Iran is situated in Southwest Asia, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan. Iran is one of the world's most mountainous countries. Its mountains have helped to shape both the political and the economic history of the country for several centuries. The mountains enclose several broad basins, or plateaus, on which major agricultural and urban settlements are located. Until the twentieth century, when major highways and railroads were constructed through the mountains to connect the population centers, these basins tended to be relatively isolated from one another. Typically, one major town dominated each basin, and there were complex economic relationships between the town and the hundreds of villages that surrounded it. In the higher elevations of the mountains rimming the basins, tribally organized groups practiced transhumance, moving with their herds of sheep and goats between traditionally established summer and winter pastures. There are no major river systems in the country, and historically transportation was by means of caravans that followed routes traversing gaps and passes in the mountains. The mountains also impeded easy access to the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea.

Tehran

Visitors to Tehran will find a number of great and also popular things to see and do while they visit Tehran. A visit to Tehran can be a good experience for starting your Travel to Iran; the following are a few of the different places you can see and go while touring the city of Tehran.

National Museum of Iran is combinations of two museums which opened first time at 1937 by French architect Andre Godar, the main Building which is represents Archaeological Collections consists of three halls. The three halls contain artifacts from the lower, middle, and upper Paleolithic, as well as the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, early and late Bronze Age, and Iron Ages I-III, through the Median, Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian, and Sassanid periods.

The post-Islamic part of the museum was inaugurated in 1996 and consists of three floors. It contains various pieces of pottery, textiles, texts, artworks, astrolabes, and adobe calligraphy from Iran's 1,400-year Islamic history.

The Golestan Palace in Tehran was built during the reign of Tahmasp I (r. 1524-1576) of the Safavid dynasty (1502–1736), and was later renovated by Karim Khan Zand (r. 1750-1779). Agha Mohamd Khan Qajar (1742–1797) chose Tehran as his capital. The Arg became the site of the Qajar (1794–1925). The Court and Golestan Palace became the official residence of the royal Qajar family. 

The Azadi Tower (Freedom Tower) is the symbol of Tehran, the capital of Iran; built in 1971 in commemoration of the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire, this "Gateway into Iran" was named the Shahyad Tower, meaning "Kings' Memorial", but was dubbed Azadi (Freedom) after the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Azadi Tower in Tehran it has become a symbol of the country's revival. It is 50 meters (148 ft) tall and completely clad in cut marble. 

Carpet Museum of Iran, Tehran, was founded in 1976; the Carpet Museum of Tehran exhibits a variety of Persian carpets from all over Iran, dating from 18th century to present. The Tehran Carpet museum's exhibition hall occupies 3,400 square meters (10,200 ft²) and its library contains 7,000 books. The carpet Museum was designed by the last Queen of Iran, Farah Diba Pahlavi. The perforated structure around the museum's exterior is designed both to resemble a carpet loom, and to cast shade on the exterior walls, reducing the impact of the hot summer sun on the interior temperature. 

The national Jewels Museum of Iran its dates back to safavid Dynasty which ruled Iran from 1502 to 1736 AD, Because of their great value and economic significance, the Iranian crown jewels were for centuries kept far from public view in the vaults of the Imperial treasury. 

 

The Grand Bazaar of Tehran is a type of marketplace, although many – such as Tehran's Grand bazaar – fulfill many additional functions rather than merely trade. Throughout its history, the Grand bazaar has played host to banks and financiers, mosques and guest houses. Traditionally, the Tehran bazaar was split into corridors, each specializing in different types of goods, including copper, Iranian carpets, paper, spices, and precious metals, as well as small traders selling all types of goods. Today, modern goods are available as well, in addition to the many traditional corridor traders that still survive. The Grand Bazaar is located in southern Tehran; its many corridors are over 10 km in length. There are several entrances, some of which are locked and guarded at night. 

