Can i visit iran

It is fine to exchange with them but just make sure to count your money twice, as some of them may try to trick you. Since their currency is extremely low, in order to simplify things, most places will tell you the prices in Tomans, which is the same value divided by There are quite a few companies, for example, Mah Card Iran Travel.

The way it works is that you sign up on their website, give your passport details and they will bring your credit card once you arrive at your hotel in Tehran. You will be surprised to know that local credit cards are accepted all across the country, including at street food stalls and grocery shops from rural areas. Most touristic sites, including mosques, gardens, and archaeological sites, charge between , and ,IR, which is 5 to 10 more times than what the locals pay.

The UK Foreign advice says that you should avoid traveling to Balochistan and the area bordering Iraq. However, I think that this information is totally biased.

You should be fine. I love my friends but this is a very naive comment because, first of all, Iranians are Shia, hence there are no Iranian linked to ISIS. Iran travel tip — Consider getting off the beaten track I traveled to Iran in and and, in only 3 years, things had changed significantly. The classic Persian cities of Yazd, Esfahan, Shiraz, and Kashan are filled with tour groups, overpriced restaurants, and souvenir shops.

Local interactions, which usually involve house invitations, are less frequent and rip-offs are common. However, if you just step slightly out of your comfort zone, experiences with the locals can be totally different. Therefore, I strongly recommend visiting other places near the cities, as well as discovering other provinces, such as Golestan, Kurdistan, or the cities of Tabriz and Mashhad. Iran is an Islamic dictatorship and, at the same time a day-by-day growing tourism destination, so it is not surprising at all that, every day, this Middle Eastern country is attracting more and more travelers, including many solo females.

Many women have come to me asking for my opinion towards traveling to Iran as a solo female. If you want to know more details about it, I recently interviewed Eveline from Earth Wanderess , who shares her travel expertise about solo female travel in Iran. Remember that, in Iran, the internet is censored — including Facebook or WhatsApp. Even in very rural, remote areas, such as Golestan, I met people who had Ph. They love foreigners and are striving for the world to realize that they are a very peaceful society.

Just say yes. If you are traveling in Iran for long enough and have experienced strong local interactions, the locals will tell you about something called tarof. In major cities, most educated people speak impeccable English and, in rural areas, they will speak the basic stuff. Iran follows the official Muslim calendar, so Friday is the official day off and, for most companies and the public sector, Thursday and Friday is the weekend.

Read: Things you need to know before traveling to Kyrgyzstan. Prior to , Iran was ruled by a Shah who was a puppet of the USA and was leading the country to poverty. This led to a massive revolution, the Shah was overthrown and the clerics came to power, founding the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In Iran, freedom of speech, demonstration, and protest is extremely limited and several rules based on Sharia law apply to everybody, including tourists. This means that you must wear a long, loose dress or skirt over your pants. They go absolutely everywhere and are the preferred choice for locals. Things have changed and now, you can easily buy them through 1st Quest the same visa guys. You can use it as many times as you want!

Some cities have train stations. It was pretty cool but not all cities have train stations plus they run less frequently than buses. For those who are short on time, there are a lot of domestic flights, connecting most cities in the country.

Snapp is like the Iranian Uber and, as far as I know, it works in Tehran, Esfahan and, perhaps, in other big cities, as well. By default, it is cheaper than regular taxis plus you save all the negotiation hassle. Tehran, Esfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad have metro lines. They are cheap, fast and reliable! You can self-drive in Iran, no problem, but just be aware that, like in all the Middle East , people drive like crazy.

You should know that, when you cross the street, even if you go over a pedestrian crossing, cars will never slow down but will just dodge you. You should always cross sticking close to a local.

In my experience, the staff of IranCell shops speak good English. I suggest you check their website for the latest plans. Seriously, I could write an entire post about food in Iran.

It is quite varied and many provinces have their own local specialties. Usually, most meals will be accompanied by tonnes of rice and bread. The most popular appetizers have an eggplant base and main courses tend to be meat with gravy. Kebab is a fancy meal they eat outside. So far, my favorite dishes are bademjan , an eggplant and tomato stew; ghormeh sabzi , a meat stew with plenty of spices and herbs; ash , a breakfast consisting of a vegetable soup with chickpeas, noodles and caramelized onions; and dizi , lamb or chicken smashed with tomatoes, potatoes and chickpeas in a clay pot.

