If you decide to travel to Iran, it's very likely that the moment you start planning you will start facing the first problems. Due to Iran still being under sanctions, you can't use your bank cards and book online your hotels or domestic flights, except for a few exceptions we will be talking about later in the guide. What made us create this extensive guide on Iran? We have been receiving countless emails and messages inquiring about how to plan a trip to Iran. This is why we created this extensive guide including both the places to visit in Iran in ten days if it's your first trip and some very practical information you need to get by and properly organize your stay. Modern Persia is not just a big country, it's also packed with historical places, art and a diverse natural landscape, but since you are traveling there for the first time, I suggest you do the so-called "classic tour". Are you still wondering what are the best things to see and do in Iran? Read on and get inspired. Table of Contents Places to visit in Iran, what to see and do in a 10-day tour............................................................4 Practical information.................................................................................................................................4 Is it safe to visit Iran?............................................................................................................................4 Iran visa requirements.........................................................................................................................4 Flights to Iran..........................................................................................................................................5 Best time to visit Iran...........................................................................................................................5 How to dress in Iran.............................................................................................................................6 Domestic travel in Iran........................................................................................................................6 Domestic flights in Iran..................................................................................................................6 Extra-urban buses and trains in Iran........................................................................................7 Local SIM card and internet access................................................................................................7 Currency exchange...............................................................................................................................8 How to book a hotel in Iran..............................................................................................................9 Places to visit in Iran: "classic tour" itinerary....................................................................................9 Tehran........................................................................................................................................................9 Things to do in Tehran................................................................................................................10 Restaurants in Tehran..................................................................................................................15 Tehran hotels..................................................................................................................................16 Tehran transport............................................................................................................................16 Shiraz.......................................................................................................................................................17 Things to do in Shiraz..................................................................................................................17 Restaurants in Shiraz....................................................................................................................19 Hotels in Shiraz...............................................................................................................................20 Transport in Shiraz........................................................................................................................20 Isfahan.....................................................................................................................................................21 Things to do in Isfahan................................................................................................................21 Restaurants in Isfahan..................................................................................................................23 Hotels in Isfahan............................................................................................................................23 Transport in Isfahan......................................................................................................................24 Yazd..........................................................................................................................................................24 Things to do in Yazd....................................................................................................................24 Restaurants in Yazd......................................................................................................................26 Hotels in Yazd.................................................................................................................................26 Transport in Yazd...........................................................................................................................27 Kashan.....................................................................................................................................................27 Things to do in Kashan................................................................................................................27 Restaurants in Kashan..................................................................................................................28 Hotels in Kashan............................................................................................................................28 Transport in Kashan......................................................................................................................29 Places to visit in Iran, what to see and do in a 10-day tour Practical information Is it safe to visit Iran? Iran is very safe to visit. Angela have traveled around Iran with a woman friend of hers and they have never felt uncomfortable or in danger. Not only that, they also met many Iranian women traveling on their own. Buses running from one city to another stop at every police station along the way and an officer checks everything, depending on the province together with the dogs sniffing drugs. In the cities police is everywhere and keep streets safe. Moreover, last time Angela was in Iran, she stayed at a Tehran hotel by herself for about ten days. It was close to the Grand Bazaar, in a pretty "male- oriented" area as streets were lined with shops selling car spares, while at night it was very quite. Yet, she's never had any issue either at night nor day time. The Iranian government puts a great deal of work in security and keeping the national border as safe as possible against terrorism and drug dealers. Sometimes it might seem extreme, but we should never forget that Iran borders with dangerous countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, from where terrorists usually take off for their attacks. Read more about Angela's experience of female travel in Iran Iran visa requirements The requirements for Iran visa vary depending on your nationality. European citizens can get tourist visa either by applying at the Iranian embassy or consulate of the country of your residence or on arrival upon landing at the international airports of Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz and Esfahan. Both visas should allow 30 days, even though sometimes visa on arrival is issued for only 14 days. If you want to travel with the Iran visa already glued on your passport, travel agency 1st Quest offers the service. Fill in an online form and they will send you your authorization code that you need to take to the embassy or consulate alongside the other required documents. The fee for the service is 35$ and you can apply directly from 1stQuest website. Click here to see the process and fees. US, Canadians and UK citizens cannot get Iran tourist visa on arrival and need to apply at the Iranian embassy or consulate (Americans at the Iran section of Pakistan embassy in Washington DC). All these nationalities must have a certified tour guide to be able to apply for Iran visa. Need more info? Check out our post on how to get Iran visa. Flights to Iran Many are the airlines that land in Iran. I traveled with Qatar Airways, Alitalia and Turkish Airlines, but also Etihad, Thai Airways, Emirates and others land in Iran. Depending on where you are departing from, these companies will have a stop over at the airport of their headquarter, so Doha for Qatar Airways, Rome for Alitalia, etc. There are also Iranian airlines IranAir and MahanAir flying from Europe and Asia into Iran, but due to sanctions you can only purchase a ticket with them via their office. Best time to