Melih Kağan Özel I hope this Iran Travel Guide will be useful for you. My trip to Iran took place in February 2025. The idea had actually been in my mind for about a year, but it ended as soon as I started checking hotels on Booking. Access to the country felt complicated. I couldn’t plan the trip the way I plan my European travels, and I had also learned that the level of English spoken in the country was quite low.
Since I couldn’t find much helpful information online, I started talking to Iranian friends and people who had already been to Iran. Eventually, a clear roadmap began to form in my head. I gained information on accommodation, food, transportation, buses, trains, money exchange, the black market, and current exchange rates. In this guide, I will share some important details you should know before traveling to Iran.
Visa and Passport Stamps
Iran is visa-free for up to 90 days.
When I entered through Tehran Airport and exited from Isfahan, my passport was not stamped.
If your passport contains an Israeli stamp, you will not be allowed to enter Iran.
Is There Internet in Iran?
Access to Western platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram is only possible via a VPN. Free VPNs are generally sufficient. Domestic applications like Snapp can be accessed without any issues. You can obtain a SIM card directly from your hotel.
Where to Buy Flight Tickets
This is actually the easiest part, especially if you are traveling from Türkiye. Pegasus Airlines operates direct flights from Türkiye to several cities in Iran.
My recommendation is to fly into Tehran, because everything started there for me and it is the most practical entry point for a first-time visit.
Accommodation in Iran
Since international booking platforms are not usable and payment methods like Visa or Mastercard are not accepted, how do you find hotels? As I mostly stayed in hostels, I used Hostelworld—not for booking, but simply to find accommodation options. It’s not very practical for reservations, but it helps you see hotel names and average prices.
After that, you can search the hotel name online and contact them directly via WhatsApp or Instagram.
Another useful website is Tappersia.com, which lists many hotels. Again, it’s better to use these sites only to check names and prices, not to book.
The most important aspect of traveling in Iran is the hotels you stay in, because these are usually the places where you can find people who speak English and are genuinely helpful. They assist with bus tickets, private tours, SIM cards, and more. Below, I’ll share the places I stayed at and my personal experiences.
Note: Breakfast is included in the price at most hotels.
Accommodation in Tehran
In Tehran, I stayed at Heritage Hostel. Before arriving, I asked all my questions via Instagram. it was extremely helpful with everything. Once I arrived, I bought a SIM card and exchanged money at the hostel.
I stayed in a four-bed dorm for around 10 euros. They also helped me buy a bus ticket for my trip to Kashan, charging a 5–10% commission and handling the process on my behalf. You can find the hostel’s Instagram page via the link.
Accommodation in Kashan
After a three-hour bus ride from Tehran to Kashan, I stayed at Shirin Hotel & Hostel. The owner, Allahyar, treats you more like a guest than a customer. He also helped me organize a desert tour and find a taxi to Yazd.
The prices (as of February 2025) were 6 USD for a four-bed dorm and 15 USD for a private room. I’ve shared his WhatsApp contact so you can ask him directly about any details.
Shirin Hotel WhatsApp
Accommodation in Yazd
Yazd impressed me deeply as a city. It has a unique and almost unreal atmosphere. I stayed at Yazd Friendly Hotel. The prices were 6 USD for a four-bed dorm and 10 USD for a private room.
When I first arrived, there was an elderly man who didn’t speak English but constantly offered tea. When I checked out around 7 a.m. the next morning, another staff member was on duty and I paid him. The hotel has a lovely garden, and sitting there with tea was a genuinely pleasant experience.
WhatsApp contact
Accommodation in Isfahan
In Isfahan, I stayed as a guest in an Iranian person’s home. However, Heritage Hostel also has properties in Isfahan, which you can check as an alternative.
Where to Exchange Money in Iran
When bringing US dollars to Iran, the most important thing to pay attention to is bringing “blue dollars.” By blue dollars, I mean the new-design 100 USD banknotes with the blue security strip, printed after 2011. These notes usually receive the highest exchange rates.
As of 27 December 2025, the black-market rate is around 134 tomans per dollar. Of course, many factors affect the rate you receive, such as the condition of your banknotes and the city where you exchange your money. I strongly recommend not bringing torn or worn-out dollars, as exchangers can significantly lower the rate for damaged bills.
For reference, the official exchange rate is around 74 tomans. At the airport, they will exchange your money at this rate. You can convert a small amount there for taxi fares and basic expenses, but nothing more.
How Does the Currency System Actually Work?
The official currency of Iran is the Iranian Rial. On the black market, 1 USD equals approximately 1,330,000 Iranian rials. Locals commonly remove one zero and refer to the currency as toman, meaning 1 USD is around 133,000 tomans.
Some people simplify it even further and drop the last three digits entirely, saying “133 tomans” instead of 133,000.
For example, when someone says an Americano coffee costs “150 tomans,” they actually mean 150,000 tomans. This shorthand is simply more practical than saying the full number. Last year, kebab prices were around 350 tomans; since the exchange rate increased from 90 to 133, prices may be higher now.
You can check current exchange rates here.
In this section, I will share my money exchange experiences directly and honestly, based entirely on personal experience.
Exchanging Money in Tehran
I exchanged money at my hotel, Heritage Baharistan Hostel. Honestly, they gave me the best rate I received in Iran. An Iranian friend mentioned that the rate was slightly lower than ideal, but compared to smaller cities, it was still more than satisfactory for most tourists. Most importantly, it was far more reliable than exchanging money randomly on the street.
Exchanging Money in Isfahan
In Isfahan, you can use this street for exchanging dollars, as there are many people offering exchange services there. As a second option, there is a Turkish man working at the Isfahan Grand Mosque who can take you to a nearby shop that exchanges dollars. That is also a valid alternative.
Exchanging Money in Kashan
Unfortunately, my hotel did not have cash available, so I had to exchange money at a jewelry shop in Kashan Bazaar. They offered a rate below market value, and I was not satisfied. If possible, try to avoid exchanging money in smaller cities.
Exchanging Money in Yazd
There is a shop across from the Zoroastrian Fire Temple in Yazd that exchanges dollars. However, they offered a low rate, and a young employee even asked for a tip afterward. For these reasons, I do not recommend this place either.
Transportation in Iran
There is a metro system in both Tehran and Isfahan, but buying tickets and understanding routes can be a bit confusing. There is also an app called Snapp, which works similarly to Uber and is widely used by tourists. City transportation usually costs less than 1 USD. You can also order food through the app.
In Isfahan, I used the bus system, which cost around 2 liras. If you already know where you’re going, it’s actually a reasonable option. It also gives you a chance to experience transportation used by locals.
For intercity travel, VIP buses are both very comfortable and affordable. Although the buses are the same size as standard ones, they have half the number of seats, which means very generous legroom—some seats even recline into beds.
Safety in Iran
I am sharing my personal experience as a male traveler who spent six days in Iran, so please read this with that context in mind. The only time I felt unsafe was while crossing the street. Traffic is chaotic, but you get used to it after a while.
I walked around the streets at 11:00 p.m. to midnight. I also saw women walking alone at night, and overall, I did not sense a dangerous atmosphere. In fact, it felt safer than many European cities I’ve visited.
Of course, while you’re there, the country could suddenly enter a war and missiles could start flying—I can’t predict or calculate those risks. This is the Middle East, after all. Much love…