 

Dizin is a ski resort situated to the north of Tehran in the Alborz mountain range. The huge Dizin ski resort was established in 1969. The ski season in Dizin also lasts longer than European ski resorts (from December to May) because of its high altitude. The highest ski lift reaches 3,600 m (11,800 ft.), making it one of the 40 highest ski resorts in the world. Dizin ski amenities include two hotels, 19 cottages and five restaurants, villas and private apartments around the Dizin ski resort accommodate thousands of people every year.

 

Esfahan

 Esfahan, The City of Turquoises Domes and Bridges is located on the main north-south and east-west routes crossing Iran, and was once one of the largest cities in the world. It flourished from 1050 to 1722, particularly in the 16th century under the Safavid dynasty, when it became the capital of Persia for the second time in its history. Even today, the city retains much of its past glory. It is famous for its Islamic architecture, with many beautiful boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, mosques, and minarets. (Isfahan is half of the world).

The Naghsh-e Jahan Sq (Imam Sq) in Esfahan is the second biggest squares in the world and an outstanding example of Iranian and Islamic architecture. It has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The city also has a wide variety of historic monuments, the Naghsh-e Jahan Sq( Imam Sq) is 160 meters wide by 512 meters long , The square is surrounded by buildings from the Safavid era from 16th Century. The Imam Mosque is situated on the south side of this square. On the west side is the Ali Qapu Palace. Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque is situated on the eastern side of this square and the northern side opens into the Esfahan Grand Bazaar (Qeysariye). 

Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque is one of the architectural masterpieces of Safavid Iranian architecture, standing on the eastern side of Naghsh-e Jahan Square, Isfahan, Construction of the mosque started in 1603 and was finished in 1618. It was built by the chief architect Shaykh Bahai, during the reign of Shah Abbas I of the Safavid dynasty. 

Ali Qapu Palace is a grand palace in Isfahan, Iran. It is located on the western side of the Naghsh-e Jahan Square opposite to Sheikh lotf allah mosque, and had been originally designed as a vast portal. It is forty-eight meters high and there are seven floors, each accessible by a difficult spiral staircase. In the sixth floor music room, deep circular niches are found in the walls, having not only aesthetic value, but also acoustic .

The Grand Bazaar of Isfahan is a historical market in Isfahan, Iran, one of the oldest and largest bazaars of the Middle East, dating back to the 17th century. The bazaar is a vaulted two kilometer street linking the old city with the new. The Bazaar of Isfahan is located at the very down town old Isfahan on the northern side of famous Naghsh-e Jahan Square,  Bazaar’s main entrance called Qeisarieh and you can walk all along to the Friday mosque (masjed e Jame) the oldest mosque in Isfahan. 

Chehel Sotun Palace is a pavilion set in the middle of a Lovely Garden at the far end of a long pool, in Esfahan, , built by Shah Abbas II to be used for his entertainment and receptions. In this palace, Shah Abbas II and his successors would receive dignitaries and ambassadors, either on the terrace or in one of the stately reception halls. The name, meaning "Forty Columns" in Persian, was inspired by the twenty slender wooden columns supporting the entrance pavilion, which, when reflected in the waters of the fountain, are said to appear to be forty. 

The Jame Abassi Mosque(also called Imam Mosque) or Masjed-e Shah standing in south side of Naghsh-e Jahan Square. Built during the Safavid period, it is an excellent example of Islamic architecture of Iran, and regarded as one of the masterpieces of Persian Architecture. The Imam Mosque of Esfahan is one of the everlasting masterpieces of architecture in Iran. It is registered, along with the Naghsh-i Jahan Square, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its construction began in 1611, and its splendor is mainly due to the beauty of its seven-colour mosaic tiles and calligraphic inscriptions. 

 

Khaju Bridge It was built by the Persian Safavid king; Shah Abbas II around 1650 C.E has 23 arches and is 105 metres long and 14 metres wide. The pass way of the bridge is 7.5 meters wide, made of bricks and stones with 21 larger and 26 smaller inlet and outlet channels. The existing inscriptions suggest that the bridge was repaired in 1873. Khaju bridge is one of the bridges that regulate the water flow in the river because there are sluice gates under the archways over the river. When the sluice gates are closed, the water level behind the bridge is raised to facilitate the irrigation of the many gardens along the river upstream of this bridge. 

