially, women should not wear any tight dresses that reveal their shapes.

Still, young Iranian ladies wear skinny jeans with a manteau of mid-thigh length. Mid-thigh is very important. If the shirt only covers your bottom, it is not enough. The shirt must have long sleeves or end just a little bit above the wrist.

Additionally, your shoes can be open, and you can wear sandals.

Women must cover their hair with a scarf; however, in practice, women let their hair be well seen under the scarf. The point is to cover some parts of the hair.

But there is no rule about the color of the dress and scarf. Many Iranian ladies wear pink, red, blue, and yellow outfits and want to look pretty. As a female foreign traveler, you can easily feel underdressed next to them. 

If you hesitate to wear make-up in a rigorous Islamic country, then you may be surprised that Iranian women hardly leave their homes without it. Since they must cover most of their body, for many women this is the way to express their femininity. 

Guidance Patrol — also known as the Morality Police or the Fashion Police — randomly turns up at public places to check if women comply with the dressing rules. Most of the time, they are less strict with foreigners, but it is better to follow the rules.

Those who ignore the dressing rules can quickly end up at the police station or even be imprisoned if it is not their first offense.

One more thing:

Even if you think you are alone, please do not remove your scarf. Controls can happen anywhere, even if you are hiking in the mountains. 

2. What to pack for your trip as a solo female traveler to Iran

As mentioned before, packing appropriate clothes is the most important issue for a solo female traveler in Iran.

Recommendation:

– Bring a few pairs of trousers as you cannot wear skirts in Iran. If you travel during summer, try to take summer trousers made with light material because the temperature can exceed 40°C (104°F) in the desert areas. Skinny jeans are absolutely fine if you wear a long shirt or “manteau” that reaches your mid-thigh.

– Bring long blouses, shirts, or cardigans. You can wear a regular small T-shirt with a long cardigan on the top. 

– The manteau is very practical but not something a Western female traveler typically has in her wardrobe. Do not make a big deal of the cloth. It is also okay to have just one for the first few days and then head to some shopping mall or bazaar to buy more. A thicker manteaux is practical in the wintertime, but a shirt with a cardigan is more comfortable during summer.

– Have a couple of scarves with you. If you want to look pretty, bring scarves that match the color of your dress. These can be any color.

– The rest depends on when and which part of Iran you visit. It gets scorching hot between April and October in the center and south of the country.  

3. Tips about safety in Iran as a solo female traveler

Iran is a safe country and there are many reasons to visit Iran . In fact, you will likely feel as secure walking around at night as you do in many other European cities.

Of course, as with anywhere, take care of your belongings and know how to avoid pickpockets .

This being said, crimes committed against foreign travelers are rare.

In fact, you’ll often see women and children traveling on long-distance night buses, which can help you feel at ease.

Moreover, bus drivers typically offer female foreign travelers to sit in front. If there is no free seat there, they have you sit next to another female passenger.

Basically, they do their best to make you feel completely safe during the journey.

4. You can smoke but cannot drink alcohol or dance

Men and women who are 18 years or older can smoke publicly.

You’ll see a few women smoking in cafés and on the streets, but many of them smoke secretly. Shisha has also become popular in recent years among young men and women.

Alcohol is strictly forbidden in Iran. If you were thinking about bringing some with you in your suitcase, forget it because they check your luggage upon arrival.

Additionally, there is not much nightlife in Iran as bars and discos were closed after the Islamic Revolution in 1979 . Plus, women are forbidden to dance in public in front of men as this may raise their sexual interest.

This all being said, young Iranians often break the rules and participate in mixed-gender private parties where they consume alcohol. If you make locals friends, they may invite you, but you should know that it is illegal.

5. Do not photograph government buildings or sensitive areas

Taking photos of popular tourist attractions in Iran like the Milad Tower or the Golestan Palace — both located in Tehran — is not a problem; however, it is strictly forbidden to take photos of local government buildings.

This is something to be taken extremely seriously, as possible punishments include lashings or imprisonment.

Also, do not take pictures near border areas or nuclear stations. The problem is that many times you cannot be aware that it is a sensitive area. Especially around the borders, it is better not to take any photos.

6. Use a VPN to get access to social media and websites 

You cannot use Viber, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, Tiktok, or Tinder in Iran.

Additionally, the Iranian government blocks many popular websites like BBC, Fox News, CBS News, CNN, and NBC.

But there is a way to get around it, as most Iranians do. You need to download the VPN (Virtual Private Network) like ZenMate to access anything blocked by the regime.

The main problem for foreign tourists is when the host country restricts access to social networks and sites for users located in Iran.

For instance, PayPal and Tinder — as well as some online stores like Amazon — are blocked through the IP address of Iran. A VPN does not help you in this case.

7. Do not drive a car in Iran, but instead use public transport

Women have long been allowed to drive a car, and there is nothing unusual about that.

But even if in other countries it works well, I would not recommend it due to the crazy traffic in Iran.

Iranians are lovely and friendly, but turn crazy when they get behind the wheel.

Women have a particular place to sit at the back of local buses, and the Tehran metro has women-only compartments. You can even take a taxi with a female driver. It means you can completely feel safe in Iran.

Taxis usually depart when they are full unless you pay for the missing persons or for the whole taxi. Then, you do not need to wait. If you want to have a private ride, just say darbast .

There are frequent bus connections between the big cities in Iran at any time of the day. Buses are cheap, and you even have the option to take a VIP bus for a slightly higher price. VIP buses with their huge armchairs are incredibly comfortable.

If you want to travel by car to be more flexible than rent one with a driver. 

8. Know what to do if you get invited into a local home

Iranian hospitality is unparalleled, and the locals are some of the friendliest people on earth.

As a solo female traveler, you attract even more attention and care from the locals, and they’ll very likely invite you into their homes.

There is nothing to be worried about here, and accepting the invitation will likely lead to a great opportunity to see the Iranian way of life.

But you should know about Iranian ritual politeness — aka the taarof .

As a stranger, you cannot possibly understand how it truly works because what they say is not what they mean.

But it is the local etiquette. For instance:

If they invite you for dinner, it may be just out of politeness, but you should not say yes. But if they insist that the offer is genuine and there is no reason to be worried, you can accept it.

Another common situation is when the taxi driver refuses to take money from you at the end of your ride. But do not make the mistake of not paying him. It is just taroof!

9. Bring enough cash and change money at the official money exchanger

Unfortunately, you have to walk around with a lot of cash in Iran as international credit cards do not work here due to the international sanctions. Only a few shops accept credit cards from people who have dual citizenship.

Luckily, it is no problem to exchange Euros, US Dollars, British Pounds, and other types of currency. Note that people will approach you in the street and offer to change your money, but it is safer to go to an official money exchange.

The Iranian currency, the Rial, has lost a lot in value lately due to international sanctions, which means that Iran is very cheap to travel to at the moment.

10. How to behave with local men

In Iran, there are strict rules about relations between men and women. Officially, women can only kiss and shake hands with their father, brother, uncle, grandfather, husband, newphew, and father-in-law. Any other physical contact between men and women is prohibited.

But, things have changed a bit in the last decades. Now women also shake hands sometimes with men, so you can too.

Locals are also more lenient with foreigners.

Some unmarried couples walk hand in hand, but they are still not allowed to hug and kiss each other. 

Sexual relationships outside marriage are punishable. 

11. Do not give a thumbs up in Iran

You should avoid giving a thumbs up in Iran, as it has another meaning here. You may automatically want to express that something was great by giving a thumbs up, but in Iran, it means the same as giving the middle finger in the West.

The same goes for hitchhiking; the correct way is to shake your hand for the passing cars.

Despite some restrictions, Iran is one of the best places to travel because it has so much to offer.

From the desert to snow-covered mountains and coastline, it has stunning landscapes.

Moreover, you can stroll around in bazaars, visit royal palaces, and spend time at jaw-dropping blue-tiled mosques, as well.

And if you keep the above tips in mind as a solo female traveler, you will have a wonderful time.

Traveling To Iran As An American

Can an American travel to Iran?

At the time of writing, it is legal for Americans to travel to Iran.

Note that by law Americans do need to have a private guide with them throughout their Iran trip or book a group tour. You can view some Intrepid Travel tour options here as well as the company’s Women’s Expeditions here , which are geared toward women and may be appealing for female travelers.

You can visit the U.S. Department Of State website for the most up-to-date inforamtion here .

What tips would you add to this guide on traveling to Iran as a woman alone?

Featured solo female travel in Iran image via Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

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About Agnes Simigh

Agnes Simigh is a passionate tour guide and travel writer who is curious to discover places that seldom catch the attention of the media or that are misrepresented. Her goal is to inspire you to choose off-the-beaten-track destinations by sharing objective and detailed information. She believes that it is mainly the lack of “intel” that keeps us away from incredible places, and that just shouldn’t be the case. You can read her stories on her travel blog, Voices of Guides .

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Interesting, but you kinda lost me at the “slashing” part. Seeing countries that scared me as a kid (Russia, Iran, Israel) is something I might try someday. Did you actually go yourself?

@Lawrence: The woman who wrote the guest post went there! Her name is at the top and you can see her bio at the bottom. She also took some of the photos in the post (like the one of her doing the homestay).

Hi Jessie, We are more than happy that you found Iran as a safe destination for female travelers and you introduced this country on this useful blog. Hope to meet you in Iran again.

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IRAN , MIDDLE EAST · March 14, 2017 Last Updated on July 22, 2024

A GUIDE TO SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL IN IRAN

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Last summer I decided to travel solo to Iran. I took the flight from Istanbul to Shiraz, a city located in the South.

As soon as I got on the plane I was very scared. I didn’t know what to do or how to react. As we were landing every woman in the plane started covering their head so I just copied every single move a woman did. I used a scarf to cover my hair and that was enough. Later I discovered a lot of beautiful and colorful hijabs and bought several of them to cover my hair.

In this post I share my experiences traveling solo in Iran and also a guide to all the places you should add to your Iran itinerary.

PLANNING A TRIP TO IRAN

When I was planning my trip my family and friends thought I was crazy. It was my first time in such an exotic country and it was the first time I had to cover my whole body. I didn’t know how to prepare and there was not a lot of travel information available about travelling alone as a girl in Iran. But during my 13 days spent in Iran I did meet other women traveling alone.

Most of the people think Iran is not a safe place to travel and even confuse Iran with Iraq. From my point of view, having spent time in the country, Iran is the best option in the Middle East for a woman to travel alone. People will stare at you because they are curious and for them it is not common to see a girl from any other country travelling alone. But people are very kind and hospitable and don’t have bad intentions.

TRAVELING AROUND IRAN DURING RAMADAN

Iran is a Muslim country. During the month of Ramadan , Muslims fast during the day, say several prayers and then break their fast with a special evening meal. The dates for Ramadan are based on the Islamic lunar calendar and depend on the traditional sighting of the crescent moon by eye.

I traveled around Iran during Ramadan and it was quite an experience. Unfortunately I didn’t eat as many traditional dishes as I wanted, because during the day everything is closed and you are not allowed to eat or drink anything in public during the day. This can be tough because the temperature is extremely hot, but it is a good way to explore and understand even better the culture of the place you are visiting.

Traveling around Iran is safe and easy. You can always take a bus or taxi without a problem.

Buses provide a seat reservation and the driver will rearrange the passengers so that no woman sits next to an unknown man. So get ready to change your seat several times in a journey.

Accommodation in Iran is easy to find. I always booked a hotel or hostel before arriving at each destination. But nowadays Coach Surfing is becoming very popular and it is the best way to find accommodation with local hosts and discover nearby events.

HOW TO DRESS IN IRAN

How to dress is the most controversial part of solo female travel in Iran. You need to have you hair and body covered every time you are outside in the public even in the common areas of the hotel.

You have to cover your hair, arms and legs, but your feet can be bare. There were days when it was challenging to wear all these clothes when it was really hot outside, but still a great experience.

Try not to use tight clothes. You can wear any color it doesn’t need to always be black.

PLACES TO VISIT IN IRAN

Shiraz , the cultural capital of Iran and is known as the city of flowers. The city’s beautiful gardens are renowned worldwide and visitors always leave this city with beautiful memories. When in Shiraz, Persepolis is a must see site.

Persepolis was once the richest city on Earth and was founded more than two and a half thousand years ago. The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archeological site, which is also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

The best way to get there is to share a taxi or book a tour with your hotel. Not only tourists, but also locals plan to visit the famous ruins so it won’t be difficult to find company when going there.

I had the opportunity to spent two days with a Qashqai family. The Qashqai are a nomadic tribe in Iran of Turkic ethnic origins.

They mainly live around the city of Shiraz. For centuries, they have been renowned across Iran for their pile carpets and have always claimed a very specific identity.

The hotel where I stayed in Shiraz, Niayesh Boutique Hotel , helped me to contact the Qashqai family. It was an incredible experience to live with them. I played with the children, helped to cook dinner and slept overnight in a tent.

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Esfahan is one of the most beautiful and historical cities in the world.

The city has many marvels of Persian architecture and it is so beautiful that it has been nicknamed “Nimeh Jahan”, which means “half of the world”, saying that if you see Esfahan, you have already seen half of the beauties of the world.

The stunning mosques and palaces of Esfahan are among the most beautiful and interesting in the world. You can also walk along the several ancient bridges. However, as a result of a drought, there is usually no water in the river.

The Vank Cathedral is a popular destination. The interior is covered with fine paintings and gilded carvings.

Between Esfahan and Kashan, there is a town called Abyaneh . To get there I took a taxi from Esfahan.

Characterized by a peculiar reddish hue, the village is one of the oldest in Iran. The houses in Abyaneh are built of mud and straw are stepped into the hillside.

Its culture, traditions, costumes and dialect are unlike anywhere else in Iran. Women wear colorful headscarves.

As everywhere else in Iran, the people are wonderfully friendly and welcoming. My driver´s name is Dariush he was so kind by taking me there and showing me around. When in Esfahan or Kashan, contact him as I am sure he would love to take you around.

Finding the sites in Kashan is easy due to many dual language signs across the city.

Kashan is famous because of its historical houses. These houses are some 18th and 19th century buildings recently restored. There are even some that have been carefully converted to hotels where you can stay during your time in Kashan.

A great place to stay is Kamalolmolk Traditional Guest House . It is located in the heart of the city and the owner was so hospitable. Don’t forget to drink some rose water while you are there.

I finished my trip in Tehran . It is a big and chaotic city but it deserves at least a few days of your itinerary.

Getting around Tehran is not as easy as other cities. That is why I recommend you to stay in a well located hotel where you can walk everywhere or take the metro.

I stayed in Hotel Makazi one of the most popular hotels among tourists. They will help you with any information you need.

Some of the places you can’t miss in Tehran are the Azadi Tower , the National Museum of Iran , the Golestan Palace  and of course the Grand Bazaar . You can find almost anything in Bazar and it is the perfect place to buy some souvenirs.

We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Iran. If you have any questions about the destination or have your own travel tips to share please leave these in the comments below.

Want to share your own travel tips by guest writing for We Are Travel Girls? Please visit our Contribute page for guidelines and to submit your article.

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Read More About Solo Travel

• Top 5 Adventures For Solo Travelers
• Ultimate Tips For The First Time Solo Female Traveler
• 9 Tips For Solo Female Travelers

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Anonymous says

March 14, 2017 at 8:26 am

Hi there, i am planning a solo female trip to Iran and didnt know where to start or if I really safe. I feel a new level of confidence and motivation to visit now after reading about your experience. Your courage to explore unknown places, off the beaten path places is inspirational! Thank you for sharing your experience!

We Are Travel Girls says

March 14, 2017 at 8:54 am

Thank you so much for reading and commenting, glad that this post has helped and inspired you to visit Iran.

Alessia Ramponi says

May 17, 2017 at 12:41 am

Hello! Thank you very much. Feel free to contact me in case of any doubts.

March 28, 2018 at 4:51 am

Hi there , I’d like to say I lived in iran for nearly 1 year I loved it there beautiful simple life country and I might add I felt so safe and secure there than I do now.

Tessa Torrente says

March 14, 2017 at 3:15 pm

wow. Iran is low on my list for many reasons but this had made me really want to visit…

xo tessa http://travelwheretonext.com

March 14, 2017 at 5:04 pm

Hi Tessa! Glad you liked the post! Iran is getting higher and higher on my list too because of stories like this! X, Vanessa

Mckenzie says

March 15, 2017 at 5:30 am

I love your post! Iran has been on my list for a while now because I’ve taken Iranian history classes at university and it excites me to see solo women going there! Iran has such a rich history and culture and I can’t wait to go. Thanks for the inspiration!

March 15, 2017 at 7:12 am

Thank you much for reading and commenting McKenzie. Pleased to hear that you enjoyed this post and are planning your own trip to Iran. We loved this post from contributor Alessia, showing that women can travel solo in Iran! Becky

May 17, 2017 at 12:42 am

Thank you. I really hope you can travel to Iran soon, Im sure you will love it!

March 15, 2017 at 3:52 pm

I am glad to see that stereotype images on different countries are broken by stories like this. Thanks to Alessia for letting us know the rich history of Iran. More travel stories like this will help us to discover that the rich diversity of cultures can unite as humans.

March 16, 2017 at 12:17 am

Thank you for reading and commenting Nesa! We try to share stories, like Alessia’s to help show travellers that they can get away from the most popular destinations and visit countries rich in culture like Iran. Pleased to hear that you enjoyed this post. X, Becky

Martina Praxmarer says

March 17, 2017 at 7:18 pm

Thanks for the post. It is very inspiring. I am going to travel to Iran in only three weeks and will stay for 17 days. I dont know what to expact yet but I am really excited. Looking forward to the different culture and the religion.

March 18, 2017 at 1:38 am

Thanks so much for reading and commenting Martina. Excited to hear that you will also be visiting Iran, we really look forward to seeing your pictures. If you have any further information and tips to share about the country, we would love for you to submit an article or add more comments here for our readers. Thank you! X, Becky

March 20, 2017 at 7:52 pm

I plan to go to Iran this summer from Paris, where I live ! Thank you so much for sharing your journey. I feel better and know it is a good decision :)

March 21, 2017 at 12:19 am

Thanks for reading and commenting Fanny. Pleased to hear you enjoyed this post, have a wonderful time in Iran. XO, Becky

May 17, 2017 at 12:43 am

It is going to be one of the best decisions in your life. Enjoy <3

June 16, 2017 at 12:35 pm

Thank you for sharing this post. I have tried solo trips in Indo China countries. Been wanting to visit Iran since not many people are keen to go with me, I really wanna do a solo trip. This gives me some confidence in planning for a solo trip perhaps mid of October 2017.

June 17, 2017 at 7:07 pm

So pleased to hear that you enjoyed this post Eve and it has given you some confidence and inspiration for your own solo trip! XO, Becky

August 28, 2017 at 4:45 am

In case your plan in Iran is around 28Sept -5 Oct, Let’s meet up, lol.

August 19, 2017 at 9:16 am

thanks for your post.I hope to see you again in Iran

August 22, 2017 at 9:04 am

Thanks for reading Reza

August 28, 2017 at 4:43 am

I’m a woman traveling solo to Iran next month. (Eventhough my family and friends are trying to change my mind, lol) This blog is very informative and assure for the safety. Thank you very much :)

August 28, 2017 at 10:29 am

Thank you so much for reading Chii, pleased to hear that you find the blog informative for your travels! Becky x

August 28, 2017 at 12:48 pm

Iran IS Safe . as a travel activist i have seen many solo travelers especially the girls here . just some rules need to be considered. Besides this helpful article . i invite all travelers visit Qazvin and its beautiful valley(Alamut) .i would be more than happy to help anyone.

August 28, 2017 at 12:53 pm

Thank you for reading Amir and for you helpful comments

February 19, 2018 at 6:08 pm

As an iranian girl i can say iran is safe. There is wonderful places to see. Each part of Iran has unique culture then you will be familar with different culture.

March 8, 2018 at 3:58 pm

I am 40% Iranian and will be traveling there solo for the first time in June! I plan to explore and visit cities alone (I am not informing unmet family that I will be traveling, as this is very much a me, myself and I trip) and haven’t told many people here in the US that I’m doing this, either (probably to avoid their worrisome comments which would just make me more worried). I’m so glad to have found this blog, and to gain knowledge, resources, perspective and confidence from it. Thank you for sharing, and if anyone else has experiences as a solo female traveler in Iran they would like to share I’d be grateful. So impressed by all of these badass women traveling solo! And happy International Women’s Day, on that note! :)

March 27, 2018 at 3:18 pm

Iran is not wild country just like iraq.Iran is the beautiful country and people.Doset doram Iran,Dostoram mardum Iran

Natasha says

March 28, 2018 at 2:04 am

I travelled to Iran last year with my other half (he is Iranian) and loved every minute of it. The people are so, so friendly and welcoming. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself too. Next time you should visit Tabriz, it is a beautiful city. Have you been to Iran during Nowruz? I recently wrote a blog post on this amazing celebration: http://www.natasha-brooks.co.uk/blog which should hopefully make you want to go and experience it yourself!

Are you ok for me to link back to your blog in any future posts I write about my travels to Iran?

I look forward to more of your adventures!

Yucania Da Cruz says

April 8, 2018 at 12:54 am

Hello there!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE HELP!

I started to travel alone when I was 22 and never stop and living abroad for the 3rd time, this time in south america. And Iran is in my list since ever! Never feel scare :D (my family will kill me by the time I say that I am going to Iran for a couple of days)

THANK YOU :D

Muzdalifah or Ms Muja says

April 30, 2018 at 10:29 pm

Inspiring confidence for solo female travellers. Beautiful journey especially the opportunity living with a nomadic family. I am now traveling solo in Japan and Iran is certainly in my next trip list. I can feel your honesty and sincerity from those lovely moments in Iran. Keep it up!

Tineke says

May 17, 2018 at 4:49 am

Thank you so much for your blog, it is amazing that you travel there by yourself :) I have one question though and maybe you could help me.. I will go there in a few months, but read that you have to show/prove you overnight arrangements on arrival. Was that true in your case? Because you write that you booked just a few days before, I was wondering how your experience was at the customs. Thanks so much!

July 5, 2018 at 2:24 am

Thank you for sharing your experience! I am considering travelling to Iran solo, and I was curious about the dress code. Was there any point during your trip when you felt unsafe? The place I want to go is a 6-hour bus ride from the airport, so I am a little nervous navigating this one my own.

David Zoey  says

July 23, 2018 at 6:03 am

Iran is good place for traveling. Most of tourist choose a Iran for traveling. It’s beautiful place. You share solo female travel information is very helpful for solo female traveler. Thanks for sharing this so interesting post! I really want to be thankful for the way you have put it here.

Monika says

September 10, 2018 at 3:16 am

Hi, thanks for writing this! I’ve been dreaming of going to Iran (whilst explaining to friends & family that is is not Iraq) and this is really helpful. My co-worker (with her family) went to Teheran few months ago and was astounded by the land and culture and safety and since she came back, I’ve been looking for flights. However, I’ve heard that I might not be granted visa/entry if I’m unmarried AND travelling alone. Is this really true??

vahid shokoohi says

November 13, 2018 at 3:29 am

Good job and Thank you very much for sharing your experiences.

Maydelin says

February 23, 2019 at 11:03 pm

Thank you very much for your post. I have been dreaming of going to Iran for many years and have always feared that it wouldn’t be safe for my daughter and I based on the stories I had read before and Persian people I had met in Canada. I know now that it is possible!!!

Off the beaten path says

July 31, 2019 at 4:05 am

Wonderful post. With really wonderful photos. Alessia obviously is a traveller in the very best sense of the word. And I think this quality is increasingly becoming rare.

Miranda says

November 23, 2019 at 4:35 am

Hi, I want to travel to Iran in April, what is the best way to apply for the Iran visa?

November 27, 2019 at 4:05 am

Hi Miranda, I applied through an agency whose name is 1stQuest, and Surprisingly got my Iran visa in 2 days https://1stquest.com/visa

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A Complete Guide for Solo Female Travelers to Iran

• May 23, 2019
• VOI Travel Agency
• Updated at: June 22, 2024

Planning a journey as a solo female traveler to Iran may bring up many questions and uncertainties about cultural norms, safety, and navigating unfamiliar territory. Despite these apprehensions, one truth remains: Iran is a safe and welcoming destination for solo female travelers. The country, rich in history and culture, challenges common misunderstandings by providing valuable experiences and exceptional hospitality. If you’re considering exploring Iran solo, know that your concerns are valid, but the reality is much brighter. Many travelers are captivated by Iran, often expressing a desire to return and delve deeper into its authentic experiences.

Female travelers frequently report feeling welcomed and secure in Iran, with locals going out of their way to offer assistance and ensure their well-being. Iran’s cultural and religious values prioritize the protection and dignity of women, creating a supportive environment for solo female travelers. While general precautions are always important, Iran’s reputation as a safe and inviting country for women continues to draw visitors from around the world. Visit Our Iran offers support and advice during your stay to ensure everything is in place for a serene and enjoyable trip.

What to Wear: Clothing Tips for Solo Female Travelers

As a female traveler, you’ll need to cover your hair with a scarf or hijab and wear loose-fitting clothes that cover your arms and legs. Despite what you might have heard, the dress code is not overly strict. You can wear colorful and stylish clothing, similar to what many Iranian women wear. Tunics, long dresses, and manteaus (long coats) are popular choices, paired with pants or leggings. Just remember to keep your legs covered down to the ankles.

