I am planning to visit Iran during 5 to 20 Sept and notice that there is Ramadan during the whole Sept. I have a few enquries.
1. Will there be any conveniences such as food and transportation during Ramadan?
2. I would also like to travel inbetween the big cities by public transport. Is the transport system good? Safe for night buses?
3. Is it safe for a single female to travel on her own?
Thanks.
Hi.
I dont know anything about travelling during Ramadan.
However, I (female) was just flying to Iran by myself last month. I ended up travelling with other people for most of the time, however it is no problem to travel as a women by yourself. You could stay at Hostel Firouzeh on your first night in Teheran, Mr. Moussavi knows very well about places to stay for female single travellers around the country.
Hi Joanne,
NO NEED TO WORRY! Answer to your questions:
1) No public transport system 'limitation' during Ramadan. As for eating and drinking, You can buy food, drinks, sandwiches and groceries all day long but cannot 'consume' them openly in public until the sunset! but this 'Law' is mostly intended for Iranians and does not much apply to foreigners. As far as i know most hotels serve food and drinks to foreigns during Ramadan and even if you are not at your hotel, you can place and take along few bottled water, drinks, snacks and sandwiches in your backpack or purse. As I just told you, all grocery stores and supermarkets are open as before, and Im sure you will find even some pizza parlors and fastfood restaurants serving their customers if you look hard.
2) Yes, it is good, very cheap. and overall, ..yes even safe at night! But I would go for a train ride at night if I had to choose -- and were offered a choice -- between buses and trains, depending on the route. Also, you can sleep on a train.
3) Yes it is. take the usual precautions however and try to find 'traveling companion' to make the trip even safer and more enjoyable! Please see my LP 'private (email message). Take care. Bye.
HI Joanne,
I've done public transport form Tehran northwards to Rasht and Chalus.
I caught a taxi from the Azadi momument late at night - you'll find the prices rather cheap. But be warned that taxi drivers, trucks, fully laden buses, etc... drive like a bat out of hell and if you're not accustomed to it - you will freak out. I'm talking super fast and super dangerous. I later found out that the cost of a flight is not much more. Distances seem small but due to the thick traffic everywhere, it takes forever to do a couple of hundred k's (eg along the Caspian coast).
Do yourself a favour - get a plane! I got the train from Tabriz to Tehran to save on a night's accomodation - didn't get any sleep at all. Get the plane, trust me!