Three solo female travelers in Iran, with three similar worries shared among them. Silvia, Ana, and Naomi are not very different from every solo female tourist who wants to visit Iran. Hesitations and confusions about Iran’s safety, Iran’s dress code for women, and Iran tour’s highlights cloud their minds.
Why not hear how Iran treats its guests through these people’s voices, and by reading their stories?
“When I first traveled to Iran, I was a bit anxious. Was it even safe for a solo female traveler to travel to Iran?”
Naomi is a travel blogger from Netherlands, who has traveled to Lebanon, Wales, Argentina, and Iceland before. One day, she packs her backpack and decides to check Iran off her bucket list destinations. She, like any solo female traveler in Iran, is worried about this unknown destination. But is pleasantly surprised upon arriving to this country.
As she shares her story, she mentions that almost everyone asks her about Iran’s safety as a travel destination. Her relatives, her friends, and her readers share the same question: Is it safe to travel to Iran?
“I can only answer that question with “YES” …. Of course, I was nervous. I am always nervous on every solo adventure. But I can honestly say: I have never felt unsafe on my solo female travel in Iran. Not once during my 2-week travels in Iran did I feel unwelcome. I never encountered any hostile feelings and I did not see anyone get arrested or harmed in any way”
Naomi speaks of how people welcomed her everywhere she went. She mentions how street vendors, shop keepers, and random locals invited her for tea, lunch, and dinner during her stay in Iran.
Naomi is a seasoned solo female traveler in Iran, but anyone can get a little confused and overwhelmed in a foreign country. Especially if it’s their first visit, and they don’t know the language. She talks about how people were ready to help her everywhere she went. Naomi uses public transportation throughout a big part of her visit to Iran, and she mentions how there was always another passenger offering to read her ticket for her. Or sometimes, even show her to her seat, or help her know when to get off the bus.
” Unfortunately, this treatment will ruin all your future travel experiences because I haven’t been to another country where the people are THAT friendly”
Our recommendation to people who don’t find using public transportation to their liking, especially during these times where the pandemic and its restrictions are still in effect, is renting their own car. Iran rental car services not only your privacy and absolute safety is insured, but you also get to hire a driver-guide to make your trip truly memorable.
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Naomi recommended that you stay
In her travel blog, Naomi declares that she adores the Persian cuisine! The fresh food, the delicious recipes, and the masterful cooks of Persia are what make Iranian dishes so tasteful and popular. Naomi is no exception! She mentions that she loves the home-cooked meals just as much as she loves the dishes prepared in restaurants.
“The kebabs with fluffy saffron rice makes me drool instantly. Every Persian meal was freshly cooked with pure ingredients. No GMO foods, microwaved meals or prepacked lunched like in some restaurants in the Netherlands”
Throughout her visit to Iran Naomi visits many cities, but in her blog she says that Shiraz is her favorite city in all Iran. She even writes a love letter to this city, and speaks of all the beautiful sights and landmarks she visited in this city. She specially loves the Nasir-al Mulk mosque and its rosy pink tile art in her trip to Shiraz.
Read more about Naomi’s trip to Iran here.
Dress code for women is a big concern for most female travelers in Iran. Many don’t know what to wear. Many other have the wrong ideas about fashion and dress code for girls in Iran.
Ana’s blog tells her story as a solo female traveler in Iran. She packs her backpack from Spain and later mentions that after one trip alone, Iran had become one of her favorite countries!
She mentions that one of her worries, similar to many others, was the dress code in Iran for women. However, she was pleasantly surprised after arriving to Iran. Young fashionable ladies who don’t let hijab be a hindrance to their trendy outfits are just as frequent as women who cover their hair thoroughly with their headscarves.
Dress code in Iran is not as strict as many wrongly believe it to be. You should remember that not wearing a covering outfit is acceptable, but not many visitors are fond of getting stared at. That is why we suggest Wearing a Mantou.
A Mantou (a long casual wear that usually covers up to your upper thighs) or any long jacket is sufficient to make you feel more comfortable while walking among people. Mantous are also light and more often than not, roomy and comfy (although you can choose your own style) which is why we suggest female travelers to wear this garment on our Iran travel advice.
Ana also gives a helpful tip of her own on this topic:
“Be colorful! Nobody says you have to wear black. Take the hijab imposition as an opportunity to add more color and light to your photos.”
Ana’s trip to Iran is one of joys, colors, and adventures. Like many other travelers who visit Iran for the first time, she took the classic path to see Iran cities.
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This path is the most popular choice with first-time visitors, mostly because everyone wants to visit the top Iran cities! But that is not all there is to Persia. Many of Iran’s treasures are left untrodden because of their unknown nature.
