João Leitão: Iran is an amazing country. Do you have any doubts about it? I know that the general opinion in the West is that Iran is a dangerous country.

The NEWS in Europe and the US tell us about a different Iran. They describe a place full of violence that makes us believe the country is populated with mad, unfriendly and ferocious people.

Well, we got that wrong…

Why?

First : Iran is one of the safest places I’ve ever been to. Crime is much lower than in most European countries and USA.

: Iran is one of the safest places I’ve ever been to. Crime is much lower than in most European countries and USA. Second : Iranian people are among the friendliest and most hospitable in the World;

: Iranian people are among the friendliest and most hospitable in the World; Third: Iran is quite developed, clean, and its population are well educated and have cultural / political awareness.

I’ve been twice to Iran. The last time was back in 2012. I went along with my girlfriend and we left Iran with the desire of coming back soon. And we will.

I’m sure that your opinion about Iran will change after you check out these 79 reasons and places that will make Iran your next travel destination.

1- Arg-e Rayen Citadel in Rayen – Visit Iran

2- Ali Qapu Palace in Isfahan

3- Golestan Palace in Tehran – Visit Iran

4- Naqsh-e Khostam

5- Alis Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage

6- Amir Chakmak Mosque Complex in Yazd

7- Architecture in Tehran – Visit Iran

8- Arg-e Bam Citadel in Bam

9- Ateshkadeh Zaroastrian Fire Temple in Yazd

10- Bastani Traditional Restaurant in Isfahan

11- Market Bazar-e No in Shiraz

12- Market Bazar-e Vakil in Shiraz

13- Begh-e Melli Complex in Tehran

14- Boat Bandar Abbas to Qeshm Island

15- Iranian Breakfast

16- Busy Streets in Tehran – Visit Iran

17- Caravanserai and Textile Museum in Meybod

18- Zoroastrian Shrine in Chak Chak

19- New City Center in Bam

20- Iranian Craftsmen

21- Eat Fresh Blackberries

22- Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Qom

23- Fortress Arg-e Karim Khan in Shiraz

24- Jameh Mosque in Isfahan

25- Fresh Fruit Juices

26- Gold Markets in Tehran

27- Vank Cathedral in Isfahan

28- Iranian Ice Cream

29- Ice House in Meybod

30- Imam Khomeini Mosque in Tehran

31- Imam Reza Shrine and Mosque in Mashhad

32- Imam Square in Isfahan

33- Iranian Food

34- Iranian Sweets

35- Jameh Mosque in Yazd

36- Jamkaran Mosque in Qom

37- Aliqapu Bazar Artistic Complex in Isfahan

38- Old Village in Kharanaq

39- Malek National Library and Museum in Tehran

40- Mausoleum of Imamzadeh-ye Ali in Shiraz

41- Melli Park in Shiraz

42- Old City in Meybod

43- Modern Art Sculpture Gardens

44- Naqsh-e Rajab

45- Narein Castle in Meybod

46- National Museum of Iran in Tehran

47- Nazar Garden and Pars Museum in Shiraz

48- Old Post Office in Meybod

49- Pasargadae

50- Peace Museum in Tehran

51- Friendly Iranian People

Also visit: Iran – Photos of People.

52- Persepolis

53- Persian Calligraphy

54- Persian Gulf Coast in Bandar Abbas

55- Iranian Pic Nic

56- Pigeon Tower in Meybod

57- Faloodeh Dessert in Shiraz

58- Empty Beaches in Qeshm Island

59- Shahr Park in Tehran

60- Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan

61- Shohada Martyrs Museum in Tehran

62- Si-o-se Pol Bridge in Esfahan

63- Iranian Souvenir Shops

64- Iranian Street Falafel

65- Tea Houses in Isfahan

66- Central Market Bazar in Tehran

67- Tomb of Aramgah-e Hafez in Shiraz

68- Towers of Silence in Yazd

69- Iranian Traditional Hotels

70- Traditional Iranian Carpets and Rugs

71- Traditional Iranian Puppet Shows

Video of Traditional Iranian Puppet Show in Golestan Palace, Tehran:



72- Iranian Religiousness and Spirituality

73- Vakil Mosque in Shiraz

74- Iranian Street Wall Art

75- Water Museum in Yazd

76- Old City in Yazd

77- Zaid Mosque in Tehran

78- Ziai Ye School in Yazd

79- City Center in Shiraz

Some ideas about Iran to be taken in consideration:

Everything Western TV says about Iran is mostly propaganda and do not correspond to the real Iran.

People are more friendly than you think.

The country is more developed than you think.

Iran is relatively cheap.

Iran will be one of the safest countries you’ve ever been to. Crime is almost non-existent.

Women travelers have to cover their hair while in Iran.

All countries in the world can get an easy 15 day Iranian Visa on arrival at any international airport. However, this rule does not apply to nationals of the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Somalia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, United States and Uzbekistan. Visa exemption countries are: Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkey and Venezuela. Entry is banned to Israeli nationals.

Also that you should know about Iran,

Iranian sites inscribed on the World Heritage UNESCO list:

Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, Bam and its Cultural Landscape, Bisotun, Golestan Palace, Gonbad-e Qābus, Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan, Meidan Emam, Esfahan, Pasargadae, Persepolis, Sheikh Safi al-din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil, Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, Soltaniyeh, Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex, Takht-e Soleyman, Tchogha Zanbil and The Persian Garden.

Iranian sites submitted on the Tentative List of UNESCO:

Alisadr Cave, Arasbaran Protected Area, Bastam and Kharghan, Bazaar of Qaisariye in Laar, Cultural Landscape of Alamout, Damavand, Firuzabad Ensemble, Ghaznavi- Seljukian Axis in Khorasan, Hamoun Lake, Harra Protected Area, Hegmataneh, Historic ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin, Historic Monument of Kangavar, Historical Ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin, Hyrcanian Forest Caspian Forest, Jame’ Congregational Mosque of Esfahan, Jiroft, Kaboud Mosque, Kerman Historical-Cultural Structure, Khabr National Park and Ruchun Wildlife Refuge, Khorramabad Valley, Kuh-e Khuaja, Lut Desert the vicinity of Shahdad, Nasqsh-e Rostam and Naqsh-e Rajab, Persepolis and other relevant, Qanats of Gonabad, Qeshm Island, Sabalan, Shahr-e Sukhteh, Shush, Silk Route also as Silk Road, Susa, Tape Sialk, Taq-e Bostan, The Collection of Historical Bridges, The Complex of Handmade Settlements in Iran Maymand Village, The Complex of Izadkhast, The Cultural Landscape of Uramanat, The Cultural-Natural Landscape of Ramsar, The Ensemble of Historical Sassanian Cities in Fars Province Bishabpur Firouzabad Sarvestan, The Historical City of Masouleh, The Historical City of Maybod, The Historical Port of Siraf, The Historical Structure of Yazd, The Historical Texture of Damghan, The Historical Village of Abyaneh, The Historical–Cultural Axis of Fin Sialk Kashan, The Natural-Historical Landscape of Izeh, The Zandiyeh Ensemble of Fars Province, Touran Biosphere Reserve, Tous Cultural Landscape and Zozan.