DESCRIPTION
The Middle Eastern country of Iran is the 18th largest country in the world. It has an extensive coastline on the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea, and borders numerous countries including Iraq, Turkey, and Pakistan. The country has the 17th largest population in the world at around 70.5 million people. Persian is the official language and the currency is the Iranian Rial. Iran may not spring to mind as popular tourist location, though there’s actually a lot here. It’s most visited for its history, archaeology and culture. The cosmopolitan city of Tehran is the capital and largest city set against a backdrop of the Alborz Mountain range, popular with travelers who enjoy skiing! Tehran also features interesting museums and palaces and one of the tallest towers in the world, Milad Tower. Tourists interested in historical attractions will love the ancient cities of Persepolis and Pasargad. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and feature many original intact structures as well as reconstructed ones. Iran also has eco tourism opportunities such as Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf, and for shopping, the free trade zone on Kish Island is very popular. Travelers will find a varied climate across the country – hot and humid summers on the coasts while inland winters can be cold and snowy.