Tehran Grand Bazaar

Tehran Grand Bazaar is situated in the south corner of Tehran’s Centre and can be listed as one of the largest bazaars in the world in its type. This multifunctional bazaar includes guest houses, mausoleums, mosques, and banks for business, shopping, tourism, and many other purposes. There are several passageways in this grand bazaar specific for various goods. It is easily accessible through different entrance doors. Although some of them are closed during the night times for the sake of security, most of them are open and the visitors can reach their desired corridors easily from early in the morning till early in the evening. The central Metro of Tehran is a great spot to help visitors get there.

This grand bazaar has a long story behind its construction. It dates back to thousands of years ago. The surrounding alleys reflect the old, antique history of Iran’s culture, civilization, and art. One can look at its architecture and face the abundant Persian talents applied in its construction including domes, courtyards, and the beautiful arches together with the alluring designs of the ceilings. The classic forms used in the architecture of Tehran Grand Bazaar like the circles, and squares are reminiscent of the Persian themes of perfection and balance. The corridors are ten kilometers in length and the visitors can reach the bazaar from every corner of them.

The 4th century BC is the approximate time in history when the Tehran Grand Bazaar was constructed. When Iran was under the influence of Islamic culture during the 7th century, it became the hub of business that helped the bazaar flourish in economy and marketing aspects specifically during the Safavid era. The importance of the Tehran Grand Bazaar was so that because of its extension, variety of functions, and economic value it became well-known as a city itself. Later on, as Tehran city got developed both from the point of view of population and vastness, the Grand Bazaar was not referred to as a city anymore. Within this context, although modern business centers have emerged in the capital city of Tehran. Tehran Grand Bazaar is still considered to host valuable, key transactions that not only belong to Tehran but also target other cities in Iran. In a sense, one can claim that it is the heart of finance and business in Iran, highly important for the Iranian people and tourists.

The stores of Tehran Grand Bazaar host a variety of products such as Persian spices, copper stuffs, precious metals, gold, papers, Persian rugs, and fabrics of all types. Surprisingly, in addition to traditional goods, the visitors also find modern products far cheaper than elsewhere. The different sections of its building date back to 400 years ago when the main halls and passageways were built. However, instead of its antique heritage, the majority of its stores belong to the early modern period. Those that belong to traditional Iran and represent old age are mostly unified in form and style. From another side of the spectrum, the modern side of the bazaar is creatively different in style and shape, really reflecting the modern spirit and taste.

Fortunately, to maintain the grandeur of its classic origin, there have been several renovations and improvements. During the constitutional revolution, the Tehran Grand Bazaar gained significant importance, with many elite, rich individuals invested to build additional little bazaars and rows to it. However, during the famous Qajar king, Naser-Al-Din Shah, in the 19th century, gorgeous decorations were added to its traditional architecture. It was exactly the time when the Grand Bazaar of Tehran also became the center for activities concerning socio-political issues. The challenging parties considered the bazaar as a suitable place for their gatherings and meetings. The neighboring alleys have turned the district of the Grand Bazaar into a traditional tourist spot highly attractive for the twists and turns of the lanes that are traditionally roofed.

The ambiance of the area reminds the visitors of different periods that the Grand Bazaar has experienced so far from the Safavid up to the Pahlavi and to the present time. Even now, it is a real gallery of fragrances, colors, herbs, home furniture, nuts, and fresh fruits that take every visitor to the depth of the Iranian lifestyle and civilization. The labyrinthine structure of this surreal exhibition is enticing and makes every tourist impatiently head for shopping. Interestingly, the shopkeepers are very amiable and mingle with the tourists in an unbelievably friendly way that you won’t forget such hospitality in your trips everywhere around the world. The 100-year-old restaurants and traditional teahouses are amazingly wonderful for those who are interested in tasting Iranian cuisine and the Persian black tea served with fanciful Iranian sweets.

