Hunt Out The Burgeoning Isfahan Coffee Scene
While tea is traditionally the beverage de jour in Iran, a sub-culture of young caffeine addicted Iranians is popping up and Isfahan is no exception to this trend.
While your hotel in Isfahan is likely to have only tea and terrible coffee on offer I did the hard yards drinking and can recommend as the best best coffee shops in Isfahan: Radio Cafe for it’s warm vibes, WiFi and local atmosphere, Mustache Cafe for it’s take-away coffee and central location and Grumri Cafe for its beautiful interior, Instagrammable coffee and warm Armenian hospitality.
And trust me, with all of these top things to do in Isfahan your going to need a double-shot expresso just to keep up!
See One Of The Best Remaining Examples Of A Persian Garden At Chehel Sotun Palace
Overlooked by many travelers, the Chehel Sotun Palace is actually a UNESCO World Heritage site as it exemplifies Persian garden design and evolution since the 6th century BC.
Always divided into four sections – following the Zoroastrian principles of earth, sky, water, and planet coming together to produce Eden. The Chehel Sotun Palace is a perfect representation of this with its beautifully preserved palace, long reflection pool, and quiet side gardens. Feel at peace amongst the tranquil – and perfectly symmetrical – gardens and elegant palace terrace.A wonder of the world not to be missed from any list of things to do in Isfahan.
Make Friend With The Locals
While Isfahan is one of the most popular tourist cities in Iran, this still does not stop the locals from showing their world-class hospitality.
Travelers who have experienced other parts of the world might be wary of an ulterior agenda but everyone here is truly concerned and hopeful you have a good time. So take the time to chat, accept their generous offers to join for dinner, tea or a night of sight-seeing and see where it goes. I now have a phone full of contacts in Isfahan, wonderful memories and have seen Isfahan in ways I could never have imagined.
Learn The Intricate History Of Isfahan carpet
Isfahan is famed for its achievement in arts and crafts and today it’s most famous export – the Isfahan carpet – is still world renown in quality and style.
You can see artisans at work on these carpets all over the city, and while the price of a Persian Rug is mind-boggling – it’s not hard to see why when it can take up to four months just to produce one square meter. Pop your head into any shop and the sales person will happily show you all the different styles and construction techniques just like a free museum tour.
You are by no means obligated to buy anything, but just be upfront if this is the case and he will still proudly show you these beautiful works of art.
Head Back In Time At The Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, The Largest Mosque in Iran
Dating back to 841, the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Jameh Mosque of Isfahan lies in the historic center of Isfahan and is well worth the entrance fee, showcasing centuries of Islamic architecture.
Also known as the Friday Mosque of Isfahan, the innovative designs and additions undertaken almost every 100 years showcases stylistic developments over a millennium and provided a prototype all later mosques across Iran and Central Asia. Still functioning as a place of worship, you can respectfully observe muslims praying here as you take in the myriad of design details throughout.
How To Get To Isfahan Iran
Located in the center of Iran, getting to Isfahan is easiest via bus, train, and flight. There are direct flights to Tehran daily, and weekly flights to Damascus, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait, and Istanbul.You can also find direct flights to most major cities in Iran at least once a week. From Tehran, the bus from Tehran and other cities in Central Iran including Isfahan and Kerman is the best option taking around 5 hours, although there is also a train station if you prefer it does take longer.As a major transport hub in Iran and the greater region, you should have no problem getting and out of Isfahan.The bus station and train station are quite far out of town so you should book at the reputable travel agency in the main street of the Old Town to avoid a taxi trip, but if you are heading the Shiraz, Yazd or Kerman they might have some interesting – and affordable – day trip options to maximize your time!
