What to do and see in Shiraz? The Ultimate Shiraz Travel Guide
Shiraz Travel Guide
Shiraz is a famous city in Iran, whose unique beauty is mentioned not only in Iran but all over the world. This spectacular city is located in the southwest of Iran and due to its unique attractions, many tourists from all over the world come to Shiraz every year.
Let’s go to have a look at the natural and historical attractions of this city, its restaurants and also the souvenirs that you can get from Shiraz.
Seasons and Weather in Shiraz
Shiraz has three types of climate, temperate, hot, and dry in different regions. Shiraz has three types of climate, temperate, hot, and dry. In general, because this city is located at an altitude of 1486 meters above sea level, its climate is mild and it has favorable conditions for traveling most of the year.
The average weather in the warmest month of the year (July) in Shiraz reaches 30 degrees Celsius and in the coldest month of the year (December) is measured at 5 degrees Celsius.
Autumn in Shiraz
The weather in Shiraz is very pleasant in autumn. After spring, one of the best seasons to visit Shiraz is autumn. The weather is cool this season and the average temperature reaches up to 20 degrees Celsius.
The temperate climate, light rainfall, autumn nature and dreamy views of the gardens of this city will make you fall in love with this amazing city. Enjoy the rain and make unique memories of your trip by walking the streets of the city.
Winter in Shiraz
The winters in Shiraz are not very cold and the rains are very light. In the coldest month of the year, its temperature reaches four degrees Celsius. The winter in Shiraz is very suitable for ski lovers. If you are interested in skiing, you can enjoy skiing between January and February, when the mountains around Shiraz are covered with snow.
Spring in Shiraz
The climate of Shiraz in spring is accompanied by cool and very mild winds. Of course, you will also encounter scattered rains this season. In general, the average temperature in the spring days of Shiraz is 17 degrees Celsius.
The best time to visit Shiraz is spring from the beginning of May to the beginning of June. On these days of the year, the city of Shiraz reaches its peak of beauty. Orange spring blossoms sprout and their fragrance spread throughout the city. Flower and color festivals are held in Shiraz at this time. Also, between May and June, there is no news of the crowds of Nowruz (March 20th till April 1st or further).
Besides, the 4th of May is the Day of Shiraz and from this day to May 11th is the week of Shiraz, where many celebrations and festivals are held in the attractions of Shiraz, which last up to two weeks.
Summer in Shiraz
The climate of Shiraz is hot and dry in summer. Summer heat in Shiraz starts in July and reaches its peak in August. The average temperature in summer days can reach 30 degrees Celsius.
If you are planning to travel to Shiraz in a secluded season, summer is a good season for those who can tolerate heat, and also it is the cheapest season to travel to Shiraz.
Events & Festivals in Shiraz
Every year, the middle day of spring, on the 5th of May (15 Ordibehesht), is called the National day of Shiraz.
The peak of nature blossoming in Shiraz is in May, Shiraz is lush and spectacular in May, and the scent of orange spring in the gardens and streets of this city has made many people consider May to be the month of Shiraz. The purpose of most of the programs and festivals that are held on this day is to introduce the historical and cultural attractions of Shiraz, as well as the traditions and customs.
What to eat and drink in Shiraz
Trying many traditional dishes and delicious snacks of Shiraz is one of the most enjoyable parts of traveling to Shiraz.
In addition to its rich history and literature, the city also has a wide variety of tasty traditional food that cannot be easily overlooked. So before traveling to Shiraz, get acquainted with them. I promise you that if you try traditional Shiraz food, you will never forget its taste and color.
The average weather in the warmest month of the year (July) in Shiraz reaches 30 degrees Celsius and in the coldest month of the year (December) is measured at 5 degrees Celsius.
4 Must _Try Dishes in Shiraz
Ash Sabzi Shiraz
Iranians love Ash (kind of soup), and a variety of ash can be found throughout Iran. Ash-e- Reshteh (Iranian noodle soup), Ash-e-doogh (Yogurt-Based Persian Soup), and Sholeh Ghalamkar are the most famous types of Ash. Ash is mostly eaten in the evening, But Shirazi’s have their own Ash and it is called Ashe-Sabzi. As the name implies, fresh vegetables are used in their preparation. The people of Shiraz mostly crave this Ash for breakfast, and many shops also prepare and sell it. It is interesting to know on Friday mornings, there are long queues in front of Shiraz’s ash shops. it is enough to try this Ash once to fall in love with it. (if you would like to try it you need to go to Shams restaurant early in the morning)
Kalam polo Shirazi (meatball and rice)
Cabbage rice with meatballs is one of the most popular and delicious dishes of Shiraz. This cabbage rice is different from what you eat in other cities. To make kalam polo, chop the cabbage and fry it with onions. Then add vegetables and spices. In another frying pan, fry the meatballs flavored with flour and spices in oil. Add a little lemon juice at the end. Finally, add the meatballs and cabbage to the rice.
