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3 Days in Tehran: Itinerary 2026
Start your morning at the Golestan Palace (Panzdah-e Khordad Ave, 8:00-16:30, 500,000 IRR). Then walk to the Grand Bazaar (open 9:00-18:00, closed Fridays) for a… 🗺️ Day 1: Downtown & Grand Bazaar
Start your morning at the Golestan Palace (Panzdah-e Khordad Ave, 8:00-16:30, 500,000 IRR). Then walk to the Grand Bazaar (open 9:00-18:00, closed Fridays) for a chaotic but fascinating maze of shops. Have lunch at Moslem Restaurant (inside the bazaar, chelo kebab from 300,000 IRR). In the afternoon, visit the National Museum of Iran (30 Tir St, 9:00-17:00, 400,000 IRR) and end at the Treasury of National Jewels (Ferdowsi Ave, 14:00-16:30 Sat-Tue, 200,000 IRR).
🏛️ Day 2: North Tehran & Tajrish
Take a taxi (30-45 min, ~500,000 IRR) to the Sa'dabad Complex (Valiasr St, 8:00-17:00, 300,000 IRR for main palace). Explore the lush grounds and several museums. For lunch, head to Darband (Tajrish Square, hike up the trail for restaurants like Koohpaye, meals from 400,000 IRR). In the afternoon, visit the Tajrish Bazaar (open 9:00-21:00) and the nearby Imamzadeh Saleh shrine. End the day with dinner at a traditional restaurant like Alborz (Valiasr Ave, 600,000 IRR per person).
🎨 Day 3: Modern Art & South Tehran
Begin at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (Kargar Ave, 9:00-17:00, 200,000 IRR, closed Mondays). Then walk to Laleh Park for a relaxing stroll. Take the metro (line 1, 15 min) to the Azadi Tower (Azadi Square, 9:00-18:00, 250,000 IRR). For lunch, try the nearby Shandiz Restaurant (Azadi St, mixed grill from 350,000 IRR). In the afternoon, visit the Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery (south Tehran, metro line 1 to Haram-e Motahhar, free) to see the Martyrs' Section. End your trip with a sunset view from the Milad Tower (Hakim Highway, 9:00-22:00, 300,000 IRR).
🚇 Getting Around Tehran
Tehran's metro (lines 1-7) is cheap (8,000 IRR per ride) and covers most major attractions. Taxis (Snapp or regular) cost 200,000-600,000 IRR for short trips. Avoid rush hours (7:00-9:00 and 16:00-19:00) when traffic is heavy. For airport transfers, take the metro line 1 to Mehrabad (20 min from downtown) or a taxi to Imam Khomeini (45 min, 1,000,000 IRR).
💰 Budget & Money Tips
Carry cash (Iranian rials) as international cards don't work. Exchange money at licensed exchange offices (e.g., Ferdowsi Ave) for better rates than hotels. A budget of 5,000,000 IRR per day covers food, transport, and entry fees. Tipping is not expected but rounding up is appreciated. Avoid street money changers.
🍽️ Where to Eat
For authentic Persian food, try Divan Restaurant (Valiasr Ave, dinner from 800,000 IRR) or Sharaf El Islam (Grand Bazaar, traditional dizi from 250,000 IRR). For fast food, sample the local chain Super Star (sandwiches from 150,000 IRR). Vegetarians should look for kookoo sabzi or mirza ghasemi at most traditional restaurants. Always drink bottled water.
🌙 Evening Activities
After dark, walk along Valiasr Street (the longest in the Middle East) or visit the Tabiat Bridge (Modarres Highway, free, open 24h) for city lights. For a cultural evening, catch a performance at the Vahdat Hall (Shahid Motahhari Ave, tickets from 500,000 IRR). Alternatively, enjoy tea at a traditional teahouse like Azari Teahouse (Grand Bazaar, open until 22:00).
Nice itinerary, covers the essentials well. For day 1, if you have the energy after the National Museum, skip the jewel treasury (the queue is brutal) and walk five minutes to the Negarestan Garden instead. It's a quiet Qajar-era garden with a small art museum inside, entry is about 150,000 IRR, and there's rarely more than a handful of people there. The courtyard has a decent little cafe for a break from the bazaar chaos.
On day 3, the Contemporary Art Museum's permanent collection is world-class but they rotate what's on display, so check if anything specific is showing before you go. The basement vault alone is worth the ticket, they've got Picassos and Warhols just sitting there. Also, the Azadi Tower has a small museum inside the base that most people miss, it covers the tower's construction and has a nice model of old Tehran.
i appreciate the effort put into creating this itinerary, it's really helpful for anyone planning to visit tehran, the suggestion to visit the grand bazaar on day 1 is a great one, i personally loved getting lost in the maze of shops and finding unique souvenirs, one thing i'd like to add is that on day 2, after visiting the sa'dabad complex, consider taking a short taxi ride to the nearby niavaran palace, it's a bit off the beaten path but the palace and its gardens are really beautiful and peaceful, also the guide mentions the vahdat hall for cultural performances, but it's worth noting that the roudaki hall is another great option, they often have traditional music and dance performances, and it's located on shahid motahhari ave, tickets are usually around 400,000 iranian rials, the guide is really comprehensive but i think these suggestions could enhance the experience
this guide is solid, i'd just add that the treasury of national jewels line can get wild, go early or on a weekday. also for day 2, if you're up for it, skip the darband restaurant and hike further up to a place called shirin for some doogh and a view that beats the crowds. the metro is great but watch your phone on line 1 during peak times, pickpockets are a thing in the crush. one thing missing is the glassware and ceramics museum near the national museum, it's small but has some stunning pieces and is usually quiet
Tehran neighborhoods for a 5 month stay?
If you want something a bit more laid-back with good cafe culture and metro access, consider the areas around Sadeghiyeh or Ekhtiarieh. Sadeghiyeh has a major metro hub and a lot of small bakeries and tea shops tucked into the residential streets, but it's less polished than Vanak. Ekhtiarieh is quieter and greener, with a few solid cafes near Shariati Street, and you can walk to the Tajrish metro line if you don't mind 10-15 minutes. The trade-off is that these spots feel more local and less international, so you won't find as many chain places, but the rent is noticeably lower and you get a real sense of neighborhood life.
fwiw i'd throw Yousefabad into the mix. it's a bit south of Vanak but still on Valiasr, so metro access is solid and the cafes around Yousefabad square are more lowkey and cheaper than Vanak's. theres this stretch on Sanaei Street with a couple of hidden gems that do good filter coffee, and you can walk to the weekly fruit market on Fridays near the intersection with Jomhouri. rent is noticeably less than Gholhak and you get a more lived-in vibe, less expat bubble if that matters to u. just know the sidewalks are even more chaotic down here, its part of the charm i guess
honestly if you want walkable cafes and metro access, focus on the north-central parts like Gholhak or Vanak. Vanak Square area has a decent metro stop and plenty of those little coffee shops tucked into side streets, plus you're close to the main commercial drag on Valiasr. Gholhak is a bit quieter but still has a handful of nice spots around the main street, and the metro's right there too. just be aware that "walkable" in Tehran still means a lot of uneven sidewalks and crossing wide streets, so it's more about density of stuff than actual pleasant strolling. rent will be higher up north, but for 5 months it's worth it