{"id":2479,"date":"2015-04-01T00:08:37","date_gmt":"2015-04-01T00:08:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelcake.site\/?p=2479"},"modified":"2025-05-02T20:05:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T20:05:58","slug":"whats-in-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/whats-in-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s in… Iran?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in Iran? More Than You Think.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Almost every time I excitedly told someone I was headed to Iran, I was met with puzzled looks.
Reactions ranged from, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Are you nuts<\/em>?! You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re gonna get yourself killed!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to the slightly calmer, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Iran? What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in Iran?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Funny \u00e2\u20ac\u201d no one ever asks that when you say you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going to Thailand or France.<\/p>\n

It seems like war, nuclear bombs, danger, terror, and veiled women<\/strong> are the first things that come to mind when people hear the word \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Iran.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
But having seen and experienced it for myself, I can say with confidence: the way popular media portrays Iran is wildly off the mark.<\/p>\n

So, what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in Iran? Why travel there?<\/p>\n

Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s bust some myths.<\/p>\n

\"not<\/a>
not so scary<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So what’s in Iran worth travelling for?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Divine architecture<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Even if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not into architecture, Iran will stop you in your tracks.
Palaces, mosques, and historic mansions \u00e2\u20ac\u201d with ornate facades, mirrored halls, intricate mosaics, and domes painted in a thousand shades of blue<\/strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u201d are everywhere.<\/p>\n

No matter which city or village you visit, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll find yourself staring at a building in awe at some point. Guaranteed.<\/p>\n

\"Sheikh<\/a>
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Isfahan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Iran<\/a>
just a few examples of Iran’s divine architecture (click to enlarge)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/h4>\n

Tea and delicious treats<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Since alcohol is officially unavailable, Iranians have perfected the art of the tea break<\/strong>.
We stopped for tea at least twice a day \u00e2\u20ac\u201d always served in beautiful glass cups, often accompanied by an assortment of regional sweets.<\/p>\n

In pretty tea gardens or peaceful courtyards, those little breaks became moments to savour.
No beer or wine needed.<\/p>\n

\"tea<\/a>
tea with saffron sugar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"in<\/a>
in a tea garden with fresh dates on the side<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"tea<\/a>
tea with regional sweets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Warm and welcoming people<\/strong><\/h4>\n

I was recently asked where I found the friendliest people during my travels. It’s a hard question to answer as I’ve encountered so many friendly nations but, Iran is undoubtedly in my top three.<\/p>\n

Not friendly in a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153trying to sell you something\u00e2\u20ac\u009d way.
Just genuinely curious, kind, and welcoming<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

People on the street would approach us just to say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Welcome.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d
Strangers invited us for dinner. Some even paid our bus fare \u00e2\u20ac\u201d just because<\/em>.<\/p>\n

No hidden agendas. Just hospitality.<\/p>\n

In fact, you could go to Iran and not visit a single site, and the people alone would make the trip worth it.<\/p>\n

\"women<\/a>
women taking time off work to welcome us to their country<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"so<\/a>
so much love…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rooftops magic<\/strong><\/h4>\n

One of my favourite things to do in Iran? Climb onto rooftops.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unlike any I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve seen before, Iranian rooftops are a maze of domes, towers, and mysterious structures \u00e2\u20ac\u201d all with a purpose, you’ll discover that soon enough once you are there.<\/p>\n

They also happen to be the best place to watch the sun set over the city.
Sometimes it felt like stepping onto another planet.<\/p>\n

\"rooftop<\/a>
rooftop, free tourist attraction… (click to enlarge)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lively bazars without hassle<\/strong><\/h4>\n

I love browsing markets, and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve come to expect a certain amount of hassle with it.
But in Iran, the bazaars are surprisingly peaceful<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Every town boasts at least one bazar featuring some top notch goods. The best part however, is that they are pretty much hassle free!<\/strong> You can browse the stands in peace without feeling pressure from the salesman to buy every item you glance at. The shopkeeper will take his time to explain things if you ask, to show you other options if you’re interested and to give you a taste if you seem puzzled. All the while giving you a genuine smiling nod if you walk away. This is bazar shopping at its best!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"shopping<\/a>
bazar shopping (click to enlarge)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A great variety of landscapes<\/strong><\/h4>\n

