{"id":11933,"date":"2017-03-14T07:53:26","date_gmt":"2017-03-14T07:53:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/?p=11933"},"modified":"2025-08-14T17:30:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T00:30:14","slug":"solo-female-travel-in-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/solo-female-travel-in-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"A GUIDE TO SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL IN IRAN"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last summer I decided to travel solo to Iran. I took the flight from Istanbul to Shiraz, a city located in the South.<\/p>\n

As soon as I got on the plane I was very scared. I didn\u2019t know what to do or how to react. As we were landing every woman in the plane started covering their head so I just copied every single move a woman did. I used a scarf to cover my hair and that was enough. Later I discovered a lot of beautiful and colorful hijabs and bought several of them to cover my hair.<\/p>\n

In this post I share my experiences traveling solo in Iran and also a guide to all the places you should add to your Iran itinerary.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/h3>\n

PLANNING A TRIP TO IRAN<\/h3>\n

When I was planning my trip my family and friends thought I was crazy. It was my first time in such an exotic country and it was the first time I had to cover my whole body. I didn\u2019t know how to prepare and there was not a lot of travel information available about travelling alone as a girl in Iran. But during my 13 days spent in Iran I did meet other women traveling alone.<\/p>\n

Most of the people think Iran is not a safe place to travel and even confuse Iran with Iraq. From my point of view, having spent time in the country, Iran is the best option in the Middle East for a woman to travel alone. People will stare at you because they are curious and for them it is not common to see a girl from any other country travelling alone. But people are very kind and hospitable and don\u2019t have bad intentions.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/h3>\n

TRAVELING AROUND IRAN DURING RAMADAN<\/h3>\n

Iran is a Muslim country. During the month of Ramadan<\/a>, Muslims fast during the day, say several prayers and then break their fast with a special evening meal. The dates for Ramadan are based on the Islamic lunar calendar and depend on the traditional sighting of the crescent moon by eye.<\/p>\n

I traveled around Iran during Ramadan and it was quite an experience. Unfortunately I didn\u2019t eat as many traditional dishes as I wanted, because during the day everything is closed and you are not allowed to eat or drink anything in public during the day. This can be tough because the temperature is extremely hot, but it is a good way to explore and understand even better the culture of the place you are visiting.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Traveling around Iran is safe and easy. You can always take a bus or taxi without a problem.<\/p>\n

Buses provide a seat reservation and the driver will rearrange the passengers so that no woman sits next to an unknown man. So get ready to change your seat several times in a journey.<\/p>\n

Accommodation in Iran is easy to find. I always booked a hotel or hostel before arriving at each destination. But nowadays Coach Surfing<\/a> is becoming very popular and it is the best way to find accommodation with local hosts and discover nearby events.<\/p>\n

\"AHOW TO DRESS IN IRAN<\/h3>\n

How to dress is the most controversial part of solo female travel in Iran. You need to have you hair and body covered every time you are outside in the public even in the common areas of the hotel.<\/p>\n

You have to cover your hair, arms and legs, but your feet can be bare. There were days when it was challenging to wear all these clothes when it was really hot outside, but still a great experience.<\/p>\n

Try not to use tight clothes. You can wear any color it doesn\u2019t need to always be black.<\/p>\n

\"APLACES TO VISIT IN IRAN<\/h3>\n

1) SHIRAZ<\/h4>\n

Shiraz<\/a>, the cultural capital of Iran and is known as the city of flowers. The city\u2019s beautiful gardens are renowned worldwide and visitors always leave this city with beautiful memories. When in Shiraz, Persepolis is a must see site.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Persepolis was once the richest city on Earth and was founded more than two and a half thousand years ago. The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archeological site, which is also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The best way to get there is to share a taxi or book a tour with your hotel. Not only tourists, but also locals plan to visit the famous ruins so it won\u2019t be difficult to find company when going there.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

I had the opportunity to spent two days with a Qashqai family. The Qashqai<\/a> are a nomadic tribe in Iran of Turkic ethnic origins.<\/p>\n

They mainly live around the city of Shiraz. For centuries, they have been renowned across Iran for their pile carpets and have always claimed a very specific identity.<\/p>\n

The hotel where I stayed in Shiraz, Niayesh Boutique Hotel<\/a>, helped me to contact the Qashqai family. It was an incredible experience to live with them. I played with the children, helped to cook dinner and slept overnight in a tent.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/h4>\n

\"A2) ESFAHAN<\/h4>\n

Esfahan<\/a> is one of the most beautiful and historical cities in the world.<\/p>\n

The city has many marvels of Persian architecture and it is so beautiful that it has been nicknamed \u201cNimeh Jahan\u201d, which means \u201chalf of the world\u201d, saying that if you see Esfahan, you have already seen half of the beauties of the world.<\/p>\n

The stunning mosques and palaces of Esfahan are among the most beautiful and interesting in the world. You can also walk along the several ancient bridges. However, as a result of a drought, there is usually no water in the river.<\/p>\n

The Vank Cathedral<\/a> is a popular destination. The interior is covered with fine paintings and gilded carvings.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Between Esfahan and Kashan, there is a town called Abyaneh<\/a>. To get there I took a taxi from Esfahan.<\/p>\n

Characterized by a peculiar reddish hue, the village is one of the oldest in Iran. The houses in Abyaneh are built of mud and straw are stepped into the hillside.<\/p>\n

Its culture, traditions, costumes and dialect are unlike anywhere else in Iran. Women wear colorful headscarves.<\/p>\n

As everywhere else in Iran, the people are wonderfully friendly and welcoming. My driver\u00b4s name is Dariush he was so kind by taking me there and showing me around. When in Esfahan or Kashan, contact him<\/a> as I am sure he would love to take you around.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/h3>\n

\"A3) KASHAN<\/h4>\n

Finding the sites in Kashan<\/a> is easy due to many dual language signs across the city.<\/p>\n

Kashan is famous because of its historical houses. These houses are some 18th and 19th century buildings recently restored. There are even some that have been carefully converted to hotels where you can stay during your time in Kashan.<\/p>\n

A great place to stay is Kamalolmolk Traditional Guest House<\/a>. It is located in the heart of the city and the owner was so hospitable. Don’t forget to drink some rose water while you are there.<\/p>\n

\"A4) TEHRAN<\/h4>\n

I finished my trip in Tehran<\/a>. It is a big and chaotic city but it deserves at least a few days of your itinerary.<\/p>\n

Getting around Tehran is not as easy as other cities. That is why I recommend you to stay in a well located hotel where you can walk everywhere or take the metro.<\/p>\n

I stayed in Hotel Makazi one of the most popular hotels among tourists. They will help you with any information you need.<\/p>\n

Some of the places you can’t miss in Tehran are the Azadi Tower<\/a>, the National Museum of Iran<\/a>, the Golestan Palace<\/a> and of course the Grand Bazaar<\/a>. You can find almost anything in Bazar and it is the perfect place to buy some souvenirs.<\/p>\n

\"Vank-Cathedral-In-Esfahan-Iran\"<\/p>\n

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We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Iran. If you have any questions about the destination or have your own travel tips to share please leave these in the comments below.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Want to share your own travel tips by guest writing for We Are Travel Girls? Please visit our <\/i><\/b>Contribute<\/i><\/b><\/a> page for guidelines and to submit your article.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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