IR
Shiraz
City of poets, gardens and the dawn-lit Pink Mosque
City of poets, gardens and the dawn-lit Pink Mosque
The famed Pink Mosque is Shiraz’s showstopper: at sunrise, light streams through its stained-glass windows to scatter a kaleidoscope of colour across the carpeted prayer hall.
💡 Arrive right at opening for the dawn light through the glass.
The serene garden mausoleum of Persia’s most beloved poet is a place of pilgrimage where Iranians come to read verses, picnic and pay their respects beneath a graceful pavilion.
💡 Visit at dusk when locals gather to recite Hafez.
A UNESCO-listed Persian garden of cypress avenues, roses, pools and a tiled Qajar pavilion, embodying the paradise garden ideal at the heart of Persian culture.
💡 Spring brings the roses and blossoms into full bloom.
The atmospheric 18th-century bazaar is one of Iran’s finest, its vaulted brick arcades trading carpets, spices, crafts and rosewater around a historic caravanserai and mosque.
💡 Rest in the courtyard teahouse amid the arcades.
The mighty brick fortress of the Zand dynasty anchors the city centre, its distinctive leaning tower and interior gardens giving a taste of 18th-century royal Shiraz.
💡 Note the famously leaning corner tower.
Shirazi cooking is fresh and fragrant: try kalam polo (cabbage and herb rice with meatballs), the herb-and-cucumber Shirazi salad found across Iran, and faloodeh, the city’s beloved rosewater-and-noodle sorbet. Garden restaurants and teahouses set a romantic scene, and the bazaar offers sweets, dates and rosewater. Dining amid the gardens and citrus trees is a Shiraz pleasure; alcohol is prohibited.
Start at dawn in the Pink Mosque, then explore the Karim Khan citadel, Vakil Bazaar and its mosque and bathhouse.
Wander Eram Garden and the tombs of Hafez and Saadi, soaking up the city’s poetic, garden-loving spirit.
Entry requirements and travel advisories for Iran change; verify the latest guidance and visa rules before booking.
The famous light show only happens early on sunny mornings; arrive at opening time.
International cards do not work; bring foreign cash to exchange or a local tourist card.
Women must wear a headscarf and modest clothing in public and at shrines.
Capital Tehran, the domes of Isfahan, poetic Shiraz, desert Yazd and ancient Persepolis — the great highlights of Persia.