This dish is served with a famous and delicious Shirazi salad. I suggest you try this dish in one of the traditional restaurants of Shiraz, such as the Parhami traditional house, Haft Khan, or Sufi restaurant.
Dopiazeh Aloo
Dopiazeh Aloo has a quick and easy recipe and it’s very tasty at the same time. And it is often eaten at dinner and with bread. I highly recommend to those who are vegetarian to try this food.( It contains potato and onion and spices)
Shirin Polo (Sweet rice)
Some Shiraz dishes are sweet and this is because people enjoy the sweet taste in the food.
If you also like sweet foods and eating these kinds of foods multiplies your energy, go for Shekar Polo. Ingredients for making this dish are rice, sugar, pistachios, almonds, orange peel, and saffron. The color, appearance, and taste of this dish increase your appetite so that you can’t resist the second plate.
Other Shirazi foods that I can suggest to you are Ghanbar Polo (It has a taste between sweet and sour), Dampokhtak Shirazi, and Eshkeneh Shirazi.
Best Desserts in Shiraz
Faloodeh Shirazi
One of the oldest and most popular Iranian desserts is Faludeh. The main birthplace of this delicious dessert is Shiraz. Be sure to try the Shirazi faloodeh on your trip to Shiraz and also you can find the best ice cream of Shiraz in Baba Bastani shop which has some branches, one of them is located in Eram st., and the other one in Ghodusi Street.
Koloocheh Masghati
One of the sweets of this city, which are the most popular souvenirs of Shiraz, is Koloocheh Masghati. Koloocheh and Masghati are very traditional pastry that has a very sensitive cooking method. The aroma of saffron and the taste of Masghati attract everyone. People in Shiraz serve these sweets with a cup of Persian tea.
Ranginak
Ranginak is an old, wonderful tasty Iranian dessert that is made by dates in the southern cities of Iran. This traditional Iranian dessert is made of toasted wheat flour and walnut-stuffed dates.
Best Restaurants in Shiraz
Find the best Restaurants in Shiraz
Parhami Traditional House
This place has more than 200 years old. This restaurant is located in the historical part of Shiraz, near Zinat Al-Moluk House, Karim Khan Citadel, Shah Cheragh Holy Shrine, Vakil Bath, Vakil Bazaar, and Nasir-Ol Molk Mosque. In this restaurant, you can experience a taste of authentic traditional Shirazi dishes like Kalam Polo Shirazi and Do piazeh Aloo. Please, remember that you need to book your table in advance.
If you prefer to eat fast food I recommend you to go to Namak restaurant (it has a special decoration look like Halite), Rafael, Zaver, Asraneh, Joy and Ayot restaurants.
There are also many great cafes in Shiraz such as Cheshmandaz cafe on the 23rd floor of Chamran hotel, Hedayat, and Geren Café. They are the best cafes in Shiraz that you can go to and enjoy your time.
Sharze Restaurant
It can be said that Sharzeh restaurant is the oldest traditional restaurant in Shiraz. The traditional interior of the restaurant is very spectacular and has live music. You can also enjoy the delicious food of this restaurant with hot bread baked there.
Note: be sure to book in advance.
Haft Khan Restaurant Complex
The name of Haft Khan Restaurant is taken from Shahnameh. This glamorous and large restaurant is located near the Quran Gate and the Grand Hotel in Shiraz.
Our recommended restaurants in Shiraz
Sufi, Haft Khan, Shater Abbas. Parhami house and Kateh Mas restaurant can be good choices for those who are interested in eating food in a traditional environment.
What do we buy from Shiraz?
Among the handicrafts of Shirazi artists and handicrafts and souvenirs of Shiraz, we can mention inlays, Wood carving, Ceramic dishes, and objects, Felt Alabaster, Glassblowing, Khatam, carpets, jajim, Gabbeh, cloth, kilim, silver, and copper. The most important and attractive part of the souvenirs of any city is the local food of that area. Masqati, Youkhe, lemon juice, spring orange. These are the best souvenirs of Shiraz for your loved ones.
Markets and shopping centers of Shiraz
Shiraz has many modern shopping malls such as the Persian Gulf complex, Aftab Fars shopping mall, Zeytoon, Setareh, Hamoon Shopping Mall, and Soltaniye shopping center.
Health and Cure
Unexpected events and diseases are inevitable during a journey, so you need to have information about the health services of the city that you want to go to. Shiraz is one of the biggest cities of Iran and has a lot of equipped hospitals such as Shahid Beheshti, Pars, Dena, Dr. Khodadoost, Ordibehesht, Namazi, Chamran, Ghadir, Mother and Child hospitals.
