When is the best time to visit Iran?
IRAN Tour Packages | The most common question after solving the cost problems is: “When is the best time to visit Iran?” I have to say whenever you like! Iran is a vast country with a variable climate; From freezing winters in the West and Northwest to hot summers in the South, each corner of the country has it’s particular weather condition. Every part of it has got it’s own specific beauty on every month; so, it mostly depends on your personal taste about seasons. But let’s scan Iran’s weather on every month. And then, guide you to find when is the best time for you to travel to Iran.
November to February: Low season with subfreezing temperature
The weather gets subfreezing in west and Northwest specially in Azerbaijan and Kurdistan province.
If you don’t have a problem with cold weather (fluctuating around zero) and passionate for skiing, well, we suggest you these parts of the plateau! You can easily go build a snowman every day in Azerbaijan and Kurdistan province! or if you like ice climbing, they can be a perfect destination for you in this season. You can also choose Tehran, if you don’t like a freezing weather. But if you prefer cool, fresh weather and are not a fan of cold weather at all, Southern cities of the country are a perfect choice for you.
While people are drinking hot coffee to warm their selves in the freezing weather at Tehran, you can go for a nice swim in the beautiful Persian Gulf in the south of the country! So, if you have waited to visit the coastal cities of Persian Gulf when the weather is mild and pleasant, now is the time! Pack some light clothes, don’t forget to take your camera with you as well; and get ready to arrive to the land of amazing cultures, tasty sea foods and visit the kindest people of all time.
You can go fishing or diving and enjoy a pleasant Winter!
There are some famous ski resorts in Iran. If you like this sport and want to visit the cold cities of Iran in Winter there are plenty of destinations for you. If you are staying in the capital, Shemshak, Dizin, Abali, Darband and Tochal ski resorts can be good choices for you. You can find the ski equipment you need in the resorts; and you just have to pack warm clothes with you and don’t worry about the rest.
Shirbad ski resort in Khorasan Razavi province, Pouladkaf ski resort in Shiraz, Alvares ski resort in Ardabil and Tarik Darreh in Hamedan province are other choices you can have in the other cities of the country.
The cable cars are very popular in the ski resorts; because the fun you can have in them with your friends and the beautiful views of the snowy mountains. You can also go and enjoy the natural hot spring waters. They are located in Sar’ein in Ardabil province and Avaj in Hamadan province and relax in the natural sauna.
Winter is the season of an Iranian celebration: Yaldā or Shab-e Chelleh (the winter solstice). It is usually on December 20 or 21. Ali Akbar Dehkhoda defines it as the longest night of the year, that Iranians consider it auspicious. In winter, the days are short and the sun sets around 5 pm; and after Yalda, days are going to be 1 minute longer.
In the ancient Iran, Yalda used to be the first day of Iranian new year; but it changed to an ordinary occasion, after Cyrus the great possessed “Babyl”. He got interested about their special festival, celebrated in praise of Spring. So he ordered to celebrate something like that festival in Iran. Now we know it as “Nowruz, the Iranian new year”.
On this special night Iranians used to set fire and dance around it all night long. They ate nuts, fruits, sweeties and read poet, especially Hafez. But nowadays people prefer to gather around tables instead of fire. Although in some cities like Yazd, people still do the tradition in the old way. In my opinion, it is amazing! And if I where someone who is traveling for digging the amazing Iranian culture, I chose to be in Yazd city that time of year.
If you are traveling in the Christmas holidays and you want to celebrate this special occasion with Christians, you can go to Jolfa region in Isfahan. The region is known as the Armenian part of the city; and we bet you’ll have a memorable time there.
Travelers aren’t a lot in winter; so tourism sites aren’t crowded during this time. Hotels and domestic flights have great discounts in this season! So, if you want to travel on low budget, winter can be a good season.
Early March: The sun returns
The weather is slowly going to get warm, Heavy rainfall is rare in March. Nights are still cold but days have a pleasant temperature. So pack some light clothes too! You can see the first signs of spring, specially in the Northern cities of the country.
Trees start to blossom, you can smell Spring everywhere; and people are getting ready for new year as the nature is.
At
this time of year, most cities have mild weather and you can easily find
flights and book hotel rooms.
The early March until a week before the beginning of Nowruz holidays, can be a
good time to visit Iran if you don’t like to visit somewhere at it’s most
crowded time.
Late March to June: The best time to visit Iran
Nowruz, the Persian new year (starts from March 21st and countin) is on the way. Iranians start cleaning their houses before the new year starts. Streets are the most crowded and everyone is in hustle. You can see hope and happiness in the eyes and acts of people. A week before Nowruz, you can see stores selling Sabzeh (an element of Haft Sin table) and gold fishes in tanks. Also on Nowruz day, you may see people cooking Samanu (an element of Haft Sin table) in big pots located in the sidewalks.