Iran’s eastern region is home to numerous undiscovered gems, and its intact nature is unparalleled in all country. Iran’s southern region is among the few destinations that has kept its traditional lifestyle untouched and refreshing in today’s fast-paced world. The Hyrcanian forests in north are one of the two natural UNESCO sites in Persia, and are priceless for their natural treasures.
It is knowledge that helps you choose the best path for your visit to Iran, and get the most out of your trip as a result.
As a solo female traveler in Iran, Ana was prepared for trouble and difficulties every solo woman tourist expects upon visiting foreign countries. Although these worries vanish after spending some time in Iran and talking to other travelers. She too speaks of Iranian people and their hospitality in great length, and gives a tip to her readers:
“If Iranians invite you to their homes, I highly recommend you accept. These interactions with locals will definitely be the best part of your trip!”
Ana travels through historically and culturally important cities of Iran and writes shortly about her visit to each city. She describes Kashan as “a wonderful and relaxing escape” and drops a hint about Yazd city for other travelers:
“I recommend watching a sunset on the rooftop of the Yazd Art House”
Iran’s cultural and urban destinations are as fascinating as its natural wonders. Tourists often ask, where to visit in Iran? Well, the answer to that question may be too long to be mentioned here, but knowing how you can plan your trip to Iran will definitely help! Having a local Iran travel agency with years of experience by your side offers numerous advantages, the likes of which you can’t get in any other way! Do yourself a favor, and put your trust in someone who can best customize your trip for you.
Silvia is a daring solo female traveler in Iran who comes from Worcester, MA USA. Of course, Silvia is a girl with dual nationalities, and she travelled to Iran using her Norwegian passport. That’s how she could backpack through Tehran, Isfahan, and Kurdistan.
CTA: wonder why? Learn more about Iran visa policies for US citizens.
As a seasoned solo female traveler who has visited more than 80 countries in 6 continents, Silvia had a solid idea of how to find her way on her own in a foreign country. Still, she was hosted by an Iranian girl who helped her throughout her journey.
Silvia’s travel path is different from that of Ana and Naomi, because she decided to visit the lesser known cities of Iran in west.
The unknown treasures of Western Iran are many, but the people who know about them are not! Taq-e Bostan, the glorious remnant of Sassanid empire is one of the most historically important sites of Persia in Kermanshah. The Uraman Takht village is another unexplored area in western Iran, Kurdistan. This village is known for its unique Pelekani (stairs) architectural style. Uraman is one of the few of its kind, and its building style was inspired by the step structure of the foothills. All of these places are unmatched highlights of Iran tourist destinations every traveler should visit while traveling to Iran!
Silvia, of course, travels to Kurdistan without knowing of the pleasant surprises awaiting her in there. She is greeted by friendly locals, a pristine nature, and the spirit of the new year. She visits Marivan in Kurdistan during spring when it’s Iranian new-year, and the local festivals and Nowruz customs are still being celebrated.
“Visiting Kurdistan was such a special experience, and a destination I’d highly recommend to other tourists! The locals were friendly, the landscape beautiful, and the culture distinctly unique from what else I experienced in Iran.”
Aside from the beautiful cultural sites and natural wonders she visits on her stay, Silvia’s trip is unique among all others because of her companions. Her host, called Mina, and her friends who join them in Kurdistan make Silvia’s trip to Iran memorable and dear to her. She speaks of how close she felt to these Iranian boys and girls, and how she could almost forget the different backgrounds they come from while talking to them.
Silvia is amazed by how Iranians treat her, and describes Mina’s attitude towards her like this:
“Mina truly has adopted me as her sister”
All three of these travel bloggers struggled with worries and doubts before setting foot on Persian soil. Questions like
Is Iran safe?
How would Iranians treat a solo female traveler?
What should I wear in Iran?
Had clouded their minds, and all three admit they felt anxious before landing in Iran. But upon arriving to this country, and seeing how the locals treat solo female travelers in Iran all doubts vanished from their minds.
“The thing is, I haven’t felt alone once since I landed in Iran.” – Silvia
Allow Iran to show you its beauties, and for Iranians to show you their hospitality. Let Iran be a memory you will always carry with you. One of fondness and warm, sweet times.
Note: A private tour is the safer option, especially if your exploration will need moving around. Locals guides will also be able to tell you which regions are more secure than others. It’s best to have someone who you can trust and who understands the area guiding you if you’re going off the beaten route or traveling with children. Furthermore, your guide will know the least crowded times to sightsee, which is extremely useful if you want to avoid the crowds.