For breakfast, they will serve you either ash the vegetable soup or an omelet with tomato sauce, as well as cheese, watermelon, and nuts. One of the differences I noticed on my second trip to Iran is that there were coffee places, serving authentic coffee absolutely everywhere. It was, of course, pricey compared to any other drink but having breakfast over a good cup of coffee is a real must for me.

It usually comes smuggled from Armenia or Iraqi Kurdistan. Once, I was hitchhiking in Golestan when a young couple from Tehran picked me up and offered me vodka shots. As I said, many Iranians are not very religious and, if you hang out with local people, eventually, you will be able to have some drinks.

You will see that in most major cities, especially in Tehran and Esfahan, a lot of women wear a bandage on their nose. That is because they just came from surgery. Many Persian women have an arched nose and some of them have a bit of complex about it. Those Muslim priests that you see all over Iran are Shia clergy. Most of them wear a white hat, which means that they are normal people.

However, those wearing a black one are, somehow, related to the prophet Mohammed. Within a period of 2 months, I spotted two of them. In all bazaars all across the country, clothing shops have extremely creepy mannequins. They tend to be dirty, miss one eye or they have no jaw. In Iran, lack of rain is a real problem and, across the country, many lakes and rivers, including the river that goes through Esfahan, are completely dry. This is one of the biggest concerns for most Iranians.

Read more interesting facts about Iran. More articles about Iran — These are all the articles I have written about Iran:.

Travel guides to the neighboring countries — If you are overlanding to or from Iran, read:. Disclosure: As a traveler, I use all the companies I recommend and you should know that, if you buy any service through any of these links, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Use Booking. Check on Hostelworld for for backpacker hostels. Trekking equipment, books, etc, check on Amazon. If you want to know all the companies I use to plan my trips, check my travel resources page.

Hey Buddy, you wrote a great helpful article! Btw , I would like to introduce our hostel in tehran to readers of your blog if its possible, HI Tehran Hostel offers excellent value budget accommodation in a convenient location of Tehran, stay with us and see what a difference a stay makes.. Im so happy to see that you wrote a excellent article about my country and specially my city and its beautiful valley alamut.

I have just spent a goo hour reading your articles, they are very well and intelligently written! And also more informative than other sites. I am planning a trip to Iran in September too! Safe travels and keep writing awesome articles!

I get what you mean about the heat and humidity in the southern provinces Joan. We house sat during the cool, rainier season in Doha, Qatar last year, across the Persian Gulf from Iran. Meaning sometimes it feels like F LOL! Rocking post bro. In summer, the weather Gulf Area is really bad! It can, however, change at any time. Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave Iran. Official travel. Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document.

Before you leave, check with the closest diplomatic mission for your destination. Tourist visa: required Business visa: required Student visa: required Pilgrimage visa: required Press visa: required Transit visa: required. Overstaying your visa period may lead to detention, imprisonment and fines.

You will be required to remain in Iran until the situation has been resolved. If you enter Iran with a transit pass issued by an Iranian embassy or consulate abroad, you may have to obtain an Iranian passport to exit the country. Canadians have been denied entry into Iran because their passports bore an Israeli visa, an Israeli border stamp or an Egyptian or Jordanian border stamp issued by an office bordering Israel.

Such a stamp would indicate the traveller entered from Israel. Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever vaccines section. Be sure that your routine vaccines , as per your province or territory, are up-to-date regardless of your travel destination. Some of these vaccines include: measles-mumps-rubella MMR , diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella chickenpox , influenza and others.

You may be at risk for these vaccine-preventable diseases while travelling in this country. Talk to your travel health professional about which ones are right for you.

It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID when travelling internationally. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID Hepatitis A is a disease of the liver spread through contaminated food and water or contact with an infected person.

All those travelling to regions with a risk of hepatitis A infection should get vaccinated. Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver spread through blood or other bodily fluids.

Travellers who may be exposed e. Seasonal influenza occurs worldwide. The flu season usually runs from November to April in the northern hemisphere, between April and October in the southern hemisphere and year round in the tropics.

Influenza flu is caused by a virus spread from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus.