Footwear in Iran is flexible. You can wear anything from sandals to boots, depending on the weather and your personal preference. There are no restrictions on wearing makeup or having visible tattoos. While visiting religious sites, you might need to wear a chador, a full-body cloak, but these are usually provided at the entrance. Respecting these dress codes shows appreciation for the local culture and ensures a comfortable and enjoyable experience as you explore Iran.

Manouk, a traveler who recently explored Iran, shared her experience of wearing a headscarf in Iran. She reassures fellow travelers that there’s no need to fret, as the observations regarding tourists’ clothes are not stringent at all. She said: “In Iran, it’s perfectly acceptable to wear just a headscarf or hat that covers most of your hair. This relaxed approach is akin to the casual acceptance of going barefoot or wearing sandals in certain settings. So, if you’re feeling uncertain about dressing in accordance with local customs, rest assured that a simple head covering will suffice, allowing you to enjoy your travels in Iran without unnecessary worry fully.”

For more details, you can read our article “ Complete Guide to the Dress Code in Iran .”

Hospitality in Iran

When you travel solo in Iran, you’ll be amazed by the hospitality you encounter. Iranians are known for their generosity and kindness. It’s common for locals to invite you to their homes, offer you food, or even take you to family gatherings. This genuine warmth and eagerness to make you feel welcome is a special part of Iranian culture. You might find yourself having tea with strangers or being guided around town by people eager to help. The hospitality here is unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

As a solo female traveler, you’ll find that Iranians go out of their way to ensure you’re safe and comfortable. Language barriers are quickly overcome with smiles and gestures. You’ll hear “Hello, welcome!” everywhere you go. If you look lost, someone will likely come to your aid immediately. This culture of hospitality stems from a deep-rooted tradition and a desire to show the world that Iran is a welcoming place. Don’t be surprised if a brief conversation turns into a lifelong friendship. Traveling in Iran means you’ll never feel alone, as the kindness of its people will always be with you.

Naomi, another travel blogger from the Netherlands, says that she has not even once felt unwelcome during her two-week travel. She added: “Iran is famous for it is products, like saffron and Persian carpet (as a souvenir), and beautiful landmarks, such as Persepolis, Naqshe Jahan Square, Golestan Palace, etc.”

Dining Out in Iran as a Female Solo Traveler

Dining out alone in Iran as a solo female traveler is actually a pleasant experience filled with warmth and curiosity from locals. Initially worrying about eating by yourself quickly fades away as you find that Iranian restaurants are bustling with friendly people, both customers and staff, eager to chat and hear about your experiences. Whether you choose a traditional Persian eatery or a more tourist-friendly spot, you’ll feel welcomed and engaged in conversations that often center around your travels in Iran.

Whether you’re trying classic Persian dishes like kebabs or exploring local flavors, dining becomes more than just food—it’s a chance to connect with locals and experience their famous hospitality firsthand. Every dining experience adds to your journey through Iran, offering insights into its culture and the friendly nature of its people.

Is Iran Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Traveling solo in Iran, you’ll quickly notice that safety is a top priority. The low crime rate ensures you can walk through busy streets or quiet neighborhoods with confidence. The government upholds tourists’ rights, ensuring the protection of your life and property. If you ever feel uncomfortable or face any issues, authorities will promptly assist you. The cleanliness in public spaces, restaurants, and accommodations reflects a strong commitment to health and well-being, so you can enjoy your travels without worrying about hygiene.

Iran also offers excellent medical facilities. If you get sick, you’ll have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. Comprehensive insurance coverage for tourists means you won’t face financial burdens if you need medical treatment. Additionally, Iran has a rich culture of peace and respect. The community’s care for each other extends to visitors, making you feel secure and respected. From ancient bazaars to serene landscapes, you can explore Iran’s cultural treasures knowing that your safety and health are well looked after.

Despite the fact that many countries like Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and even European countries faced terrorist attacks, Iran has effectively managed and responded to such threats. In fact, many solo female travelers have attested to feeling safe and secure during their journeys in Iran. Anna, a seasoned traveler, shared her firsthand experience on her website , emphasizing that Iran is “safe, accessible, and totally easy” to visit as a solo female traveler.

Solo female travelers have the option to book their journeys with various touring companies in Iran, benefiting from the diverse range of facilities and services they provide. Those who have visited Iran acknowledge Iran’s top-notch security measures and recount their unforgettable experiences. Additionally, it’s advisable to reach out to your local foreign affairs office for any suggestions or travel advice before embarking on your journey. This extra step ensures a well-informed and smooth travel experience.

For more information, take a look at our article about safety in Iran: “ Why Iran Is a Safe Destination for International Travelers: Dispelling Misconceptions .”

Traveling around in Iran

When it comes to transportation during your journey in Iran, you have several options based on your different preferences and needs. Many travelers opt to use the transportation services provided by their hotels or tour leaders, specifically for tourists and guests. You can reach out to get more information about our support and services before visiting the country. However, if you’re interested in immersing yourself in the local experience, public transportation offers an excellent opportunity.

Buses and taxis are the primary modes of public transport, completely accessible and safe for travelers. Traveling to various cities around Iran is also safe and easy. Buses, in particular, ensure a comfortable ride with seat reservations, and drivers often rearrange passengers to ensure the comfort and privacy of female travelers (read more from a female solo traveler about her experience in Iran ). For a unique and potentially safer experience, consider private taxis operated by female drivers, offering an alternative to traditional taxi services. Whether you choose buses or taxis, using Iran’s transportation system is both safe and straightforward, allowing you to explore the country with ease and peace of mind.

Of course, in major cities like Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Isfahan, and Tabriz, the subway system provides a convenient mode of transportation. Specifically, for female travelers, special subway cars are designated, ensuring comfort and security during the journey. These designated cars offer a sense of privacy and ease for women passengers. However, if you prefer, you can also use the general subway cars. Additionally, at every station, subway staff members are readily available, identifiable by their distinct uniforms, to help travelers with any queries or concerns they may have. This additional support adds to the overall convenience and safety of using the subway system in Iran’s major cities.

Accommodation in Iran for Female Solo Travelers

Accommodation options in Iran offer a variety of choices for solo female travelers on a budget, ranging from boutique hotels to traditional lodging houses known as “mosaferkhaneh.” While hostels are not as widespread as in some other countries, boutique hotels have emerged in major cities like Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz, offering a blend of comfort and cultural charm. These hotels provide a more personalized experience with well-appointed rooms and attentive service, catering to travelers seeking a touch of luxury at affordable prices.

Whether you opt for a boutique hotel in a bustling city or a mosaferkhaneh in a remote village, Iranian accommodations are known for their warmth and hospitality. Staff at these establishments are typically helpful and can assist with arranging tours to popular attractions. Given the limited number of hostels, especially outside major cities, it’s wise to book in advance, either through online platforms or by contacting accommodations directly, to secure your stay and enjoy a worry-free journey through this captivating country.

To book a star or boutique hotel in Iran, contact Visit Our Iran at [email protected] or use the chat icon at the bottom right of our website. We’re here to make your journey through Iran seamless and memorable.

What Else to Consider in Iran?

Understanding and respecting social norms is crucial for tourists visiting any country, including Iran. While some rules may differ from what you’re accustomed to, being aware of and adhering to them ensures a smooth and respectful experience. For instance, it’s important to note that swimming pools in Iran are segregated by gender. It’s advisable to check the schedule beforehand if you plan to take a dip. Similarly, women are typically not permitted to wear swimsuits in beach areas except in designated female-only sections. Despite these considerations, Iran boasts several popular beaches offering stunning views of the Persian Gulf or the Caspian Sea, where travelers can relax and enjoy the coastal scenery.

Furthermore, it’s important to note that alcohol is strictly prohibited in Iran based on religious guidelines. Therefore, it’s not permissible to carry or consume alcoholic beverages in public spaces. It’s worth considering refraining from consuming alcoholic beverages during your time in Iran and instead immersing yourself in the rich culture and experiences the country has to offer.

Anyway, by observing firsthand accounts and videos showcasing the beauty of Iran and the warm hospitality of its people, one can dispel any misconceptions propagated by mainstream media. The genuine interactions between Iranians and tourists highlight the friendly and charming nature of the locals. For a true depiction of a tourist’s experience in Iran, one need only look at authentic images like the one provided here, showcasing the reality of attire worn by visitors in the country.

If you’re interested to know more about the experiences of solo female travelers in Iran, we highly recommend exploring Kami’s travel blog post titled “Is Iran Safe? Travelers’ Opinions,” as well as the insights shared on Wearetravelgirls.com and numerous other blogs authored by female travelers who have journeyed through Iran. These firsthand accounts offer invaluable perspectives and practical tips for navigating and enjoying your adventure in this captivating country.

In the video clip below, Mara shares her views before and after her journey to Iran. First, her mind was clouded by the mainstream narratives of politics and conflict surrounding the country. Like many others, she had been exposed to portrayals of Iran in the media that depicted it as a place devoid of allure and hospitality, a destination to be avoided.

However, her firsthand experience in Iran shattered these misconceptions. Mara expresses gratitude for realizing that the negative portrayal through disinformation was far from the truth. Instead, she discovered a land brimming with warmth, architectural wonders, rich culture, vibrant music, and delectable cuisine. Above all, she emphasizes the genuine friendliness, charm, and hospitality of the Iranian people towards tourists, a huge contrast to the misrepresented image she had previously encountered.

Wrapping Up

As a solo female traveler contemplating a journey to Iran, it’s natural to be obsessed with concerns about safety and apprehensions due to preconceived notions shaped by media narratives. However, the reality of traveling to Iran paints a vastly different picture. With stringent safety measures in place and a culture steeped in hospitality, Iran emerges as a welcoming haven for adventurous souls. Countless testimonials from fellow travelers attest to the warmth and kindness of the Iranian people, dispelling any lingering doubts and reaffirming the country’s status as one of the safest destinations in the Middle East. Embracing the opportunity to explore Iran’s rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty promises an unforgettable adventure filled with cherished memories and profound insights. So, for the solo female traveler seeking a transformative journey, Iran awaits you with open arms, ready to unveil its treasures and redefine expectations.

Table of Contents

Female travel in Iran – My personal experience and what you need to know

Solo female travel in Iran, is it a good idea? Is it safe for women to travel to Iran?

I decided to plan my Iran trip together with my friend Madi, an Iranian woman traveller. Her family had no problems in letting her travel around Iran with the only company of another woman. So we set off to discover the wonders of modern Persia and to bust the myth of Iran as a dangerous travel destination for women.

Table of Contents

Is Iran safe for solo female travellers?

I’ve often come across misleading articles stating that in Iran women don’t go anywhere alone, and are never seen alone in public but only accompanied by their families or in groups. If you travel to Iran you will quickly realize that this is not only inaccurate but downright false.

Not only are most women I know pretty independent, but solo female travel in Iran is a rather common reality.

During my two-week trip to Iran, in every city, I saw women alone, in groups of women only or with other men, either family or friends, students or professionals, relaxing in parks, shopping, going to work or school, and busy pretty much in all routine activities you can think of.

Of course, traveling alone especially as a woman has its own risks, but this doesn’t apply to Iran only. Check out this article for the pros and cons of solo travelling .

Travelling in Iran as a woman, my personal experience

In the span of two weeks, we have visited many Iranian cities, and most trips involved buses and trains, both day and night ones. I quickly noticed we were not the only women travelling alone. In fact, we met and chatted with many women travelling solo on night trains and buses because not only this is a very common practice in Iran, but it’s also very safe.

This trend of giving a bad image to Iran without any kind of knowledge is becoming truly boring and tiresome, as well as old and too much of a cliché.

My recent trip to Iran saw two travel writers/bloggers/photographers (my friend Madi and myself) exploring some of the main cities and attractions, such as Isfahan , Shiraz , Persepolis and Yazd .

We also travelled to more offbeat destinations, such as Lahijan and Talysh in northern Gilan province, as well as provinces like Khuzestan, Lorestan and Kermanshah.

My personal experience of female travel in Iran was richer than travelling solo. In fact, being with an Iranian woman, all our steps were filled with those insights only a local can give you.

Each of those extra pieces of information made me realize how close and similar Iranians are to Italians, both in the good aspects such as warmth and a genuine sense of hospitality and in the bad ones, such as confusion and delays. And also in the odd ones, like the overall carefree attitude and very personal interpretation of rules and laws. It was probably these constant and repeated comparisons that made of laughing and giggling the main features of our journey.

My southern Italian/Sardinian look made everybody mistake me for an Iranian, asking me for directions or just striking a conversation with me until they understood that, apart for some three words, I don’t speak Persian.

English is seldom spoken, this is why I would recommend booking a tour . All the places we’ve been to are rather laid-back, with Shiraz being probably the most relaxed. Maybe this is due to the fact that it’s considered the capital of poetry and romance rather than a business hub, so it needs to live up to the expectations.

How I prepared to travel to Iran – Practical tips

1. learning about the dress code.

The first thing you want to know as a woman travelling solo to Iran is what to wear. The Islamic dress code (hijab) is enforced, and tourists are not an exception. In Iran, it goes beyond the headscarf and involves tunics and manteau, so go prepared.

READ MORE: What to wear in Iran – a practical guide

2. Learning about Iranian culture and society

This should apply to any country you visit, especially for the first time. But in Iran is especially important as it’s likely to be different from most countries you visited. From a stiffer relation between men and women to places where men and women are separated, in Iran you need to know your place.

READ MORE: Things to know before travelling to Iran

3. Getting my visa in advance

I know getting a visa on arrival in Iran is pretty easy and doesn’t require much paper, but usually, my flights from Italy reached late at night and I didn’t really feel like spending more hours at the airport.

This is why I did it only once and I usually applied for my Iran visa beforehand from their consulate in Rome. Now you can easily do it online, and this is my recommendation as it’s fast and headache-free.

READ MORE: How to apply for Iran visa

4. Drawing my itinerary

To avoid surprises I couldn’t fix because I don’t speak Farsi, I prepared my Iran itinerary in advance before travelling. This included also hotels and flights. Now you can book hotels, domestic flights and local buses online using the website of the Iranian agency 1stQuest .

Tips for the solo female traveller in Iran

I have read several not-so-pleasant experiences from women travellers in Iran. Ranging from uncomfortable situations to downright sexual harassment, these things should never happen.

I admit that in all my Iran trips, I have never experienced any harassment, maybe because I can be easily mistaken for a local so men are warier? Whatever the reason, I feel compelled to give some tips to women travelling solo to Iran (that I usually follow wherever I go).

• Avoid walking alone at night. Out of my comfort zone, but also where I live, I avoid going out alone at night, especially in areas that are not busy or crowded.
• Prefer the women-only wagon in the metro. Those who embark on solo female travel in Iran should keep in mind that in the last wagon of each metro there are only women. So unless you are travelling with a male friend, jump on these wagons that are usually on the two edges of the train. On the bus, you can’t choose anyway, you have to get on the women part.
• Go to the police. In Iran, you will see police officers everywhere, especially in tourist areas. Don’t be afraid to go and tell them if someone is bothering you. Tell them a “mozahem” (harasser) is harassing you.
• Dress modestly. How can I not dress modestly in Iran, you might wonder. By this, I mean to be careful to cover your arms, to wear a long tunic especially if you have leggings and if you are in a more conservative city like Qom, Kashan, Khuzestan, etc.
• Choose your taxi wisely. When a driver insists on the ride, he’s probably a private providing lifts (darbast), so you might want to avoid it. Take either a licensed taxi, ajanse (I’m guessing from the French “agence”) or a shared one, khati. Khati does always the same road back and forth, usually the same street, and is very cheap. If you don’t want to feel uncomfortable on the khati, you can get on one where there is already a woman.
• Don’t get on the car with a stranger. This applies pretty much to any country, but in Iran, you can find men who stop near the sidewalk and offer you a ride. They stop with women alone or groups of only women, not if there are also men. Don’t accept.

My first Iran trip as a solo female traveller

Overall, my experience of female travel in Iran felt like a roller coaster, involving hectic jumping on and off buses, trains, taxis, and even one IranAir flight. We visited as much as we could, barely stopping for lunch and dinner, tucking into sweets and nuts, drinking fruit juices, detoxing with local Khakeshir. We hardly slept an average of four hours per night for two weeks and laughed all the way from day one.

This trip was exhausting and soothing at the same time, but most of all, it was inspiring, giving a new spark to my own passion for history, culture, and, not least, travel blogging. The tour was definitely one of a kind, and I’ll do my best to reproduce the same atmosphere and make you sense the same vibe we felt all along the way.

READ MORE: How to plan a perfect trip to Iran

I'm Angela Corrias, an Italian journalist, photographer, and travel writer located in the heart of Italy's capital. Welcome to my website, your comprehensive source for your travels and expert guidance for crafting your dream travel experience.

The 8 Best Parks in Tehran to Visit at Least Once in Your Trip

All-round display of shanghai communist relics, 26 thoughts on “female travel in iran – my personal experience and what you need to know”.

Quelle description interessante de ton voyage! Et que dire des photos?!

Che meraviglia l’Iran! Peccato non sia molto pubblicizzato dalla stampa italiana. Vedo che i giornali francesi ne parlano molto bene e danno spazio ai commenti dei turisti entusiasti della loro esperienza iraniana. Non vedo l’ora di andarci!

La stampa italiana purtroppo è scritta in gran parte da ignoranti e corrotti, è ovvio che scrivano solo quello che i loro padroni ordino. E’ patetico.

Oui Domenico, et beaucoup de ces touristes affirment qu’une femme en Iran est plus en sécurité qu’à Paris quand elle sort. Ils inventent ?

Bien sur que non, les touristes français ont raison!

Thank you so much Angela for sharing your experience. It’s so easy to believe what an article says without not really know how true that might be, that’s why it’s great you told us you personal experience. I keep hearing beautiful things about Iran and how incredible it is, I should really pack and go to see it with my own eyes!

Exactly, and this is why people are always more relying on blogs rather than mainstream media. Traveling is easy now, potentially everybody is able to verify that media are just not telling the truth. Iran is an absolute must, great country, full of history, art and traditions, and great people who can really make you feel at home!

I’m fascinated with Iran! I really, REALLY want to make a trip to Iran in the near future. Of course this always shocks people when I mention it. I think it was really great that you were able to travel with an Iranian woman. I think when I go I’ll most likely book a tour as I also speak no Persian!

If you ever happen to come to Tehran I’d be more than happy to help you around. I’m an electrical engineer and a photographer and very very eager to help people around the globe know my country better. I was born and raised in the US and unfortunately I have first-handedly experienced what mass media feeds people in western countries about Iran and Iranian people. Long story short, I’d be happy to help:-)

Thanks a lot Maysam, I’m actually planning another trip to Iran, and with the help of the locals I always understand the society better. Sadly, some media coverage can be very misleading, especially because most of the times it’s blatantly false. I hope I’ll manage to get some people understand that traveling to Iran not only is perfectly safe but also very pleasant :)

I recently met another woman who had traveled alone through Iran and she echoed your sentiment. I don’t know if I’d get to Iran anytime soon, but I definitely won’t rule it out.

Apart from being safe, it’s definitely a very interesting travel destination. The only reason to book a tour is the language, which is quite hard to grasp if you haven’t studied it before, but for the rest, people are very friendly and always available to help.

Hi dear Angela. I am Reza from Shiraz. I want to thank you for your comment. I hope I would meet you next time in Shiraz. Just email me before coming. :)

Thanks Reza, I hope I’ll be back to Shiraz soon, I loved the city :)

I am an Iranian working in France. The french peapels saied me Iranian peopels are our eslave. And you what do you think ?

In all honesty, I think that what you are saying is not true. I’ve lived in Europe most of my life, traveled extensively around the Continent, especially France as half of my family is French, and I’ve never heard such absurdity anywhere, about Iranians nor about any other nationality.

Hi Angela. I can’t hide or deny my happiness and the joy I felt reading your posts about Iran and it’s cities. I’m originally Iranian but I was born and raised in the US so a lot of what you wrote made quite sense to me. Unfortunately due to the negative impact of mass media on people, most of them have no idea about how Iran and Iranian people really are. And more unfortunate thing is Iranian government not supporting tourism as it should. I hope you enjoyed your stay in this historical country. And I also hope to visit Italy soon. Just can’t wait to photograph beauties of Italy:))

I’m sure you’ll love Italy, Italians and Iranians are very much alike, maybe that’s why I felt comfortable in Iran! I’ve done quite a tour, so I’ll be posting a lot of photos and posts :) Do let me know if you happen in Rome, I’ll be happy to show you around!

So nice of you, I don’t expect it anytime soon but who knows what future will bring us?!:)) will do…thanks a lot:-)

Iran ha molti problemi ma l’immagine che ne danno i media sono di una disonestà terrificante e rispecchiano il desiderio di farlo apparire nel collettivo immaginario come qualcosa che non è neanche lontanamente. Chiunque visiti Iran rimane completamente spiazzato da una realtà che non si aspetterebbe e per molti, come me, quel viaggio genera un bisogno incontenibile di ritornarci. Ho incontrato molti turisti e le loro reazioni erano senza eccezione di incredulità e sdegno per una realtà completamente distolta, quella che ci serve il mainstream da anni. Io ci sono ritornata e già mi sto organizzando per un altro viaggio. Quel paese è come una droga benefica, ho visitato mezzo mondo ma non ho sentito per nessun altro paese questo bisogno di ritornare. Ci sono enormi quantità di meraviglie naturali storiche e culturali da scoprire ma la vera chiave di questa “dipendenza” sono gli iraniani, la loro umanità e fierezza nel senso più bello della parola. Il loro attaccamento ai valori basilari della vita e famiglia che il nostro mondo sembra stia smarrendo…

Concordo, l’Iran ha sicuramente problemi, che gli Iraniani sono i primi a riconoscere e come tra l’altro hanno tutti i paesi del mondo. Ho viaggiato molto e il paese perfetto ancora non l’ho visitato. Sono stata due volte in Iran e sto già programmando il terzo round. Sono d’accordo anche sulla gente, che comunque mi ricorda molto gli Italiani..

I work at Persiatravelmart.com and we have been trying to change the image people have of Iran to a more positive one. Every week we have a story Friday, in which visitors of Iran post their experiences about the country, bad or good. We hope this will create a more realistic view people have of Iran.

We would be honored if you would write a story about your travels through Iran for us, which you can submit here:

Many thanks,

Iran is a good place to visit. I had my visit there also and here are some of the photos I have taken:

hi……good blog

Thank you so much for your friendly comments about Iran. I’m Abbas from Jiroft city, Kerman province in Iran you can read more things about Jiroft civilization (the cradle of human civilization) if you would like to understand more about ancient cultures and traditions just come to Jiroft in south east of Iran. Please search “Jiroft civilization” in Google.com and if you want more information about Jiroft only send me an email to this address [email protected]

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Solo Female Travel in Iran

Updated August 2024,  Solo Female Travel in Iran was originally written in May 2019

Yes- it’s possible, no- it’s not inherently dangerous. You might have to deal with a few inconveniences, annoyances and a challenge hither and tither but overall solo female travel in Iran is a rewarding experience.

I spent a couple of days shy of an entire month backpacking solo overland across Iran from  Afghanistan  to  Iraqi Kurdistan  in April 2019. This trip brought me to Mashhad, Kerman,  the Kaluts Desert , Bandar Abbas,  Hormuz Island ,  Shiraz , Persepolis,  Yazd ,  Esfahan ,  Kashan ,  Tehran ,  Tabriz , and  Kandovan . So from my experience, here are my best tips and trips for women traveling solo in Iran.

Start planning with my  Iran itinerary for independent travelers

What To Wear

What to wear in Iran is probably the first thing that crosses any female traveler’s mind when planning a trip to Iran. Yes, Iran is conservative– but not as much as you’re likely thinking. Dressing in hijab, a term for modest Islamic dress is mandatory, though tourists seem to be cut a bit of slack on this compared to locals.

Here are a few ground rules for how you should dress:

• Headscarves must be worn at all times when out in public
• Longsleeves must be worn when in public, 3/4 sleeves are generally fine
• Your top should at least cover your bum. Long tunics, manteau, shalwar kameez, and long dresses are your best choices
• Legs should be covered to the ankle, leggings and skinny jeans are common

As long as you abide by the aforementioned list on dress code it will be smooth sailing for women travelers in Iran. If you are worried about your headscarf falling off you can purchase pins that help hold them in place. If your headscarf does fall off someone will likely tell you.

If you really want to blend in with the locals I suggest purchasing a manteau (a long usually knee-length jacket) from a bazaar when you arrive, typically one will set you back about $20 USD.

Other things worth mentioning on female dress code:

• Chador (the all-enveloping black cloak) are required to be worn by women entering certain mosques and shrines in Iran. In general, the places that require them will have them on loan either at the women’s entrance or at a separate counter, either way, if they are required you will be directed towards them.

Transportation

I’m all for equality and all… but can I say that I actually loved riding in the ‘women only’ sections on the public city buses and metros? Yes, in Iran some forms of transport will have women-only sections. Other forms of transport that do not have this typically try to arrange you in a way that you wouldn’t sit next to an unfamiliar man. Here’s a quick breakdown of the transport forms:

Public City Buses

• Women only are allowed in the back of the bus, men must sit in the front
• If you are a woman traveling with a man (husband, boyfriend, friend, etc.) you can sit in front with their male counterpart

Long Distance Buses Between Cities

• Most long-distance buses have a seating arrangement of 2 & 1, meaning that the passenger side of the bus has double seats and the driver side will have single seats. Typically solo women will be sat in single seats, or at least you’ll be asked which you want.
• You can either go to the bus stations (I’d recommend in advance for high season) or search and book online at  1st Quest .

