Iran
country · Iran
Current situation
Iran is kept here for reference only. The information below is the most recent available record and predates the situation described above; figures such as population reflect the last data gathered before the current crisis and may no longer describe Iran today.
Overview
Iran is a country of real scale, and its identity is best understood through its major cities rather than any single postcard image. Tehran, the capital, sits at the centre of national life, while cities such as Tabriz, Isfahan, Mashhad and Qom each carry their own weight in the country's religious, commercial and cultural story.
Persian is the language spoken across all of them, which gives the country a linguistic through-line even as the cities themselves differ enormously in character.
This is a guide built around the hub-and-spoke reality of travelling Iran: Tehran as the natural entry point and hub, with the other major cities forming spokes to the north, south, coast and interior.
Key facts
| Country | Iran |
|---|---|
| Currency | IRR |
Regions and major cities
Tehran, the capital, is the obvious starting point for most visits and the country's administrative and economic centre. Nearby Karaj, one of the other major cities, sits close enough to Tehran that the two effectively form part of the same wider urban orbit.
To the north-west, Tabriz and Orūmīyeh represent Iran's connection to its northern and north-western reaches, while Rasht lies toward the north, associated with the country's Caspian-facing side. Qazvin and Hamadān sit in the interior to the west, historic waypoints on the routes between Tehran and the north-west.
Kermanshah lies to the west, another interior hub. Qom, close to Tehran, is a major city in its own right and features on many north-to-south routes.
The south and coast are represented by Ahvaz, in the south-west, and Bandar Abbas, a coastal city on the country's southern edge. Mashhad lies to the north-east, a major city and a significant point of pilgrimage and travel in that part of the country. Gorgān and Sari both sit toward the north, linked to the Caspian-facing region, while Zahedan lies in the south-east interior, marking the far side of the country from Tehran.
Costs and money
Iran's currency is the Iranian rial (IRR). No specific prices or cost figures are available here, so budgets should be researched close to travel dates and confirmed through up-to-date currency and banking guidance, particularly given how currency conditions can shift.
Language and etiquette
Persian is the language spoken across Iran, including in all of the major cities covered here, from Tehran and Isfahan to Tabriz, Mashhad and Zahedan. Having at least some basic Persian phrases, or a translation tool to hand, will help considerably when moving between cities and regions.
Regions & places
Common questions
- What is the capital of Iran?
- Tehran is the capital of Iran and serves as the country's main hub for travel to and from the other major cities.
- What language is spoken in Iran?
- Persian is the language spoken throughout the country, including in all of its major cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz and Mashhad.
- What currency is used in Iran?
- The Iranian rial (IRR) is the country's currency; no specific price levels are set out here, so budgets should be checked against current guidance before travelling.
- Does Iran have UNESCO World Heritage sites?
- The facts available for this guide do not confirm UNESCO World Heritage status for Iran, so no claim is made on this point.
Sources & method
- GeoNames country — currency, languages, capital · retrieved 2026-08-12T15:10:01+00:00
Data compiled 2026-08-14 · editorial checks: passed. See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.