Ultimate Guide for traveling to Shiraz
Shiraz, a prestigious Iranian city that unparalleled beauty is spoken not only in Iran but around the world. This spectacular city is located in southeastern Iran, and because of its unique attractions, tourists travel to Shiraz annually from around the world to see it. With a world of different choices for travelers who want to travel to this city, Travital is planning to take a tour of Shiraz’s natural and historical attractions as well as hotels and restaurants in its guide to Shiraz. Please keep up with us in our trip to Shiraz which a part of Iranian history.
Geographical Location of Shiraz
Geographically, the city of Shiraz is located in the south west of Iran and it is surrounded by tall mountains. Shiraz is bounded by Darak mountain in the west and in the north by Bamo, Sabz Poushan, Chehel Magham and Baba Koohi (from Zagros mountains). Shiraz’s area is 240 square kilometers and its population according to the 1395 census is 1800000.
Shiraz’s Climate
Shiraz has 3 different climate, mountainous, moderate and hot and dry. However in general, this city since it has an altitude of 1486 meters from sea, has a moderate climate and in most part of the year has good climate for prospective tourists. Average temperature in hottest month of the year (July) is 30c and in coldest month (January) is 5c.
Best time for traveling to Shiraz
As we said, Shiraz has ideal conditions for traveling throughout the year. However, the best time for traveling to this city is in May. In May, the crowded time in Nowrooz (Iranian New Year) has passed and you will avoid the hot weather in July and August. Hence, you can explore the city in the most ideal sense and see the blooms of orange blossom and rose for whom festivals are held for watching them.
Residing in Shiraz
Since Shiraz is one the busiest cities in Iran in terms of passengers, there are a lot of hotels in the city. In Shiraz you could always choose a good hotel according to your budget and the expectations that you have, like Karimkhan Hotel. If you want to have an economic trip to Shiraz , you can stay at a cheap hotel. In this section of the guide to Shiraz, we would introduce you best hotels which you could stay at them with prices starting from 100,000 Tomans (1,000,000 IRR). These hotels are as follows:
In the following, we will introduce you several good hotels and how to book a hotel in Shiraz.
Suggested Hotels in Shiraz
Shiraz Pars Hotel
Pars 5-star Hotel which is located in the heart of Shiraz, is one of the most luxurious hotels in south part of the country. This hotel has an easy access to city airport, Takhte Jamshid, Saadi tomb, Karimkhan complex and Hafez tomb. Parking is free for the guests. Also, kids under the age of 7 are admitted free of charge. Internet access is free for 1 hour every day. Admittance of unaccompanied women are only possible with police consent letter and presenting valid identification documents. Swimming pool is free for the guests.
- Distance to the International airport with car: 15 minutes
- Check in time: 14:00
- Check out time: 12:00
- Telephone: +987132332255
- Website: www.parsinternationalhotel.com
- Address: Pars International Hotel, Karimkhan e Zand Boulevard, Shiraz
Shiraz Jamejam Hotel Apartment
The 4 star Shiraz Jamejam Hotel is located in the city center near Bazaar, commercial centers and banks. Facilities in the hotel include coffee shop and restaurant, conference lounge, Internet, indoor parking, gym, pool and free transfer to the airport.
- Distance to airport: 15 minutes with car
- Check in time: 14:00
- Check out time: 12:00
- Telephone: +9871123040023
- Address: Jamejam Hotel, Izadi Street, Roodaki Street, Zand Street, Shiraz
Roz Reyhan Hotel Apartment
The 3 star Roz (Rose) Reyhan Hotel Apartment was established on 1394 in the city center on Golestan boulevard. This 6-storey hotel has 24 apartments with good amenities and it has a good geographical location near the city’s historical attractions. The Rose Reyhan, Hotel Apartment hosts its guest a set of complete amenities such as clean and well equipped suites, parking, breakfast lounge on the ground floor with capacity of 50 people and a coffee shop in a cozy space on second floor with capacity for 50 people. With these facilities the hotel is ready to host travelers to the city of poetry and literature. Internet is not free. kids less than 3 years old are admitted free of charge. Extra mattresses are available. Admittance of unaccompanied women are only possible with police consent letter and presenting valid identification documents.
