Tehran, Iran’s kinetic capital, layers Qajar palaces, Safavid treasures, and modern architecture beneath the Alborz Mountains. From UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace to the neon-lit Milad Tower, the city tells a story of dynasties, revolution, art, and an ever-curious coffee culture.

Beyond the landmarks, Tehran is a world-class food city—kebab institutions, slow-cooked abgoosht in clay pots, saffron ice cream, and new-wave Persian kitchens redefining classics. bazaars thunder with copper hammers and carpet dealers, while leafy northern neighborhoods drift into mountain trails.

Practical notes: international bank cards typically don’t work in Iran due to sanctions; bring sufficient cash (USD/EUR) and consider a local tourist debit card on arrival. Dress codes apply in public spaces (modest attire; headscarf for women). Traffic is heavy—rely on the metro or ride-hailing apps (Snapp, Tap30). Friday is the main weekend day, and some museums close Mondays.

Tehran

Tehran is big-hearted and big-sky, stretching from historic core to cool northern slopes. Its great hits—Golestan Palace, National Museum, the National Jewelry Treasury, Azadi Tower, and Tabiat Bridge—anchor a city of bookshops, galleries, and mountain cafés strung up ravines like Darband and Darakeh.

Food is a highlight. Classic kebab houses like Nayeb and Alborz sit beside inventive spots such as Divan and Gilaneh. Near the Grand Bazaar, Moslem serves legendary tahchin (saffron rice cake), while Dizi Sara simmers abgoosht (lamb and chickpea stew) you mash to taste. For coffee: Sam Cafe and Lamiz lead Tehran’s third-wave scene; Gole Rezaieh and Cafe Naderi are storied survivors of a bohemian past.

• Where to stay: For easy sightseeing, base near Valiasr, Ferdowsi, or Laleh Park; for mountain breezes and Tajrish Bazaar access, choose Elahiyeh/Niavaran. Browse stays on VRBO or Hotels.com. Well-known picks include Espinas Palace (northwest views), Espinas International on Keshavarz Blvd (central), Parsian Azadi (near mountains), and Novotel IKIA (for late flights).
• Getting there: Fly into IKA (Imam Khomeini International). Compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. The IKA–city ride takes ~45–70 minutes by taxi or Snapp.
• Fun facts: Tabiat (“Nature”) Bridge is a multi-level pedestrian bridge linking two parks; Golestan Palace’s Mirror Hall is a masterpiece of glasswork; Tehran’s metro is among the Middle East’s largest.

Day 1: Arrival, Valiasr St. Stroll, and Tabiat Bridge Sunset

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Land at IKA and transfer to your hotel. Check in and refresh, then ride the metro or a Snapp to Ab-o-Atash Park. Grab an espresso at Sam Cafe (Sam Center branch) or a pistachio latte at Lamiz (multiple branches).

Evening: Walk the Tabiat Bridge at golden hour for skyline and Alborz views. Dinner at Divan Persian Cuisine (creative takes on kebab, smoked eggplant, and herb stews; polished terrace) or Gilaneh (northern Iranian dishes like baghala ghatogh and fish from the Caspian). Finish with saffron-rose ice cream and faloodeh at traditional stands near Qeytariyeh or Tajrish.

Day 2: Old Tehran—Golestan Palace, Grand Bazaar, and Museum Hopping

Morning: Coffee and sangak bread with feta and herbs at Cafe Tehroon (nostalgic vibe). Tour the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace: Marble Throne, Mirror Hall, and photo-friendly tiled exteriors. Stroll to the Grand Bazaar—peek into carpet caravansaries, coppersmith alleys, and spice lanes.

Afternoon: Lunch at Moslem Restaurant (famous for towering tahchin) or Shamshiri (kebab specialists) inside the Bazaar. Sip black tea at Haj Ali Darvish, one of Tehran’s tiniest teahouses. Continue to the National Museum of Iran (prehistoric to Islamic artifacts) and the Glass & Ceramics (Abgineh) Museum for delicate Qajar bottles and Seljuk bowls.

Evening: Dine at Dizi Sara (abgoosht you crush with pestle and mortar; hearty and authentic). For dessert, visit Cafe Naderi, a 1920s landmark known for layered cakes and literary lore, or Gole Rezaieh near Ferdowsi for a retro-cafe vibe.

Day 3: Northern Palaces, Tajrish Bazaar, and Darband

Morning: Breakfast at Rutz (good brews and sourdough plates). Explore the Sa’dabad Complex—White Palace, fine-arts museums, quiet cedar avenues. Continue to Niavaran Palace, a compact gem with mid-20th century interiors.

