10 Things to Do in Shiraz: The Ultimate Guide for the City of Beauty & Poetry
Shiraz has been one of the most important stops for tourists in Iran for a long time. A city known for its cultural background with its prolific history in architecture, poetry, and literature, you don’t want to miss out on the sights and attractions that Shiraz has to offer. Besides, its people are famously laid back and want to have fun. This blog post aims to help you prioritize the different things you can do in this beautiful city.
You can take a look at our Iran SIM Card blog in order to remove the hassle of doing a bunch of paperwork and not having access to the Internet, and just enjoy your time! Also don’t miss out on our currency guide! And if you’re still a bit confused about different parts of your Iran trip, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Shiraz Attractions:
As is the case for many cities in Iran, you will miss out on a whole lot of Shiraz attractions and historical sights if you don’t spend at least a week in the city. It would be a shame to be in a hurry during your trip, but since you may be on a tight schedule, we can help you prioritize where to go and what to do to make sure you’ve made the most of your time in this beautiful city.
Persepolis – The Most Famous Shiraz Attraction:
The astonishing Persepolis is not actually in the city of Shiraz, it’s nearby a smaller city in the Fars Province by the name of Marvdasht. However, since it’s only about an hour’s drive from Shiraz, tourists include it in their itinerary of the city. You can find some of the most brilliant pillars, bas-reliefs, and stone sculptures of Iran’s history in this spectacular Shiraz attraction.
Once the glorious capital of the Achaemenid Empire and currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Persepolis (or as we call it, Takht-e Jamshid) was burnt in Alexander the Great’s conquering of Persia. What remains of this site today is a reminder of the impressive architectural and artistic capabilities of one of the biggest empires in history. The awe-inspiring pair of lammasus guarding the Gate of All Nations, the ruins of the Apadana palace, and the ruins of Tachara with its magnificent bas-relief depicting representatives of different nations offering delegations to the Achaemenid Emperor are one of a kind.
While you’re in Persepolis, you should definitely go to Pasargad, where you can see Cyrus the Great’s tomb with its cubic shape (often called the Zoroastrian Kaaba), and Naghse Rostam, where other Achaemenid kings have been buried in mountain tombs.
While we’re at it, you can also take a look at our blog dedicated to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the city of Isfahan!
Vakil Complex:
Karim Khan-e Zand was the first king in the Zandieh Dynasty, who made Shiraz his capital and implemented plans to ensure the city’s prosperity. Another notable fact about Karim Khan was that he refused to call himself “King”, and instead named himself “Vakil Ol-Roaya”, meaning the representative of the people. One of his major accomplishments is the Vakil Complex in the city, which includes a series of attractions in Shiraz: A great bazaar, a mosque, and a Hammam (traditional bathhouse).
Vakil Bazaar:
Visiting the Vakil Bazaar is one of the most charming experiences you can have in the city. One of the Shiraz attractions filled with shops where you can buy handicrafts, spices, local pieces of clothing, and pretty much everything you can think of, the Vakil Bazaar is the city’s central bazaar (every city in Iran has to have one, right?) and served as the main hub during the Zandieh reign. Additionally, there are plenty of cafes, teahouses, and restaurants with the most pleasant atmospheres that you can just pop into while walking the bazaar.
Vakil Hammam:
Visiting an Iranian Hammam is a must for any tourist. The Vakil Hammam -which has been turned into a museum- is one of the most impressive examples of this type of Iranian architecture. If you’re looking for the experience of actually bathing in an Iranian Hammam, this won’t be the right place for you. You can however check out bathhouses in other cities, like the Qazi Bathhouse in Isfahan!
Vakil Mosque:
You simply can’t miss this beautiful mosque while you’re in the Vakil Complex. Built during the Zand dynasty and restored during the Qajar dynasty, its beautiful Shabestan, Porches, and floral tiles decorating the dome and walls (a characteristic of the Zand and Qajar periods and inspired by British art) are truly one of a kind.
Arg-e Karim Khan:
While he refused to be called a king, Karim Khan still managed to build and live in an impressive citadel that was named after himself.
While its rectangular plan and four towers might remind you of a medieval fortress, you can truly appreciate this historical site once you see the inside.
The porches with their Muqarnas decorations (a type of ornamentation used in Islamic architecture where honeycomb-like vaultings are made in a transition between the walls and the dome/ceiling, like in the Alhambra Castle in Spain) remind you of the Ali Qapu palace in Isfahan, and the colored window panes and brilliant column heads are not to be missed. Make sure to visit the on-site museum as well to better understand this period in Iran’s history.
The Pink Mosque (Nasir Ol-Molk Mosque):
One of the most beautiful mosques in Islamic architecture, Nasir Ol-Molk Mosque was built in the Qajar period by a province ruler who was known as Nasir Ol-Molk.
It has become known as the Pink Mosque due to the kaleidoscopic colors that fill the mosque as sunlight passes through its mosaic windows. Another fascinating part of this mosque is its wonderfully delicate stone pillars.
