Iran at a Glance
Taking Tours to the Land of Wonders
Iran is among the most fascinating countries many travelers have intended to visit these days due to its present situation created by a more moderate President, Hassan Rouhani, who made both international relations and internal rules less severe and slightly open. This leads many travelers to give the country a visit mentioning the fact that there are 21 UNESCO world heritage sites waiting to be explored by them. Iran is a large country situated between the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea. Its neighboring countries are Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its capital city is Tehran and the dominant language is Persian with a variety of dialects and accents. The used currency is Rial and there is also the monetary unit of Toman. Each Toman is equivalent to 10 Rials. Iran is a country of multiple ethnic groups and cultures. The country is populated by Iranian Azeris, Kurds, Lurs, Armenians, Turkmens, Arabs, Assyrians, Georgians, and last but not least Jews. All of these groups have been living peacefully for years in the country. Shia Islam is undoubtedly the dominant religion in Iran, but there also exist several religions like Sunni Islam, Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Judaism.
The major cities of Iran are Tehran, which is the capital city, Isfahan, Yazd, Shiraz, Tabriz, Mashhad, Kerman, Kermanshah, Hamedan and some more. The beautiful Islands of Kish and Qeshm lie in the southern part of the country.
Iran has a variable climate. Winters are cold. Springs and falls are relatively mild, while summers are dry and hot. Having suitable climate for travelling all across the country, Iran is a great place to travel all year round.
The most important feature we can highlight about Iran is the hospitality of its people. They are warm and always willing to welcome travelers. Although their official language is Farsi, a large majority of them, especially those working in travel agencies and hotels, speak English and some other languages like French and German. All the traffic signs are written both in Farsi and English. So travelers can easily get around in the cities. Tourists visiting Iran hardly need a guide book as long as local Iranians will help them around.