- Telephone: +987137328881
- Address: On the corner of day to day store, Golestan Boulevard, Adabiat Junction
Dining in Shiraz
Delicious foods of Shiraz, seduces the tourists who travel to the city to test them.
On average it will cost 30,000 Tomans for each person to dine in Shiraz. This figure will obviously increase for more people. Fast food prices will begin from 15,000 Tomans and will vary according to the restaurant you choose.
Suggested Restaurants in Shiraz
Haft Khan Restaurant
As it is evident from its name, this restaurant consists of 7 different sections called “khan”s that in each of them you could eat different food. These khans are 7th khan- 5 restaurants- buffet- Sindokht, 6th khan-4 restaurants – Nofel, 5th khan- 3 restaurants-BBQ khan- gracious, 4th khan- take away khan, 3rd khan- fast food, 2nd khan- ground floor-coffee shop, 1st khan- Forood Traditional Restaurant. The haft khan restaurant is one of the best restaurants in the city in which the cost of food for every person starts from 50,000 toomans.
- Address: Corner of 17th Alley, Quran New Boulevard, Shiraz, Fars province, Iran
Soofi Restaurant
This restaurant has a traditional atmosphere and it could be a very good suggestion for eating a delicious lunch in Shiraz. In terms of food variety, the Sufi restaurant is very comprehensive and can cater for all tastes. In the menu of this restaurant, one could find all kinds of kebabs, fish, shrimp and and all exotic food and natural juices. Catering of this restaurant has services for dining outside of the restaurant.
- Address: Next to Mellat bank, Afif Abad street, Shiraz, Fars province, Iran
Shater Abbas Restaurant
If you want to go to a restaurant that serves good food and still with a reasonable price, you could choose Shater Abbas restaurant. Kebab Koobideh of the Shater Abbas are famous in Shiraz and our suggestion is to order Kebab in this restaurant.
- Address: Khakshenasi Street, Azadi Boulevard, Shiraz, Fars province, Iran
Famous Shirazi Foods
Shirazi Polo
For making this delicious food, rice, eggplant, chicken, yogurt, brewed saffron, barberry and condiment are used. This food has a lot of fans and almost all people like it.
Dopiyaze Alooye Shirazi
for making this food, potato, onion,tomato, tomato paste and condiment are used. First, potato is boiled and chopped and then fried onion, tomato and tomato paste are added. Cooking this food is very easy and it is among popular foods in Shiraz.
Koofteh Holoo Shirazi
Koofteh Holoo is another one of Shirazi dishes that you can not find elsewhere. Minced meat, chickpea flour, egg, onion, carrot are the ingredients of this dish.
Eshkeneh Shirazi or Aab Piyazak
Eshkeneh is a dish that is served in all parts of Iran but it is cooked differently throughout the country. Eshkeneh Shirazi is one of the Shiraz local food and the elderly still cook it. In making this dish, onion, egg, fenugreek, dried mint, salt and turmeric is used.
Attractions in Shiraz
Hafeziyeh
Hafez’s shrine, poet of the 8th century is located in Shiraz and this place is one of the city’s attractions. This Shrine was built 65 years after death of Hafez with the order of the ruling minister of the Shiraz and during centuries it has been renovated several times. Hafezieh has two courtyards north and south, and a hall 56m long and 8m wide that separates the two courtyards. This magnificent hall has 20 stone pillars with a height of 5 meters.
- Ticket price: For Iranian Tourists 3,000 Tomans and for foreign tourists 20,000 Tomans
- Address: Boostan Boulevard, North East of Shiraz
More about Hafez Tomb:
Khajeh Shams al-Din Mohammad Shirazi known as “Hafez” was the great sonneteer and of the Persian poets and literature. He was born in about 726 Hijri year in Shiraz. He learned science and technology in the classes of the professors at his time and got high levels in literature of his time. He pondered a lot in theology and memorized Quran in fourteen different narrations. “Goethe”, the great German scientist, poet and orator produced his Eastern Court in his name and inspired by his thoughts. His poetry includes sessions, several odes and Masnavis, sonnets and rubaiyat. He passed away in 192 Hijri year in Shiraz. His tomb in Shiraz is a shrine for pundits and Persian literature and poetry lovers. Hafezieh (Hafez Tomb) is a complex of tomb in the north of Shiraz and south of ...
