Golestan Palace complex Tehran, Iran

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Iran

Welcome to what could be the friendliest country on earth. Iran is the jewel in Islam's crown, combining glorious architecture with a warm-hearted welcome.

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Must-see attractions for your itinerary

  • Imam Mosque at Naqhsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, Iran. Imam mosque is known as Shah Mosque. Its construction finished in 1629.; Shutterstock ID 92388088; Your name (First / Last): Lauren Keith; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Middle East Online Highlights Update ancient, arch, architecture, art, building, culture, dark, decoration, design, dome, east, esfahan, heritage, historic, holy, imam, inner, inside, interior, iran, iranian, isfahan, islam, islamic, jahan, light, masjid, mosque, muslim, naqsh-e, old, ornament, pattern, persia, persian, pray, religion, sacred, shah, shine, sight, site, square, structure, sunlight, sunny, tile, traditional, vintage, wall

    Masjed-e Shah

    Esfahan

    This elegant mosque, with its iconic blue-tiled mosaics and its perfect proportions, forms a visually stunning monument at the head of Esfahan's main…

  • Facade of Imam Mosque, aka Masjed-e Jadid-e Abbasi, or Shah Mosque, on Naqsh-e Jahan (Imam) Square, Esfahan - Iran. April 21, 2017.

    Masjed-e Jameh

    Esfahan

    The Jameh complex is a veritable museum of Islamic architecture while still functioning as a busy place of worship. Showcasing the best that nine…

  • 622798102 Ancient; Architecture; Indian Culture; Iran; Iranian Culture; Isfahan; Islam; Tourism; Town Square; Built Structure; Lotfollah; Minaret; Mosaic; Mosque; Naqsh-e Jahan; Travel; Travel Destinations; Tree; UNESCO World Heritage Site; City; Famous Place; fontain; Old; Pond; Religion; Cultures; East Asian Culture; Emam Mosque; History; Horizontal; People; Photography; Shah; Springtime; Naqsh-e Jahan Square (Imam square), Isfahan, Iran

    Naqsh-e Jahan (Imam) Square

    Esfahan

    Hemmed on four sides by architectural gems and embracing the formal fountains and gardens at its centre, this wondrous space is a spectacle in its own…

  • Naranjestan garden with Qavam House in Shiraz, Iran; Shutterstock ID 2154407523; purchase_order: 65050; job: ; client: ; other: 2154407523

    Bagh-e Naranjestan

    Shiraz

    Named after the bitter oranges that line the central courtyard, this is Shiraz’s smallest but most lovely garden. Enclosing the delightful Naranjestan-e…

  • Persepolis, Apadana stairway facade, Ancient relief of the Achaemenids, Medes and Persians, Fars Province, Islamic Republic of Iran; Shutterstock ID 2114215667; purchase_order: 65050; job: ; client: ; other: 2114215667

    Apadana Staircase

    Iran

    The stairs, which are guarded by stone soldiers, are decorated by an exceptionally finely crafted frieze in three panels. Each panel is divided into…

  • Yazd, Iran - December 17, 2015: 410334136

    Masjed-e Jameh

    Yazd

    Soaring above the old city, this magnificent building is graced with a tiled entrance portal (one of the tallest in Iran), flanked by two 48m-high…

  • A bazaar in Tabriz, Iranian Azerbaijan, Iran. Tabriz, Iran, Persian Gulf States, Middle East, Southwest Asia, Asia, Iranian Azerbaijan, indoors, daytime, group of people, people, travel, travel destinations, market, market stall, selling, vendor, male, men, adult, shopping, store, retail, ceiling, architecture, brick, street market, street, arch, bazaar, commerce

    Tabriz Bazaar

    Tabriz

    The magnificent, labyrinthine, Unesco-listed Tabriz bazaar covers some 7 sq km, with 24 caravanserais (sets of rooms arrranged around a courtyard) and 22…

  • Isfahan, Iran - May 2019: Grand bazaar of Isfahan, also known as Bazar Bozorg with tourists and local people shopping, historical market; Shutterstock ID 1670251840; purchase_order: 65050; job: ; client: ; other: 1670251840

    Bazar-e Bozorg

    Esfahan

    One of Iran’s most historic and fascinating bazaars, this sprawling covered market links Naqsh-e Jahan (Imam) Sq with the Masjed-e Jameh. At its busiest…

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Beaches

Where to find the best scuba diving sites in the Middle East

Apr 17, 2019 • 5 min read

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