Bazaars are the most crowded on the second week of March; and if you don’t have problem with the crowd you’ll love the hope and the good vibe there.
Everyone is planning their holidays; and some cities such as Shiraz, Isfahan, Tabriz and coastal areas of the Caspian Sea are full of people during this time. People living in Tehran, mostly travel to the Northern cities of Iran and the capital gets nearly empty.
Prices increase a little during Nowruz. It’s harder to get a flight, and hotels fill their rooms in a minute! So if you want to travel to Iran in late March you have to book your flight and hotel room from a couple weeks earlier.
Prices are getting lower than Nowruz in May and June. In some parts of the country, specially the southern cities, weather is getting hot; but in other parts of the plateau the weather is still pleasant. So if you don’t like the crowd or couldn’t book a room in March, don’t worry because you still have time!
The most visited place in May is Kashan city, because of the rose water festival. Many people from all over the world travel to Qamsar, Barzok and Niasar from 16 – 26 May to see this beautiful festival; and if you are one of those people, be aware that hotels fill their rooms faster than you think! So you have to book your room in the late April or the first week of May.
You might like this article
July to August: It’s so HOT!
Summer is finally here! Iran is located in a dry plateau, so the weather is very hot during these months. The West and Northwest of the country; and also the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea are still mild during summer. As the Northwest cities are located in the mountains, don’t forget your sunscreen cream if those cities are going to be your destination; otherwise, you’ll get sun burned!
Kermanshah, Susa, Tabriz and Hemedan province can be a good choice if you are into history and prefer to visit monuments than mountain climbing. And if you are more of a person who loves to relax in the plain fields, go mountain climbing and have fun in the nature Lorestan province and Ilam province can be a good choice for you.
The weather is perfect in the mountains; but if you aren’t used to sultry weather, the coastal areas of the Persian Gulf and the islands are not recommended.
September to Early November: Temperature starts to drop
September and October are great times to visit Iran. The rainfall is rare in central cities, but not if you go North or West; and the temperature hasn’t changed lot in the Southern part of the country. The crowd isn’t too intense, specially after the last week of September because the school holidays finish.
We recommend you to visit Northern cities of Iran in October, when the leaves are red. You can drawn in the crowd of color in beautiful jungles; but don’t forget to pack some warm clothes if you are going north. You can easily find public transportation including flight and train; because there are almost a few non-business domestic travels in this period.
Kashan is one of the most visited places on the first week of October. It’s because of a traditional occasion called “Qali Shooyan” which take place in Mashhad Ardehal, a city 42 kilometers west out of Kashan.
The ceremony has a lot in common with a ceremony in Zoroastrianism; and many people believe that it has changed after Islam like many other festivals and formalities.
Travel to Iran during Religious Events
It depends on your personality and taste, you have to ask yourself “Do I like traditional religious ceremonies?” If the answer is yes, well it would be the best time to visit Iran during Muharram (specially the first 10 days) and Ramadan (specially 19 to 22th of Ramadan).
Muharram
In the first 10 days of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, people usually participate in the anniversary of this religion mourning event in memory of the 3rd Imam, Hussain ibn Ali. He was martyred in this month. Muharram shifts forward each year in Iranian calendar. If you are into traditional mourning, I have to say don’t forget to pack some black clothes and your camera. Every city of Iran have their own way of mourning and all of them are spectacular. If you’re traveling to Tehran, we strictly recommend you to go to Tehran grand bazaar on Ashura (the 10th day of Muharram).
The traditional theater of Iranian’s, Ta’zieh (miracle play), is performed on Ashura noon in memory of Hussian ibn Ali in all the cities of Iran. The perform this play in their own traditional way, combined with the culture of that specific part of the country. The most famous ones are performed in Yazd, Mashhad, Ardabil and the Southern cities of Iran. There is also a kind of this theater called “Flowing Ta’zihe” performed in Arak; in this kind of Ta’zieh groups of actors play a part of the Ashura battle on carts and flow in an order in the crowd of people. Every year many tourists travel to Iran in order to watch this play from a closer view.
Ramadan
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is Ramadan, and Muslims fast during this month. As it’s not a part of Persian calendar, it shifts forward each year. During the entire month of Ramadan, Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset; and that means not to smoke, eat or drink anything. People who don’t fast have to respect so most of the restaurants are closed during the day.
So if you are a food person Ramdan may not be the perfect time for you to travel to Iran.
When do you like to visit Iran? comment it for us. And by clicking on the picture below you can pick your favorite Iran tour package and plan an amazing trip!
Reference: Mehrnews