Read MoreHammam Vakil
Hammam Vakil (Vakil Bath) was built during the Zandiyeh era near the Vakil Bazaar. For building this Hammam, the most modern architecture of that time was used. Hammam is paved with stones and under the stones there are narrow corridors so that the hot whether and steam would pass through it and makes the floor warm. To prevent the cold air entering the bathroom, the door was built small and the entrance to the dressing room is angled.
- Address: Next to Vakil Mosque, Taleghani Street, Lotfali Khane Zand Street
More about Vakil Bath:
It is located near the Vakil Mosque. Due to change in the conditions of public baths, it has lost its original shape. The Vakil Bath is a monument of the Zand period.
Read MoreVakil Mosque
Vakil mosque was built during Zandiyeh era and it has a beautiful architecture. This mosque has 2 loggias and 2 bedchambers (east and west). In the eastern bedchamber, there are 48 spiral stone pillars which is one the most spectacular parts of the mosque.
- Address: West of Vakil Bazaar, Ayatollah Taleghani Street, Shiraz, Fars Province
More about Vakil Mosque:
On the western side of Vakil Bazaar in Shiraz and at the end of swordmakers order, a very beautiful mosque is established which is known as Soltani Mosque or Vakil Mosque. This is one of the elegant and very resistant buildings of Zand period which is highly significant in terms of art and architecture. The mosque was built to the order of Karim Khan Zand. The mosque plan is two-perched and it has two southern and eastern bedchambers. This historical monument was registered in the list of Iran’s national monuments on 18th of Tir 1311 with registration number 182 and it is supported and protected by this organization.
Read MoreTomb of Saadi (Saadiyeh)
Saadiyeh is the place where Saadi lived there during his last years and after his death he was buried there. The tomb of this famous poet has a turquoise dome which have been placed on 8 pillars, the walls are from marble and the Saadi’s grave is in the middle.
- Address: Next to Baghe Delgosha, End of Boostan Street, Shiraz, Fars Province
More about Tomb of Saadi:
Saadi Shirazi is one of the poets of century 7 AH (century 13 AD). He was buried in a Khanqah where he lived. His most important works are Gulistan and Bustan containing instructive and telling anecdotes. Saadi’s works have been translated in German and French. Mohsen Forughi, Iranian modern architect, drew the plans of the Tomb of Saadi in 1951.
Read MoreQuran Gate
On the entering to the city, the first building you see is Quran’s Gate. During Zandiyeh era this gate was renovated and 2 exquisite Qurans where put there. Years later, the gate was destroyed by Reza Khan’s order and again after several years a Merchant rebuild another gate.
- Address: On the Entrance of City of Shiraz, Shiraz street, Fars Province
More about Quran Gate:
Quran Gate is one of the 12 gates left from old eras in Shiraz, which today is considered as one of the historical relics of this town. This gate is located in Quran square, Haft tanan Boulevard and Rabani Shirazi ST. cross at the entrance of Shiraz. This arch was built in the era of Azedolleh Deylami, and a Quran was placed upon it so that the travelers could end their journey safely.
Read MoreNasir Ol Molk Mosque
Nasir Ol Molk is among older mosques in Shiraz which is in proximity of Shah Cheragh. This mosque is the most valued mosque in Iran in terms of tiling and Mugharnas. As a consequence of using colored glass in the mosque, it is called the Iran’s pink mosque. When sunlight is radiated to the colored glass, the bedchamber becomes colored and dreamy. This mosque was built on 1293 by Qajar kings and it contains a house, a mirror lounge, mosque, cistern and bathroom.
- Address: Lotfali Khane Zand Street, Shiraz City, Fars Province.
