Things to Do in Shiraz, Iran

Quick facts: Over 500,000 visitors come here every year to admire the monumental staircase with 111 steps. A massive 125,000 stone blocks were used in the construction of this ceremonial complex, some of which weigh up to 40 tons.

Highlights: Did you know that Persian kings used to receive gifts from all nations of the empire here during the New Year, and 23 different delegations are depicted on the reliefs? At sunset, the rays fall precisely on the Gate of All Nations, creating a theatrical play of light and shadow on the thousand-year-old stone reliefs.

Quick facts: Hafez's tomb is surrounded by a beautiful garden with orange trees and cedars, creating a peaceful atmosphere already at the entrance. Locals regularly come here to recite his poetry and seek inspiration, making it a living cultural center, not just a tourist attraction.

Highlights: Under the dome decorated with mosaics lies an alabaster tombstone engraved with verses from Hafez's poems. During warmer evenings, you can see locals sitting in the shade of cypress trees reciting his poetry to each other, creating a magical, almost otherworldly atmosphere.

Quick facts: Up to 50 members of the Saadi family are buried here, including his grandson and great-grandson, making it a family mausoleum. More than 800,000 visitors come here each year to pay tribute to the memory of the Persian poet.

Highlights: A river pearl crystal chandelier hangs above the poet's grave, over 200 years old and dating back to the Qajar dynasty. On the walls of the mausoleum, you will find verses carved directly into the stone, some of which are written in gold ink and reflect light like a mirror.

Quick facts: The colored glass windows of the mosque create a rainbow show in the morning that lasts only about 90 minutes. Locals call it the "Pink Mosque" thanks to the pink tiles that cover its facade.

Highlights: When the morning sun penetrates through 12 colorful stained-glass windows, the entire prayer hall transforms into a sea of shimmering rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. Persian carpets on the floor reflect these colors, creating an effect as if you were standing inside a kaleidoscope.

Quick facts: Approximately 11,000 tiles cover the facade of this magnificent residence, each with a unique floral pattern. A cypress tree over 700 years old grows on the grounds, considered one of the oldest trees in all of Iran.

Highlights: While strolling through the garden, you may come across a small pavilion where the Qajars once held private musical performances right in the middle of the orange trees. The garden is designed so that the central pool reflects the palace facade almost perfectly, creating the illusion of a floating structure.

Quick facts: Under one roof it combines up to four different bazaars, covering an area of 10,000 square meters. During the summer heat, thanks to its clay walls and high vaulted ceiling, it stays pleasantly cool, about 10 degrees less than outside.

Highlights: In one of the side alleys you can try traditional tea at Hareme e Shiraz, a small tea house hidden behind heavy wooden doors. Locals consider its tea the best in the entire city, and they have been brewing it over charcoal for over 50 years.

Quick facts: Beneath the dome, 18 meters high, lies a brilliant ventilation system. Thanks to it, the inside stays pleasantly cool even in summer when outside temperatures reach forty degrees.

Highlights: Under your feet there is a heated floor made of natural stone, which warms your feet even in winter. Notice the small vaults and skylights in the ceiling; they are designed so that light falls exactly onto the spots where people used to relax.

Quick facts: Inside the shrine, more than 7 million pieces of mirrored glass shine, hand-placed into mosaics. Over 5 million pilgrims come here every year, making it one of the most visited sacred sites in Iran.

Highlights: Beneath the dome there is a mirror room where thousands of sparkling shards create the illusion of an endless starry sky. After sunset, the shrine turns into a sea of light, glowing in shades of blue, green, and gold reflected in every single piece of glass.

Quick facts: Its thick brick walls reach up to 3 meters at the base and have withstood several devastating earthquakes, including the one in 1824. Of the original four towers, only two have survived to this day, one of which leans by 3 degrees and is called by locals the "Iranian Pisa."

Highlights: At the back of the courtyard you will discover a secret room with a direct view of the onion-shaped domes of the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, which turn purple in the light. During humid evenings, the brick walls literally breathe out the water they absorbed during the day, and the courtyard smells of wet clay and orange trees.

Quick facts: Two giant hands holding an open Quran have been welcoming everyone arriving in Shiraz since 2005. This 32-meter-high gate is a replica of the original 10th-century gate, built by the ruler Adud al-Dawla.

Highlights: Every night, the gate lights up with hundreds of LED lights that highlight the calligraphy on the stone book. On clear evenings, locals believe that the light reflecting off the glass mosaic creates the illusion of sparkling stars on the surrounding trees.