Sabze Meydan Square is the main entrance of Tehran Grand Bazaar with a very special situation exactly in front of The Golestan Palace. Here, is one of the most attractive places of the complex as the visitors would see the symbolic fruit juice of Iran that is pomegranate drink, together with all other Persian dried fruits. The second amazing spot is the holy shrine that is beautifully ornamented and is believed to be the tombstone of one of the family members of the great prophet of Islam. There is another beautiful place that is called Imam Mosque in the Grand Bazaar. The colorful tile works and the calm, peaceful yard are the two reasons every tourist would be attracted to take a rest and enjoy for a while.

So, come and buy the best Persian souvenirs in Iran, collected all in one place, in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar. Everything you might think of in the oldest bazaar of the Middle East and maybe in the world has lasted, as studies reveal, from about the 4th or 7th century till now. You might be even surprised here as you would be invited to sit in the chamber stores and drink hot tea with the sociable Iranian shopkeepers and find yourself in the middle of a mystical discussion.

Best Hotels in Tehran

 

Tehran, as the heart of Iran, and the point of political, social, and cultural attention of international and national tourists, offers a range of grand-style hotels that are among the best in the world.  

 

Spinas Palace Hotel is a splendid five-star hotel in Tehran that would satisfy all perfectionists. As it is on top of a hill-like region called Saadat Abaad, the guests would have a great view of Tehran from their windows. The unique architectural style of this hotel is a mixture of modern and traditional styles. It is close to beautiful tourist sites like Flight Park, Joorasik Park, and Palladium Shopping Center. Its luxurious halls are eye-catching and the most suitable ones for wedding ceremonies. Its breakfasts are so memorable that everyone would like to try it once, even for those already living in Tehran. The facilities that are already in the hotel area, one can name a green garden, sauna, spa salon, seeming pool, exchange shops, Wi-Fi, and alert systems. Its rooms are categorized as Royal, Signature, and Sky. Although it is on a hillside, you are still in the neighborhood of the city which makes it easily accessible to attractive sites such as the Persian Rug Gallery, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts, Laleh Park, and other beautiful places even by walking. 

 

Espinas International Hotel is also a luxurious, five-star hotel located in a great area of Tehran. If the guests are looking for a luxurious stay, this is a great choice. This hotel has 280 rooms and suites that are honestly modern, elegant and highly comfortable, and clean. The rooms range from double standard, junior double, twin double, view-based twin double, President triple rooms, family triple, and royal family rooms. Levels 11 to 14 are specified for the single rooms. All of the rooms are unbelievably pleasing in decoration and style. It is easily accessible to attractive sites in Tehran and the major museums. 

 

Tehran Parsian Azadi Hotel which is again a five-star hotel situated north of Tehran. From the beginning of its existence, guests have been considered to behave royally here. It has been the choice of great political administrators of the world like the president of North Korea, Ms. Park Geon Hai together with great international artists like The Schiller Group. There are eight different room styles in this elegant hotel with various functions and diverse designs. Surprisingly speaking, it also offers a specific room for the handicapped. This magic hotel also has eight grand halls for several functioning that always host international and national diplomatic, media, or sports events. There are four fashionable restaurants in various styles namely Parseh, Sarv, Parmin, and Japanese Kenzo. In a similar vein, distinguished sports clubs including fitness, gym, sauna, and jacuzzi, are also part of this fascinating complex. 

 

Tajmahal Hotel is another five-star hotel in the very core of the north area of Tehran. It has been able to attract the attention of many guests. It is a hotel apartment with a mixed architectural style of Persian and Indian models. It has eight levels and 80 flats that are modern indeed. It is located near Hemmat highway which makes it uniquely accessible to different parts of Tehran. VIP, Senator, and Royal rooms are different grand style rooms of the hotel. Unforgettable tastes also can be experienced here in its fanciful restaurants. 

Novotel or Rexan Hotel is one of the greatest among the five-star hotels in Tehran. It is one of the first airport hotels belonging to French Ecor Hotels being in the south wing of Imam Khomeini Airport. This beautiful hotel is on 11 levels and has 296 rooms of full facilities. This is a great option for those who need to be near the airport for their connecting flights. It is in a very peaceful and calm area far from the sounds and furies of the crowded city. It offers a highly standard service with modern features and a master staff. It is worth mentioning that, short stay rooms of this hotel do not offer breakfast as an included option. 

