The Islamic Republic of Iran borders on Iraq in the West, Afghanistan and Pakistan in the East. To the South lies the Gulf of Arabia. Since 1979, Iran is a Theocracy. This means that religion plays a huge role in everyday life. As a result, some regulations are much stricter than in Western countries. For example, all women (even foreigners) MUST wear a headscarf in public.
Iran is full of beautiful landscapes and hospitable people. While Western tourists are not common, they are warmly welcomed. Touristically, it is very diverse: You can visit ancient Persian ruins or have a beach vacation on Kish Island. You can even go skiing in the mountainous northern regions.
Best time to Visit
Because it is a geographically very diverse country, there is no ideal time to visit Iran. However, a general piece of advice is not to go there during the holy month of Ramadan. During this time, public life comes to a standstill. You cannot buy food or drinks in public between sunrise and sunset.
Visa & Immigration Rules
EU-Citizens need a visa to enter Iran. If you arrive at Teheran Imam Komenei Airport (IKA), you can apply for visa on arrival. You’ll need €50 in cash, a passport and a hotel reservation in Iran to apply for a 15-day-visa. For longer stays, you’ll need to apply in advance at an Iranian embassy. It is strictly forbidden to import alcohol into Iran!
Currency
Official currency is the Iranian Rial. €1 equals roughly 30,000 Rial. As part of the international sanctions against Iran, there are no international banks present in the country. This results in almost no foreign credit card being accepted anywhere. Since you can’t change your money into Rial outside of the country, you’ll need to bring foreign currency in cash with you.