Shop for bus tickets at  1st Quest

Metro/Subway

• Metros will have a couple ‘women only’ cars at one end of the train. You don’t have to go to the women’s only section, but it’s an option. If you are traveling with a male he will not be allowed in the women’s section (unless of course, he’s a child).
• There’s no gender separation when it comes to taxis, however, it is generally recommended to sit in the back seat.
• Many times if you hop in a taxi on the street the driver will ask, dar baste? Dar baste translates to ‘open door‘ in Farsi. They are asking if you’d like to pick up others on the way to your destination and split the cost. If you don’t mind sharing a taxi say, baleh or areh (yes or yeah), if you do not want to share just say, nah dar baste (no open door).
• Savaries are shared taxis that zip between cities and are typically a bit quicker than traveling by bus.
• Most women will request the front seat (which typically will cost a few tomans more) to avoid the usual grope that will happen on shared transport.

Accommodation

Accommodation is pretty straightforward and for the most part like anywhere else, you’d travel. Hostels are becoming increasingly common and guesthouses can be found just about anywhere in Iran.

Note that major booking sites like  booking.com  do not operate in Iran. The best and most varieties of accommodations can be found via  1st Quest . I found that in more popular cities I could book using  hostelworld.com .

The easiest way of booking most places I stayed I found to be via phone call (locals SIM cards are cheap and easy to get), or by texting accommodations on WhatsApp and Telegram. Here is a list of accommodations I stayed in all the places I visited:

• Mashhad:   Vali’s Homestay
• Kerman:  Keykhosro Guesthouse (email: [email protected] | phone: +98 34 3312 7264)
• Bandar Abbas:  Darya Hotel +98 76 3224 1941
• Hormuz:  A family guesthouse via my friend Mohamed +98 99 0499 6642
• Shiraz:  Stayed with friends
• Yazd:   Backpack Hostel  +98 91 3520 5100
• Esfahan:  Amir Kabir Hostel +98 31 3222 7273
• Kashan:   Shirin Hostel
• Tehran:   Tehran Heritage Hostel
• Tabriz:  Darya Guesthouse +98 91 4615 7444

Shop hotels and more at  1st Quest

Solo Female Travel In Iran Safety & Tips

The sight of a woman traveling alone is a bit unusual in Iran, so plan to get attention for this– meaning both positive (most of the time) and negative (seldom, but still happens). Most Iranian women travel with their fathers, husbands, or brothers, in fact, several Iranian women I met were surprised that my husband let me travel without him.

Many times Iranian men’s exposure to western women has come in the form of movies and to be totally honest- porn (Iranian friends are who told me this). Overall my dealings with Iranian men were overwhelmingly positive, but there’s always going to be a few less than pleasant encounters. Note that foreign travelers aren’t the only ones who receive this attention, it happens to Iranian women too. Here are a few examples from my experience:

• I’m walking down a narrow alleyway in Yazd, a young man rides past me on a motorcycle and said ‘hello’, I said ‘hello’ back and continued walking. He turned around on his bike and drove by again and asked: “do you want the sex?” I said no and kept walking.
• Man working at a mosque in Esfahan insists I have a cup of chai and I finally say yes. He pours the tea and then points to himself and me and to a door. I looked at the door and looked at him (and probably with a hint of confusion). He again points to him, to me, the door, and then makes a ring with his fingers on his left hand and sticks his right index finger through the ring. Okay, we’re done here. And did you seriously just ask me for sex at a mosque you filthy f***ing animal?
• In the middle of Naqsh e Jahan Square in Esfahan in broad daylight, a younger guy walks up and asks to take a selfie with me. I said okay, and before I knew it he had reached his arm around me and grabbed my boob. I slapped the shit outta him and then the angry mob of Iranians came over to set him straight. Lesson: if a man does anything to you, make a scene.
• I’m walking down a street in Tehran near the Grand Bazaar and Golestan Palace looking for a restaurant to grab a quick dinner. A man on a motorbike with his friend riding on the back holding a crutch and in a leg brace slowly drives by (I don’t look at the man driving, but I know he’s staring at me). He then speeds off, then turns around further ahead, and drives by me slowly again. He does this two more times before he puts his temporarily crippled friend on the side of the road and then chases me down on foot to invite me to eat. I could tell this wasn’t a gesture of warm Iranian Taarof (taarof is the system of politeness that you will definitely experience in Iran) but an invitation of a foreign woman to his house. He followed me for quite a while and I kept walking faster and faster. He eventually tried to touch my arms and I slapped his hand away. At that point, he finally gave up.

So as you can see only one time was I actually touched inappropriately and out of an entire month spent traveling around Iran only 4 incidents really stuck in my memory. In general, Iran is pretty safe in this regard but you’ll likely have a few unpleasant encounters.

Here are a few ground rules to help prevent issues for solo female travelers in Iran:

• Don’t offer to shake hands with men you don’t know, place your hand over your chest when greeting
• Don’t be too overly friendly with strange men, many times it can be received the wrong way. In many cases friendly=sexually interested
• If a man invites you somewhere verify that his wife/sister/mother/another woman will be there. It’s not exactly appropriate to be alone somewhere with an unfamiliar man
• Even if you do all of the above, some men are still perverts, so you’ve been warned (this isn’t limited to Iran, I’m talking about everywhere)

General Iran Travel Tips

• Learn some basic phrases in Farsi, and learn to read Persian numbers before you arrive. I found that no matter where I traveled in the country there was always someone around that spoke some English so communicating wasn’t very challenging, even for tourists I met that didn’t know a word of Farsi. Hello: salaam Yes: baleh/areh Thank you: merci/motoshakarem/khaley momnoon How are you?: khoobastee?/Hale toon chetor e Good: khoob Please to meet you: Khosh vactam You’re welcome: Khokhesh mekonam How much does it cost?: Gheymatish chand e? 0: ۰ (sefr) 1: ۱ (yak) 2: ۲ (du) 3: ۳ (se) 4: ۴ (chahar) 5: ۵ (panj) 6: ۶ (sheesh) 7: ۷ (haft) 8: ۸ (hasht) 9: ۹ (nu) 10: ۱۰ (dah) Note that with numerals that sometimes Arabic numbers are used (4, 5, and 6 are the only numbers that differ), meaning 4 is ٤, 5 is ٥, and six is ٦.
• Taarof that I mentioned earlier is hardwired into Iranian culture. Many times people will refuse payment as part of taarof, like taxi drivers, hotel receptions, shopkeepers, etc. but do always pay even though you may have to insist a couple of times. Another aspect of taarof is invitations to stay in homes, meals, and more. The unspoken rule is to kindly refuse 3 times and if the offer still stands it’s not just taarof, they actually are truly inviting you.
• There’s no way of withdrawing money with foreign cards in Iran. There is also no Western Union or anything like that. Bring enough cash with you for your trip. There is however something called a Mah Card which you can order prior to your trip and load money onto online from a bank account.
• Money is rather confusing in Iran. Officially the currency of Iran is the Iranian Rial or IRR. Iranian currency has been fluctuating wildly the last few years and has inflated massively so Iranians don’t typically give prices in Rials but rather Tomans. Tomans are equal to 10 rials, so the easiest way of explaining this is to say just to knock off a zero from the price in rial (10,000 tomans is 100,000 rials). As of  March 2020,  the exchange rate (black market rate) was $1 USD=149,000 IRR and (bank rate) was $1 USD=42,100 IRR but in 6 hours this rate could be very different.
• There are two exchange rates in Iran, bank rate and black market rate. Obviously, the black market rate is much better (during my visit bank rate was about 42,000 IRR to $1 USD and the street was 130,000-138,000 IRR to $1 USD). Blackmarket rates are traded in exchange shops in cities and towns. If you’re unsure ask locals to point you to a reputable one. Check out current rates  here .
• American, British and Canadian passport holders cannot travel independently in Iran (sorry, I don’t make the rules). All three nationalities must go on a guided tour with a government-approved tour guide in order to get a visa authorization code. You will need to apply for your visa in advance using the authorization code.
• Passport holders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Egypt, Georgia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Syria, Turkey, and Venezuela do not require a visa to enter Iran.
• Most other nationalities are eligible for a visa on arrival if arriving by air to Iran, though they will need to provide proof of travel insurance eligible in Iran or purchase it on the spot.
• If you plan to enter Iran at any of the land borders you must apply for a visa in advance (aside from the above mentioned visa-free passport holders). Apply for your Iranian visa authorization code  here , you will need this in order to apply for your actual visa.
• Spring and fall are the best times to visit Iran. June-August are brutally hot, and winter can get quite cold.
• Getting a SIM card is cheap and easy. I paid about 1,000,000 IRR for an Irancell SIM and 10gb data for a month.
• Some websites and social medias are blocked in Iran (Facebook, Twitter, etc. are blocked but ironically Instagram is not), to get around this you’ll need to download a VPN.
• I recommend getting a copy of the Bradt Iran guidebook to help you plan.

Need Travel Insurance For Iran?

Start shopping plans over at  1st Quest .

More Posts from Iran:

A Day Trip To The Kaluts Desert In Iran

Solo Female Travel In Iran

Kashan Travel Guide + 5 Things To Do In Kashan

How To Get To Kandovan, Iran

How to Get an Iran Visa on a US Passport

Iran-Iraq Border Crossing Report At Tamarchin/Haji Omaran

Shiraz Travel Guide + 17 Things To Do In Shiraz

Esfahan Travel Guide + 19 Things To Do In Esfahan

Tabriz Travel Guide + 9 Things To Do In Tabriz, Iran

Iran Itinerary For Independent Travelers

How Much Does It Cost To Backpack In Iran?

How To Have An Epic Two Days In Yazd, Iran

Two Day Tehran Itinerary + 13 Things To Do In Tehran

Afghanistan-Iran Border Crossing At Islam Qala/Dogharoun

A Sistan & Balochistan Travel Guide, Iran

Visiting Shiraz’s Pink Lake: Maharloo Lake, Iran

The Best Road Trips In The World

Crossing the Azerbaijan-Iran Border at Astara

How To Get An Iranian Visa In 2024

Hormuz Island: A Guide To Iran’s Rainbow Island

14 Day Classic Iran + Hormuzgan Expedition

8 Day Classic Iran Central Cities Expedition

8 Day Wild Iran Hormuzgan Coast Expedition

10 Off The Beaten Path Destinations For 2021

2 thoughts on “solo female travel in iran”.

I am enjoying very much your blog full of adventures. I had mines also. When you say “American passport holders cannot travel independently in Iran” you mean USA passport holders, because of many other Americans (Mexican, Argentinian, Peruvian, Chilean, Brazilian, etc.., yes the can. In the other hand, I have been travelling solo thru Iran twice and it is one of my preferred countries because of his people. You can see my photos in: https://www.flickr.com/photos/71104048@N00/albums Look for the Iran North &West and Iran albums

Yeah sorry, had the whole “ABC” thing in my head referring to American (US), British (UK) and Canadian. I guess I’ll just refer to them as United Statsians now on, since it’s so offensive for people from the US to be referred to as American

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Solo Female Travel in Iran: Safety and Tips

Last Updated on Sep 12, 2022

Before I started reading more into Iran, all I heard about this country were stories about its politics. In the media, Iran seemed like a place where no one would ever want to visit. Can you imagine solo female travel in Iran ?

After my trip to Iran, I can tell you now that Iran has the most hospitable people and great architecture. Traveling to Iran as a solo female traveler has been safe, rewarding and fun.

Is It Safe to Travel to Iran as a Solo Female Traveler? (2019/2020)

Iran is safe, accessible and totally easy to navigate as a solo female traveler. Sure, you might experience some inconveniences, but for every annoying man you get 3 nice ones, just like anywhere else.

Despite what you hear about Iran disliking the West, as I explained in my other article , its government’s politics. Which isn’t representative of its people. Iran is a destination you must see for yourself to see what I mean.

While organized tours are still dominating Iran’s tourism, it’s not uncommon to find another person traveling solo. Backpackers and hostels can be found anywhere on a tourist route from Tehran to Shiraz and Yazd.

Plus, if you can’t find a hostel, a cheap guesthouse is also an option. No matter which way you travel in Iran, you can always find an affordable place to stay for less than $30 a night for a double room.

Iran in Western Media

Traveling to Iran or anywhere in the Middle East independently, especially as a woman, isn’t perceived well these days. Some time ago an article about a woman cycling through the Middle East alone went viral. People were wondering whether it’s safe for a woman to cycle alone across the Middle East? The comments weren’t pleasant:

‘It’s foolish and she was very lucky not to get herself raped or killed or both. I hope this article won’t encourage other solo female travelers to visit these countries alone’ – 400 upvotes ‘Not impressed. Putting oneself in harm’s way, which then puts potential rescuers in harm’s way makes little sense.’ – 170 upvotes

But how can we talk about media coverage of safety in Iran when BBC, that published the article, doesn’t even bother to check the facts. The article states: ‘in Iran, I was given more freedom. Yet foreigners are not permitted to stay with locals without permission, and several of my hosts endured an intense grilling by police.’ None of the above is true.

Staying with locals is only forbidden for British, Canadian and American citizens . Anyone else can stay with locals wherever whenever and no police will come and check on you.

U.S. government currently warns against travel to Iran  for obvious reasons, these two countries don’t get along. It says that US citizens may be subject to harassment or arrest while traveling in the country.

Again, I’d say that this statement is very exaggerated. Especially after  Argo – the film exaggerating the seizure of the American Embassy in Tehran won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Is It Safe to Travel to Iran in 2020?

Many travelers, including myself, describe it as one of the ‘safest countries I’ve ever been to’. You’ll be much more likely to get mugged in Europe than in Iran.

Violent crimes against foreigners are extremely rare and, indeed, if you do your best to fit in with local customs ( read more on the dress code and how local women fight it ), you are unlikely to be treated with anything.

In fact, I’ll be returning to Iran in 2020 to explore even more of its natural beauty.

My Experience Traveling Solo in Iran

I traveled to Iran solo and later teamed up with another girl whom I met at the hostel. I traveled around the country, in the same way, I would anywhere else in the world.

Wandering around in the evening, taking the metro, using local taxis and buses, going to markets etc.

I met many women whose lives didn’t seem very different from the women I know at home. At the birthday party, it was actually men who had to clean after, not women.

Young girls told me they date the same way people date in the Western world, they just don’t announce it anywhere and keep it to themselves.

I only felt uncomfortable twice in Iran – once in Esfahan and once in Kashan. In Esfahan a man in a car started driving next to me and my friend in the evening. Every time we moved, he moved. It scared my friend and me for a bit, but the moment we approached another traveler the car left.

Another unpleasant situation I encountered was while walking around the narrow streets of Kashan. I was filming with my DJI gimbal with my iPhone attached to it when I fell someone approaching me on a scooter.

To me, being uncomfortable once or twice doesn’t mean that the place is dangerous. I never once felt physically threatened, unsafe, or at risk, even when I was wandering the streets of Iran.

I felt safer in Iran than if I was walking around in NYC. Even the tap water was safe in Iran!

People believe that Iran is full of moral police watching your every step, ready to arrest westerners at the slightest provocation. In my experience, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

While cases or reporting and arrests occur, it’s not as common as it’s being portrayed outside of the country.

Everyone I met was extremely helpful and treated me like I was an expensive piece of jewelry. Escorting from one place to the other, while feeling responsible for me. And that’s the people I met on the street for 5 minutes! So unless you’re planning on running around naked with a bottle of smuggled vodka in hand, don’t be afraid.

If you don’t believe a single person’s opinion about safety in Iran here are some other fellow solo female travelers in Iran who had a great time:

Solo female travel in Iran is safe and I guarantee you won’t regret it! Want to read more about Iran? Check out my ultimate guide to Iran  page.

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Anna Karsten is a travel blogger, journalist and psoriasis advocate. She has been traveling the world for the last 15 years - visiting over 100 countries and living on 5 continents. Anna has been featured in The New York Times, The Daily Mail, Forbes and more.

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21 Comments

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Here in Australia you only ever hear negative press about the countries in the middle east and it’s refreshing to finally hear another point of view. I have never travelled to Iran myself, and therefore can’t share opinions, but I totally agree with your comment about bad things can happen anywhere. I was followed by two men walking around Hollywood in the middle of the day but had no issues when I travelled for three months through Southern Africa. Stereotypes do hold a lot of travellers back from experiencing some amazing places and I’m glad you’re working to help them down. Thanks again.

Hire a driver!

This is from an Iranian diver. There is a reason why you have received this. The law of attraction!

This is going to be way better and more efficient than traveling by plane, train or bus. 

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3) a sim card 

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5) breakfast 

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7) daily servings of fruits

8) a small souvenir

9) guidance on your tour

10) first aid kit

For more information visit my weblog at: 

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You can also contact me if you have any questions about Iran:

Email: [email protected]

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Cell: 00989104508038

I didn’t know that Canadians and Americans couldn’t stay with locals! That’s good information to have. I definitely agree with you about being uncomfortable once or twice- it happens, doesn’t mean you’re in any danger.

I’m so glad to see women are starting to explore regions and countries that, culturally, seem elusive. I think it’s good for both westernized and more traditional countries. Granted, there are some places a woman should NEVER travel alone, especially if you’re from the US, Canada or Britain, as you suggested. But for travelers to stop themselves from going to a place simply because they are uncomfortable with the “rules” of the culture (i.e. dress code)?

I mean, experiencing the culture and going beyond our comfort zone is why we go in the first place! Plus, for the locals, it makes the West seem less foreboding, and more humanized, when visitors, such as yourself, go and set such a fine example. Plus, Iran I think was a beautiful choice. They once were very accepting of western culture, before the regime change, and are moving in that direction again with examples such as Mona Seraji (just heard her interview with Outside Magazine… first Iranian Pro Snowboarder, AND she’s a woman!)

What a fascinating country … I definitely want to check it out some day!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and tips! My husband and I have been really interested and making a trip over. It seems like such a lovely country. And we love the food!! Hope we can make a trip over there soon.

Hello I am Iranian. Thanks for your information This article is true welcome to Iran

Hey.I am iranian & I live in tehran.If u need any help or have any question ,I am hear.I can speak english,french,turkish and a little german.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I love your video. 😀

I’ve travelled to a lot of countries and regions solo, including Latin America and Central Asia, and I’m off to Iran in November. I’m really excited, and it’s good to hear that it’s safe for female solo travel. I can’t wait to see how I’ll like it myself.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Here in Australia you only ever hear negative press about the countries in the middle east and it’s refreshing to finally hear another point of view. I have never travelled to Iran myself, and therefore can’t share opinions, but I totally agree with your comment about bad things can happen anywhere.

It is a very advantageous post for me. I’ve enjoyed reading the blog. It is very supportive and useful information. I would like to visit the post once more its valuable content. Thanks for such post and please keep it up.

hello Anna. I am happy to hear that you enjoyed traveling to Iran, and thank you for sharing your experiences.

I think it is very important to not do stupid things. Don’t try to push the boundaries more than the locals. I heard of one tourist that got detained, but then again he behaved as he shouldn’t have. He went into the mountains, which was near to a military base, and flew a drone to make aerial shots. Well they do warn you not to make any pictures of military installations. Also in other countries you can go to jail for that very same behavior. I’ll be going next year, personally I think in one of the best sweet spots, just between Nowruz and Ramadan, mid to end April. Very much looking forward to it.

Oh boy, I haven’t heard about this guy but ya, military or any government buildings should be left alone and not photographed :/

Amazing blog. I live in Oman Khasab Musandam. You should check out here if you are planning on your next trip.

Hey. Take a look on Polish solo female cyclist’s blog – Ewcyna. In Iran she experienced rape attempt twice 🙁 Also on her blog she shares experience of few other females she met who had bad, or terrible memories from Iran. So before you put another women in uncomfortable situation, think about situation in wider perspective (men-women relations in Muslim countries), and warn them that they should to avoid rarely visited places.

Let’s not put Muslim countries in one basket. Any country that isn’t Muslim also has idiots who might try to rape women. I can present you with thousands of women who traveled solo to Iran and had a great time, so please stop.

This is what this cyclist says about iran at the end of her blog;

« I want to emphasize, that is not my goal of writing the bad things about Iran. It’s a fascinating country full of wonderful people, who willingly acceded to the sky to make you happy, and many of them will remain forever in my heart. But solo travel by bike in the country as a solo women should be thought over twice., not overground bike, but moving solo to Iran ladies recommend extreme caution (another entry in the topic).« 

Hi Dear Anna, I was just surfing the web and visited your wonderful website by chance. Since I’m an Iranian and live in Iran, I was so curious to know about your opinion about my country as a foreigner tourist. So, I read all your experiences in Iran and also all visitors comments. First of all, I have to appreciate your honesty in expressing your experiences. Yes, real Iran is far different from whatever western medias try to illustrate. Although Iran is considered as a Moslem country and is ruling by mullahs, but in fact Iran is different from all other Moslem countries. Iranians are the most secular nation in the Middle East. Inspite of what westerners think, most Iranians feel themselves more close to the western countries than their Arab neighbors. Iran is the oldest country of the world! Iran is the country of wine, poem and music, Iran is the country of fantastic architecture, Ian is the country of fine arts. So, how can such a nation can be wild and savage as your medias try to show?

Ahmad Amirazodi – Shiraz, Iran

Hi, As an Iranian I really was upset that u had trouble in your trip, I strongly advise you to have a local companion in your trips or at least a guide to help you out with some info that it can help you in your trip(I mean familiarizing you with area and giving you few notes on your security) ! As you said there are stupid ppl around the world so you need to be prepared for such scenarios & a little bit knowdlage of Farsi can help you alot … and make sure how to seek police in case of trouble or asking ppl to help you out ! Our women in such situation quicly film the aggressor and yeal to get help from others in crowded areas which depend on your analyze of the area incase if yealing and any reaction doesnt expose you to more danger ! There are always tips from a local that can buy you some more safety … It can happen to an Iranian too if she/he doesnt be careful, you need to avoid less crowded patchs its dangerous anywhere in the world and walking like Alice in a strange land require camouflage, to look like a locals and in less touristic style, I never got robbed in my life because I analyze the field before steping in a land mine if you know what I am trying to say ! You can get even robbed specially if thiefs are around and if they think you have dollor or any forigen cash with you u can be in a serious threat specially if you resist and I am not trying to scare you because you can expriance this in any part of the world if you get to much comfertable or careless in some places !!!! Not everywhere is switzerland 😉 If you guys ever needed tip for your trips feel free to contact and I will help you with your questions if you like so , peace and love from Iran

Iran is a very good destination for cosmetic surgeries such as rhinoplasty due to its weak economy and highly professional surgeons. Some Iranian companies are very active in this field, including Mediranco.

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Solo Travel in Iran: Visiting Iran as a Woman – Safety and Tips

Eagles travel alone.

A solo travel is an exciting book, written in your footsteps in a new land. If you’re interested in solo travel  to Iran , and you’re still doubtful, follow my lead in this blog. How safe is solo female travel to Iran ? What are the pros and cons of solo travel? Is Iran safe to travel to at all? What to do for better Iran travel Safety? Today, we’re going to answer these and give you some tips for safe solo travel  in Iran .

• 1 Pros and Cons of Solo Traveling
• 2 Safe Solo Travel in Iran, Iran Travel Safety
• 3 What We Need In a Safe Iran Solo Travel
• 4 Some Useful Phrases for Iran Solo Travelers
• 5 Key Points in Iranian Lifestyle for a Better Solo Travel to Iran
• 6 Safe Solo Traveling for Female Tourists in Iran, Tips for Solo Female Travelers in Iran
• 7 Frequent Questions:

Pros and Cons of Solo Traveling

When you travel on your own, without a tour guide, you’re just like Alice in Wonderland. Brave travelers who love to live the moment, are the best candidates for a solo tour. It may seem a little hard at first, but when you start it, your instincts rise and shine to your guide. It’s so nice to take a notebook with you, for everything you see will fill your mind with questions and answers.

Moreover, if you feel depressed or look for a new experience, solo travel is good medicine. When you’re on your own, trees talk with you differently. Strangers look attractive and you can make some new friends. Needless to say, a solo traveler will gain good confidence when s/he faces everything on his own. All in all, I can say if you go on a solo vacation, you wanna do it again.

Safe Solo Travel in Iran, Iran Travel Safety

Perhaps if you ask an experienced solo traveler where would s/he prefer for his/her next journey, s/he’ll answer “a place with hospitable people”, or maybe “somewhere with untouched nature”. If we add these two answers together, then bingo; it’s the features of Iran. Iran, a country with ancient places, 4-seasoned nature, and hospitable people can’t be a dangerous place. Anyway, if you seek safe solo traveling in Iran , a valid tourist agency can help you ensure your safety.

An experienced agency can ensure your Iran travel safety, and provide the best solo tours possible for you. If you’re worried about the safety of your solo travel in Iran, it is important to share your information, available phone number, and other necessities with your agency; so that they can guarantee your safety. If you take care of these, your solo travel in Iran is not only safe but also delightful.

In this hospitable country, every single human being you meet in the streets is a potential temporary tour guide; and in case you face a problem, you can refer to your agency contacts, police stations, tourist information centers, and of course people who can speak and understand your language (in case you don’t find such people, a translation mobile app can be helpful).

