Shiraz
Discover Shiraz
Shiraz (Persian: شیراز) is the capital city of the Fars province and a treasure trove of Persian culture. It was the capital of Iran during the Zand dynasty's era (1747–79), and is the celebrated birthplace of the great Persian poets Hafiz and Saadi. The city has a population of about 1,500,000. In previous centuries, Shiraz was famous as a locally produced wine, although this has no connection to the modern Shiraz (or Syrah) wine, which is of French origin. 29.53916752.591 Shiraz International Airport (SYZ ) has regular flights to all major and some smaller cities in Iran. There are International flights to Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Sharjah, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha.
What to Experience in Shiraz
Taste of Shiraz...
You can find at least one fast food parlor in every street of Shiraz. You can find coffee shops of every size, at shopping centres and on the main streets. There are a lot of gardens out of Shiraz, and many have been remodeled as restaurants. Most have live music playing in the evenings and offer great view. Traditionally, Shiraz was known for producing high-quality wines, and had a thriving wine industry, though this was shut down after alcohol was banned following the Islamic Revolution in 1979. That said, the Christian and Jewish minorities are allowed to ferment limited quantities of wine for personal consumption and religious ceremonies, and you may get a chance to try the local wine if you have local Christian or Jewish friends. Even some local Muslims continue to clandestinely consume local wine obtained from the black market. For more information on typical drinks in Iran, see Iran#Drink There are a few budget hotels about 200 m south of the roundabout at Arg-é Karim Khan.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple Options29.53916752.591 Shiraz International Airport (SYZ ) has regular flights to all major and some smaller cities in Iran. There are International flights to Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Sharjah, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha. Turkish Airlines is operating weekly 4 direct flights from Istanbul to Shiraz and back. There are several trains per day to Tehran, travel time is 10-15 hours, and costs 10,00,000 rials, as of 2025. 29.76494452.4315882 Shiraz Train station. Station is 20 km away from the city. Getting there: there is a bus waiting for the passengers on their arrival to Shiraz which brings them to the closest metro station. Taxi costs 300,000 rials or more per person from the city center. (updated Nov 2025) From Tehran, many buses depart from South Terminal. Costs around and takes around 12 hours. From Isfahan, many buses depart from Sofee Terminal (the southern terminal of Isfahan). Costs around 920,000 rials (as of 2025) and takes around 6 hours. 29.613252....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
For non-Iranian visitors, taxis are probably the most convenient means of transport. However be sure to haggle for a good price prior to getting into the car. Average fares inside the city range from 300,000-700,000 rials (as of 2025). If an unmarked car stops while you are hailing a taxi, don't be alarmed. Many taxis in Shiraz are unmarked and also as a means to supplement their income, is not uncommon to find private car owners touting themselves as taxis. However, it is always best to find a taxi through a reputable "telephone taxi" agency. For a set fee, drivers of these agencies will take passengers to their destination, drive them around town and also wait for them while they shop or run errands. All hotels and local residents will have a phone number of one these agencies. There are also taxis driven by women that specifically cater to woman passengers. The best way (if you have mobile internet) will be to use the taxi app called Snapp.
Where to Stay
There are a few budget hotels about 200 m south of the roundabout at Arg-é Karim Khan.
Money & Budget
Shops usually open 09:00-13:00 and 17:00-21:00. It is customary to haggle for a discount, which is referred to as a takhfeef. Exchange rates offered in local safaris are 10-15% higher than the official bank rate. You can find at least one fast food parlor in every street of Shiraz. You can find coffee shops of every size, at shopping centres and on the main streets. There are a lot of gardens out of Shiraz, and many have been remodeled as restaurants. Most have live music playing in the evenings and offer great view. Traditionally, Shiraz was known for producing high-quality wines, and had a thriving wine industry, though this was shut down after alcohol was banned following the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Language & Talk
Don't hesitate to talk to people, especially youths. Almost all of them speak English well enough to talk to you, answer your questions and chat with you. Respect the Iranian government (most of the local people hate the government, but don't talk for political caution). and do not air condescending views of Iran. Shops usually open 09:00-13:00 and 17:00-21:00. It is customary to haggle for a discount, which is referred to as a takhfeef. Exchange rates offered in local safaris are 10-15% higher than the official bank rate. You can find at least one fast food parlor in every street of Shiraz. You can find coffee shops of every size, at shopping centres and on the main streets. There are a lot of gardens out of Shiraz, and many have been remodeled as restaurants.
Safety Information
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Shiraz
red and brown hallway with red carpet
the ruins of the ancient city of palmyrate
Iran,Shiraz-Eram Garden Beautiful historical building of Shiraz in Iran
brown concrete building close-up photography
a room with stained glass windows and a rug on the floor
a group of people walking on a walkway in front of Eram Garden
Persepolis. was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It is situated 60 km northeast of the city of Shiraz in Fars Province, Iran. The earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BCE. It exemplifies the Achaemenid style of architecture. UNESCO declared the ruins of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979.
عکس از باغ ارم شیراز - استان فارس - ایران
Persepolis. was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It is situated 60 km northeast of the city of Shiraz in Fars Province, Iran. The earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BCE. It exemplifies the Achaemenid style of architecture. UNESCO declared the ruins of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979.
the ruins of the ancient city of palmyrate
red and brown hallway with red carpet
the ruins of the ancient city of palmyrate
Iran,Shiraz-Eram Garden Beautiful historical building of Shiraz in Iran