Here we introduce some of these places to you:
Quran Gate (Darvazeh-e Quran)
The Quran Gate is located in the northeast of Shiraz, between Chehel Magham Mountain and Babakohi Mountain. As soon as you arrive in Shiraz, you will see the first valuable historical monument, which is one of the masterpieces of the Dailmian period, the Quran Gate. It’s located at the exit of Shiraz towards Marvdasht. During the Zandi period, the gate was rebuilt and two exquisite Qurans were placed on top of it. The reason for its name is the Qur’an that was placed at the top of the gate so; travelers could travel safely by passing under it. ( Iranian people Believe that to keep a passenger safe pass under Quran). This place is famous because there is an interesting story behind this gate.
Hafez Tomb
Shiraz is a city of Persian poetry and literature and owes much of its fame to the tombs of great poets. The tomb of Hafez, an eighth-century poet, is located in Shiraz and is one of the city’s historical attractions. The northern part of the tomb is a symbol of the kingdom of heaven. This section has 8 entrances and exits and the tomb has 8 stone pillars that have remained intact from the Mozaffarian period until today. The number 8 is a symbol of the eighth century in which Hafez lived, and this 8 can also be considered a symbol of the 8 gates of heaven. In the design ideas of this garden, the southern part is a symbol of the material world. The closer we get to the tomb, the more we get away from the world and its fancies.
Saadi Tomb
Saadieh is the place where Saadi lived there at the end of his life and was buried there after death. The plan of Saadieh is such that when you enter this complex, you have to go through lush trees and flower gardens to reach the main building of the tomb. The tomb of this great poet has a turquoise dome that is placed on 8 different columns, its walls decorated with marble and azure stones and Saadi’s tomb is in the middle of it. You may have seen in the picture of Saadieh. Also, in different parts of the garden around Saadi’s tomb, some pools and streams have made this place more beautiful.
In the lower part of Saadi tomb, there is an aqueduct whose water flows into the fish pond in the basement of this tomb. This basement is decorated with a beautiful pond and stream and these days it is a traditional teahouse.
Shah Cheragh Shrine
The tomb of Shahcheragh the brother of Imam Reza is located in the center of Shiraz and is one of the most visited religious places and one of the centers of the pilgrimage tourism in the country.
Eram Garden
Shiraz is a city of flowers and Persian gardens; this beautiful city has many gardens in its heart. Eram Garden is one of the world-famous and the most beautiful gardens in Iran.
The main building of Eram Garden is located in the western part of this complex, which is very attractive for tourists. Eram Garden is designed in such a way that visitors have to cross the length of the garden to reach the center of the garden and the location of the main building.
This mansion is an example of mid-Qajar buildings that have been built following the principles of Zandieh and Safavid architecture. Even the doors of the main mansion are beautiful and because they are made of teak wood, they have retained their original shape after many years and are still intact.
In this historical garden, there are several buildings and a botanical garden. (The garden, along with eight other gardens, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List).
Karim Khan Citadel
In the heart of Shiraz, near the municipality square, a beautiful castle called Karim Khan Citadel stands out. As the name suggests, the citadel was built during the time of Zandieh, by the order of Karim Khan Zand after he made Shiraz the capital of his government. Upon entering the Karim Khan Citadel in Shiraz, you realize that its architecture was not only military but also residential. The rooms around the yard are connected. Each of these rooms is beautifully decorated. The stained glass of the rooms also has a captivating beauty when the sun shines into the rooms. The presence of fountains and gardens has given a softer spirit to this castle. During the Pahlavi dynasty, this place was turned into a prison, and as a result, it was damaged.
Vakil Bazaar
Vakil Bazaar is located near Shahrdari Square, near Karim Khan Citadel. This beautiful traditional bazaar was built during the Zandieh period with plaster and bricks and is still the economic hub of Shiraz.
Vakil Mosque
Vakil Mosque is a mosque from the Zandieh period that has beautiful architecture. The mosque has two porches and two east and west naves. In the southern nave, 48 spiral stone columns have been built, which is one of the most spectacular parts of the mosque.
Afif Abad Garden
This beautiful Persian garden was built during the Safavid period as a recreation area for Safavid kings. After that, it was rebuilt during the Qajar period. Today, the Iranian garden has been turned into a museum garden. The middle building of the garden was built by Mirza Ali Khan Ghavam-ol-Molk.
Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque
Nasir al-Molk is one of the old mosques in Shiraz, which is located near Shah Cheragh. The use of colored glass in this mosque has caused it to be called the pink mosque of Iran (1000-color mosque of Iran). When the sun shines on the colored glass of this mosque, its nave becomes colorful and dreamy. This mosque was built by the Qajar dynasty and consists of a house, a mirror hall, a mosque, water storage, and a bathroom.
Delgosha Garden (Bagh-e Delgosha)
Delgosha Garden is one of the historical gardens of Shiraz, which is located near Saadi Tomb. Delgosha Garden was also one of the most important and recreational gardens in Shiraz during the Safavid period. Upon entering the garden, citrus trees on either side of the path and fountains that bring freshness to the garden greet visitors. The towering trees, accompanied by the sound of water between the garden and the sound of birds, open the heart and its atmosphere is invigorating.