 

Homa Hotel is a highly popular and approved-by-all hotel in Iran, is part of Homa Chain Hotels. Its Tehran branch is also the target of the attention of both national and international guests. It does offer a very stunning view of Homa Garden from one side, and the Alborz Mountains, from another wing. It is a luxurious hotel with easy access only by walking to Vanak Shopping Center. Every entertainment facility like the swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, and fitness club is there in the building in a standard form. Homa class double bed is the special offer of this famous hotel. Vanak metro station is only accessible 9 mins from Homa Hotel. 

 

Laleh Hotel is also a great five-star hotel that is highly recommended in Tehran. It is more than 50 years old but elegantly classic and grand with 13 levels and 370 rooms. The building of the hotel is so beautiful with an attractive view of The Alborz Mountains. The climate is so exceptionally pleasing because of the proximity to Laleh Garden. It is also in the neighborhood of the famous museums of Tehran. Worthy to mention that for all international guests, the hotel does not offer single rooms. 

 

Wisteria Hotel, which is located at the highest part of Tehran’s north side, is another great option among the five-star hotels. One can easily reach Saad Abad Palace, Niavaran Palace, Ferdows Garden, Cinema Museum, and the Citadel. It offers a splendid mountain view and includes 20 levels. The hotel restaurant is big and serves varieties of delicious Persian foods. It only takes the guests about 20 to 30 mins walking to the major metro stations. Presidential and Wisteria suites are the special room options of this beautiful hotel. All the rooms are breakfast included.   

 

Evin Parsian Hotel which is a top best four-star hotel is typical in every aspect. It has 150 rooms including the grand, beautiful suites, small suites, double twins, and singles. It is located in a great spot on the north side of Tehran with a very pleasing climate. The guests can easily reach the airport and major highways. Facilities like safety boxes, light control systems, high-speed internet, and satellites are among the main ones here. 

 

Olympic Hotel is another four-star hotel on the west side of Tehran. One can even claim that it is one of the best in Iran. It is close to the Azadi Sport Complex in the western part of Tehran. It is opposite Chitgar Garden Park with a great view of the tallest mountain peaks of Iran, Damavand. Easy access to the pleasing atmosphere of the Persian Gulf Lake and the major airports are two major positive features of this prestigious hotel. Truthfully, if the guests are looking for standard services, the Olympic Hotel is the best choice.

 

Parsian Enghelab Hotel which is a four-star hotel in downtown Tehran with reasonable access to landmarks, Palaces, and sights. The building was founded in 1977 with complete facilities and a whirling restaurant on the sixteenth floor. Guests will enjoy Iranian hospitality and complimentary breakfast during their stay at Parsian Enghelab Hotel. It has 248 rooms and suites, a ballroom with a capacity of 1000 persons, two magnificent restaurants serving kinds of international & local foods on the grand floor, two coffee shops serving a wide variety of hot and cold beverages in the lobby lounge & top of the hotel, rotary restaurant (the first revolving restaurant in Iran located on the 16th floor of the hotel) offers you the fine art of hospitality in a high level.

 

The 10 Best Budget Hotels in Tehran

Tehran has several many hotels, but some hotels have very reasonable prices which you could choose for your accommodation in Tehran. Let’s talk about them.

Asareh Hotel, which is among the modern ones, is a budget hotel in Tehran. Its location in Tehran, which is on Azadi Avenue, is a highly accessible place. Every guest is easily able to reach different governmental offices, tourist spots, and historical areas like the city theatre, museum of contemporary arts, museum of Persian Rugs, and more importantly Tehran Airport. This hotel is a four-star hotel that has 11 levels with 58 rooms and suites. Every room is fully furnished and does have full facilities every guest would need. The staff members are highly trained and would create a memorable stay for the quests.

