After deciding to travel to Iran one of the major questions that come to mind is when is the best time to visit this country? According to the activities you would like to have in Iran, including visiting the top historical highlights and joining eco-tours to enjoy the wonderful natural attractions all around Iran, there might be different answers to this question. One of the most significant features of Iran as an important and growing travel destination in the Middle East is that this country is a four-season land, and this is the result of its diverse climate and geography, and vastness. Not only you will experience all seasons right on time during a year in most of the cities of Iran, but also it is possible to experience quite different climates in different spots of Iran in one single day by taking a 1.5-hour flight for example from the north of Iran to an island in the south! Also, this country has so many diverse and amazing cultural monuments and natural attractions in different cities all around the country, which lets travelers have a wonderful time in Iran any time of the year.
In this post you'll read:
- Visiting Iran during spring
- Visiting Iran during summer
- Visiting Iran during autumn
- Visiting Iran during winter
Visiting Iran during spring
In general, the most popular time of year for traveling to Iran is spring which is from March 21 to June 20 according to the Persian calendar, because during this season all the cities of Iran enjoy smooth and mild weather and trees are covered with sprout and blossoms. The very hot days in southern regions like Khuzestan and Bushehr haven’t started yet and cold cities in western Iran pass warmer days with pleasant sunlight. Above all, the most touristic cities of Iran like Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, and Shiraz which are home to the top cultural highlights of Iran have the best climate and fresh weather during this time of year making spring the best time for sightseeing and exploring the lush Persian gardens, charming palaces and mosques, and walking through the nostalgic alleys. With its lovely atmosphere, alleys and streets full of flowers, and the aroma of orange blossoms spreading everywhere, Shiraz is known to be the best destination in Iran during spring. Although spring is the tourism peak season and high season in Iran and this causes a notable increase in the price of hotels and Iran tours and also the monuments to be almost busy, most travelers still prefer to visit Iran during spring and they are usually satisfied with their decision.
Eram Garden - Shiraz, Iran
Visiting Iran during summer
Most parts of Iran do not have very hot summer days like Arab countries, but it is summer anyway, and walking under the direct sunlight while the temperature is above 35 C might be hard especially for travelers coming to Iran from cooler countries like Canada and Europe countries. But Iran still has awesome places to visit during summer. The historical city of Tabriz in the northwest is home to many cultural sites like the scenic rocky Kandovan Village with very cool weather during summer and UNESCO World Heritages like the Grand Tabriz Bazaar and the Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran including Saint Thaddeus and Saint Stepanos churches in Julfa. There are other UNESCO World Sites in the northwest and west of Iran, including the enormous Sultanieh Dome of Zanjan, the mysterious Takht-e Suleiman in Takaab, and the Bistoun inscription in Kermanshah. In general, summer is a great time for visiting the off-the-beaten-track tour of Iran Kurdistan Tour to get acquainted with the amazing Kurdish culture.
Kandovan Village - Tabriz, Iran
Apart from the cultural tours mentioned above, there are many options of natures based activities that you can experience in Iran just during summer, like, climbing the highest peaks of Iran, Damavand, Alam Kuh, and Sabalan, super adventurous canyoning at the Reqez Canyonin Darab, or Kamjal Canyon in Mazandaran Province, or thrilling river rafting on Zayandeh Rood River, Sefir Rud River, Armand River, etc. There is no need to mention that for experiencing all the adventurous activities mentioned above you need to join a technical and authorized guided group and consider all safety tips.
River rafting - Shahre Kord, Iran
Visiting Iran during autumn
Since late September as the weather gets cooler little by little and we get close to autumn (September 23 to December 21 according to the Persian calendar), another tourism high season starts in Iran. During autumn the cities in central and eastern Iran enjoy pleasant weather as the temperature is not high during the daytime and the sunlight is gentle, unlike summer. Yazd is one of the most beautiful cities in Iran with a historical city district inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and legacies from Zoroastrianism like the Fire Temple and the Tower of Silence. Kerman is another desert city with a peaceful atmosphere and amazing UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Lut Desert, Bam Citadel, and the Shazdeh Garden, and is a top destination to visit in Iran during autumn.
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Yazd historical city district
Autumn is the best time of the year for desert tours, and enjoying the mind-blowing landscapes and the stary night sky besides enjoying a thrilling safari through the heart of deserts in Iran, like the Mesr Desert, Maranjab Desert, Rig Jen Desert, etc. Since late October the temperature in the south of Iran starts to fall, and the high season in the southern islands starts. Therefore, it is the best time of the year for having a combined tour of deserts and islands in Iran.
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Mesr Desert - Iran
Visiting Iran during winter
Just like many countries in the world, winter is the low season in Iran when the hotels offer their rooms with more than 20 percent discount and travelers can enjoy visiting attractions with no crowd. During winter, the temperature in southern provinces, including Bushehr, Khuzestan, Hormozgan is around 20 C and here you can experience pleasant spring weather while in north and northwest of Iran people spend cold snowy days. The wonderful islands of the Persian Gulf especially Qeshm Island tour is now getting popular among nature lovers and adventurers as it offers the most scenic geo-park with mind-blowing geological and phenomena and calm beaches where you can enjoy water activities like snorkeling, swimming, and paddleboarding under a warm lovely sunshine.
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Qeshm Island - Iran
By visiting Iran during autumn you also have the option to spend a couple of days skiing in Dizin Ski Resort which is one of the top resorts in the Middle East with fresh and powdery snow and other ski resorts like Shemshak and Darbandsar in the north of Iran, Alvares Ski Resort in Ardabil, or Puladkaf Resort in the north of Shiraz.
Dizin Ski Resort - Iran