What We Need In a Safe Iran Solo Travel

• A translation mobile app
• A Google map (Or other navigation apps)
• Transportation (Transit) apps (“Snapp” is a famous one in Iran)
• 110 (Police)
• 115 (Emergency)
• 125 (Fire stations)
• Hidden cash in your socks (LOL)
• Country music (tastes good in green lands)
• A box of cigarettes (you never know!)
• A happy face!

Some Useful Phrases for Iran Solo Travelers

• Hi (Salǎm, Dorood)
• Thank you (Merci, Sepǎs)
• Yes (Baleh)
• Excuse me (Bebakhshid)
• Bye (Khod ǎ hǎfez)
• Airport (Foroodgǎh)
• Taxi (Tǎxi)
• Help me (Komak)
• Do you have a room available? (Aya otǎgh dǎrid?)
• How much does it cost? (Hazineh-ye in cheghadre?)
• What time is it? (Sǎat chande?)
• Where is it? (Kojǎst?)
• My name is Mary (Esme man Mary hast)

Key Points in Iranian Lifestyle for a Better Solo Travel to Iran

If you’re into solo travel in Iran, you may be interested to know what’s important for Persians.  Iranian people care a lot for emotions, behavior, and holy definitions. In religious places, it is important to act like a noble. For ladies, it is expected to dress well and obey the hijab as a rule. For gentlemen, it is important to act politely and stay calm when others are performing rituals. When a solo traveler is kind and has a smile on his/her face, the same reaction is expected from Iranian people.

Iranians are so hospitable and they welcome tourists with open arms. They shake hands with each other as greetings when they meet. It is also considered rude if a younger person goes for a handshake first. They should wait for the elder person to start it. Iranian men never start the process of handshaking when the other person is a lady. This act is to respect a lady’s choice (whether she wants to shake your hand or not).

A respectful Iranian man watches his tongue when there is a lady around. The same thing is expected from a tourist. Respectful behavior in front of ladies, kind words, and dressing well can give you a positive impression in society. It’s also worth mentioning that it’s illegal to drink alcohol in Iran, especially in public places. All in all, Iran is a country of nobles; so if you act nobly, you are more than welcome there.

Safe Solo Traveling for Female Tourists in Iran, Tips for Solo Female Travelers in Iran

Like in many other societies, there are ups and downs here. It is not a matter of Iranian culture , but there are some governmental rules and limitations for women, that should be respected. The famous female dress code in Iran, known as Hijab, is one of these rules. Female tourists in Iran should consider covering their hair and most parts of their bodies. It is not as harsh as it looks; rather many female tourists in Iran find it attractive (which really is), and spice it up with their taste and style and new to experience.

One other factor that seems to be important for solo female travelers in Iran is their safety. Most Iranian people are so respectful, hospitable, and caring that such problems are indeed rare. Anyway, there are problems and problematic people in every society, and precautions are necessary. After all, Iran is a safe and nice country to visit, for Iran female solo travelers and other types of female tourists in Iran. Many of the ladies with the experience of a solo vacation in Iran admit it. If you are a lady and wish to see Iran as a solo tourist, keep up with your plan. Observe the precautions and get packed. A safe hospitable country awaits you in the Middle East.

Frequent Questions:

Is it safe to travel to iran alone as a girl.

Yes, of course. Iranian people are famous for their hospitality and respect for ladies. There is no need to be worried about the travel of a lady to Iran at all.

Do female tourists have to cover their hair?

Yes. The hijab in Iran is a governmental rule. Anyway, the hijab in Iran is so simple and flexible. The minimum coverage of hair and body with pants, a manteau, a coat, or any other type of clothes is enough.

Can female tourists book hotels alone in Iran?

Of course, there is no problem with the accommodation of ladies in Iran at all.

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Solo Female Travel to Iran: Is it really safe for women?

“Is it safe to travel to Iran?” That was the single most asked question people managed to come up with when they heard I planned my 2 week trip to Iran. Now, I get it. Iran is a bit controversial. You cannot travel without a guided tour if you’re an American, Canadian or British passport holder, but fortunately for me: I have a passport from the Netherlands. So I planned for my solo female travel to Iran. And people worried about my safety. A lot.

So.. Is it safe for a woman to travel solo in Iran?

I can only answer that question with “YES” . Every time people asked me this, I wanted to respond with: “Duh! Of course not. I plan to put myself in danger and travel to an unsafe country willingly.” But I managed to keep the sarcasm deep within and just decided to go and see for myself.

Of course I was nervous. I am always nervous on every solo adventure. But I can honestly say: I have never felt unsafe on my solo female travel in Iran. Not once during my 2 week travels in Iran did I feel unwelcome. I never encountered any hostile feelings and I did not see anyone get arrested or harmed in any way.

Read more: 2 weeks Iran travel itinerary

Examples of why i felt safe during my solo travel in iran.

Below are some examples that illustrate why I felt safe traveling solo in Iran.

All tour guides showed me their badge with their name and photo, showing they were official tour guides for Iran.

Most taxi drivers introduced themselves to me, showed me their registration number on their window. One taxi driver even called a friend who spoke English, to check if I was still ok during our taxi ride (ok, driving and mobile phone use is not safe, but hey, it is Iran!).

I noticed on a couple of occassions that the receptionist of the hotel would snap a picture of the license plate of the taxi picking up guests of the hotel.

These are just small examples of people showing that they have your best interest at heart. Overall it was a warm feeling to meet with Iranian people and answer their questions.

Read more: Solo but not single female traveller.

But what about isis and terrorism in iran.

In all fairness, I keep myself far from any political issues. In everyday life and this is no different when I travel. I must confess I do not know exactly where ISIS is occupying any land (I know not in Iran) and I do not know where terrorism will strike next (does anyone ever know?).

At the moment, I feel wearier to travel to London or in the subways, than when I travelled in Iran as a solo female traveller.

But what about the negative travel advice from your local authorities?

I read the travel advice issued by our foreign affair offices. They state that the border areas with Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan are high risk areas. They also warm against criminal activities in the eastern provinces. As I wasn’t planning on going anywhere near them, I felt confident before my travels. I read about the problems, I was aware of the issues and until I would face them, there wasn’t much I could do about it, so why worry about them?

Always consult your local foreign affair offices for any travel advice.

Read more: How to reassure worried parents for solo travel plans ?

So i wasn’t worried at all for my solo female travel to iran.

Yes I was worried. I was concerned to bring enough money, as foreigners cannot use Iranian ATM’s or banks.

Read more: My 2 weeks travel budget for Iran.

I worried about using squat toilets with my Crohn’s disease. And I felt a bit too tired before I left and I was worried that I didn’t learn enough Farsi. Those were my concerns.

Read more: Woman’s Practical Preparations for Travel to Iran

My boyfriend worried a lot about me getting arrested for photographing something that isn’t allowed. I almost snapped a picture of an armed soldier in front of a gate with a sign next to it that showed it was forbidden to take photographs. Just to show him that things are fairly well indicated. Obviously, I didn’t take a photograph of it.

And nothing bad happened during my solo travel in Iran?

Actually: No! I know many people will not believe me. They want to hear the negative stories, but I do not have that much to share. At my last hostel, the Iranian girl that worked there asked me: “what is the worst thing that happened to you as a solo female traveller in Iran?” and I had to think long and hard. I did come up with a few answers (because I know you want to hear something ), but I don’t think they are that bad and definitely didn’t feel unsafe, mainly uncomfortable.

#1. The traffic in Iran

The only thing dangerous in Iran is the traffic. Crossing the street as a pedestrian or even sitting in a bus or taxi demands nerves of steel. As it was out of my control when I sat in a taxi or bus, I stopped to worry about it. When I crossed the road I adopted the matrix philosophy. There is no spoon. There is no traffic. Just cross the road and trust they will not hit you.

#2. Iranian people love me

Just arrived in Esfahan, I walked on the streets towards the bridge. A guy walked really close next to me and said (repeatedly) with a creepy voice: I love you. As it was a long street, he continued to follow my tracks. Slowed down when I slowed down, speed up when I walked faster etc. Because it was in the middle of the day, on a crowded street, I wasn’t scared he would do something to me; I was just very much annoyed by the unwanted attention.

Read more: How travel to Iran ruined my future travel experiences

#3. unwanted photoshoot.

While I sat on a bench in a park in Shiraz, I gathered my thoughts, trying to figure out where to go next, when a shabby looking man stood opposite me. He held up his phone to indicated that he wanted to take a picture. Thanks to Alex’s story about sexual harassment in Iran I was very vigilant about men wanted to take pictures of me and I definitely didn’t want this man to have any image of me. I gestured to him that I didn’t want this. I looked the other way, pushed my sunglasses higher up my nose and tried to cover as much as possible of myself with my headscarf, I heard that oh-so-familiar click of his phone snapping a picture. After this, he walked away and I was just very irked.

In my opinion, these 2 occurrences are really the only things remotely negative about my time in Iran. They were not unsafe situations; I didn’t feel at risk and didn’t feel anyone would harm me.

Read more: My love letter to Shiraz Iran

Over the years I have travelled around quite a bit, in a group and as a solo female traveller, and now I have gathered quite a few unpleasant experiences and potential dangerous situations. I do not count the above mentioned stories from Iran among them and I felt safe during time travelling in Iran.

What was it like: Solo Female Travel Iran?

I heard stories Iran is not made for solo travel (male or female) and people will ask where your tour groups is. This didn’t happen to me once. Nobody asked where my group was. I felt welcome everywhere I went. Woman wanted to talk to me and men wanted to talk to me too. Vendors didn’t harrass me to buy carpets, drink tea or visit their uncle’s gift shop (yes I mean you Turkey). Iranian people didn’t stare at me. They didn’t avoid sitting next to me. Nothing like that.

Read more: Best places to see the desert in Iran.

Instead, they wanted to chat with me. Iranian people wanted to know where I was from and what I thought about Iran. They invited me to chat with them, eat with them and share experiences with them. Iran felt like a warm welcome. I consider Iran one of the easiest countries to travel around as a solo female traveller.

During my trip as a solo female traveller in Iran, I felt things where easier for me. I got the last seat on the bus or in the shared taxi. It was easy for me to snatch the last bed in the hostels I stayed in. I felt I was more approachable for other travellers and Iranian people.

Was there a downside to solo travel in Iran?

I might have paid a wee- little bit more Rials than couples who travel or groups of friends travelling together in Iran. I used a lot of taxis (shared but also private ones) which cost the same for 1 person or 5 people. As it mostly was just me, I paid full price a lot. Other than that, I didn’t feel Iran was any different than any other country to travel solo in.

Read more: Visa on Arrival at Tehran Airport. How does it work?

Disclaimer: These are only my personal experiences. I travelled solo in Iran for 2 weeks in February and March 2017. I am a Dutch citizen and travelled in touristic areas like Tehran, Shiraz, Yazd, Esfahan and Kashan. Everyone is always responsible for their own actions and wherever you travel to in the world you have to be careful and mindful of your surroundings. In no way, I want to abolish anyone else’s experiences with (negative) solo female travel to Iran. These are just my own personal experiences and opinions.

Still not sure if solo travel in Iran is safe?

Thank you for reading. Would you like to get updates about the blog and my travels? Sign-up to my newsletter. Once a month you’ll receive an e-mail with information about Probe around the Globe and what is new on the blog. As a gift, you can download my FREE Iran Photo E-Book with all the best images of my travel to Iran to flip through and use as inspiration.

Do you consider to travel solo to Iran? What is holding you back? What are your worries and feelings about solo female travel to Iran? Let me know in the comment section below.

This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to book something via one of my links, I’ll earn a small commission. This is at no extra costs to you.

Author: Naomi

63 comments.

Pingback: Solo female travel in Iran: travelling to Iran as a woman

Dear Naomi Thank you so much for sharing your experiences about your travel to Iran, reading this kind of articles proves that there is a lot of propaganda against Iran but Iranian people loves foreigners without a doubt.

Hi Naomi. It is really nice to hear that you enjoyed your travel to Iran. “Nothing but smiles in Iran” It means a lot for us. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

I hope you to have unforgettable trip to my country! Iran is safe and beautiful. You will have perfect memories here! I promise

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25 Things to Know Before You Visit Iran

• Last Updated: February 6, 2024

We’ve been all around the world, spent a lot of time in a lot of different countries, and if there’s one thing we can honestly tell you it’s that we’ve never felt as welcomed, fascinated and humbled as we did when we visited Iran.

Iran is such an incredible country to travel. The architecture will amaze you, the friendliness of the people will leave you speechless, the culture is fascinating and the landscapes are out of this world.

Iran is also very misunderstood, with many people believing whatever propaganda they hear on the media about how dangerous or difficult it is to travel there.

Table of Contents

Iran is Safe!

There’s a lot of customs to follow, you need a visa for iran, have a head scarf in your carry-on luggage before arrival, bring a phrase book or have google translate on your phone, bring a lot of cash, the currency has two names, bring comfortable footwear, research the food and don’t just eat kebabs, bring a backpack rather than a suitcase, draw up an itinerary, but keep it flexible, let your guard down and talk to locals, always ask the price before buying, book domestic flights with your accommodation or travel agent, team up with other travellers and share tours, be on time for your appointments, the traffic is horrible, you need a vpn to access some social media platforms, there is wifi, but be patient with it, pick up a local sim card, iran has its own uber called snapp, you can drink the tap water, good coffee is hard to find, there’s a female-only carriage on the metros, what to know before you visit iran.

The truth is travelling in Iran definitely has its quirks, and being an Islamic country means there’s a few things you need to know about the religion and culture before you go so you can show absolute respect.

Luckily these are easy enough to know before you go if you do a bit of research. We spent one month travelling around Iran and learnt so much during our time there.

To help put your mind at ease about travelling in this incredible country, here’s our list of the most important things to know before you visit Iran.

All of the mainstream media outlets portray Iran as an unsafe country, somewhere that you’ll be at risk if you visit.

The mainstream media is wrong.

We did not feel unsafe once through the whole 4 weeks of us backpacking independently in Iran.

We weren’t with a tour group, had no tour guides, don’t speak the local language, took public transport and taxis, wandered the streets on our own – basically everything you shouldn’t do if you’re in a dangerous country.

And guess what? Nothing bad happened to us at all!

The Iranian people are so friendly and helpful. They want you to have a great time and tell your friends so more people will come and visit.

We were walking around one morning on a quiet street when a car passed us and turned around. A group of young people stopped the car, came up to us, and asked if we were ok or if we needed help.

Once we told them we were just looking for a coffee they pulled out their phones and started showing us where the cafes were on a map.

They even offered us a ride, and said if the cafes were closed they had coffee at their home and would love to make us some.

This is just one example of dozens of interactions that happened to us when we were in Iran. Iranians love that tourists are coming to their country and travelling around.

The locals know what the media says about them and what a lot of the world thinks of their country, and the people just want to show that they are nice, generous people.

Theft against tourists is very rare and even the Religion Police (secret police) tend to leave tourists alone.

Just be careful around the bazaars and crowed places for pickpocketing. We didn’t have any issue and didn’t hear of any other travellers having problems, but this is common sense in any busy place in the world.

With all that being said, there is a large military and police presence in Iran. Do not photograph any military areas or government buildings, and stay away from any protests if you see them.

Obviously there are some areas of Iran that are no-go zones, such as the borders of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, so do your research and talk to locals if you’re thinking about going anywhere near them.

When you travel somewhere you want to take in everything about the country and its people, and that includes the culture and customs.

Iran has quite a few local customs that may take some getting used to, so it’s important to learn about them before you go so you don’t accidentally offend or disrespect anyone.

Some of the most common ones that throw tourists off are:

• Women must wear hijabs (headscarves) at all times in public. They must also wear loose-fitting clothes that don’t show their figure.
• Giving a thumbs-up sign is considered rude, similar to giving the middle finger in Western society.
• Men can wear short-sleeved shirts, but long pants must be worn at all times.
• Men and women who aren’t related shouldn’t touch either. That means no shaking hands or hugging someone of the opposite sex.
• If you are travelling with your significant other, avoid any public displays of affection.
• Always bring a gift if you are invited to someone’s house. Candy, pastries or flowers are fine.

Now we want to give a special mention to ta’arof – This is a hospitality trait where it’s customary for someone to refuse payment for a service, and is probably the most confusing thing for any tourist to get their head around.

Basically what happens is if you make a purchase (a souvenir, taxi ride, etc), the person may refuse your payment out of politeness. It is then up to you to insist despite their refusals that you want to pay. After two or three times they’ll then accept your money.

If they still keep refusing then perhaps you have just experienced some amazing Iranian hospitality! But chances are they’ll accept the payment once the process has been completed. Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it.

The locals are so lovely, that if you do something wrong someone will approach you and nicely let you know. For example, if you are a lady and your headscarf falls off without you knowing, a local will kindly let you know.

Don’t stress about getting your outfits beforehand as shopping in Iran is cheap. Just bring one headscarf and set of loose-fitting clothes, and buy more once you get there.

The culture is the best thing about visiting Iran, and after a few days, you’ll start to understand and fall in love with it just like we did.

In order to visit Iran, you’re going to need to get a tourist visa. This used to be a very difficult process, but luckily things have gotten easier with the introduction of visa on arrivals in 2016

On the 14th February 2016, the Ministry of Iran announced that citizens of 180 countries can now apply for VOA of 30-days at most international airports, including Tehran, Shiraz, Mashad, Tabriz and Isfahan.

There’s an exception to this rule though, and if you are from Canada, the UK or the USA, we have some bad news for you…You can only visit Iran if you join a guided tour, so no chance of getting a VOA and travelling independently.

Your tour company will help organise your visa for you.

Check out our article on how to apply for a  Visa On Arrival in Iran.

You Need to Dress Appropriately

This follows on from the customs section above, but in a bit more detail.

Iran is an Islamic country, and as such you need to follow the Islamic dress code. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Women need to cover their arms, legs and head. This including a Hijab, loose long length shirt with long sleeves and pants.

Leggings or tight jeans are ok as long as your top is long and covers your bottom. When wearing pants, you need to be covered down to your ankles.

The most common way to cover your head is with a scarf. The local women wear bright colours and are very stylish with their clothing, so don’t think you need to wear all black.

Black is still worn a lot but not so much among the younger generation.

You can wear sandals. Some guesthouses and hostels will allow you to take your headscarf off on their premises but do check first.

Men aren’t allowed to wear shorts in public, so bring long, lightweight pants as the best option. T-shirts are fine to wear in public. Men can wear sandals too.

If you do wear inappropriate clothing it’s not the end of the world, and besides some angry looks from some of the older generation, you’ll probably just end up having a friendly local let you know what’s best to wear.

In Tehran, the locals push the limits in terms of what they wear in public. At the end of 2017, an uprising occurred and supposedly women were no longer required to wear the Hijab in public in Tehran, but wait until you are in the country to find out for certain.

When you land at the airport, it is respectful to put a scarf straight on your head ladies. This will cause no trouble for you by locals or the officials at the airport.

Once you’re in the air on an international flight you’ll see most young ladies take their hijab as soon as the plane leaves the ground. Just follow what the locals do.

We were quite surprised to discover that a lot of Iranians could speak a little bit of English, but that wasn’t always the case, so do yourself a favour and bring along something that can help translate English to Persian.

We always travel with Google Translate and offline languages saved on our phones, but at times having a phrasebook is the best (and most social) way to interact with people who don’t speak any English.

Remember, you are in a country that doesn’t have English as an official language, so don’t be that rude tourist that gets upset if people aren’t understanding you.

Persian (Farsi) is difficult, and no locals expect you to learn much beyond hello and thank you while you are there, but do your best anyway as a few extra words will go a long way in showing respect.

Also don’t be surprised if you are constantly invited out for tea with people so they can practice their English. If the opportunity comes up, make time for it, as it’s an amazing experience for both the local and yourself.

Don’t forget your cash when visiting Iran, as none of the ATMs in the country accepts foreign credit or debit cards thanks to the embargo. So if you forget to bring all of your cash for your entire trip, you’re out of luck.

Figure out what your usual budget is for a trip ($50 a day, $100 a day, etc), then bring a bit extra just in case. USD is best for all around the country but Euros and British Pounds are also accepted in Tehran.

There’s two exchange rates in the country – official rate and black market rate – and the black market rate is of course much better.

We actually found an exchange booth at Tehran airport that gave pretty close to the black market rate, so we traded some cash there.

As a tip don’t exchange all of your foreign cash into Rials at once, because you’ll either get ripped off on the exchange rate back if you have any left over, or you’ll be unable to trade it outside of the country.

Also don’t be too concerned about travelling around with thousands of dollars in your backpacks. As we mentioned earlier theft is rare. Do keep your money stashed in different spots though just in case.

UPDATE: If you’d prefer not to carry all your cash with you, can actually pre-order a local Iranian debit card from the company, Mah Card . It works just like a normal debit card in your home country.

You order it on their website and they’ll deliver it to your hotel in Tehran when you arrive. They have an online system too where you can top up the funds if you’re running low.

Use the code ‘ NOMADASAURUS ‘ at check-out to get a 40% discount on the card when ordering. Instead of a 19 Euro issue fee, our code brings it down to 11 Euro.

“Toman or Rial?” Get used to asking that question, because if you don’t it could end up being a costly mistake.

The currency in Iran is officially known as the Rial, and is valued at roughly 30’000 IRL to USD$1. That’s a lot of zeros, so what the locals have started doing is dropping a zero and calling the new value a Toman.

1 Toman = 10 Rial

When you hear prices quoted in Tomans you need to add a zero on the end and pay the amount in Rials. It sounds confusing, but you’ll pick it up pretty quickly.

That’s why it’s important to always ask Toman or Rial, so you don’t accidentally pay too much on an item. Most vendors quote in Tomans anyway, so chances are if the price seems too good to be true, you need to multiply it by 10.

Rumour has it that Iran will officially introduce Toman as a currency in the coming years, but that hasn’t come into effect yet.

You are going to do a lot of walking in Iran, so bring comfortable footwear. The towns here are so amazing that you’ll probably end up walking at least 10km every day, so look after your feet.

These don’t necessarily have to be hiking boots (unless you’re planning on doing some treks). Just make sure you have some flat shoes that you can wear all day without a problem.

Don’t bring heels. You don’t need them, and you won’t wear them. We had a pair of hiking shoes each and a pair of sandals. That was perfect.

Persian food is varied and delicious, and there’s plenty of different styles to try, so be adventurous!

Most people travelling on a budget will end up eating falafel sandwiches when they’re in Iran because they are cheap ($1 !), filling and delicious, but there’s plenty more to Iranian cuisine then just kebabs.

We don’t consider ourselves to be foodies, but luckily we were travelling with our good friends Dan and John and they are all about culinary travel, so they had a huge list of food they wanted to try. And boy were we thankful they did!

They had looked up the different types of food they wanted to try, so we basically followed their advice and tried it all. Of course, it was super delicious too.

One particular dish we all loved was dizi. It’s quite confusing how to eat the first time, so we had the restaurant owner show us how to mix and grind all the ingredients. If she didn’t show us, we wouldn’t have a clue how to eat it.

If you are a vegetarian, there are food options but they can be limited. There is a lot of eggplant, lentil and chickpea dishes. There are simple salads and rice also.

Try to get away from the popular tourist areas as well, as the prices are going to be a lot higher than the average place.

Move away and you will be surprised how much the price drops, and the portions are larger. If you are passing a local restaurant and it is packed with locals, that is going to be a winner.

We always recommend people travel with a backpack rather than a suitcase, but this is especially useful when you visit Iran.

The road and paths are uneven, and wheeling a suitcase would be a nightmare. A lot of hotels don’t have lifts, so unless you’re feeling strong it’s going to be hard to carry your suitcase up a lot of flights of stairs.

Always choose a lightweight backpack that fits you perfectly for the best support.

There are also hybrid backpacks, that have harnesses and wheels on the bottom for the times where you just don’t want to carry it.

Unless you are on a whirlwind 7-day trip of the country we recommend you design an itinerary of what you want to see and do, but don’t book anything until you are in the country.

Iran is one of those countries that is best to research beforehand so you can make the most of your time and you don’t miss anything, but don’t be surprised if some places you end up liking more than others.

Be willing to change your plans if you get somewhere that you want to stay an extra day, or if you meet a backpacker that raves about one town you hadn’t considered before.

Don’t stress about booking buses, flights or trains before you arrive. Everything can be booked in-country, for a much cheaper price than you’ll find online.

By not locking in your travel plans, you can change and swap your itinerary easy enough.

Disclaimer:  The one time that you may need to book everything ahead of time is during Nowruz, which is the Persian New Year. If you’re planning on travelling to Iran during this time (it happens around the spring equinox in March) you’ll find things are extremely busy with millions of locals travelling around the country to spend time with their families too.

Looking for somewhere else to check out when you visit Iran? Don’t miss our article on the best  things to do in Shiraz!

One of the best experiences you will have in Iran is spending time with all the friendly locals. And trust us, you’ll get plenty of opportunities if you are open to it.

The city squares are usually where locals will approach you to welcome you to their country, have a chat and practice their English.

Don’t shy away from this, even if you are a solo traveller. We found out so much information about Iran and how the locals live simply by chatting away.

Most people asked us questions about where we are from and were very happy to answer our questions. It was a true insight to Iran and we made some beautiful friends from it (many of whom we still keep in contact with).

Don’t be surprised if you get a lot of invitations to people’s homes as well, and this may be one of the few countries where we’d say hanging out with strangers is highly encouraged. The Couchsurfing scene is huge here too if you’re into that.

Do be wary of some people who will take you to an expensive tea house though. They are nice people, you will have great conversations, but they can be a little cheeky.