Pars Tehran Hotel Apartment is located exactly in front of Tehran University and was renovated about ten years ago. The hotel does have ten levels and twenty rooms with good facilities. It is situated in the very heart of the city highly accessible to different visiting areas and entertainment spots, like the museums and historical places. Variously, it does have four bedrooms, twin-bed rooms, three bedrooms, and single ones. It is only 8 mins to Mellat city train station and less than 10 mins to the embassies of major countries like Germany, Russia, and Italy. It does have free Wi-Fi and a public pool that is half-price for the guests. 

Tehran Shahr Hotel is a three-star hotel with luxurious architecture in traditional style. It is a four-level hotel with 108 rooms and sites. This complex is located at the eastern entrance of Tehran close to the wood garden “ Sorkheh Hesaar”. This fact which is related to its distance from the city center, in a calm and peaceful area, has caused this place to be able to offer a very pleasing situation with clean weather suitable for every guest. It has luxurious single rooms which include breakfast, same quality rooms in a double bed, twin, and triple (three single rooms). It has a restaurant, free Wi-Fi, and a public pool half-price for the quests.

Pamchal Hotel is another three-star, budget hotel in Tehran. This hotel is Ten years old, and quite modern in style and facilities. Its location is near the center of the city, very close to medical centers, shopping areas, and business cores. BRT buses are available here, and Dowlat train station is so close to it, about 6 mins. Museums and good restaurants are also in its close neighborhood. It has 45 rooms with 90 beds that are single, double, and triple in variety as the guests prefer. 

Shahriar Hotel is a good and clean two-star hotel in Tehran that is located in a cultural and business center. The building has five levels and 74 rooms. It is easy to go to the traditional Bazaar of the city from this hotel. Interestingly, it is very close to Golestan Palace and Mirror Museum. It is a good example of a budget hotel in Tehran as it also offers five bedrooms to the guests in addition to private single and double rooms. It takes only four mins to reach Baharestan train station. 

Atlas Hotel is another two-star hotel in Tehran that is more than 40 years old. The old part of the building is only on three levels and doesn’t have an elevator but is very convenient. The new section of the hotel has four levels and elevators. It has 40 rooms with good facilities. The location of the hotel is also good, quiet in the neighborhood of the city center. It is situated only five mins from the two main train stations of the city. It does offer unlimited Wi-Fi in its single, double, and triple rooms. It is, fortunately, breakfast included. 

Pasargad Hotel is also a good two-star hotel in Tehran that is surprisingly about 50 years old. This fact reveals how experienced the staff is. The rooms are simple but well-equipped and very comfortable. It does offer twin, double, and single rooms with high-speed internet. There is a nice and clean restaurant with delicious Persian food. The famous Azadi square is close to this hotel together with Mehr Abaad Airport. The railroad station is only 15 mins from this hotel. It offers many facilities like daily city tours, traditional tea shops, ATMs, and entertainment like a game net and sauna bath. 

Saeed Hotel is a single-star hotel in Tehran located on the fourth level of a four-story apartment. It has 24 rooms and suites very close to historical and tourist spots like the National Museum of Iran and Golestan Palace. The rooms are neat but simple. However, they are enough comfortable to have basic facilities in the room like TV and internet. One of the major train stations of the city is only 6 mins from this hotel. It is worth mentioning that its single rooms only have windows that have access to outside light.

Arad Hotel is another single-star hotel in Tehran with 30 clean and comfortable rooms. The rooms are highly clean, well-lit, and well-designed. It does offer twin, double, four-bed and three-bed nice rooms. Its distance from the main train stations is only 5 mins. The location is so close to the official buildings.

Hotel Golestan is also one of the single-star hotels in Tehran. It is a three-level hotel very close to the main shopping center of Tehran and good medical centers. The rooms range from twin-bed rooms, double and triple. Interestingly, the rooms are very well-designed and so well-lit. it is about 7 mins to one of the main train stations of Tehran. 

Other similar budget hotels in Tehran are as great as these ten hotels but the ones mentioned above are those that are selectively very close to the city centers or the ones outstanding in one or two aspects like being located in a calm and peaceful areas. Enjoy your stay in such comfortable, nice hotels.