More about Nasir Ol Molk:
Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque is one of the most beautiful mosques of Iran in terms of tilework and Muqarnas. The mixture of light and color has given exquisite beauty to the mosque. It is the most beautiful mosque in Shiraz. Every tourist desires to visit the mosque with its colorful glasses, high ceilings, and nice tile-work. In terms of tilework, Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque is the most precious mosque of Iran, and in terms of construction, especially tilework and Muqarnas, it is one-of-a-kind. In terms of color, it is the only Iranian mosque that can rival Al-Aqsa Mosque and Istanbul Blue Mosque. Construction of the mosque started in 1876 and ended in 1888 AD.
Read MoreEram Garden
Eram Garden along with 8 other gardens were listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO on 1390. In this historical garden, a handful of buildings and botany gardens are located. It is not clear that when this garden was established but according to several travelogues, it existed during Saljoughian era. Eram Garden has a variety of plants and plants from all over the world are planted there.
- Address: Close to Shiraz University, Eram Street, Shiraz City, Fars Province
More about Eram Garden:
Eram Garden is a beautiful historical garden located in the northwest of Shiraz. It is a one-of-a-kind historical garden which as registered in the list of World Heritage in the 35th conversion of UNESCO World Heritage Committee in 2011. The garden includes some great artistic-historical monuments and botanical gardens. Among the cypresses of this street, there is a tall cypress which is noticeable from a long distance. This tree is called “Sarv-e Naz” (Elegant Cypress) because of its unique features. Historians estimate that this cypress is one thousand years. The mansion of the garden belongs to Qajar period, and the tile-work on the front of part of the central porch and around it is among the most interesting tilework of Qajar period, which cannot be seen in other monuments ...
Read MoreArg e Karim Khan
The Karim Khan Citadel is located in the city center of Shiraz, near the Municipality square. As the name implies, the citadel was built in the Zandieh period, between the years of 1766 and 1767 (Gregorian calendar), as a place to live by Karim Khan Zand. During the Pahlavi dynasty, this place became a prison, causing some damage to it.
- Address: Inside Shohada SQ., Karimkhan-e Zand Street, Shiraz
More about Arg e Karim Khan:
Arg of Karim Khan is also known by the prison of Karim Khan, it was established in 1969 by the order of Karim Khan, the founder of Zandieh dynasty in Shiraz. This building which is one of the most outstanding architectural relics of Zandieh era attracts many tourists every year. Arg of Karim Khan is located in the center of Shiraz. After Karim Khan-e Zand selected Shiraz as the capital of Iran and chose this building as his residential house, it became famous with the name “Arg of Karim Khan”. The Arg has 4 very tall and 12 meter walls in the outside and they are connected to each other with a 90 degree angle with circular brick towers with a height of 14 meters. During the Pahlavi ruling era, the Arg was used as a prison, which exposed it to some damages. In 1971, this Arg was ...
Read MoreKhane Ghavam
Khane Ghvam (Ghavam’s house) or Ghavam’s Narenjestan is one of the most beautiful Iranian gardens and as it is clear from its name, has a courtyard full of orange trees. This house was from the properties of the Qavam family and Haj Ibrahim Khan Kalantar, who had great influence because of their wealth during Qajar era. There are many mansions and gardens left from this family, but this house fascinates you because of its beautiful perspective garden. The loggia of this beautiful house has has mirror work, mosaic work, plaster work and tile work. Currently on the lower floor, a museum of artifacts found by professor pop exists.
- Address: Lotfalikhan-e Zand Street, Shiraz, Fars Province
More about Ghavam’s house:
This garden and its mansion is one of the most beautiful and precious monuments of Qajar period. It was known as “Birouni” in Qajar period and was an alley away from the internal mansion (Andarouni Mansion), i.e. “Zinat-ol-Molouk House”. They were connected through an underground path. This mansion is one of the most beautiful monuments of that period in Shiraz because of the arts such as mirror-work, glassware, designing, wood-carving, carving, plastering, and Muqarnas that were used in it. This garden was registered in Iran’s National Heritage in 1974 under the registration number of 1073.