The Tomb of Hafez (Hafezieh):
Perhaps the most globally recognized Persian poet (partially due to Goethe’s translation of the Divan of Hafez), Hafez and his poetry have become the core tenants of Shiraz. Hafezieh, his burial place, is an important Shiraz attraction that consists of a beautiful garden, with the famous tomb (designed by the French architect Andre Godard) in its center. There’s a tradition among the people of Iran, where they do fortune-telling using the Divan of Hafez. This can be an interesting thing to try out during your time in Shiraz!
The Tomb of Saadi (Saadieh):
Saadi is another important (perhaps even a bit underappreciated) figure in Persian poetry who was born in Shiraz. His tomb is an important attraction which was also designed by Andre Godard, and with its surrounding garden, it’s a very nice place to visit during the morning or the evening. Plus, since Saadieh and Hafezieh are in very close proximity, you won’t have to worry about missing out on either of them!
Eram Garden:
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Eram Garden is one of the finest attractions that Shiraz has to offer. The grand Qajar era palace with its colorful tiles, the large pool, and the beautifully sorted trees and flowers all around you will surely make you feel at peace while you walk the garden. We only hope that those in charge tend better to Eram and not let it fall into decay.
Besides, Eram Boulevard, where the garden is located, is one of the most beautiful streets in the city, so you can make a whole day out of it!
Naranjestan Qavam House:
This lovely historical house and garden should not be missed in Shiraz. Naranj is a type of sour orange that is especially famous in Shiraz, and there are plenty of Naranj trees in the Qavam House, hence the name.
The house- or rather, the mansion, which is another credit to Qajar architecture- is among the most special historical houses in Iran.
Zinat Al-Molk Historical House:
Located just a couple hundred meters from the Qavam House, Zinat Al-Molk Historical House is a comparatively smaller mansion in Shiraz. The following sentences might come off as biased, since this house is this author’s personal favorite attraction, but you will find some of the most ornate decorations in Zinat Al-Molk House. The small yet wonderfully pretty pool, tile decorations, and stone columns that make up the exterior are all charming, but it gets even better on the inside, with paintings and stucco works as well as a wax museum.
Afif Abad Garden:
Afif Abad Garden is one of the most fascinating Shiraz attractions you can visit in the city. The complex consists of a majestic Qajar palace, a beautiful garden, and a very interesting military museum. The site originally belongs to the Safavid era, but what you can see now is the work of Qavam Al-Molk, the ruler of the Fars province during the reign of Qajar kings. Later on, the mansion served as Farah Pahlavi (the queen of Iran during the latter years of the Pahlavi Dynasty)’s personal leisure area, and a resort for retired army officers.
Quran Gate
The Quran Gate is one of the more symbolic Shiraz attractions. There’s a tradition for travelers in Iran to walk underneath the Quran before their journey to ensure safe passing, so a Quran was placed right above the gate to Shiraz for all travelers. Its construction dates all the way back to the first Islamic dynasties of Iran, but it has undergone many renovations to become what it is today. The current-day Quran Gate has actually nothing to do with the original (since the original was destroyed in 1937), this new gate was built in 1949.
Shah Cheragh Shrine
This site holds more of a religious significance than an artistic or architectural one. Shah Cheragh (or the King of Lights) was the brother of the 8th Shia Imam (Imam Reza, whose burial place is also in Iran). He reached martyrdom in Shiraz and in his burial place were built a mosque and school built in the 12th AD. The shrine is now a cause for pilgrimage to the city.
Food & Entertainment in Shiraz
Shiraz is among the liveliest cities you can visit in Iran, so you won’t have any problem figuring out the different things to do and how you can have fun. First of all, let’s start with the food. You have your choice in some of the finest restaurants, no matter what you’d like to eat: Iranian food, fast food, fine dining restaurants, Sushi and seafood, pretty much everything you can think of.
One local food (and side dish) that you have to try out in the city is Kalam Polo, which is cabbage and rice with small meatballs. You can get this dish in restaurants, but if you get a chance to have some homemade Kalam Polo, do not miss it.
Also make sure to try it out with Salad Shirazi, a salad that consists of finely minced tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions, doused in lime, salt, and black pepper.
Another local delicacy is Kahoo Sekanjabin. Sekanjabin is a syrup that is made out of honey and vinegar and is usually used for making sherbets and cold drinks, mixed with mint and shredded cucumbers. In this case, it is used as a dipping sauce for lettuce leaves!
You can find plenty of good cafes and restaurants while walking Ghodosi St, Afif Abad St, or the Maali Abad neighborhood. These areas are also ideal for nightly strolls and shopping. Here’s a list of some of the best ones!
Now, we know Shiraz is one of the most popular destinations for those of you who are Overlanding, so if you’re driving through Iran, head on straight over to a blog tailored for you!
Read about one of the best Iranian souvenirs you can get in our latest blog!
Shiraz Accommodation
Since our hostels are located in Isfahan, we get a lot of tourists who ask us for recommendations about Shiraz hostels and hotels. We have gained quite a bit of indirect experience through this matter, so stay tuned for a blog post where we will list some of the best hostels in Shiraz! To read about our favorite boutique hotel in Shiraz, follow this link!
If you want to learn a bit more about Iran hostels in general, here are some more posts you can read!
Also read our blogs about things to do in other cities!
