The capital of Iran is a wonder to behold, making it a fantastic destination for curious travelers. Despite the crazy traffic you can experience here on a daily basis, it easily makes up for that with its collection of unique offerings.

So, if you ever find yourself in the country, do not be too quick to depart for the quieter provinces where the pace of life is much slower. Make sure to spend a day or two in the economic hub of Iran because it has a lot of delightful and unusual sights that await.

Here are five highly recommended sights and experiences in Tehran if you are looking for something unusual:

1. Gol-e Rezaieh Café

This has been featured by the Travel Channel as an ideal stop for travellers visiting Iran.

This café is oozing with personality. Unlike chain coffee shops where the interior design is bright, laid-back and relaxing, Gol-e Rezaieh somewhat transports you back to the 1970s.

Red-orange glow typically suffuses this café, and its walls are decorated with images of Western rock stars. You would think that the hip younger generation would be the patrons of this café but that is not the case. “Golden” members of the community, academics, and artists come here quite often, too, for a filling breakfast, brunch, or lunch to jumpstart their day.

Gol-e Rezaieh is certainly worth visiting. It’s not your typical café – it’s cool, brimming with history, and is a hub for great personalities.

2. Ferdowsi Hotel

Tehran has always been known for being home to some of the best works of architecture in the world. One proof of this is the Ferdowsi Hotel.

From the outside, it may not look too different from the other colorful buildings you can find around the city, but once you head inside, expect to be enchanted.

The lobby is simply stunning.

The ceiling is definitely the focal point of the welcome area’s “nostalgic futurism” concept. The hotel rooms are also grand and they have details that make the space absolutely non-generic. All the other amenities, likewise, have unexpected implements.

So, if you are looking for a luxurious Iran accommodation, consider Ferdowsi Hotel which offers something out of the ordinary to all its guests.

3. The Iran Holy Defense Museum

This museum is one of the most important sites in Tehran. It is dedicated to commemorating the devastating Iran-Iraq war and tells the tale of this unfortunate period in the country’s history.

It may not seem like a joyful place to visit but the museum uses an unusual approach to make the tour of the place an amazing journey for visitors. With advanced technology, you get to witness the start of the revolution up to its end.

And quite unlike other museums, The Iran Holy Defense Museum offers an experience that emotionally connects you to what happened during the Iran-Iraq war. The Bridge of Martyrs, specifically, provides a spiritually charged experience because it identifies the lives sacrificed in the war.

4. Mellat Park

This sprawling park located smack in the middle of the city is home to different kinds of art installations which Persian artists are absolute experts at creating, a gorgeous flower garden, and a large playground with a giant Ferris wheel.

New works of art make it to this park every year. For example, the celebration of the Persian New Year Noruz in 2017 brought decorated egg statues lined the long sidewalks of the park.

5. Golestan Palace

This is a top attraction in Iran but are you aware that you can play dress-up here as well?

Visitors are offered the opportunity to dress up in Qajar Era clothes and look like a member of a royal family. As you sashay around the area in your royal threads, expect other tourists to start taking snapshots of you and perhaps even request a picture to be taken with you.

So, in your next visit to Iran, do not pass up Tehran so easily.

Stay here for a few days because its bag of treats is big.

To make your stay here easier on your budget, look for Tehran hotel offers online where you can take advantage of promos and score discounts and valuable deals.

AUTHOR BIO

Hamid Habibollah is Head of Content and Social Media at Snapptrip, a full-service travel booking company based in Tehran, Iran with a mission to empower customers’ choices in booking their whole travel online. Hamid is an experienced content marketer with a demonstrated history of working in the Internet industry and a passion for new media.