Also always look at the menu before you start ordering to make sure they haven’t taken you somewhere that has crazy prices.

Some will invite you out and try to sell carpets to you. If you are not interested just be firm and move on with the conversation.

We only had this happen to us once out of more than a dozen great experiences, and once we made it clear we weren’t buying a carpet we still had a great chat with him.

There is only one thing with all this – Expect to be stopped every few minutes by people wanting to chat! Make sure you’re mentally prepared when you go out around town to have a million friendly conversations.

You shouldn’t just do this in Iran, you should do this everywhere you travel, but it’s important to keep in mind.

In some countries, there are tourist prices and local prices. To be honest, we almost never felt ripped off here, but it did happen occasionally.

Before you buy anything, whether it’s a souvenir, a meal, a pot of tea, a tour, a taxi ride or whatever, ask to see the menu or how much it will cost to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Get out of the tourist squares too. Chances are if you walk a couple of blocks outside of those popular areas, the prices will drop dramatically.

When buying survivors, ask the price at a few places, get the vibe from the person/place and then buy. Try your bartering skills, but don’t be offensive.

We always try to settle in the middle so both parties are happy. This is their business and they need the money more than you do.

If you are flying domestic, book through an agent or your local guesthouse in the country. All the local airline pages are in Persian, and these are where the best deals are.

Online booking agencies like Skyscanner and Momondo will not bring up these flights. We were in the west near the Iraqi border and wanted to fly to Tehran. Our local guesthouse helped us out and we booked it for $50 USD including snack and bags.

They were charging $200 USD on one of those online booking agencies above. We never were questioned at the airport about the local price and everything went smoothly.

If you’re not travelling in a group of four, ask at your guesthouse or talk to other travellers to see if you can share the cost of a driver with them.

Sometimes hiring a driver between towns as private transport would work out to be the same price as 4 bus tickets. You get there faster and can stop when you like along the way.

This will save you money and you might even make some awesome friends out of it.

Iranians are very punctual. If you plan to leave for a tour at 8am be in reception at 7:45am, and the driver will most likely already be there.

Buses and trains also won’t wait for you if you aren’t there. The last thing you want to do is miss your tour because you slept in or hadn’t packed yet.

If you’re heading to the airport, bus or train station make sure you leave plenty of time in case of bad traffic.

When we say horrible, we’re being polite. The traffic in Iran is actually insane.

If you’re exploring Tehran don’t be surprised if you have plenty of “Holy s**t!” moments as you go to cross the street or you get around in taxi.

It’s not that Iranians are bad drivers…they just don’t have a concept of space when driving around. In one way it’s almost as entertaining as it is scary.

No one is actively trying to run pedestrians down, but if you do try to run the gauntlet of crossing a busy road it’s best to wait for a local to join them on their hell-bent journey to the other side.

Some social media platforms are banned in Iran and you cannot access them without a VPN (Virtual Private Network).

You cannot access Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Twitter, YouTube or Pinterest. You can access Instagram , but the rest only with a VPN.

We used ExpressVPN and had no issues. Here is a link to get your first 30 days for free .

Make sure you download your VPN before you arrive in Iran, because a lot of the VPN sites are blocked by the government.

If you can, we also recommend having access to a few different VPNs, because every now and then one might be blocked in Iran.

ExpressVPN worked for us during our trip, but some people have reported that it didn’t work during their own trip. Last we heard it’s back up and running properly now though.

Most of the guesthouses we stayed at had free wifi, but don’t expect it to be fast.

Some hotels had wifi available in the rooms, while others were only in the reception area or dining rooms. It all depends on how upmarket your place is. In popular cities, tea and coffee houses had wifi also.

One thing to keep in mind though is that just because there is wifi at your hotel, be respectful on how much you use it.

There are no unlimited data plans in Iran, so the hotels have to pre-purchase data in small packets.

Please don’t be that person that streams Netflix or tries to download the new season of Game of Thrones, because all that will happen is you’ll end up using all the net for everybody else in the hotel, and cost the owner more money.

Yep, we met a guy that did just that in Varzaneh, and because it was a weekend it meant nobody in the hostel could get internet until Monday. Thanks, mate.

Despite what you may have been told, you can buy a local sim card in Iran as a foreigner, and it’s a great idea to do so.

This way you can call hotels to make bookings use WhatsApp and Snap (more on that below) on the go, and keep in touch with friends and family back home.

We bought up a sim card with the telecommunications company IranCel through our hostel in Tehran, however, they marked the price up by double.

We found out later that you can buy sim cards at the airport or at any store, so our suggestion is to do this yourself.

When going into the phone store bring your phrasebook or a local friend. You will not need to show any ID, just pay in cash, but it helps to have your passport with you just in case.

You can top up at little general stores that display the IranCel sign. They will do it all on your phone and charge a small fee for their time. Please don’t argue with that, it’s maybe 25c USD.

We were getting 5GB of data for about $10 USD.

There is an app in Iran called Snapp, and it is similar to Uber. It’s a rideshare app where drivers register and customers can order cars to get around town.

This was a lifesaver for us!

What makes Snapp so great is that a price is determined by the app and you pay in cash once you get to your destination. There’s no metre, so the driver will take the most direct way possible.

When you book it you’ll get the driver’s name, their car model and their registration number, so you know you’re getting in the right vehicle.

Yo drop a pin on a map for where you want to go, so there’s no need to try and explain it to the driver in case he doesn’t speak English (or your pronunciation is crap).

The other added benefit is you can rate the drivers afterwards, so they are more likely to be honest rather than a taxi driver.

The only thing is you cannot easily download it onto an iPhone, as Apple is an American company and does not support Iran. It doesn’t show up in the App Store.

If you go to the Snapp website  you can download it to your Apple phone through a special link there. Downloading it on an Android phone is easy with no issues.

This one was a big surprise to us, but you can drink the tap water just about everywhere in Iran.

It’s totally safe to drink, even if you’re new to the country, so don’t worry about buying plastic water bottles everywhere you go.

Bring a reusable water bottle instead and simply fill up as you go.

Don’t drink river water tough if you are out hiking.

Iran is a nation of tea drinkers, so it’s no surprise that you’ll get delicious fresh tea for cheap (or free) just about everywhere.

But what about us coffee drinkers??

The bad news is that getting good coffee is very hard in Iran. Despite their close proximity to places like Turkey, the coffee culture phased out years ago and so now the best you’ll find is usually those horrible instant packets.

There is a silver lining though, and some entrepreneurial locals have discovered that coffee is basically the second greatest thing on earth (after a delicious IPA, which you also can’t get in Iran), and some Western-style coffee shops are popping up in major towns.

They’re not cheap, but when you need that caffeine hit in the morning it’s totally worth it.

When you catch the metro around Tehran or Esfahan, there are carriages designated just for women, which is great if you’re a solo female traveller.

These are basically sections that males aren’t allowed in to stop accidental touching of non-related mixed genders, but it also adds a sense of security for women taking public transport.

Occasionally if the mixed carriages are full you’ll see one or two men in the female ones, but they tend to stand next to the door away from everyone.

[box] Those were just some of the things you need to know before you visit Iran. Has the article helped you? Do you have anything else to add? Leave a comment below and let us know![/box]

Alesha and Jarryd

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

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Hello friends, I read your comments and I wish I could say that I am happy that you think so naively about the Iranian regime, but the truth of Iran and its people is not what these friends say, and unfortunately the bitter truth is that all those media that They present this regime and the leaders of the Islamic Republic as terrorists and a bunch of dishonorable and inhuman people, they are telling the truth and only the oppressed people of Iran understand this! you can ask them. But for you tourist friends, yes, this country can be a paradise because your money is worth many times more than ours, and not you tourist friends, but the unfortunate people of this cursed country feel the pressure. Our only wish was to have normal rights and a normal life like you, but this regime stole that life from the people of Iran and blackened the lives of the people of this country. Hoping for a day when this terrorist regime, which has made the Middle East and the whole world insecure, will be destroyed and we Iranian people have good and sincere relations with the people of other countries of the world . That day we will have at least a normal life and the world will not recognize this country as a criminal terrorist country. Written by a 27 young Iranian.

hi I want to just say now ( 2023-15-11 ) that the US dollar is 510000 Rials and here is heaven for people of countries where the currency is the dollar and Iran just is Hell for local people thanks to the Iran government for this situation!!!!!!

Hi dear Alisha and Jerry My name is Raziyeh. As an Iranian, I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for your kind words and appreciation of our beautiful country. Contrary to media propaganda, Iran is safe, and Contrary to media statements, we are hospitable and genial people who do everything to ensure you have a fun time in Iran. Please do not believe the lies that social media tells about our country. We’ll be happy to see tourists and give information to them. I hope you revisit our country. Best regards, Raziyeh.

Hi everyone I’m from Iran. I’m happy that you liked your trip to Iran. Iran has a lot of museums and attractive places if you’ll come you should visit them. And we’ll be happy to see tourists and give informations to them.

Iran is an extremely lovely place to travel. Thank you for the trip advice. I adore your article.

For foreigners especially Westerners Iran is a very dangerous country. There is a high risk of being arrested on fake charges. Atleast 50 foreigners have been arrested recently and sentenced without a fair trail. The “friendly” citizens of Iran will not help you out unless you pay them witg Euro or Dollars…..

Well! I accidentally found this while surfing the net, and it’s a bit sad that each dollar is 450000 Rials… People are still friendly to tourists though, no matter how hard our lives are. I hope you visit our country again, after all these sad events, of course.

22 days later and its 510000. when will these evil leaders leave us alone

We are glad that you were satisfied with your trip.You pointed out great points like someone who has lived inside for years… Our people believed, but the government has crushed the people so much under the economic pressure that they have become a little unfair to each other. Be sure to use SNAP inside Iran.. Be sure to check the price before buying.. Our common currency is Toman and Rial is nominal. For example, now every 1 dollar is equivalent to 33000 Tomans.. To eat a pizza, you need 6 or 7 dollars.3 cents are required for 1.5 liter of taqriya water.. If you have an acquaintance in Iran, you can be much easier.. Don’t pay too much attention to the capital because it has very beautiful cities with a very old history. Thank you for choosing which country for your trip. Good luck

Thank you for the excellent information and for taking an interest in the lovely country. really nice tips for visiting Iran.

I’m glad you liked Iran. Unfortunately, due to the difficulty in managing economic affairs, the Iranian people suffer from the high cost of goods. Now each dollar is equivalent to 277,000 rials, which is really terrible, of course for our people! Of course, Iran is still full of beautiful places and amazing places! I hope you have good trips …❤

Hi guys I am Ava. I am from Iran/ Isfahan. If you want to come to Iran I would be happy to help you. I have a beautiful Iranian old house.

Can you please write about traveling in Iran at the moment. I would be traveling on a New Zealand passport. Thank you. Evan.

Iran holds many surprises for visitors; like the climate which can fluctuate greatly, depending on the area and time of year, dispelling the long-held myth that Iran is nothing more than a vast, sweltering desert. But Iran is a historical place and i like to visit this type of places that is why few days ago i read this type of article on another site it contain huge information. While some surprises are nice when travelling, it’s important to be as well prepared as possible.

Is $1000 for 7 days visiting 5 cities everything included except airline tickets a reasonable price? Please let me know what you think! Cities included are Tehran, Yazd, Esfahan, Shiraz, and the desert side with Caspian sea. Thanks,

Definitely if you stay at budget accommodation, take public buses as transport and not eat at fancy restaurants. Have a good trip

it’s very good

Indeed it is 🙂

I am Iranian. You described Iran very well. I am glad that you visited Iran

Thank you for your comment Masoud. We really enjoyed travelling around Iran. 🙂

Hi Thank you for your essay about Iran. As an Iranian I do hope you have good memories generally from Iran. No country is perfectly free of any trouble but please do not believe propaganda against Iran unless you travel to Iran and live with Iranian for a couple of weeks (at least) and then judge.

Hi there! I’m an Iranian, and i’m REALLY happy that you loved our country! I hope other tourists enjoy their travel to Iran, and I wanted to say, that Pinterest doesn’t need VPN! 🙂 And also about hijab, if you’re thinking that it’s gonna make you struggle, well, it definitely isn’t. I mean, it’s not such a big deal, and you’ll get used to it and continue enjoying! Anyways, hope you like our country

Reasons for a Group Visit to Iran Experienced travelers may want to look away. Guided tours can really be the best option for some travelers going abroad. Of course, they limit you a little and lose a little freedom. You will not have enough time to fall in love with a place and you will not have enough time to stay there, and other companions may not be with you. But no matter what the veterans might say, there are good reasons to tour for those who want to.

Salaam All, I’ve travelled extensively in the Middle East (Egypt, Palestine, Lybia, Qatar, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Iran and India. My wife, daughter and myself went on holiday to Iran in 2012 and 2015 (for my 60th birthday). An Iranian couple came to sing happy bithday to me in farsi. It was an inexplicable experience, no crime on the street, no fighting, very, very safe, people very friendly and warm, food and confectionary very good, not expensive to shop but hotel accommodation could be expensive, public transport (bus and metro rail) very good and effecient, metro stations very clean and very easy for foreigners to use. Although we were based in Northern Tehran (Eliheyah), we once drove by luxury coach to Ishfahan to spend one week there (2012), the other trip we flew to Shiraz to spend one week there (2015). I fell in love with this country, it’s absolutely beautiful. In Tehran, we even went in the cable cars on the Azborg mountains. O, I just cannot stop raving about IRAN. I’ll visit there anytime. Please don’t believe the media with their negative reports, go see for yourself and discover this amazing country. Salaam from Riedwaan Salie (Cape Town, South Africa.

That is so nice. What a great birthday trip. We are so glad you had a wonderful time with you family. We found the country very welcoming and friendly also. Thank you for your comment. 🙂

Your itinerary was perfect! I hope you come back again very soon! I heard now you should ask for visa only from agencies. Also now for your money matters you can use a local debit card like Daricpay to charge and transfer money online

We hope to visit again one day. Take care

Hi Im am an iranian person and your information was totally correct about iran I am very glad to see you were anjoyed traveling to iran If you come to iran again you can visit other cities like shiraz,Tabriz,Isfahan,Hamedan they are as beautiful as Tehran

Thank you so much for your comment. 🙂

Hi all, I have been 2 weeks in Iran the last month, my friends and I were travelling the west part of this huge country touring the famous cities and recommended places over the countryside. I could never thought how beautiful were every little point that we stopped by: landscapes, restaurants, seacoast, food… persian landmarks will remind forever in my mind. As we were travelling by car we trusted (company removed, you can message below if interested), a notorious iranian company which offers a wide variety of car for rent. The service was excelent and they provided us whatever we need in order to make our trip easer. I would definetely recommend this company If you are thinking about renting a car to shuttle from a place to another, they are serious and reliable. Thanks persian people and the company for making our dreamt trip happen!!

We love Iran!!!!

Sounds like you had a great trip. We are so glad so had a great time.

Hi Alesha and Jarryd, Thank you for the useful info and your interest in my beautiful country. I’m Zahra Mazaheri an English – Farsi translator. I would be more than happy to help the tourist to Iran in having a pleasant journey.

Glad you liked our article. All the best

Iran is a wonderful country for all nations to visit. Whether you’re interested in going to cultural and historical places, try local food, shopping, or visiting new people, the country is one of the best places for all of these.

Thank you for your comment. It is a magnificent country

thanks so much for your tips, and i want to add this there is something that we call it “Taarof” This is a polite exchange that takes place in all aspects of life in Iran, in shops, in streets, in businesses, at homes. Simply stated, it is a form of one person making an offering and the other, refusing it. This ritual may repeat itself several times before the individuals finally determine whether the offer and refusal are real or simply polite. Be very careful how and with whom you taarof so that it does not interfere with your stay. Use common sense as to when to do it and when not to.

Thank you so much for this. After travelling the country for 3 weeks, we only experienced this once in Tehran on the outskirts of the city, We ate locally, bought locally, stayed locally, bought a lot of items on the street but only experienced it once. We were shocked. We had read about it and was waiting every time but it never came. Maybe if you are a foreigner they don’t do it as much. Thank you the explanation.

I really appreciate for your thoughts on this topic. Thanks for sharing this information with us.

Hi Alesha and Jarryd, this was so helpful. We’re off to Iran in a couple of weeks and great to get some tips re luggage, local currency cards and communication options. thanks david

Hi David, We are so happy the article was helpful. You will have a great time in Iran. Do not over pack. Woman have to be covered. Loose clothing is a must and a long top/dress is best as it covers the figure. Her arms and legs have to be covered. Sandels can be wore. A hijab is a must so bring scarfs. For the men, your arms do not have to be covered. Do bring pants as you need it for mosques. Our advice is to bring zip off pants. They are great. We did not use local currency cards. We bought all our cash in euros and exchanged it in Tehran on day 1. We did it with our guesthouse. They gave us a great rate. As for communication, do download Farsi offline before you go so communication can be easier. Surprisingly a lot of people do speak broken English. have a great trip.

Hi guys. Im so glad you had a good time over here. I believe Iran is the most misunderstood nation (thanks to media!) and articles like this may help people see Iran for what it is. One thing i need to point out is the currency exchange rate. the rate of 30,000 to 1 USD is no longer valid. 1 USD would be exchanged to about 110,000 rials now (11,000 Toman). Hope to see you back here soon! cheers

i promise to passengers ( our guess ❤) that we can make nice memory for you , and hope you enjoy that

Hi guys, great article! Just wanted to suggest that you include information about the Pocket WiFi and Travel Debit card services offered by MahCard (www.mahcard.com) as well… We travelled from Amsterdam to Iran during January this year and we used both services from MahCard and they really made our trip much easier…

Thank you for your tip Lotte. We have never heard of these guy. Definitely would be helpful. We strongly encourage travellers to do their on research on companies and make their own judgements. All the best

Hello! Very useful info about Iran. I am preparing a trip with car from UAE to ROMANI so it will be Bandar Abbas to Turkey Border. Any info and advices are welcomme! Thx

Hi Als, not too sure about that border. We flew in to Tehran. All the best.

Hello Dear Guys, I’m really glad to find your blog. It’s really interesting to me. I should say thank you to you for giving this good information about my country to people. It would be our honor to be host in your next travels to Iran.

I have been to a lot countries. I have been to super cold areas like Norway and have lived in the snowy Switzerland, and have also been to warm countries such as Bali, Sri Lanka, etc… What I love about Iran is that whenever and in whatever season you go, there are always 4 seasons. The southern part (Persian Gulf) is known for its golden beaches and hot climates, other areas such as Shemshak, Darbandsar, etc… are known for their snow and mountains. I recommend going to ski resorts in winter, and as a person who has lived in Switzerland I can tell that they are better. At the same time where you find snow in Iran, you can also travel to the other side where there are hot deserts. I recommend you go to these desert areas with a local tour called RONATURE, which is an ecofriendly tour and provides vegan and vegetarian food, furthermore supports locals and the environment. The Persian Gulf is unimaginably beautiful. Qeshm island in the south is probably the most beautiful place in the world, unfortunately there are not many photos of this island online because not many people know about it yet, but I do recommend taking diving courses there. The water park in Kish island is the best I’ve ever seen, much better than the ones in Dubai. I could go on for forever but you go to Iran once and experience all the four seasons. You get snowy mountains and sunny beaches. You go skiing and after a short flight you are tanning on the beach. This is a miracle and not something other countries dont have to offer. I can say nothing more but to recommend this marvellous country. Do not listen to the media, Iran is safer than Europe and Im not even slightly exaggerating.

Thank you for helping people to travel to Iran, I believe everyone should visit Iran beyond the media portrayal.

We totally agree with you Vahid. Never listen to the media about a destination, we don’t. We really enjoyed our time in Iran and encourage people to experience this country for themselves. 🙂

Sorry, I won’t support Iran. The government is evil. They imprison and torture their own citizens and they execute gay people. How can you support a government like that? Oh, and if you have an Israeli stamp on your passport, they won’t let you in. That’s ok with you?

We don’t support the government, we support the people of the country, who are among the friendliest, most genuine and hospitable people we have ever encountered. If we were to boycott countries with corrupt and evil governments, we’d start with the US.

I recently moved to Iran, as I am Iranian-American (well, now mainly just Iranian). I really appreciate all of the sweet and insightful comments and your wonderful website. Since the last time I lived here I was a child and have only visited every few years, when I arrived I was definitely feeling like a Persian that came back from a lost time warp of sorts, and had to learn the deeper levels of what you all already thoughtfully mentioned like tarof and the culture. Iran is a BEAUTIFUL & AMAZING country and I am lucky to be here. Just to let people know, everything I read here is true and helpful. 🙂 Even riding a bus from Iran into Armenia (to access my american bank for my final paycheck), I started out feeling slightly awkward as the 99% Persian only passenger peers around me were playing cute little games with each other laughing, with LOTS of incredible Persian music… I started getting many happy flashbacks of American-Iranian dance parties… but this was the REAL thing! Within minutes I joined in after being invited to clap my hands and a few girls were doing little hand dances in their seats… within about 10 minutes half the people on the bus were all SINGING together, it was precious. I felt like I was home, with my (native) Iranian people, and I got little happy tears in my eyes. YOU CANNOT FIND THESE MOMENTS IN AMERICA or EUROPE where nearly everyone around you surrounds you with welcoming bright eyes all at the same time. It’s like they are making you part of their family. I recommend visiting Iran for ANYONE… You will see that Iranians are good hearted and loving, even with all the sanctions. Give them a genuine smile, and you will get 100 smiles back, with tea and poetry. 😀

What a beautiful moment. That is great you are going back to your roots. We hear you. Iranians are good hearted and so generous. It is a beautiful country. Have a great time and hope you settle in quickly. All the best

Thanks for visiting my country. Hope tourism breaks all the wall of this global village.

We hope so too. It is a beautiful country with many beautiful people. We loved our time there

Thank you so much for this amazing article! I am going to visit Iran, but just for one week, so I need to take everything that I can from this short trip. I didn’t know that I need a VPN, that is a surprise! I have Surfshark subscription. Maybe you know how it works in Iran?

Not too sure if it will work or not. We used VPN Express and had no issues. There are free VPNs if you get suck and find yours does not work. Have a great trip.

So disappointing to learn that Canada is not one of the countries included on the Visa on Arrival program…I really want to spend a week in Tehran but it looks as though that won’t be possible. That’s really too bad 🙁

I know. It is a little more of a hassle but worth it. I know Canadians, UK and USA citizens have to go on a tour but there are many great tours within the country. If you want a tour that is not a tour, check out Yomadic. He’s tours are informative but relaxed and have great reviews. All the best.

I was 10 days in Iran (Teerah, Esfahan, Yazd and Siraz) and … is a great country, good food, culture and fantastic people. Thank you Iran!

Glad you had a wonderful time Vitor. 🙂

hi im ghazal from kermanshah iran! a offer all to come here and feel how friendly people are

Yourwellcom

I’m sorry for this government rule.

Your welcome. I hope you back soon in my country.

hello,im shahzad from iran. thank you so much for your excelent content about Iran. all of the sentences are true about my country and u knew it very well.im so happy that you had good times here. As the other iranian people said,now 1 USD is equal with 141,000 Rials :).so Iran is a very cheap country for tourists,too:). come to my country and enjoy,it would be your best trip with no debt:)

Hi Shahzad, We had a wonderful time there. Thank you for the update with the exchange rate. We recommend all travellers to visit Iran. 🙂

Thanks for this guys! I am super excited leaving for Tehran on Monday I booked a small tour as I felt anxious about travelling independently first time ever in Iran. If I like it -and I am sure I will – I shall go back. I was advised to take a day travel backpack and a medium sized wheely which I hope to fill up with things bought locally. Of course I shall take essentials. Is a long skirt allowed? It might be cooler than trousers. What do you think?

Hi Alex, I hope you are having a wonderful trip, That great you booked a small tour. Sometimes it is the best way to see the country and learn about the people and culture. There is so many great souvenirs to buy. Unfortunately my bag wasn’t big enough. 🙂 Absolutely a long shirt is allowed but not a tight body fitting one. Long sleeve and maxi dresses are perfect. Trousers are great just make sure you top is loose and long past your bottom. Have a great trip.

Wow, Thanks for this. I’am glad, that I found your page. I’ll travel in october alone to isfahan. I’m already so excited

That’s amazing. You will have a great time. The Iranians are so friendly and welcoming. There is so much to do there. Here is a video we made about Isfahan if you want to check it out. https://youtu.be/XDYJ44CutT4

Great points!

Regarding bringing a load of cash though, I found a solution. In my last trip to Iran, I got a DaricPay card. It made everything easier!

Thank you for your suggestion and information. Glad that worked for you. We still recommend visitors to take cash as not everywhere will accept cards.

Hello everyone. This is Ali, an Iranian. This page is a good guidance; LIKE ! Iran is a country of different climates and has very beautiful historical monuments and natural areas. Contrary to propaganda, Iran is safe and a good choice for travel. Come to Iran and have nice time here.

Thank you Ali. 🙂

This is great ! Thank you! I’m preparing to go there in June and your article answered a lot of questions! I will come back to it just to remember everything. Thanks again.

Glad the article could help. Have a wonderful trip Joanna.

Great i read your experiences you had great fun in Iran. Everyone should need to aware about your guidelines before visit.

Hi Eric, thank you. We had a great time in Iran. Definitely everyone should read up on the guidelines, not just what we have written but from other also. It is important to do your research before travelling to a country. 🙂

Hey, great article on Iran tourism. What should I plan in terms of budget, if I want to plan a 7-day trip to Iran and cover major tourist/historical destination.