Si-o-se Pol which means 33 Bridge or the Bridge of 33 Arches, the 33 bridge is one of the eleven bridges of Isfahan which are over Zayande river. It is highly ranked as being one of the most famous examples of Safavid bridge design. Commissioned in 1602 by Shah Abbas I from his favourite general in army, Allahverdi Khan, it consists of two rows of 33 arches. There is a larger base plank at the start of the bridge where the Zayandeh River flows under it. 

Shaking Minarets of Isfahan nicknamed as Monar Jomban is one of the most impressive historical buildings in Isfahan, Shaking Minarets is located 6 kilometers west of the city of Isfahan and it’s also close to atashgah(Zoroastrian Fire temple) . What makes the Shaking Minarets, Isfahan so unique is the fact that if you climb up the very narrow stairway to the top of one of these two minarets and lean hard against the wall, it will sway back and forth the other minaret. 

The Atashgah of Isfahan is a Sassanid-era archaeological complex located on a hill of the same name about eight kilometers west of city center of Isfahan, The hill, which rises about 210 meters above the surrounding plain, was previously called Marabin after a village near there, and it is by that name that the site is referred to by Arab historians. One part of the complex, on the southern flank of the hill, are the remains of a citadel of about twenty buildings (or rooms within buildings), many of which particularly those in the lower half of cluster—are however only evident as foundation traces. 

Vank Cathedral was one of the first churches to be established in the District of Jolfa in Esfahan by Armenian immigrants settled by Shah Abbas I after the Ottoman War of 1603-1605. The varying fortunes and independence of this suburb across the Zayandeh River and its eclectic mix of European missionaries, mercenaries and travelers can be traced almost chronologically in the cathedral's combination of building styles and contrasts in its external and internal architectural treatment. 

Hasht Behesht Palace located in the center of the Nightingales garden( The Bagh-e Bolbol), Hasht behesht is translates as 'Eight Paradises' and refers to a Timurid palace building type consisting of two stories of four corner rooms around a central domed space. In Isfahan, the corner rooms are octagonal, forming massive pillars that define four large openings leading to large porches in the south, east and west, and an iwan in the north, Hasht behesht palace Built under Shah Sulaiman some twenty years after the Forty Column Palace in Esfahan, it is quite different in style from the earlier pavilion, although it exhibits the same concern for the interplay of interior and exterior spaces.

Jame Mosque of Esfahan is the grand, congregational mosque of Esfahan. The mosque is the result of continual construction, reconstruction, additions and renovations on the site from around 771 to the end of the 20th century. The Grand Bazaar of Isfahan can be found towards the southeast wing of the mosque. Jameh Mosque of Esfahan is one of the oldest mosques still standing in Iran, and it was built in the four-iwan architectural style, placing four gates face to face. An iwan is a vaulted open room. The qibla iwan on the southern side of the mosque was vaulted with muqarnas during the thirteen hundreds. Muqarnas are niche-like cells. 

Zayandeh River crosses the city of Esfahan, In the 17th century, Shaikh Bahai (an influential scholar and adviser to the Safavid dynasty), designed and built a system of canals to distribute Zayandeh rivers water to Esfahan's suburbs. Water from the Zayandeh River helped the growth of the population and the economy, helped established Esfahan as an influential center, and gave a green landscape to Esfahan, a city in the middle of a desert. There are several historical bridges over the river which 33 Pol and khajoo are amongst them.

Chahar bagh School also known as Shah school, is a 16-17th century cultural complex in Esfahan, The compound was built during Soltan Hossein, a Safavid king, to serve as a theological and clerical school to train those who were interested in such sciences. In order to finance the school, Soltan Hossein's mother had a large caravansary built nearby( now famous Abassi Hotel in Esfahan), the income of which went to the foundation. The monumental portal from the main avenue of Shah Abbas leads directly into a domed octagonal vestibule.