Afternoon: Wander Tajrish Bazaar for dried limes, barberries, saffron, and copper trinkets. Lunch at Shemroon Kabab (juicy koobideh and joojeh with doogh). Visit the adjacent Imamzadeh Saleh courtyard for tilework and people-watching.

Evening: Head up to Darband, where riverside platforms stack up the ravine. Order mirza ghasemi (smoky eggplant) and kebabs at Kolbeh or any lively mountaintop spot, and sip samovar tea under lanterns. Alternatively, reserve Shandiz Jordan (a Tehran institution for lamb chops) back in town.

Day 4: Art Day—Contemporary Masters, Jewelry Treasury, and Milad Tower

Morning: Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMOCA) showcases Iranian greats and a storied Western collection; recent years have brought major rotations—check exhibits on arrival. Coffee at Chai Bar (Iranian Artists Forum) under plane trees in Honarmandan Park.

Afternoon: Visit the Treasury of National Jewels (typically open Sat–Tue; check hours). The peacock throne, sea of diamonds, and emerald-studded globes are mesmerizing. If time remains, browse Laleh Park and the Carpet Museum for narrative Persian designs (if open during your visit).

Evening: Ride up Milad Tower for a glittering city panorama. Dinner at Alborz Restaurant (classic Tehran steak and kebab house—barg is exemplary) or Hestooran (chef-driven Persian tasting approach; reservations advised).

Day 5: Day Trip to Kashan—Historic Houses and Fin Garden

Morning: Depart early for Kashan (≈2.5–3 hours by car; VIP buses ~3 hours from Tehran South Terminal). Expect ~$5–10 by bus or ~$80–140 return with a private driver depending on season and negotiation. Start with the Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse—climb to the domed roof for desert-town views.

Afternoon: Explore the Tabatabaei and Borujerdi historic houses—courtyards, windcatchers (badgirs), stucco art. Lunch at Manouchehri House (boutique hotel with a refined Kashani menu) or Abbasi Traditional Restaurant (set under arches; order zereshk polo or meatballs with herbs). Stroll Fin Garden (Safavid, UNESCO) with cypress alleys and gushing spring channels.

Evening: Return to Tehran. Light dinner at Sam Cafe (salads, flatbreads) or Lamiz for a late cappuccino and pastry. If you prefer to stay local, grab takeout tahchin from Tahchin Bar (multiple branches) near your hotel.

Day 6: Mountains and the Good Air—Tochal or Darakeh

Morning: Early start for Tochal Telecabin (Velenjak). The gondola rises above Tehran in stages; in cooler months there’s often snow at the top. Alternatively, hike Darakeh (gentler than Darband) along streams and walnut groves.

Afternoon: Lunch in the mountains: riverside trout, ash reshteh (herb noodle soup), and fresh barbari bread at a teahouse platform. Back in town, browse Book Garden or Bam-e Tehran (the “Roof of Tehran”) promenade for views.

Evening: Dinner at Gilaneh if you missed it, or try Khoone (home-style Persian plates, seasonal specials). Night stroll down Valiasr Street—the world’s longest sycamore-lined avenue—stopping for herbal tea from street samovars.

Day 7: Neighborhoods, Last-Minute Shopping, and Departure

Morning: Breakfast at Cafe Shemroon (Tajrish) with date-cinnamon French toast or a spinach omelet. Visit the Time Museum in Zafaraniyeh (antique clocks and a lush garden) or the Cinema Museum at Ferdows Garden to trace Iranian film history.

Afternoon: Last shopping at Tajrish Bazaar—nuts, nougat (gaz), rosewater, saffron. If you prefer a modern complex, the Iran Mall’s traditional bazaar wing and Mirror Hall are striking (allow travel time on the west side). Transfer to IKA for your afternoon departure.

Evening: In transit.

Where to Book and Practical Logistics

• Flights: Compare and book on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.
• Stays: Search Tehran neighborhoods and compare deals on VRBO and Hotels.com.
• Getting around: Metro is fast for the core; ride-hailing (Snapp/Tap30) is inexpensive. Expect 20–60 minutes between many sights depending on traffic.
• Money & SIM: Bring cash; consider a tourist debit card sold at airport kiosks or hotels. Buy a local SIM (Irancell or Hamrah-e Aval) with passport; data is affordable.
• Hours & closures: Many museums close Mondays; Treasury of National Jewels normally Sat–Tue, daytime only. Friday is the weekend—crowds swell at parks and bazaars.

Seven days in Tehran give you the city’s full arc: royal courts and tiled bathhouses, bazaar bustle, gallery calm, and the crisp air of the Alborz. You’ll leave humming with flavors—saffron, smoked eggplant, sumac—and stories gathered under bridges, domes, and sycamores.