How would you rate food for just vegetarians. Thanks!

We budgeted $80 USD a day for a couple. We came home with a little bit of money but we rather have more than less as there is no ATMs that work for foreigners. As for vegetarian food, there are many options.

This is awesome article, I’ve read a ton of articles online these past couple of months as I’m traveling to Iran in May. I’ve already bought a NordVPN subscription regarding the social media access, I hope it will work fine too, saw some recommendations for it too. Other than that I really cannot wait for the trip, so I keep reading about it. Thanks 🙂

Awesome Steve. Have a great time. The people there are so friendly. It is an amazing country.

hi steve, i recommend, first travel to iran then try free vpn then buy subscription.because some vpn in iran dose not work. instagram and what up don’t need vpn.have a nice trip!

Hi I am very pleased to be pleased with your trip to Iran I hope that one day we will be able to travel to other countries as well These days, people in my country are very sad.

Hi Mostafa, thank you for your message. We did enjoy visiting your country but did hear this from many locals. We hope that one day it all changes and travel will be a lot easier for Iranians. We saw nothing but friendly and welcoming people. The most friendliest country we have visited. We hope happiness comes soon.

Glad to hear that you had good trip in Iran guys. However things get worse and now 110,000 rials = 1 USD which is good for tourists. Lol.

Thanks for that Mohammad. Not good for the locals. We thought it was cheap when we visited last year. Sorry to hear that

I glad to read this site My country has very beautiful natural scenery and tourism, as well as very caring and kind people… I hope to see you in my city, Isfahan, the city of culture and art, and we can spend good times together^_^ I hope that there will always be in all countries, including my country

Hello I am Iranian I am very pleased that you have been satisfied with traveling to Iran I wish you success

Thank you for stopping by. We loved travelling Iran. The people were so welcoming and we had a lot of great chats with many. We are looking forward to returning one day.

You were ok travelling without a guide? Is it easy to travel around without one? And is it possible to hire guides to specific places, such as Persefone of some mosque? My wife and I are planning to visit Iran on April or October? What’d say? Thanks a lot.

Absolutely. We met so many local people and had so much fun. It is an easy country to get around in. Their transport system within the cities were easy and great. Their bus system across the country was comfortable and faster than the train. You can hire guides at main attractions as you go. The hotels can help with that also. Have a great trip.

If you are from the USA, Canada or UK you need to go on a tour.

Hi We are older Australians and are wanting to go to Iran. We usually plan our holiday booking accommodation and transport before we go so are a little hesitate going without anything booked. We have not been on a tour before and they don’t appeal to us.

Thank you so much for this valuable information. My mother and I are trying to book an organized trip with Intrepid Travel. They told us that we were not allowed to be out and about without the accompaniment of a male. Which they say we would have to stay in our hotel during our free time unless we go with a male. Have you heard of this before?

I am Mehdi and I am from, Shiraz Iran. I welcome your arrival to Iran in advance. Staying you in your hotel during your free time in Iran is not right. You can go out without a male. I can help you if you have any question. please don’t hesitate to ask me. you can contact me at [email protected] . I hope you have a nice trip in Iran. Regards; Mehdi

Hi Cathy, that is so strange they would tell you this. That is wrong on Intrepid Travel to tell you this and if they are concerned about this for their guests they should provide tours for you free of charge as staying in the hotel room is not a very good experience at all. I hope you wrote to them to express your disappointment with this.

As Mehdi said above, that is not right. When we were travelling throughout Iran there were many woman travelling on their own that out and about by them selves. We did not hear of any issues. Obviously have your wits about yourself. The people of Iran are so friendly. The friendliest we have come across in our travels. I hope you got to experience this and see a lot of the beautiful country.

Hi Cathy, I’m an Iranian person, this is not right, you can go out without a male. Iran is full of friendly people and I’m sure you will enjoy your time and this would be one of the most unforgettable trips.

Hello kathy I’m very surprised by your talk I am from Iran and I assure you that it is not

Hey guys! This is one of the *very* few articles about Iran that I completely agree with. Oh, apart from one sentence: “Iranians are very punctual”… I actually laughed out loud. You must have got lucky. In any case, I’m glad you enjoyed your time, and hope we cross paths one day.

(also, feel free to edit this out: the photo of Alesha at Friday mosque in Yazd is actually Friday mosque in Esfahan)

Thanks so much Nate! Glad the piece got the seal of approval from the Iran expert himself! And I guess we did get super lucky with the locals being punctual. For the whole month we were there we were never left waiting. Will count our lucky stars, and make a note that perhaps it’s not always the case.

And thanks for the correction on the Friday mosque! Have amended it now. Happy travels mate.

Hi dears! I’m an iranian girl & I love my country… Actually my father is a tour guide & I’ve heared such lovely words from so many tourists… they mostly say they had heard many bad things about iran and they have experienced the bests when they came here… I’m so glad to here such nice words by many travelers and i really appreciate you cause you ‘re telling the truth about my amazing country!!!! I love you all dears!!

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• Iran Travel Tips

Solo Female Travel Tips to Iran

No matter you are a professional traveler or you are just an enthusiast with a long bucket list, you might already have Iran on your list and have innumerable reasons to choose Iran as your next spot. Iran has been claimed as one of the safest countries to travel to by tourists. You might be a solo female traveler who is looking to wander all around the world by herself. Or you may just have started to consider traveling all by yourself. You might be even concerned about a loved one traveling solely. So it is time to stop worrying and take some action. In this article, we provided all you need to know as a female traveler and more importantly as a solo female traveler in Iran to make the most out of your stay. We hope you enjoy this article.

Traveling Solely as a Female; Ups & Downs

General tips for female solo travelers.

• Female Solo Travel in Iran; How Common is that? +video

Things You MUST Know as a Solo Female Traveler before Visiting Iran:

Dress codes in iran, what color can you wear in iran, holy shrines and religious sites, codes of behavior, persian legendary hospitality, trekking off the beaten paths as a solo female traveler, sexual harassment in iran, how about hitchhiking & couchsurfing for independent female travelers in iran, gender segregation in iran, iranian’s characteristics, do not freak about all the staring, last but not least; driving & crossing roads in iran.

Despite all the media orientations to depict Iran as an unsafe spot for travelers, Iran is a pretty safe country to travel to. It is recognized as “one of the safest countries to travel to” according to the tourists traveled to Iran. The rate of violence, aggression, rape, and racism toward tourists are so low in Iran.

If you are still uncertain about the safety of Iran, we highly recommend you consulting with a tourist who has already visited Iran in order to broaden your horizons on this issue and gain a better understanding of it. Traveling solely can be quite challenging yet rewarding. When you are alone, you have to make too many decisions by yourself which can cause fatigue while you’d be able to learn so many things out of such a huge responsibility.

Besides, when one is alone on a trip, they will have more time and a greater chance to communicate with the locals while on group tours, people tend to communicate with locals so much less. When traveling solely, one should be more cautious about where and when to go to some places and might even choose the chance of visiting some places; on the other hand, traveling alone brings out the chance of being more mindful of the place you are visiting. Long story short, traveling solely, has its own advantages and disadvantages.

As a solo traveler, there are undoubtedly some universal facts and things you need to know as a woman. From researching your destination before you go and keeping your valuables with you to taking only the essential stuff and having printed documents with you. We will not delve into these general tips and will be discussing the specific things you need to know as a woman traveling lonely to Iran.

Female Solo Travel in Iran; How Common is that?  +video

Sure, Iranians have a collective culture and may prefer traveling with a partner or in groups, but it is not that you will see no one traveling alone in Iran by themselves. You might want to know if it is common among women in Iran to travel solely in the country or abroad. Well, it was not so common in past; fortunately, you can see a great number of women traveling solely these days in Iran. Traveling solely and hitchhiking are these days so common among females. It is not that the portion is equal to male solo travelers but you will see a significant number of women traveling by themselves in Iran.

Besides, the number of female tourists to Iran has increased massively due to Iran’s safety for tourists. So, trust me, you will not feel so bold.

You might be looking for a straightforward answer to know whether Iran is a safe spot for solo female travelers or not; long story short, Iran is definitely a safe place for women but it is worth knowing a few tips to make it an even much safer journey. So no worries, in this article, we are not just going to create a dreamy picture of Iran and we will cover all the positive and negative points you need to know before starting your journey to this four-seasoned country. The following tips are all you must know before traveling to Iran as an independent traveler.

You might already know that the official religion of the country is Islam and Hijab is mandatory for both men and women; of course, the dress codes are different for men and women. So, in order to respect both the culture and religion of the country and to fit better into society, we highly recommend adhering to the dress codes. Not to mention that different regions, cities, and families might have various ethical standards and view Hijab from different perspectives. So, do not get shocked if you see women having t-shirts in north Tehran. Bear in mind that what we suggest to you here is based on the law by which you will not face any problem. Besides, adhering to the common laws will help you to blend better with people and prevent probable issues.

It is good to know that there are sometimes morality police wandering around the city to arrest or warn women not wearing proper Hijab; so, be careful about what you wear. In general, Hijab for women entails covering hair, arms, and legs. Here are the features of Iran’s dress codes for women:

• Manteau/ Tunic which is somehow a long jacket. It is actually to cover your bottom.
• Shawl/ Rousari (scarf): It is to cover your hair, not all of it, but preferable most of your hair.
• Long Pants : Do not forget to wear long jeans or pants.

Bear in mind that the moment you arrive at the airport in Iran, you should be wearing them; so we suggest to have a scarf in your bag and a jacket to put on when you land in. Of course, it will not be too hard to find a scarf or long jacket in your country; in case you faced difficulties, ask for a local’s help in Iran to take you shopping.

Well, you might have heard that Iranians typically wear dark colors, especially black. But that is not true. People tend to wear more colorful clothes these days. And it is not unusual if you wear so. But keep in mind that, in some certain religious ceremonies and during specific months, people –especially those who live in small towns- wear black clothes but of course you will not be questioned on why you have not worn so.

Well, in some shrines and mosques women have to wear Chador. You might be wondering what Chador is and how to wear it! Well, Chador is a black fabric that covers the full body except for the face. Actually, more religious people who are concerned about their Hijab wear Chador in Iran and it is not mandatory.

The good news is that even in case of visiting such places, you will not need to buy a Chador since these places provide the Chador for the visitors at the gates.

Since you are going to visit an Islamic country, be careful about your behavior. Some certain things are not accepted and somehow more complicated in Iran. We will not go into the details about such behavior in this article and we just mention some of them. For example, shaking hands with the opposite sex is totally banned among religious people, while others are quite okay with it. Public displays of affection are also not so common, especially in smaller cities. You can of course hold hands, but kissing is not so common in public. So as a female solo traveler, bear in mind to observe these few codes not to look different from others.

You might have already heard a lot about Iranian hospitality and friendliness. Actually, you will see more of what you are expecting since hospitality is one of the key elements of rich Persian culture. So, do not get shocked when you are offered to free meals several times a day. You might be even offered free accommodation, tickets, snacks, and such sort of things. Wondering what you should do in response to this hospitality? Well, be yourself and do what you like. If you enjoy their company, gladly accept their offer; if not, politely reject it.

These days, women smoking in Iran are more accepted among the community; although in small towns and some religious cities, it is still considered taboo for women smoking. So, be careful where and when to smoke. Besides, bear in mind that you may not have access to buy original cigarettes in Iran, or at least there are not available at each and every corner of the city. The good news is that buying and selling cigarettes is not legally banned in Iran, so, you will not face any problem in buying them.

A very important thing to know about Iran is that alcohol is legally prohibited in Iran. It is not that no Iranian drink alcohol but it can only be found in the black market. Meaning that, if you get caught drinking, buying, holding, and selling alcohol, you will be sentenced to jail. So many of the products are hand-made and might be even dangerous to your health; as a result, we suggest not drinking alcohol unless you are assured of the quality. To get a better understanding of alcohol consumption for tourists in Iran, we recommend reading Alcohol in Iran; All You Need to Know about Drinking.

Before taking any actions, we highly recommend you consult a local guide to see if it is safe for you to travel the path by yourself or if it is better to go in a group or with a guide. Some places are totally safe even for solo female travelers, while other places can be risky even for groups. So depending on the place you want to visit, choose how to go here.

Like any other place around the world, as a solo female traveler, you might confront sexual harassment in Iran as well. There are for sure some universal guidelines to prevent or handle sexual harassment. Below are some general rules and you can surely be flexible depending on the place you are.

o Observe the dress codes : It is an obvious fact that the better you fit in a culture, the fewer people behave you differently. Say, you do not wear Hijab in various places in Iran; for sure, there are so many Iranian women who do not adhere to dress codes, but they know when, how, and where to disobey the law. Besides, they know with whom they can be comfortable. These days, a huge proportion of men are respectful to women not wearing Hijab, but it is not true in all places with all people. A few men just consider the way you dress as permission for getting sexually close. That is undoubtedly ridiculous, but still true! So in order to be safer, it is better to observe the dress codes; you can also see how the surrounding women act or ask for a female’s help.

o Do not walk alone at night : Unless you are assured of the security of the neighborhood or are with friends, it is better not to walk alone at night. In case you are visiting a place and your visit lasts until night or midnight, we suggest taking an internet taxi like Snapp or Tap30.

o Trust your instincts : This is a general rule for all kinds of your actions. No matter you are hitchhiking, couch surfing, or going to a friendly meeting with a single man, you should trust your instincts. That is the most important thing. Be aware of your feelings and the moment you got negative vibes just firmly reject the request or leave the car.

o Do not say yes to all the invitations : Iranian’s hospitality is undoubtedly a key feature of Persian culture; you will be invited to people’s gatherings, meetings, and parties as a result of their kindness. But it is not that you need to accept all invitations for being just nice. So, no matter how polite a person is or how uncomfortable you are in saying no to invitations, just be confident and reject it whenever you are not feeling okay.

o Be a bit more cautious toward men: It is not that you should not trust men in Iran; it is more like all around the world. We all should put humanity before gender and not segregate people based on their gender. You can go out with men or even stay the night at their house. Same as for women. But in some rare cases, when you act too friendly or comfortable, your behavior might be misinterpreted. So, trust your feelings and be careful about the body language, then choose how to behave with him.

o Don’t be afraid to ask for others’ help: In case you just felt any discomfort by one person, either being sexually harassed or being threatened, just ask for people’s help loudly. Although people may not understand your language, they will come to help you. So, it will scare the other person away.

During the last decade, hitchhiking and couch surfing have become more common among youngsters especially for solo female travelers. Although couch surfing is illegal in Iran, still so many tourists find free accommodation via this website in Iran. What we suggest is to preferably find a host who is a girl or a couple; you can also check the reviews for the male host. For Hitchhiking, it is also more common these days. It may not be recognized as the term hitchhiking among locals in some provinces, still, they give free rides to people on the way. Just to be more clear, tell them from the very beginning that you are seeking for a free ride.

Shockingly, you will be faced with gender segregation in Iran but it is really not so much. Here is a list of places where you will be confronting segregation:

– Metro : There are two parts in each metro; –one at the end and the other in front- known as “Women-Only” sections. The middle part is for both men and women; but if you are alone or with a group of female friends, we recommend going to the women-only carriages especially during the crowded hours. By the way, the women-only section is clearly marked, so you won’t be confused about where to go.

– Local Buses : In these buses, women should go to the back part; while men stay in front of the bus.

– BRTs ( Bus Rapid Transits ): These are larger buses and are in red. Unlike the local buses, women are supposed to sit in front, while the back is dedicated to men in BRTs.

– Ghahvekhane : Ghahvekhane or Ghahvekhune is a type of tea house that also serves hookah; men are only allowed to these places.

– Entrance Doors : It is good to know that in some specific places including some universities, museums, mosques, and halls, there are separate entrance doors for men and women.

Traveling to a country all by yourself, knowing people’s characteristics and culture can be of great help to make better communication and bonds with local people. The very first and remarkable characteristic of Iranians is hospitality; meaning that you receive offers for so many free drinks, snacks, meals, parties, and gatherings. So, unlike so many countries that you may not even be noticed by locals, Iranians are welcoming people especially when it comes to tourists.

The question that arises here is whether you as a solo female traveler should accept their offer or not! As mentioned above, trust your instincts and of course check your schedule to see whether you are able to accept their offer or not. Do not worry about rejecting their offer.

Before any rejection, let’s get familiar with a Persian cultural element called “Taarof”. Taarof is sort of a complicated and confusing concept. It is actually repeating the offer once it is rejected; meaning that even if you say no to a meal, the host insists on staying for the meal. It is actually a matter of being respectful; the host assumes that you are being shy and that is why they insist on their invitation even after being rejected. This process may repeat two to three times. No worries, just smile and politely reject the offer. No hard feelings!

As a solo female traveler, you might shock why a huge number of people stare at you regardless of their gender. You may even consider it rude. Depending on what region of Iran you are visiting, you might see people staring at you. It is often not an indicator of sexual harassment but is representative of people’s curiosity.

You may even be swamped by their innumerable question about your home country, why you are traveling alone in Iran, and how do you see Iran. If you are fond of a local company, learning a few Persian words will pave the way to communicate with them. If you are busy with your itinerary, then politely answer one or two questions and leave the conversation afterward.

No matter if you are a man or a woman, you should be really careful when crossing a street or driving in Iran. Unfortunately, Iran has one of the highest rates for road accidents in the world. So, be careful, since they really drive unexpectedly in Iran and disobey a lot of laws when it comes to driving. Besides, do not forget that for your commute between cities, VIP buses or trains are safer choices.

We hope you enjoyed this article and learned how to safely find your way as a solo female traveler. If you are still uncertain about traveling to Iran solely, take a look at some blog posts or YouTube videos by tourists who have traveled to Iran as a solo woman.

Additionally, if you are more of a pre-planned person and prefer to have everything arranged before your trip, the good news is that these days you can book all the services online before your journey starts. From hotels and hostels to buses, trains, and flights. We at TAPPersia are also ready to help you out with all the process. Don’t hesitate to contact us.

Related article:

cosmetics and fashion in Iran

Sara Hoseingholizade

Comments (4)

Iran is save for women. I was there.

Is it Safe to Travel Alone as a Woman? – It’s going to be ending of mine day, but before finish I am reading this great piece of writing to improve my know-how.- calator.tel

Pretty nice post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I have really loved surfing around your weblog posts.

bonjour, pourriez-vous m’envoyer vos articles en iranien ou francais. merci boucoup

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Why you should travel to Iran as an American (and what to expect)

Packed with over 5,000 years of history, Iran is a destination everyone must experience at least once in their lifetime. From the ancient Persian Empire to the Zoroastrians temples, the countless mosques, and even the modern cities like Tehran, there is so much to see that one visit will not be enough.

After traveling to Iran on Intrepid Travel’s 14-day Iran Adventure trip, I shared my experience with many of my friends. Most of them replied with a similar response, “I’d love to go to Iran!”

This is a common response among travelers, yet not many actually plan a trip to the country due to misinformation, lack of information, or fear.

Sunrise at Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Esfahan

To encourage you to plan a trip to this wonderful destination, I’ll share with you a few reasons why you should travel to Iran as an American, debunk a few myths, and tell you what to expect there.

No, they don’t hate Americans

Contrary to what you see in the media, Iran is one of the friendliest and culturally-rich countries you’ll ever visit. And no, they do not hate Americans or any other Western nation. That’s just fear-mongering and it is far from reality.

READ MORE: 6 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT TRAVEL IN IRAN

When I arrived, I debated how open I wanted to be about my nationality. But as soon as I met Nadia, our Intrepid Travel guide, she put to rest any mild concerns I had about sharing openly that I’m American. No one has an issue with it.

Intrepid leader, Nadia

MEET NADIA, THE INTREPID LEADER WHO WILL CHALLENGE YOUR PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS ABOUT IRAN

As we traveled the country, countless locals approached me and my other tour companions to chat with us. They were all curious to know about us, our life in our respective countries, and how we were enjoying Iran. On our part, we were just as curious to learn about them, so we fed each other’s curiosities over tea and casual chatting.

One of my favorite random encounters happened just before leaving Iran. I spent my last few hours in the country visiting the Azadi Tower, where I met a few early 20-something local guys. As soon as one of them learned I was American, he expressed with joy how much he’d love to visit the US and shared his vast knowledge of the country. In fact, he was wearing an American flag bandana.

Everywhere you go, you always feel that warm welcome Iranians are known for.

Azadi Tower in Tehran

The visa process is extensive, but worth it in the end

Yes, the visa process is more complicated than in many other countries, but it should not be a deterrent to visiting Iran. Due to the current political environment, Americans are having a tougher time to get their tourist visas approved, but still, it is possible to get them. Thankfully, Intrepid Travel helps you get your visa by guiding you every step of the way with their visa application form.

HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VISA SITUATION

Once you get the visa, set foot in the country, and experience everything it has to offer, you’ll see that that the extra process was all worth it.

There’s so much history to be learned and experienced

As the host to one of the oldest civilizations in history, Iran has no lack of ancient ruins and historical sites. Everywhere you go, you’ll be surrounded in hundreds, if not thousands of years of history.

Gate of All Nations in Persepolis

From the Elamite Kingdoms, to the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great’s conquest, the Arab invasion, and even the 1979 revolution, each city you visit will show you a piece of the historical puzzle and how they played a part in the development of Iran as we know it, its neighboring countries, and even the rest of the world.

One of my favorite experiences on this trip was spending a night at the Zein-o-din Caravanserai. A caravanserai is an ancient fortress-like facility used by merchants traveling along the silk road around 450 years ago. They would spend the night there to rest, feed their camels, and trade goods before continuing their journey. Today, this one caravanserai is open for us to spend the night right where merchants used to sleep.

BROWSE INTREPID TRAVEL’S RANGE OF TRIPS TO IRAN

You’ll experience a positive culture shock

I think some of the best travel destinations are the ones that teach you something new through experiences, and Iran has no shortage of that. The level of culture shock in the country is significant, but in a positive way. You’ll see how, despite their current economic and political status, Iranians still welcome you with a smile and the warmest hospitality you could hope for.

You’ll be welcomed with an abundance of food, too!

You’ll see how women are proud of their trendy fashion, how their carpet artistry is among the finest in the world, how the nomadic culture is still alive, how their local markets are the center of activity, and how families gather at parks and squares to picnic at night until well past midnight (it can get too hot to picnic during the day).

You’ll also see how religion is deeply tied to their society and the many intricate details that make their culture unique. You’ll see all kinds of people, from the most conservative to the most liberal, and the beauty of all of them coexisting in one place.

SUBSCRIBE TO INTREPID’S NEWSLETTER FOR TRAVEL TIPS, STORIES, GIVEAWAYS & MORE

It’s good to be ambassadors of our country

As I mentioned previously, locals will talk to you and ask you about life in the US or your country. This is our opportunity to show them who we really are not only as a Western nation but also as humans. There is no better way to learn about a country than by talking firsthand with locals, the people who live and breathe their country every day. They will share with you their proudest moments, their struggles, and their desires.

Locals in the vegetable market in Shiraz

Another fear-mongering myth is that Iran is not safe. But again, it is the opposite. Locals aren’t looking to harm, kidnap, or threaten Americans. I never felt in danger, not even when I walked on my own in the city of Esfahan past midnight.

Traveling solo is safe, but as Americans, you will be traveling on a tour (since it is required), so that’s even another safety layer.

TRAVEL STORY: “I’VE CYCLED THROUGH OVER 40 COUNTRIES; HERE’S WHY IRAN STANDS OUT”

There’s no alcohol, pork, and no American/Western chains

For good or for bad, alcohol has been banned in the country since the revolution in 1979. Pork isn’t found either, but this is more because of Islamic customs. American and Western chains are not found in the country due to economic sanctions and the complicated political relationship Iran has had with the Western world for decades now.

Esfahan – one of Iran’s many unique and compelling destinations

What you will find, though, are knock-off versions of popular fast foods like McFood, a different KFC, Burger Queen, and so on. It’s fun to see how they reinterpret and adopt the Western culture not only on their food but also on their fashion and entertainment too.

There is so much more to be discovered and experienced in Iran and no post will compare to the beauty of seeing it all firsthand. If you are as intrigued by the country as I was before I went there, I’ll tell you, it will impress you and possibly even surpass your expectations. At least, it surpassed mine.

Ready to visit this incredible destination for yourself? Check out Intrepid’s small group tours in Iran.

Further reading

• Travel to Iran: a 2019 visa update for US, UK and Canadian citizens
• Everything you need to know before visiting Iran
• Why you should visit Iran now, more than ever
• 5 unique experiences you shouldn’t miss in Iran
• What to wear in Iran: a packing guide

(All images courtesy of the writer, Norbert, and taken on Intrepid Travel’s Iran Adventure trip.)

Feeling inspired?

Norbert Figueroa

Norbert Figueroa is an architect from Puerto Rico who hit pause on his career in 2011 to travel the world long-term. So far he’s traveled to over 125 countries in hopes of achieving his goal of visiting all 195 UN-recognized countries. You can follow his adventures at globotreks.com and on Facebook and Instagram @globotreks.

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What should I wear in Iran? A guide to Iran’s Dress Code

Many foreign females planning to travel to Iran might wonder what it would be like to dress in a country that is said to have a strict dress code or the so-called ‘compulsory hijab’ law. Hearing the term ‘compulsory hijab,’ many people with little knowledge of Iran rush to think of women fully-covered with chadors, burqas, and niqabs. This comes from the same misconception that once the Israeli prime minister Netanyahu simple-mindedly made that huge gaffe—among many others—that Iranian people are not allowed to wear jeans!

