CityBuddy
Arg of Karim Khan
Best time to visit
Early in the morning between 8:00 and 9:30, when the courtyard is still empty and the shadows create dramatic contrasts on the brick walls. Avoid Fridays, when there are the most local visitors.
Budget tips
Entry costs approximately 2.5 euros (150,000 Iranian rials), which is one of the lowest prices among attractions in Shiraz. A combined ticket with the Eram Garden or the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque is not available, so it is worth buying only a separate admission.
Recommended for
History enthusiasts, Photographers, Budget travelers, Architecture lovers
Plan your visit
1-2 hours
About
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.
Insider tips
- Do not miss the underground bathhouse (hammam) under the entrance gate with authentic 18th century frescoes; most tourists overlook it.
- The best photos of the leaning tower can be taken from the southeastern corner of the courtyard around 10:00 in the morning.
- In summer, bring a hat and water; there is almost no shade in the courtyard.
- Before leaving, sit down on a bench under the orange tree by the central pool and listen to the chirping of birds; it is the most authentic experience of the place.
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