Read MoreVakil Bazaar
The Vakil Bazaar is located near the Municipality square and proximity of the Arg Karim Khan. This beautiful traditional market was built during Zandieh era with plaster and brick and is still the economic center of Shiraz.
- Address: After Municipality Square, Shiraz, Iran
More about Vakil Bazaar:
Vakil Bazaar of Shiraz city might be one of the most famous traditional and historical bazaars of Iran. This bazaar which was constructed by the order of Karim Khan Zand (1758-1779) is now located in the center of Shiraz city (east to Shohada Square). Aside to bazaar, there are other places such as the historical mosque and bath of Vakil. Vakil bazaar is built in a + shape, which means it includes a northern, southern, eastern and western wing. A long and vast four-way is built in their crossing which has four large doors that were closed at nights so that the safety of bazaar were provided. This relic was registered as one of Iran’s national relics in July 8th, 1972 with the registration number of 924.
Read MoreAfif Abad Garden
This beautiful Iranian garden was built during Safaviyeh dynasty as a promenade for Safavi kings. After that during the Qajar dynasty it was bought by Mirza Alikhan Ghavamolmolk and it was renovated. Nowadays this garden has been converted to a museum garden and 3 museums including Determent museum, Army museum and Army weapons museum has been built in this beautiful garden. The middle building of the garden has been built by Mirza Alikhan Ghavamolmolk.
- Address: Close to Sattar Khan Street, End of Afif Abad,
Shiraz Festivals
- Hafez Commemoration – 20th of Mehr (October 12)
- Saadi Commemoration – 1st of Ordibehesht (April 21)
- Cyrus the Great day – 7th of Aban (October 29)
- Shiraz Commemoration Day – 15 Ordibehesht (May 5)
Shopping Centers in Shiraz
Hamoon Shopping Mall
- Address: Sattarkhan Boulevard, Shiraz, Iran
Zeytoon Fars Shopping Center
- Address: Panzdahe Khordad Junction, Shiraz, Fars Province, Iran
Setareh Fars Shopping Center
- Address: Afif Abad Street, Shiraz, Fars Province, Iran
Khalije Fars Business and Amusement Center
- Address: Entry to new city of Sadra, Shiraz, Fars province, Iran
Things to do in City of Shiraz
Faloodeh Shirazi
One of the oldest and most popular Iranian desserts that we have eaten several times is Faloodeh. However, you should know that the birthplace of this delicious dessert is Shiraz and in your trip to Shiraz do not forget to taste it.
Augury in Hafeziyeh (Faal e Hafez)
Even if you have memorized all the Hafez poetical, reading few couplets from this valuable book in Hafeziyeh could change your mood for better.
Hospitals and clinics in Shiraz
Shiraz as the capital of the Fars province has a lot of treatment centers and equipped hospitals. If we only want to name hospitals in Shiraz, we could present you with a list of 41 hospitals. Here, we only name a few hospitals in Shiraz in your guide to Shiraz so that you could get yourself to them without worrying too much.
Namazi Governmental and General Hospital
- Address: Namazi Square, Shiraz
Shahid Faghihi Governmental and General Hospital
- Address: Opposite Sooratger Street, Zand Street, Shiraz
Shahid Chamran Governmental Hospital – Orthopedic and Neural Surgery
- Address: Shahid Chamran Boulevard, Shiraz
Shahid Rajaei Governmental Hospital
- This hospital is a center for emergency surgery.
- Address: Next to Chamran Hospital, Shahid Chamran Boulevard, Shiraz
Khalili Govermental Hospital – Ophthalmology and Ear, Nose and Throat
- Address: Khalili Street
Hafez Governmental Hospital – Gynecology, Psychiatry and Rheumatology
- Address: Beginning of Chamran Boulevard
Ordibehesht Private Hospital
- Address: Chamran Boulevard
Even more travel tips for Shiraz and Iran
We hope our Shiraz travel tips have been helpful for planning your trip. Of course we always look forward to hearing from you in the comments. What attractions in Shiraz did you like the most? Do you have a great tip you’d like to share with all future visitors to Shiraz?