These people also often compare Iran with Saudi Arabia in terms of dress code, where most women are shrouded in black abayas with full-face veils, and assume that female travelers to Iran have to dress in a similar way. But this is far from true.

Well, a picture is worth a thousand words. A cursory glance at the images below will tell the whole story. As you see, the way many local women dress in public places proves wrong the dominant idea that women are under heavy restrictions in terms of their choice of dress.

A typical photo of how female travelers normally dress in Iran.

Female travellers are not required to fully cover their heads in private places. In this photo, for example, AriaMedTour’s plastic surgery patient (from Australia) is not wearing a headscarf in a doctor’s office in Tehran.

A group of Asian tourists visiting Iran posing for a photo at an animal park.

AriaMedTour’s Italian tourists visiting Milad Tower in Tehran.

AriaMedTour’s foreign rhinoplasty patient sitting in the lobby of her hotel in casual clothes. The dress code for female tourists is much laxer in private places and is not strictly enforced

AriaMedTour’s rhinoplasty patient Cecilia sitting in a private clinic’s terrace in Tehran.

AriaMedTour’s plastic surgery patients (right and center) and the company’s tour guide posing for a photo at a restaurant in Tehran.

AriaMedTour’s plastic surgery patient Abigail (2nd right) and company’s staff members posing for a photo at a historical place in Tehran.

A group of foreign tourists posing for a photo at a tourist attraction in Iran.

Croatian football coach Branko Ivankovic posing for a photo with his wife and daughter in Iran. Ivankovic is the manager of the Iranian football club Persepolis.

WHAT TO WEAR IN IRAN AS A FEMALE TRAVELER?

A headscarf is the most important piece of clothing you should consider as a female traveling to Iran, something that you might find a hassle wearing it. But many people get used to it very quickly. A headscarf is supposed to partially cover your head and your neck.

Although the dress code in Iran obliges women to wear a headscarf, the fact is that the scarf does not need to cover the entire head. In practice, a loosely-fitting piece of clothing for the head is enough for women to conform to the dress regulations of the country.

As you can see in the photos, many Iranian locals wear their headscarves loosely and far back on the head, with the front part of the hair completely visible. For a woman not used to wearing headscarves or shawls, keeping them in place on the head is a little bit annoying; we recommend that you fasten your headscarf with hairgrips to eliminate the hassle of constantly rearranging it.

What about body and legs?

A basic rule is that what you wear on your upper body should be long enough to reach your knees, or slightly above them. You are allowed to wear trousers or jeans that cover all your legs down to the ankles. Even tight leggings are ok as long as your dress, tunic, or ‘manteau’ covers you up at least down to the mid-thighs. (Manteau is a French word meaning a gown or cloak, now widely used in Iran to refer to a series of closely related outfits in various styles worn by females.)

Your arms are supposed to be covered down to the forearms, so wearing short-sleeve clothes are not permitted. The more loose-fitting the clothes the better, for both you will be more comfortable in them especially if you want to visit some places in town, and you can rest assured that you would fully conform to the laws and norms of the county.

‘Manteau’ is a type of outdoor clothing many Iranian women wear.

Two Iranian female youths dressed in trendy clothes walking down a street in Iran.

Three Iranian women in ‘manteaus’ talking and walking down a street with women in chadors seen in the background.

A typical photo of the preferred manner of dressing among non-conservative Iranian women keeping up with the latest dress fashion.

DRESS CODE FOR MEN

The dress law for men is much less harsh. Just avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless vests. T-shirts and jeans are common among the local males—forget about Netanyahu’s fiasco.

AriaMedTour’s rhinoplasty patient Cecilia (2nd left) posing for a photo along with AriaMedTour’s staff members in Tehran.

As a female tourist, you will never get arrested in Iran for your clothes if you follow some simple rules. In the worst case scenario, you might get a warning by a police officer or a polite request by a religious cleric to ‘observe your hijab,’ which still do not often happen in big cities like  Tehran , Isfahan ,  Shiraz , etc. Of course, you should be more mindful of your way of dressing in religious cities like  Mashhad  and Qom, as well as more conservative regions like the south of the country.

Also, take a look at this  link  to read a guide for female travelers to Iran written by Czech tourist Veronika.

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Solo Female Traveler In Iran

There is a lot to say about traveling on your own from both the vice and virtue points of view. If you have made up your mind to travel alone, you know that you can see and experience more. However, especially for women, such a solo trip is not without risk. There are many things that make traveling difficult for solo female traveler in Iran, as you often have to care about dressing, constantly ask the security question and think twice to decide doing an action, that is why the destination should of course be well chosen. When you choose a destination to travel as a solo woman traveler, the most important issue is always to see how safe it is.

Read a complete guide about how safe Iran is that answers all you questions.

Iran as a fascinating country full of culture, contrasts and beauties is a dreamy destination for many. Fortunately, Iran is safe for everyone where you can find the most welcoming people who amazingly care you feel happy as a visitor. As a lone traveler, you will face no problem exploring Iran until you stick to the safety guidelines like any other destinations. Here we answer some of your regular questions about the guidelines for traveling as a solo female in Iran.

read also: solo vs group travel to iran

Sounds good? Then read on, because in this article we have put together all the important and current information you need to plan for a trip to Iran.

You will read:

Is Iran An Easy Country For Solo Female To Travel Alone?

Is backpacking easy for the solo women in iran.

• Do Tourists Have To Wear Hijab In Iran?

What The Female Need To Wear In The Religious Sites In Iran?

Are you traveling with a man what is the dress code for him.

• What Should I Wear In Summer?
• Going Out And Transportation

Is It Easy To Get Iran Visa As A Female Traveler?

• Finally And In Brief: All The Essential To Know Before Departure To Iran

When thinking about a destination, you have to decide what kind of adventure you want. Are you prepared to travel on your own or do you prefer to be in an organized trip? Both options are possible in Iran.

For those who prefer to make a relaxed trip in which they only have to worry about getting up on time and taking photos, Irun2Iran has organized from budget trips to more specialized options .

Traveling on your own is also relatively easy considering the suitable infrastructures in the country. Iran is a country with good facilities, internal flights are operated regularly at cheap prices, bus transport between big cities is modern and comfortable, and the railway goes to not all but many destinations. You will read more about the infrastructure as following.

read also : how travel to Iran with children

Safety for Solo Female Travelers in Iran

In Iranian culture, women are mostly treated with respect and many solo female travelers have described their travel experience in Iran as safe. Reports of crimes against solo female travelers is almost quite rare in Iran.

You can consider Iran as a normal destination for solo female travelers, where you can travel easily and happily. However, as with any other country, you have to use common sense and follow the general safety rules to avoid any kind of problems.

Things You MUST Know as a Solo Female Traveler before Visiting Iran

A woman’s solo trip to Iran can be smoothly done if you obey the guidelines. As a solo female traveler preparing to visit Iran, you need to know and care about the country’s norms and public behavior. The Islamic law that governs the country dictates that women dress modestly, covering arms and legs; respecting these requirements is essential when visiting Iran as a solo woman.

 WHAT TO WEAR AS A WOMAN TRAVELLING TO IRAN

When traveling to Iran solo female travel, have to know the country’s rules regarding attire. It is recommended to wear loose-fitting clothing that covers the arms and legs together with a headscarf to cover the hair. Long-sleeve blouses and long skirts or trousers is a good match. Bright colors are generally accepted. Additionally, comfortable footwear is recommended and there is no limitation to use any type.

read also: Iran dress code

In most religious places, women have to wear chador, the large tissue to cover you all over. If you don’t have one, no worry, those are usually distributed free of charge at the entrance of all shrines. At some mosques they may ask visitors to cover feet as well, so it is advisable to carry socks in your backpack. Also, have it in mind that there is often a separate women’s entrance in mosques and shrines.

What Should Wear In Summer as a woman?

Because the landscapes in Iran are so different, the climate varies extremely. While on a November day in the northwest-located mountainous Tabriz, you shiver at -5 degrees, at the same time the Persian Gulf has a pleasant +25 degrees. Therefore, you need to pack your clothes accordingly, depending on which region and when you want to visit.

Due to being located in an arid and semi-arid area, the ideal is to visit Iran in spring or autumn when the temperature is tolerable. Sticking to the main tourist cities, in summer the climate can be hot where the temperature may rise up to 42 ° C. For traveling in summer, try to pack the light, loose and made-of-cotton clothing and it is most recommended to make sure using light colors. Avoid wearing shirt or top under your main dress and choose sandals or flip flop as your footwear.

Check the weather with us when you decide to travel to Iran.

 Alcohol and smoking laws for woman in Iran

According to the Islamic law of Iran, the sale and consumption of alcohol are strictly prohibited and their consumption, production and distribution is severely punished.

Likewise, various drugs including marijuana are strictly banned, while tobacco consumption is permitted. Since 2007, smoking has been banned in all public places in Iran, although the ban may be ignored. Generally, public smoking is subject to regulations, and various campaigns aim to reduce smoking rates due to health concerns.

 Hitchhiking as a Woman in Iran

No matter if you are male or female, hitchhiking in Iran can be quite a challenge, because the concept is not familiar for a majority of the people. Though, the Iranian people are extremely hospitable, and always ready to help a woman (or man) in need, you need to tell them that you are seeking for a free ride before starting the trip. However, visiting Iran as a solo woman can be a total adventure of lifetime, it is not recommended to hitchhike as an alone female. Try to hitchhike together with another female or male to feel more secure and safe.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN IRAN

In Iran like any other country in the world, a solo female traveler might encounter sexual harassment. To minimize it to zero, try to follow the common sense and the universal guidelines.

As a rule of thumb when traveling to Iran as a woman alone is to obey the dress codes, especially in remote non-urban areas. You cannot have a full understanding of a society culture and norms unless living there for a while, therefore try to be more cautious toward men and do not say yes to all the invitations. Trust your instincts when interacting with people to know how far you can go to be safe.

PLANNING SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL IN IRAN

Planning for a woman’s solo trip to Iran needs researching cultural norms and safety guidelines to have an insight over the hidden cultural standards. Put a time to know more about local customs, dress code, and social etiquette to ensure you will have a respectful interaction. While Iran is known for its rich history and breathtaking landscapes, female travelers should be cautious about the remote area challenges. Travel forums and blogs of other Iran solo female travelers can provide valuable experience.

IRAN’S GENDER SEGREGATION IN PUBLIC

A set of written and unwritten rules of public gender segregation dominates the community in Iran. Those may seem to be hard to understand fully, but you can simply follow as the others do. In city buses and metro, a section is allocated to women while the other parts can be mixed. In long distance buses, unrelated men and women can not seat next to each other, but you don’t need to worry since the bus company will manage it.

Iran is considered as a multipurpose destination where you have numerous options such as deserts , mountains , seas, islands, cultural monuments, ancient ruins , pilgrimage cities and much more to mention. All these turn this country to a perfect destination for the backpackers. However, there are three important issues that backpackers care about:

The first one is that your travel needs in the destination meet your budget . At the moment, traveling in Iran is really cheap – as a backpacker you can easily live on 1,000,000 IRR (30 euros) per day for accommodation, food, transport and activities.

The second point to consider is the accessibility. Other big plus of Iran is the suitable infrastructure this country has provided. Reliable bus, train and flight network, delicious local food and numerous beautiful accommodations are all available anywhere in the country that you are.

The last point and the most important for female travelers is safety. Fortunately, Iran is a real safe country with hospitable people. Let’s say Iran is one of the most stable and secure countries in the Middle East . The crime rate in Iran is extremely low and there is hardly a greater risk of terrorism than in Europe. You might experience some inconveniences with men, but just like anywhere else the frequency is limited.

Real also:  10 Reasons to Put Iran on Top of Your Trip List

The hijab for men is also applicable, however, there are fewer rules for them. Men should cover their legs and arms as a general rule. If you are however in a T-shirt, that is not of course a problem; men may wear short-sleeved clothing but not sleeveless vests.

Men are not also allowed to wear shorts, instead, you may select to wear jeans or trousers to cover down to ankle. Last but not the least, any kind of footwear is of course acceptable.

Going Out And Transportation In Iran

Between the cities.

To travel between the cities in Iran, there are several options.

• Hire a private car

If you like to control over your ride, visit monuments en route, and be flexible with when and where to start hire a private car . To turn it a budget-centric option, share the ride with other travelers.

The plane is an effective option to connect the big cities. As international sanctions particularly affected the aviation sector, the fleets are generally not young. The price of the flights are really changeable but you can find relatively low rates if do the booking in time. Of course, that is possible to book it online or you can refer to the nearest agency to book one for you.

On the price side, the bus is unbeatable. The departure is frequent, one per hour or half an hour. So, you don’t need to reserve your seat in advance, just go to the bus station and book the next departure. The VIP buses are the ones we use in budget tours and our guests are always happy with this selection. Those are the bests in Iran providing more leg room and comfort seats that recline more. Undoubtedly, there is nothing to fear in terms of safety and comfort for the night buses, in the case you like to travel at night.

Trains as your next transport option also connect the main cities. Those are more expensive, often slower and have less coverage around the country comparing to some other means of transportation. However, the trains are very comfortable, you can sleep well and have an opportunity to spend the evening with other Iranian women.

In the cities

To travel in cities, the best means are taxi and metro. Almost new, only some major cities have the metro network that is of course modern and clean. In Tehran, the last two wagons of the metro trains are reserved for women. However, there is no restriction to use the other wagons.

The shared taxi is the best option everywhere. Don’t forget to negotiate the rate before starting the ride.

As the last option, all the cities have a full coverage of the bus system as well. Those are really cheap but usually too slow and rarely clear which line to take. Men and women are separated on public transport. Therefore, as a woman enter city buses from the middle and sit in the back.

There is no difference in the process, duration and results of Iran visa for women and men. There are basically two ways to get Iran visa. Making arrangements through a specialized travel agency or at the airport once you have landed.

Although that is possible to do the paperwork by yourselves, but it is always suggested to request the help of an agency to obtain the authorization code. In this way you will make sure your entrance to Iran is guaranteed. Of course, you can collect your visa at the airport of your entrance if you have not enough time to refer to an Iranian embassy .

read also: Iran currency exchange

• First thing to know before leaving is that anyone on Iranian territory, tourist or local, must respect the Islamic law in public places. So, pack your suitcase accordingly and stay at the safe side.
• The hospitable Iranians might invite you to their homes. In most of cases you will be safe and enjoy their kind behavior. However, your feeling is the best guide when traveling. As a solo traveler you should not be afraid to reject offers during the trip if the feeling is not right.
• There are several testimonies of women’s feeling and experience in Iran, before leaving read some of those testimonials to get familiar with the potential scenarios you may face in Iran.
• In many regions of the world, a woman would never speak to a strange man, but it is different with women. There is much less fear of contact and often curiosity wins. This makes it much easier for you to get in touch with the locals, especially women and families.

After all, you will certainly change your mind after your visit to Iran as a solo female traveler.

Read 7 top tips from a recent visitor’s point of view.

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Everything you need to know before traveling to Iran

This guide to things to know before traveling in Iran was updated in 2019. We have spent a total of 3 months in Iran to compile this guide. Iran is by no means a difficult country to travel to. However, there are some things you should know before you travel to Iran. This list will help you prepare the perfect trip to Iran.

Lost with Purpose is blocked in Iran. To access Lost with Purpose in Iran, use a VPN. We recommend ExpressVPN . Read more about VPNs in Iran here.

Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran,  has long been closed-off from the rest of the world, but times, they are a-changin’. Visa policies are relaxing and Iran is gaining a reputation as the next hot destination.

To make your trip to Iran a bit easier, here’s a master list of everything you need to know if you want to travel to Iran, including great Iran travel tips.

Guide to travel in Iran: Everything you need to know before visiting Iran

Visas for Iran

• Visas on arrival are only available at airports. A visa on arrival is valid for 30 days. Overlanders, you’ll have to get a tourist visa at an Iranian embassy or consulate ahead of time. If you need help with your visa, we recommend 1stQuest ( use promo code LWP-QST for a 5% discount).
• If you can’t get a visa on arrival, you need to get a tourist visa at a consulate. Citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Bangladesh, Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan need to get a consular visa before they travel to Iran. If you’re from one of these countries, you need to get an authorization number before applying for the visa. People from other countries have to apply online first via Iran’s e-visa portal .
• If there is proof of entry to Israel in your passport, you cannot travel to Iran. This also applies if you have land border entry/exit stamps from countries neighboring Israel. Want to get around this? See if your country allows applications for a second passport for special circumstances.
• UK, US, and Canadian citizens cannot travel to Iran without a guide. Due to recent changes in Iran’s travel policy, travelers from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada can’t travel to Iran independently. Citizens from these countries have to be on a tour to travel to Iran. We recommend 1StQuest for this  ( use the code LWP-QST to get a 5% discount) .

Check out our two-week itinerary for Iran for inspiration on where to go in Iran!

Rial rial bills, yo.

Money in Iran

• International cards don’t work in Iran. Forget ATMs–thanks to the sanctions, you have to bring all the money you’ll need in cash, and change money once in Iran. Dollars are the best, but euros work, too.
• Exchange money at currency exchanges. Exchanges give better rates than the government-controlled banks. If not labeled “Exchange”, look for small shops similar to jewelry stores that have foreign banknotes in the window.
• Iranian rial is the official currency of Iran.
• Prices are given in toman, not rials. 1 toman = 10 rials. People will also abbreviate: for example, if someone tells you something is “5”, they mean 5,000 toman/50,000 rials. It’s confusing in the beginning, but you’ll get the hang of it! Just add an extra “0” to the price to figure out the price in rials. Luckily, people in Iran are very honest and will let you know when you’re making a mistake. Tourist establishments are the exception to this–they usually list prices in rials.
• Keep your dollars close at hand. Don’t let people see how much money you have. Though theft isn’t very common, you don’t want to be trapped because something happened to your only supply of cash for the trip. Not all guesthouses and hotels have safes or lockers, so for god’s sake,  please get a money belt . We can’t recommend them enough.
• If you do lose your money or run out of cash, carpet sellers in tourist areas can occasionally charge credit cards for a fee. The fee is around 10-20% of the transaction, so only use this as a last resort.

Pro Iran travel tip: Iran is a cash only economy. This means you’ll have to walk around with large wads of rials. If you don’t feel comfortable about this, check out Mah Card. Mah Card is a prepaid debit card specifically designed for travelers in Iran. Use the promo code LOSTWITHPURPOSE to get a 40% discount on Mah Card .

Does this explain the safety situation well enough? We left the car like this for half an hour, and nothing happened to it.

Safety in Iran

• Iran is extremely safe for foreigners. You won’t have to worry about violent crime when you visit Iran, and petty theft is rare. Let’s Go Iran’s safety page sums things up quite nicely. As for worries about ISIS? Um, ISIS has never occupied any space in Iran. You’ll be fine.
• Be careful when talking politics, and don’t insult the Supreme Leader. Speaking badly of the government is punishable by law, so be careful who you talk to. It’s best to pretend to be ambivalent, despite many Iranians being very open about their discontent.
• It’s okay to go to strangers’ homes. They just want to show you the famous Iranian hospitality! If someone invites you, do accept. Girls, take note: if a man invites you, it’s not proper to accept unless his wife or other women are present, or you’re traveling with a boy.
• Don’t take photos of power plants, factories, transportation hubs, or anything military or police when you visit Iran. You don’t want to look like a spy. The government does not like spies and people have been detained for being too close to military installations.
• Hotels will keep your passports while you stay. However, you’re required by law to always have your passport on you. Either carry around copies of your passport while outside or give the hotel copies and ask for your passport back. Make sure you have a copy of the information page and the page with your Iranian visa, including your entry stamp. You can do this once in the country–there are cheap copy shops everywhere in cities.

Transportation in Iran

• Buses are the cheapest and most common form of transportation between cities. There are also domestic airlines, for those that want to save time and don’t mind paying a bit extra. 1StQuest can help with domestic flight bookings ( use promo code LWP-QST to get a 5% discount on your bookings) .
• Iran also has its own ride-hailing app called Snapp. We recommend downloading it . Otherwise, you have to haggle for your taxi, which can be difficult, especially when you’re not sure where your destination is. We wrote a guide on how to take taxis without getting ripped off , but a good rule of thumb is to haggle for 60-80% of the quoted price unless it seems abnormally high. Taxis within cities should never be more than 100,000 rials or so.
• Want a comfortable bus ride? Get a VIP ticket. VIP buses have bigger seats that recline further, and you usually get a snack box for the road. They’re usually twice the price of mahmoolys , regular tour buses.
• Don’t sit next to people of the opposite sex unless you know them. It’s an unspoken rule, and people will often shuffle around on buses and in cars to get the order right. If there’s no other option, just sit–it’s not the end of the world.
• Any car can be a taxi. Enterprising locals will often act as unofficial taxi drivers. It’s fine to use their cars, and they’re a bit more flexible with their pricing than official taxis.
• Many city buses require transportation cards. The cards are sold at little huts next to bus stops. The price of a ride with the card is several hundred rials cheaper than without.
• Iranian drivers are insane. You’re going to see a lot of speeding, swerving, and sparse seatbelt usage when you travel to Iran. Prepare yourself.
• If the driving makes you nervous, stick to official taxis/savaris when traveling between cities. Official taxi drivers and bus drivers have to adhere to speed restrictions, which limits their stunts to a minimum. If that’s not possible… just close your eyes and pray to Allah.
• Don’t expect buses to stop for food. Roadside snack stalls are usually your only option, so make sure to stock up on food and drinks along for long bus journeys. However, most buses have a supply of water somewhere, and VIP buses usually give out snack boxes.
• You can ask a bus driver to take a toilet stop. They’ll occasionally stop for guys to take a roadside leak, but ladies have to be more vocal about nature’s call.

Pro Iran travel tip: It has recently become possible to book and pay for buses and planes online with 1stQuest. Check here for buses , and here for plane tickets – use the code LWP-QST for a 5% discount!

Being literally stuffed with love at a family’s house in Shush. We ended up here after the boy pictured invited us to stay at his home… right after we stepped off of a bus!

Hospitality in Iran

• Iranians love treating foreigners. People you meet are going to want to take you out and pay for everything. Do offer to pay yourself, but if they refuse you 3 or more times (see the explanation of tarof below), just give in and go with the flow.
• Watch out for tarof . In short, tarof is when someone offers something to be polite, not because they want to. It usually occurs in the form of someone offering to you something for free, but can also apply to invitations. To determine if it’s tarof , offer to pay three times. If the person still resists, the offer is legit.
• You don’t need to tip. Tipping isn’t common unless you’re at a really nice restaurant, or you were very, very satisfied with a service you received.
• Take advantage of Couchsurfing if you visit Iran. It’s extremely popular in Iran, and an excellent way to meet locals/arrange homestays. Just be warned that many hosts will expect to be with you all the time. And we mean all the time. To access Couchsurfing in Iran, you need a VPN that works in Iran .

Be prepared to OD on kebabs while in Iran, possibly involuntarily.

Food and drinks in Iran

• Tap water is safe to drink unless stated otherwise. There are also plenty of water fountains all throughout the cities, so bring a reusable water bottle !
• Coffee has recently become popular in Iran. While tea is still the drink of choice for the older generation, coffee has become increasingly popular with younger Iranians. Little coffee shops are popping up all over the place.
• When drinking tea, put a sugar cube in your mouth, then take a sip. This is the Iranian way of drinking tea. Yes, this means you’ll end up consuming a metric sh*t ton of sugar cubes with each cup of tea… also the Iranian way.
• You can often peek in the kitchen to see your options if there isn’t an English menu. Just stare blankly at the Farsi for a bit, shrug, and point to the kitchen. It’ll help you find things other than a kebab.
• Don’t feel pressured to eat kebab when out with Iranians. They’ll often order kebab for you because they assume that’s what you want, and it’s a common choice when eating out since not everyone has the luxury of a charcoal grill in the home.
• Don’t be surprised if you encounter alcohol when you travel to Iran. Just because it’s banned doesn’t mean you can’t find it, as prohibition has taught us. You’ll be fine drinking in private homes, but be wary about consumption in public places.

Pro Iran travel tip: Never leave home without proper travel insurance! We use and recommend World Nomads . Lucky you, they provide travel insurance for Iran!

An important aspect of Iranian culture: an addiction to all things blended and delicious!

Culture in Iran

• Persian (Farsi) uses the Arabic alphabet and is written right to left. Numbers will also be different, but confusingly enough, they are written left to right. Try to learn the numbers so you can understand prices and times. You can use bus rides to learn the numbers from road signs along the way.
• Persians are not Arabs . Even though Iran is technically the Middle East, Iranians don’t consider themselves Arabs or Middle Easterners. Iranians are very firm on this and are offended if you mix the two.
• Everything closes between 13:00 and 16:30-ish. During this time people go home to lunch with the family, nap, and avoid the heat. Sights, restaurants, and ice cream places (most important!) will still be open, though.
• Everything also closes on Fridays . Friday is the holy day of the week, and many stores are closed for the whole day. Friday mosques close to non-Muslims as well.
• Lunch and dinner are late. People eat lunch around 14:00, and dinner can be anywhere between 21:00 and midnight!
• No public displays of affection when you visit Iran. It’s illegal to kiss or hold hands in public, though people bend the rules for the latter in big cities. Of course, this doesn’t mean that all things sexual are off-limits—dating is common, and there’s even an active Tinder scene in Iran !
• Don’t wear shoes on carpets. Pack shoes that you can easily take on and off!
• The portraits on billboards and sides of buildings are of martyrs. It’s a “great honor” to die as a martyr for Iran, and the government plays this up by putting their faces on billboards and having martyr murals painted throughout cities.