Get the flu shot. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air. Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles. Polio can be prevented by vaccination, which is part of the routine vaccines for children in Canada.

Rabies is a deadly illness spread to humans through a bite, scratch or lick from an infected animal. Vaccination should be considered for travellers going to areas where rabies exists and who have a high risk of exposure e. Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito. Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection. About Yellow Fever.

It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination s you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements. Travellers to any destination in the world can develop travellers' diarrhea from consuming contaminated water or food. In some areas in Western Asia, food and water can also carry diseases like cholera , hepatitis A , schistosomiasis and typhoid. Practise safe food and water precautions while travelling in Western Asia.

Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it! Cholera is a risk in parts of this country. Most travellers are at very low risk.

To protect against cholera, all travellers should practise safe food and water precautions. Vaccination may be recommended for high-risk travellers, and should be discussed with a health care professional. Typhoid is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water.

Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time. Travellers visiting regions with a risk typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.

In some areas in Western Asia, certain insects carry and spread diseases like chikungunya , Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever , dengue fever , leishmaniasis , malaria , Rift Valley fever , and West Nile virus. Travellers are advised to take precautions against bites. There is currently a risk of chikungunya in this country. Chikungunya is a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Chikungunya can cause a viral disease that typically causes fever and pain in the joints.

In some cases, the joint pain can be severe and last for months or years. Protect yourself from mosquito bites at all times. There is no vaccine available for chikungunya. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a viral disease that typically causes fever, bleeding under the skin, and pain. Risk is generally low for most travellers. It is spread to humans though contact with infected animal blood or bodily fluids, or from a tick bite.

Protect yourself from tick bites and avoid animals. There is no vaccine available for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. Cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis causes skin sores and ulcers.

It is caused by a parasite spread through the bite of a female sandfly. Protect yourself from sandfly bites, which typically occur after sunset in rural and forested areas and in some urban centres. There is no vaccine or medication to protect against leishmaniasis. Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats. Certain infections found in some areas in Western Asia, like avian influenza and rabies , can be shared between humans and animals.

Some people infected with MERS-CoV experience no symptoms, while others may experience mild flu-like or more severe pneumonia-like symptoms. Some cases can result in death. Eat and drink safely , and avoid close contact with animals, especially camels. If you must visit a farm or market, make sure you practise good hygiene and wash your hands before and after contact with animals.

There is currently no vaccine to protect against MERS. Crowded conditions can increase your risk of certain illnesses. Remember to wash your hands often and practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette to avoid colds, the flu and other illnesses. Sanctions: U. In general, unless licensed by the U. With limited exceptions, goods or services of Iranian origin may not be imported into the United States, either directly or through third countries. OFAC regulations provide general licenses authorizing the performance of certain categories of transactions.

Such general licenses include, but are not limited to, the following:. All transactions ordinarily incident to travel to or from Iran, including baggage costs, living expenses, and the acquisition of goods or services for personal use are permitted. OFAC has the authority by means of a specific license to permit a person or entity to engage in many transactions or services which would otherwise be prohibited. Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas.

Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation. Basic medical care and medicine are available in the principal cities, but may not be available in rural areas in Iran. Medical facilities do not meet U. Very high pollution levels from cars, particularly in Ahvaz, Tehran, and Zabol, can trigger respiratory problems.

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Road Conditions and Safety: While in Iran, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Iran has a very high rate of traffic accidents, the second highest cause of mortality in the country. Drivers throughout Iran tend to ignore traffic lights, traffic signs, and lane markers. Urban streets are not well lit; it is therefore particularly dangerous to drive at night. Sidewalks in urban areas exist only on main roads and are usually obstructed by parked cars. In residential areas, few sidewalks exist. Drivers almost never yield to pedestrians at crosswalks. If you are involved in an accident, no matter how minor, do not leave the scene; wait until the police arrive to file a report.

Iranian authorities sometimes set up informal roadblocks, both in cities and on highways, often manned by young, inexperienced officers who are suspicious of foreigners. Carry identification with you and avoid getting into disputes. See our Road Safety page for more information. Maritime Travel: Mariners planning travel to Iran should check for U. Information may also be posted to the U. The CDC's latest guidance on international travel for vaccinated people can be found here.

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