You can’t put Iran in a box when it comes to landscapes. <\/strong>You’ll find snowy mountains (where you can ski in winter!), flower covered hills, arid desert plains, moon landscapes, palm-fringed islands, forest and woodlands… You’ll find it all within the borders of the country.
\nIf you love nature, be warned: choosing where to go will be the hardest part.<\/p>\n

\"Iran<\/a>
sanddunes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"woodlands<\/a>
woodlands and waterfalls, yes this too is Iran! \u00c2\u00a0(source<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Iran<\/a>
dried up salt lake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

UNESCO heritage sites<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are currently 17 UNESCO sites<\/strong> in Iran, and chances are you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll quickly have an opinion of other sites schould be added to the list;<\/p>\n

The most famous? Persepolis.<\/strong>
Just hearing the name evokes wonder, but walking through its ancient ruins \u00e2\u20ac\u201d listening to the tales of Persian glory \u00e2\u20ac\u201d brings it to life in a way no history book ever could.<\/p>\n

\"gates<\/a>
gates of Persepolis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Persepolis\"<\/a>
Persepolis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An exciting food adventure<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Persian cuisine was a complete surprise to me.<\/p>\n

\u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u201d but the flavours?
Totally unique<\/strong>. I couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t compare them to anything I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d tasted before.<\/p>\n

The Persian cuisine is unlike any of the cuisines I have tasted so far<\/strong>. The ingredients aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t unusual \u00e2\u20ac\u201d rice, herbs, saffron, pomegranates, meat, but the way they are combined results in flavours that were entirely new to my tastebuds.
\nSure, the fast food (pizza, burgers, kebabs) is easy to find, but dig a little deeper and you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll discover dishes that take you on an exciting, unfamiliar food journey<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Persian<\/a>
a culinary discovery with every meal (click to enlarge)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3000+ year old mud castles to explore<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Some of Iran\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mud castles are over 3,000 years old<\/strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u201d no typo.<\/p>\n

Many are still standing, waiting to be explored. No guards. No ropes.
You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll likely have the whole place to yourself, Indiana Jones-style<\/strong> (minus the booby traps).<\/p>\n

\"one<\/a>
one of the many mud castles we played in<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"still<\/a>
still in good state<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A refined and interesting culture<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Persian culture is refined, poetic, and often misunderstood. It has a very distinct identity which, contrary to what many people believe, is nothing like the Arab or Ottoman culture.<\/p>\n

You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll find echoes of elegance in the art, the architecture, the music, the poetry.
\nEven as a tourist only scratching the surface, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s captivating.<\/p>\n

Telling the Real Story<\/h3>\n

Iranians know the world sees them in a negative light. They often asked us what people back home thought of their country. Sadly, we had to confirm their fears and admit most people didn’t have a great image of the country.<\/p>\n

But almost every time, they followed up with one simple request:
\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Tell our story. Show people what Iran is really like.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/strong><\/p>\n

So here I am, doing just that.<\/p>\n

If this post convinces even one person to see Iran differently \u00e2\u20ac\u201d or even better, to go and see it for themselves \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll consider it a success.<\/p>\n

Because what\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in Iran?<\/p>\n

Beauty. Kindness. Surprise. And a story that deserves to be heard.<\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Would you give Iran a chance?\u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The post “What’s in… Iran?<\/a>” first appeared on Travel Cake<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in Iran? More Than You Think. Almost every time I excitedly told someone I was headed to Iran, I was met with puzzled looks.Reactions ranged from, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Are you nuts?! You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re gonna get yourself killed!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to the slightly calmer, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Iran? What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in Iran?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Funny \u00e2\u20ac\u201d no one ever asks that when you say you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re going […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[96,28],"tags":[111,20,27,44],"country":[182],"class_list":["post-2479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-iran","category-middle-east","tag-middle-east","tag-off-the-beaten-track","tag-photo-essay","tag-top-things","post_format-post-format-image","country-iran"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2479"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4865,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2479\/revisions\/4865"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2526"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2479"},{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=2479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}