Attempting to haggle down the price of foreigner tickets… unsuccessfully.

Sightseeing in Iran

• The Lonely Planet only offers guidelines.  Prices change all the time, and with its long lead time, by the time a Lonely Planet hits the shelves, a considerable amount of information is outdated. Use as a guideline only.
• Foreigner price for sights is usually 6-8 times the local price. And according to locals, foreigner ticket prices are still on the rise. For the budget travelers, the ticket people sometimes bend the rules and give you the Iranian price if you charm them a bit (and it’s not busy). Otherwise, try going in with a local, and have them buy your tickets while you hide.
• Tour agencies often give out free city maps. Check them out–there’s usually interesting things on the maps that you won’t find in guidebooks.
• Visit sights at night when possible. Many religious sites are open in the evening and are much more pleasant: fewer tourists, more locals, cooler weather, and beautiful lighting. Sounds good, right?

Looking for more Iran inspiration? Check out our off-beat Iran itinerary !

When bedbugs attack: the downsides of cheap guesthouses. Not so healthy after all!

Health in Iran

• Carry toilet paper/tissues everywhere when you travel to Iran. Cheap accommodations won’t always have toilet paper, and public toilets definitely don’t. Alternatively, get used to using a bum gun! Remember, you wipe with your left hand, and shake hands with your right.
• If looking for a toilet, ask for a “WC”. In English, that is. It’s more commonly used than “toilet”. If you do want to ask for a toilet, try using the French pronunciation, “toilette”.
• Most toilets are squat toilets. Hotels will sometimes have western toilets, but you’ll be doing a lot of squatting away from home. Start building up those leg muscles!

FYI: the internet in Iran will make you want to strangle yourself and/or other innocent things.

Internet & mobile data in Iran

• The internet is censored.  Many common social media networks (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest), Google services (except Gmail), app stores (for paid apps), and western news outlets (BBC, CNN) are blocked, so you’ll need a VPN that works in Iran if you plan on maintaining your internet existence while in Iran.
• Internet is slow and can be hard to find. The government throttles internet speeds , and many cheap guesthouses and hotels outside of the main tourist track in the center of the country don’t have wifi.
• Consider getting an Iranian SIM card. Mobile connections are faster than wifi and SIM cards are cheap. An Irancell SIM card is 500,000 rials, and 10GB of data is 300,000 rials.
• Telegram has recently been blocked. Telegram used to be the most popular messaging app in Iran, but since the government blocked it, more and more Iranians have started using WhatsApp.
• Iran uses European outlets. If your chargers don’t have the two rounded prongs you’ll need an adapter – get your travel adaptor here .

Rocking the demure Iranian ladydress (more formally known as a “manteau”) on the rooftops of Kashan.

Women in Iran

• Women have a strict dress code in the Islamic Republic of Iran. You must wear a headscarf when you travel to Iran, your shirt needs to cover your bum, and you can’t wear shorts or anything with short sleeves. Yay freedom! Tight pants are okay, though.
• Sit in the back of the bus on city buses. Always enter from the middle of the bus, and if you need to pay the driver, do so at the end of the ride by leaning in through the front door after getting out.
• Wear whatever you want at the beach when in the women-only area. Beaches are separated into separate sections for men and women, and a mixed-gender area for families. Alas, you’ll have to cover up if you’re lounging in the mixed area. Don’t forget sunscreen to prevent strange tan lines!
• It’s often okay to take off your hijab in homes or when hiking. Follow other women’s examples in homes. As for the great outdoors, if there’s no one around, who will get you in trouble? You’ll see many Iranian ladies doing the same.
• If a man harasses you, make a scene or firmly turn him away. Punishment for crimes against women is severe, and men are too afraid of being caught to let things progress. The tourist police are also very willing to help, providing you have information or photos they can use to track down offenders.

For more tips on traveling Iran as a woman, check out my female travel guide to Iran.

And there you have it, our master list of things to know when traveling to Iran. Let us know if you have any questions.

Yay transparency: there are affiliate links in this post. If you buy anything through our links, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you . We promise we only recommend stuff we actually like, and it helps us cover the costs of running the blog!

Alex Reynolds

64 thoughts on “ everything you need to know before traveling to iran ”.

Before Coronavirus quarantine, I was planning a trip to Iran, and I had this website bookmarked with these suggestions. I already followed a couple of tips and got a VPN for traveling, pretty glad I got the 2-year subscription; now, I’ll be able to use it after the quarantine is lifted.

I want to fly iran. call me: +994 403617473

I am very interested in traveling there, but as an American, I am disheartened to learn you have to be with a guide. So, there is no possibility to travel solo?? I am happy to have a guide sometimes, but I hate the idea of being locked into a specific itinerary without any flexibility. Since you have a British passport, did you travel with a guide? How was the experience? Were you able to do your own thing?

Iranian people never say this nonsense!!!!!!!!!

if you decided to travel to iran. as an iranian people i advice you to be in a grope. because you might have some problems if you be only. and the language can be problem for you. i wish you enjoy from my country. and actually iran’s new government has managed the covid-19 very good. don’t worry about it!

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• Life for Women in Iran: ‘They Want to Own Our Minds’

The Islamic Revolution ushered in a new normal for Iranian women. Some have fled, while others have built a life in the country despite the adversity.

“I have so much work to do at the university,” Khosravaninezhad said, recalling the repeated incidents months later. “But today she says: ‘No. You cannot get [in]… because I don’t like your clothes. Because I’m not satisfied with the hijab you have.’” She thought, “I am supposed to be able to get to the university because I was qualified, but you are banning me from going through the door of the university. Who are you to do that?”

Iran’s Islamic Revolution shocked women who were accustomed to dressing, acting, and speaking how they wished. Before the Revolution, men and women dressed in bathing suits and swam together at beaches; they could host and attend parties together. Women could experiment with Western fashion like miniskirts and tight-fitting jeans. But the regime’s reign stripped these rights from women and imposed strict dress codes, establishing a new and unfamiliar way of life. 

The following year, the government abolished coeducational schools, effectively separating girls and boys in schools and public spaces. These changes have had seismic effects on women, impacting all aspects of their lives.

“You cannot decide about your own body.”

For many women, these restrictions went beyond simply shaping how women dressed. It was, they say,  an attempt to control their way of thinking — their minds. 

“It’s not like they want to own our clothes and dress code,” Khosravaninezhad said. “It’s like they want to own our minds. They want to own our life plans.”

Read More of Our Coverage

• Iranians Face Stringent Screening for a Chance to Study in the U.S.

This civil unrest was worsened by the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini by morality police in 2022 when they claimed her hijab was not being worn in accordance with government standards. Protests erupted across the country in support of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. For some women, the further restrictions on their rights have driven them to flee the country.  

Khosravaninezhad left Iran for Copenhagen a few months ago amid a worsening political and economic state. She saw a lack of opportunity and a narrowing of her rights. There, she awaits the approval of her student visa to move to the United States, where she plans to pursue her doctorate degree in astronomy at the University of California Riverside. She believes Europe or the U.S. would be the best places to continue her education.

Thousands of miles from Iran, she reflects on how the Islamic Republic’s practices shaped her childhood.

For much of her life in academia, she’s faced misogynistic social practices at the hands of Iran’s current government, such as being barred from entering her university or feeling unsafe around the country’s police. She left the country in hopes of feeling more secure abroad, Khosravaninezhad noted.

“Since you were very little and you go to the school, they are brainwashing you,” she said. “They want to keep telling you that you have done something wrong [for being a woman]. That you are wrong. You are guilty.”

Khosravaninezhad said she was especially impacted by the policies that restricted Iranian women. She said she frequently argued with her university’s administration, who wouldn’t admit her into the university gates without fixing her hijab or some part of her clothing.

“You cannot decide about your own body,” she said. “You cannot decide about your own hair. You cannot decide if you want to wear something or not.”

Careers in STEM an equalizer for women 

While several Iranian women described frequent misogynistic incidents, others of her generation had slightly different experiences studying in Iran. 

Elnaz Nour, 32, moved from Iran to the United States four years ago. She is working as a Senior Clinical Research Coordinator at a Colorado university while studying for her medical board exams. “It was a suppressed society,” Nour said. “By nature, as a woman, you were oppressed and you weren’t able to even talk about your rights – the things you wanted to do.”

For Nour, she felt the separation between boys and girls from an early age stunted interpersonal relations. For those born after the ‘80s, these restrictions of co-education became normalized for generations of Iranian women. 

Despite the significant rollback of women’s rights, some Iranian women say a career in the sciences has proven to be a step towards equality. Nour said she had never faced significant discrimination as a woman in an academic setting. While she was sometimes told that she was wearing too much makeup, or her clothes were too short, she maintained that Iranian women pursuing STEM subjects were typically respected. 

Similarly, S, who was granted anonymity as she awaits visa approval, noted that women in the industry are treated equal to men or even better in some respects. She said that while limitations on their clothing, nails or makeup often could restrict their access to university facilities, women are largely respected in academic settings when pursuing STEM fields. 

“The amazing point is that science and jobs are the only two things in our country that women are treated better than men in relation to other countries,” S said.

In Iran, women make up 70% of graduates studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics, according to Quartz.  

“You know the limitations that women have in my country, for their hijab and their clothing,” she said. “But this is not for science.”

Older generations witnessed restrictions sweep through the country

While younger women were raised under severe restrictions, Iranian women who grew up before the Islamic Revolution recall a memory of a different country where they experienced freedom that had long been stripped away. Some women fled after the Iranian Revolution to escape the oppressive restrictions imposed on women. 

Farzaneh Shakib recalls seeing the wave of restrictions sweep across Iran, erasing freedoms that had been a way of life for women who came of age before the Islamic Revolution.

“[It was] ‘don’t wear this. Talk like this.’ For any movement, you should have some guardian,” Shakib said. “For example: traveling. If you were married, you had to have permission from your husband. If you were single, you had to have permission from a guardian.”

Shakib and her husband established an astronomy magazine, hoping to guide younger generations to the field in Iran. Nearly 30 years ago, the family moved to the U.S. so her husband could pursue a graduate degree. Leaving Iran also meant she could raise her future children in a space free from restrictions.

“I think we created something for her that we never had in Iran because we were 18 when the Revolution happened,” she said. “I’m happy we are here. It was so hard sometimes . . . But here, nothing is going to stop you from thinking big, shiny, colorful. I never had that chance over there.”

Chicagoan Remembers Revolutionary Iran

Shakib noted being proud of the life she has created for their family.  Since leaving, she has only returned three times. Her last visit was in 2012.

Sooti, who was granted anonymity to speak openly without retaliation, was born in Tehran in 1961. After attending school in Iran, she became a specialist in radiology and later a medical director at a private institute. 

She recalled widespread instability that stunted social and economic advancements in science and technology following the revolution , in part,  because of widespread sanctions.

“When I was a child growing up, the country was more stable and there was more improvement [in technology and science] than it is right now,” she recalled. The new Iranian government didn’t have an interest in “technological improvements, and also they didn’t show any good relations with the outside world – that’s how the country I am from has suffered.” 

Some younger generations felt women bore the brunt of the government’s restrictions, while Sooti feels the government’s constraints impact men and women equally, as restrictions on alcohol, social gatherings and sometimes clothing still applied to both. Despite the widespread restrictions, she felt respected in her field. The government’s fear of advancement, she said, was what ultimately restricted her most in her field.

Decades later, women’s rights have continued to erode. Some women have learned to maneuver carefully around the restrictions, and remain hopeful that circumstances will change in Iran, while others seek a new life abroad.

Younger generations like Nour and Khosravaninezhad have found themselves escaping Iran’s worsening conditions, while those like Shakib and Sooti look fondly on the country they once knew while embracing the home they built in spite of adversity.

“I just wish everything will get better for students and I wish it wasn’t like this,” Nour said. “I wish they could come here and pursue what they want to do and their dreams.”

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• Amnesty International UK

Iran: authorities still cracking down two years on from nationwide women's protests

11 Sep 2024 , 12:58pm

Mahsa Amini’s death in custody on 16 September 2022 sparked the nationwide Woman Life Freedom protests followed by a brutal crackdown by the authorities

A ‘war on women’ has escalated with intensified enforcement of draconian forced veiling laws

‘The Iranian authorities have spent the past two years waging a propaganda campaign of denial and distortion’ - Diana Eltahawy 

People in Iran continue to endure the devastating consequences of the authorities’ brutal crackdown on the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising, Amnesty International said ahead of the two-year anniversary of the protests following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini that saw people across Iran challenge decades of oppression and gender-based discrimination.

No impartial, independent criminal investigations have taken place into the serious human rights violations and crimes under international law by the Iranian authorities during and in the aftermath of the September-December 2022 protests. 

During their initial crackdown, the security forces fired assault rifles, shot guns loaded with metal pellets and teargas canisters, and severely beat protesters with batons, resulting in the unlawful killing of hundreds of protesters and bystanders, including scores of children. The authorities have since sought to silence relatives seeking truth and justice for the killing of their loved ones through arbitrary detention, unjust prosecution, death threats and a campaign of relentless harassment.

Two years on, the authorities have escalated their assault on human rights, waging a “war on women and girls” through an increasingly violent crackdown on those defying draconian compulsory veiling laws, while intensifying the use of the death penalty to silence dissent. In April this year, the authorities launched a new campaign called the “Noor Plan” which has led to a visible increase of security patrols in public spaces to enforce compulsory veiling. 

The forced veiling crackdown has included dangerous car chases to stop women drivers, mass confiscation of their vehicles, imprisonment, as well as flogging and other penalties. On 22 July, police fired at a car 31-year-old Arezou Badri was travelling in, leaving her gravely injured. According to media reports, the police were seeking to confiscate the car as part of enforcing compulsory veiling laws. Last month, a disturbing video circulated on social media showing multiple law-enforcement agents assaulting two 14-year-old girls who had removed their headscarves. One of the girls, Nafas Hajisharif, said in a media interview: “They were pulling me by my hair, shouting at me and cursing … when they took me inside the van, they threw me onto the floor. One female agent hit me, put her knee on my throat, and hit my head hard”.

The all-out assault on women and girls who claim their human rights is being carried out by various state entities. The enforcers of Iran’s degrading and discriminatory compulsory veiling laws include the Moral Security Police, the traffic police, prosecution offices, the courts, the Ministry of Intelligence, the Revolutionary Guards, including its Basij forces, and plainclothes agents.

Meanwhile, the Iranian parliament is close to adopting a “Bill to Support the Culture of Chastity and Hijab”, which aims to legalise the authorities’ intensified assault on women and girls who defy compulsory veiling.

Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International’s Middle East Deputy Director, said:

“The anniversary of the ‘Woman Life Freedom’ uprising is a haunting reminder that countless people in Iran are still reeling from the consequences of the authorities’ brutal crackdown.  “The Iranian authorities have spent the past two years waging a propaganda campaign of denial and distortion to conceal evidence of their crimes and attempting to intimidate survivors and victims’ families into silence.  “Victims, survivors and their relatives continue to be denied truth, justice and reparation for crimes under international law and other grave human rights violations committed by Iranian officials during and in the aftermath of the uprising. “With no prospect for independent and impartial investigations domestically, it is imperative that states initiate criminal investigations into the crimes committed by the Iranian authorities through their domestic prosecution offices under the principle of universal jurisdiction.”

Death penalty as tool of oppression

Since the Woman Life Freedom uprising, the Iranian authorities have doubled down on their use of the death penalty, with last year seeing the highest number of executions for eight years as the authorities resorted to use of the death penalty as a tool of oppression to terrorise the public, including the persecuted Baluchi ethnic minority who have been disproportionately impacted by executions. 

The authorities have arbitrarily executed ten men since December 2022 in relation to the protests, including Reza (Gholamreza) Rasaei who was executed in secret on 6 August this year. The executions have been carried out following sham trials which relied on “confessions” extracted under torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual violence, confessions which were not independently and impartially investigated. More than a dozen people remain at risk of execution or of being sentenced to death in connection with the protests, including Mojahed Kourkouri.

This escalation includes the use of the death penalty against women on politically-motivated charges. Human rights defender Sharifeh Mohammadi and Kurdish civil society activist Pakhshan Azizi were recently convicted of “armed rebellion against the state” and sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts in separate cases, solely due to their peaceful activism. Alarming reports indicate they were subjected to torture in detention. At least two other women - Wrisha Moradi and Nasim Gholami Simiyari - have also been tried for “armed rebellion against the state” in separate cases. 

Torture used against protesters

Over the past two years, the authorities have continued to deny that officials subjected those detained during the protests to torture and other ill-treatment, including rape and other forms of sexual violence. However, during the uprising Iran’s security and intelligence forces committed widespread torture and other ill-treatment against detained protesters. Last December, Amnesty detailed the harrowing use of rape, including gang rape, and other forms of sexual violence by the Iranian authorities as they sought to crush protests and terrorise and punish protesters, including children as young as 12.

In March this year, the High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is not an independent body and sits within the Iranian judiciary, responded to Amnesty’s investigation saying that Iran’s judiciary had investigated complaints and “found that in 28 out of 31 provinces, no complaints were filed under the headings of rape, assault and sexual harassment”. Amnesty has consistently documented how Iran’s prosecution and judicial authorities have dismissed or covered up evidence of sexual violence, including complaints by survivors. In the three provinces where officials said they’d received allegations of sexual violence by intelligence and security forces, the authorities claimed that the accused had pretended to be law-enforcement agents. However, a leaked official document from the Deputy Prosecutor of Tehran in October 2022 acknowledged that two suspected perpetrators of the rape of protesters were Revolutionary Guards agents, and said the case should be classified “completely secret”. 

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Twelve Years in an Iranian Prison for a Punctuation Mark

Jackie Northam

It's been two years since the death of a woman in the custody of Iran's morality police led to protests across the country. The brutal government crackdown that followed continues today- with artists, journalists and activists targeted. NPR's Jackie Northam brings us the voices of some of those affected.

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Iran: Two years after ‘Woman Life Freedom’ uprising, impunity for crimes reigns supreme

People in Iran continue to endure the devastating consequences of the authorities’ brutal crackdown on the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising amid systematic impunity for crimes under international law, Amnesty International said today, ahead of the two-year anniversary of the protests that saw people across Iran challenge decades of oppression and gender-based discrimination.

No effective, impartial and independent criminal investigations have taken place into the serious human rights violations and crimes under international law by Iranian authorities during and in the aftermath of the nationwide protests of September-December 2022, including security forces’ extensive and unlawful use of force and firearms. Security forces fired assault rifles, shot guns loaded with metal pellets and teargas canisters, and severely beat protesters with batons, resulting in the unlawful killing of hundreds of protesters and bystanders, including scores of children, and life-changing injuries to many more. The authorities have sought to silence relatives seeking truth and justice for the unlawful killings of their loved ones through arbitrary detention, unjust prosecution, death threats and other relentless harassment.

• Related: Draconian campaign to enforce compulsory veiling laws through surveillance and mass car confiscations in Iran

Two years on, the authorities have also further escalated their assault on human rights, waging a “ war on women and girls ” through an increasingly violent crackdown on those defying draconian compulsory veiling laws and have intensified their use of the death penalty to silence dissent.

“The anniversary of the ‘Woman Life Freedom’ uprising is a haunting reminder that countless people in Iran are still reeling from the consequences of the authorities’ brutal crackdown. Victims, survivors and their relatives continue to be denied truth, justice and reparation for crimes under international law and other grave human rights violations committed by Iranian officials during and in the aftermath of the uprising,” said Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

“The Iranian authorities have spent the past two years waging a propaganda campaign of denial and distortion to conceal evidence of their crimes and attempting to intimidate survivors and victims’ families into silence. With no prospect for independent and impartial investigations domestically, it is imperative that states initiate criminal investigations into the crimes committed by the Iranian authorities through their domestic prosecution offices under the principle of universal jurisdiction.”

Intensified ‘war on women’

As part of their ongoing efforts to quash the powerful women’s rights movement against compulsory veiling that intensified following the death in custody of Mahsa/Jina Amini and the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising, Iranian authorities launched a new nationwide campaign called the “Noor Plan” in April 2024. Since, there has been a visible increase of security patrols on foot, motorbikes, car and police vans in public spaces to enforce compulsory veiling.

The crackdown has also included dangerous car chases to stop women drivers on the road, mass confiscation of their vehicles, imprisonment, as well as flogging and other penalties amounting to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

On 22 July 2024, agents from Iran’s police force fired lethal ammunition at a car 31-year-old Arezou Badri was travelling in, leaving her gravely injured. According to media reports the agents were seeking to confiscate the car as part of enforcing compulsory veiling laws.

• Take action: Tell Canadian officials to help protect the protest in Iran

In August 2024, a disturbing video circulated on social media showing multiple agents violently assaulting two 14-year-old girls who had removed their headscarves. One of the girls, Nafas Hajisharif, said in a media interview: “They were pulling me by my hair, shouting at me and cursing…when they took me inside the van, they threw me onto the floor. One female agent hit me, put her knee on my throat, and hit my head hard. My head was stuck between the seats, and they were kicking the side of my torso.”

The all-out assault on women and girls who claim their human rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, religion, belief and autonomy, is being carried out by various state entities. The enforcers of Iran’s degrading and discriminatory compulsory veiling laws include the Moral Security Police ( police amniat-e akhlaghi ), traffic police, prosecution offices, courts, the Ministry of Intelligence, the Revolutionary Guards, including its Basij forces, and plainclothes agents.

Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament is nearing the adoption of a “Bill to Support the Culture of Chastity and Hijab”, which aims to legalize the authorities’ intensified assault on women and girls who defy compulsory veiling.

Ramped up use of the death penalty

Since the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising, Iranian authorities have doubled down on their use of the death penalty, with 2023 seeing the highest number of executions for eight years , as the authorities resorted to use of the death penalty as a tool of oppression to terrorize the public, including the persecuted Baluchi ethnic minority who have been disproportionately impacted by executions.

Authorities have arbitrarily executed 10 men since December 2022 in relation to the September-December 2022 protests, including Reza (Gholamreza) Rasae i who was executed in secret on 6 August 2024.

The executions were carried out following grossly unfair sham trials which relied on “confessions” extracted under torture and other ill-treatment, including sexual violence, that were not independently and impartially investigated.

Over a dozen people remain at risk of execution or being sentenced to death in connection with the protests, including Mojahed Kourkouri .

This escalation includes the use of the death penalty against women on politically motivated charges. Human rights defender Sharifeh Mohammadi and Kurdish civil society activist Pakhshan Azizi were recently convicted of “armed rebellion against the state” ( baghi ) and sentenced to death by Revolutionary Courts in separate cases, solely due to their peaceful activism. Alarming reports indicate they were subjected to torture and other ill-treatment in detention. At least two other women, Wrisha Moradi and Nasim Gholami Simiyari, have also been tried for “armed rebellion against the state” ( baghi ) in separate cases.

Weaponizing sexual violence 

Over the past two years, the authorities have continued to deny that officials subjected those detained during the protests to torture and other ill-treatment, including rape and other forms of sexual violence.

During the uprising, Iran’s security and intelligence forces committed widespread torture and other ill-treatment against detained protesters. In December 2023, Amnesty International detailed the harrowing use of rape, including gang rape, and other forms of sexual violence by Iranian authorities as they sought to crush protests and terrorize and punish protesters, including children as young as 12.

In March 2024, the High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is not an independent body and sits within the judiciary, responded to Amnesty International’s investigation stating that Iran’s judiciary had investigated complaints and “found that in 28 out of 31 provinces, no complaints were filed under the headings of rape, assault and sexual harassment.” Amnesty International, however, has consistently documented how prosecution and judicial authorities have dismissed or covered up evidence of sexual violence, including complaints by survivors.

In the three provinces where officials said they had received allegations of sexual violence by intelligence and security forces, authorities claimed that these individuals pretended to be law enforcement agents. However, an October 2022 leaked official document from the Deputy Prosecutor of Tehran acknowledged that two suspected perpetrators of rape of protesters were Revolutionary Guards agents, and advised to classify the case as “completely secret”.

Crisis of systemic impunity

Iranian officials suspected of criminal responsibility for crimes under international law and other human rights violations have continued to evade justice.

In March 2024, the “Special Committee for Examining the Unrest of 2022”, a non-judicial and biased committee established by the late president to facilitate the official campaign of denial, distortion and cover-up, published its report. The committee claimed that security forces had “acted responsibly” in response to the protests, despite their consistent and well-documented use of unlawful force , including lethal force .

The UN Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran (FFMI) in April 2024, but Iranian authorities persist in refusing to cooperate with the independent body and deny its members access to the country. Amnesty International echoes the recommendations of the FFMI to all states to initiate criminal investigations into Iranian officials reasonably suspected of crimes under international law under the principle of universal jurisdiction, regardless of whether or not the accused is present in their territory, and to open “structural investigations into the general situation linked to the protests of 2022 without an identified suspect.”

Header photo credit: OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images

Related posts:

• Iran: One year after the Woman Life Freedom uprising international community must combat impunity for brutal crackdown 
• Iran: Draconian campaign to enforce compulsory veiling laws through surveillance and mass car confiscations 
• Iranian women and girls face further violations of their rights under compulsory veiling bill
• Iran: President Raisi’s death must not deny victims of his grim human rights legacy their right to accountability
• Human Rights News
• Women's Rights

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