Tehran’s turbulent past has shaped the city as seen today; but locals are incredibly welcoming to foreigners, food is mouth-watering, the cityscape absolutely worth exploring, and activities to do are countless. For a shopping experience like no other, take a deep breath and delve into the labyrinthine Tehran Bazar. There are over 10 km of lanes here and the stalls selling everything you can possibly imagine are broken up by banks, mosques and even a fire station. You will get lost here, but the locals are friendly and can point you in the right direction, as long as you buy something! Escape the smog of the city for a day-trip to Darakeh & Darband, walking trails at the foothills of the Alborz Mountains. Dotted with teahouses and stalls, it makes for a relaxing retreat, passing by waterfalls and streams on the way up the hills. There is also a well-priced ski-lift on Darband.

The capital of Iran is, for want of a better word, big. Really big. With 16 million occupants in the wider area, it is the 29th largest city in the world by population and is ranked in the top 10 fastest growing global destinations. Free Walking Tours in Teheran are the perfect and safest introduction to this mammoth of a city. These tours will help you gain a deeper understanding of the Tehrani way of life and its complex modern history. Join a Free City Tour Tehran to discover the main sights in the city from the inside out with a local guide. Additionally, there are Tehran Free Tours in the Persian Gardens that will take you around this UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a uniquely distinctive collection of nine gardens, selected from various regions of Iran. Of course, there are private tours that will take you to Shiraz, Persepolis, Pasargadae and Esfahan. Book your tours today and come discover Iran!

Tehran is considered the most liberal city in Iran and younger generations flock from all over the country for acceptance and education. Though settlement in the area dates back over 7,000 years, Tehran itself was demolished and rebuilt from scratch in the 1920s so has little to offer in ancient architecture, but it makes up for that with its fantastic museums, galleries, restaurants, cafés and walking trails. Highlights on a Tehran Free Walking Tour include the National Museum, Golestan Palace, the Grand Bazaar, the Azadi Monument, Milad Tower and Saad Abad Complex. Probably the biggest tourist trawler in the city is the Treasury of National Jewels. Accessed through the front doors of the central bank, it houses jaw-dropping examples of jewelry belonging to former royalty now serving as a reserve for the national currency. You shouldn't miss Imamzadeh Saleh Shrine, which is one of the oldest and most famous, dating back to the early 13th century.