Isfahan
Not been yet
The UK Foreign Office currently advises against travel to all or parts of Iran. This guide is for a safer time. Check the latest travel advice.
At a glance
- Country
- Iran
- Region
- Isfahan Province
- Population
- 2.2 million
- Best time to go
- March to May, September to November
- Main airport
- Isfahan International (IFN)
- Coordinates
- 32.65°N, 51.67°E
Visited Still to go Click a pin or country to read more. Zoom with + and −, a double-click or a pinch.
Overview
Isfahan was the capital of Safavid Persia in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the monuments of that golden age still define it: turquoise domes, a vast ceremonial square and arched bridges across the Zayandeh River.
Travel to Iran is not advised at present, and this guide looks ahead to a safer time. When that comes, Isfahan is the most beautiful city in the country and deserves several unhurried days.
Things to see
-
Photo: احمد جمالی مقدم, CC BY-SA 4.0 Naqsh-e Jahan Square
One of the largest city squares in the world, framed by mosques, a palace and the bazaar.
-
Photo: Patrickringgenberg, CC BY-SA 4.0 Shah Mosque
A masterpiece of Safavid architecture, covered inside and out in blue and yellow tilework.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Nicolas Hadjisavvas, CC BY 2.5 Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
A small royal mosque whose cream-coloured dome glows with changing light through the day.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Wikinewis1377q, CC BY-SA 4.0 Si-o-se-pol
The 33-arched bridge across the Zayandeh, a favourite spot for an evening stroll.
-
Photo: Rasool abbasi17, CC BY-SA 4.0 Vank Cathedral
An Armenian cathedral in the Jolfa quarter with walls covered in vivid frescoes.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
-
Photo: Hamidespanani, CC BY-SA 4.0 Jameh Mosque
A sprawling mosque that spans centuries of Persian architecture, from Seljuk brick vaults to later tiles.
Find tours -
Photo: Shervinparto, CC BY-SA 4.0 Browse the bazaar
Watch craftsmen make miniature paintings, enamelled copper and block-printed cloth in the arcades off the square.
-
Photo: Arad, CC BY-SA 3.0 Chehel Sotoun
A garden pavilion with slender wooden columns reflected in a long pool, and fine murals inside.
Find tours
Where to stay
Around Naqsh-e Jahan
Traditional courtyard hotels within walking distance of the main monuments.
Hotels in Around Naqsh-e JahanJolfa
The Armenian quarter south of the river, with cafés and a relaxed atmosphere.
Hotels in Jolfa
Getting around
The historic centre is best explored on foot. Taxis and the Metro cover longer distances.
The airport lies north-east of the city; in normal times a taxi to the centre takes around 30 to 45 minutes.
When to go
Spring and autumn are mild and ideal for walking. Summers are very hot and winters cold. Nowruz in late March is a busy holiday period.
Plan your trip to Isfahan
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.