Egypt, Morocco and Arabia - Iran - Country Information

Visitors will find it hard to reconcile their own experiences with the pronouncements that Iran is part of an 'axis of evil'. For culture seekers, Iran has magnificent ruins of ancient cities, glorious mosques and mausoleums, and museums so interesting they're bound to leave your feet sore.Join us on a journey through 5,000 years of history, from the magnificent ruins of ancient Persepolis, scene of Alexander the Great’s famous victory in 331 BC, to the glorious blue-tiled domes and minarets of Isfahan, a wonder of Islamic architecture.

Key Facts
Full Country Name	Islamic Republic of Iran
Area	1,648,000 Sq Km
Population	74,692,000
Capital	Tehran
Time Difference	Iran is GMT +3½ (From 22 March to 21 September: GMT +4½)
Visa	Visa is required. For visa application form click here
Currency	Rial
People	The principal ethnic groups are of Aryan origin and include the Persian or Farsi who account for 46% of the population while the Azerbaijani account for 17% and the Kurds for 9% of the population. Other ethnic minorities include Arabs, Armenians, Assyrians and Jews.
Language	Persian or Farsi
Dialling Code	+98
Electricity	220V

Visas:

A visa is required by all British passport holders and most other nationalities and must be obtained before your departure. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond your departure date from Iran and have at least two blank pages. For visa application form click here

Health risks:

Hepatitis A, Polio, Typhoid, Malaria

When to Go:

Iran is a large country three times the size of France. Much of the interior consists of a high plateau between 3,000 ft and 5,000 ft above sea level. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Iran as winters can be extremely cold and summers unpleasantly hot. In Tehran, situated on the central plateau, the weather will be sunny and even hot but never humid, with relatively cold evenings. Showers can be expected in April and May although some places like Yazd have hardly any rain at all.