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:

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Hammam 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:

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Vakil 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:

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Tomb 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:

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Quran 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:

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Nasir 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:

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Eram 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:

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Arg 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:

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Khane 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:

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Vakil 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:

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Afif 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?