Welcome to Iran, a country full of contrasts and surprises that captivate any adventurous traveler, But you need to express your experience in Iran. Despite its reputation in the media, Iran is a safe and welcoming destination with a rich history and culture that dates back thousands of years.

One of the most striking things about Iran is the warmth and hospitality of its people. Iranians are known for their friendliness and generosity towards guests, and visitors often leave with fond memories of the locals they meet.

In addition to its welcoming people, Iran boasts an array of stunning historical sites, including ancient ruins, mosques, and palaces. The country is also home to breathtaking natural scenery, from the deserts of Dasht-e Kavir to the snow-capped peaks of the Alborz Mountains.

While Iran has challenges for international travelers, such as the hijab law and limited accessibility to ATMs, these should not deter visitors from experiencing all that this fascinating country has to offer. With some preparation and an open mind, travelers can enjoy Iran’s unique culture, cuisine, and hospitality.

So let’s Express your experience in Iran!

Hijab:

Before going to Iran, I was utterly obsessed with wearing the hijab. I had no problem about “having” to wear it, but I was concerned about the practicalities. How would I get it to stay on? What happens if it falls off? What if it accidentally slips and shows some skin? It’s going to be too hot – I will melt.

Because I was so nervous, I bought a ready-made hijab and dutifully put it on before getting off the plane. I thought it would be perfect as it completely covered my hair and was very tight (and 100% synthetic). I got my Tours of Iran driver/guide to help with hijab shopping. By the end of my time in Iran, I had a wonderful collection of beautiful, bright, light, 100% cotton hijabs.

I soon discovered one of the easiest ways to tell tourists from Iranians was the way they wore hijab. Iranian women invariably look elegant with their hijab casually thrown over their hair and across their shoulders, where it seems to stay effortlessly. On the other hand, tourists have theirs firmly attached with hair clips and safety pins; if not, they are constantly trying to keep it in place. Take my advice – use the hair clips and pins – they work. Once I had mastered this art, I was extremely comfortable and confident that all would be well. I was not too hot; I tried to think it offered protection from the sun. The one time I walked out of my hotel room and was halfway to breakfast before I realized I wasn’t wearing my hijab, the hotel staff laughed at my apologies and said, “don’t worry”. On several occasions, I knocked it out of place the only person worried about it was me.

Iranian women are incredibly relaxed in how they wear their hijab. There is no problem with showing quite a lot of hair at the front; some women even have long hair after the hijab stops at the back. It seems to be OK to have a small amount of neck showing at the front and there are certainly no restrictions on how bright and colorful they are. Express experience in Iran looks good.

Once I had relaxed into it, my biggest problem was stopping myself from buying more beautiful scarves at meager prices.

The bottom line is you do have to wear it but it is not a big deal. Relax and enjoy the wonders of Iran.

TOILETS:

For a few months before going to Iran, I practiced holding a squat for a minute or so two or three times a week. It was time well spent!

In all the hotels I stayed in and three-quarters of the restaurants, there were Western-style toilets nearly always with toilet paper. I did make a point of asking for hotels with Western toilets only because squatting in the small hours of the morning felt a bit hazardous. But out on the road, at petrol stations and restaurants in smaller towns, or the major sites or the bazaars the toilets were usually squat toilets with a water hose. In the 31 days I traveled through Iran there was not a single occasion where the toilet was dirty, and rarely did they even have a slight odor. The floor was often wet but that was because of the water hose. In some places, there was a small charge.  

Experience in Iran: Money

This is the weirdest experience in Iran! Because of sanctions, Iran does not have access to Western banking systems. This means I could not use any Western debit or credit cards. I needed to bring in all the money I would need in cash. When I went to Iran, I was not fully aware of how volatile the rial was and how much the exchange rate had risen so I arrived with far more euros than I needed. At first, I was anxious about having that much cash, but I felt utterly safe very quickly, except when traveling between cities, I locked my money belt in my suitcase at the hotel.

I am not good with money with lots of 0000s so I found the currency difficult at first. The bank notes are in the rial, but most Iranians use toman, effectively chopping off one 0. It is said that tourists operate with rial and Iranians with toman. Once I had been in Iran for a few days, it got easier because I got an idea of what things would likely cost. Also, my guide was always willing to help.

I was told that for significant purchases like art, jewelry, or carpet it may be possible to use $ or euros or even a credit card but I wanted to make sure I knew what the commission charge would be. I found most people in bazaars and shops selling expensive handicrafts were good at converting prices into $US and euros. However, I did not find that helpful as I had gotten the hang of converting to AUD and didn’t want to do another conversion. 

On occasions when I got confused and my guide was not with me, I found Iranian patients and it always felt safe to ask them to help identify which note or coins I needed.

DID I FEEL SAFE IN IRAN?

I am a woman in my 60s and have always felt entirely safe in my experience in Iran. I loved the fact that people constantly greeted me with “Hello”, “Welcome to Iran”, and “Where are you from?” People often wanted to have a short conversation to learn more about me or practice their English. 

I would usually check with my hotel or guide whether it was safe to go out walking at night and was always greeted with “Of course! Why not?” except in a very remote area where I felt that people may not have seen a Westerner before I always felt both safe and welcomed. 

As I say, I always felt completely safe. Having said that I always stuck to the rules. I wore the hijab, I dressed modestly, I did not try and find alcohol or drugs, I did not take photos where I was advised not to, I did not criticize the regime or Islam and I did not try and convert anyone. I was never exactly sure what level of surveillance might be in operation so I took no chances. 

Experience in Iran: Being a Western woman in Iran:

This is my subjective experience in Iran. I felt totally safe as a woman in Iran. As a 60+ year-old woman, I know I am pretty invisible these days so I don’t know how different it would be for younger women. I feel confident that you will attract attention if you break the basic etiquette around modest clothing. Personally, I also think it is bad manners, you are a guest.

However, I found that I was not constantly subjected to sexist advertising and knew I would not have to deal with people who had had too much to drink delight. I also knew that if I were on a crowded bus I would be in the women’s section and therefore the only touch I would receive would be gentle welcoming pats and expressions of delight that I was visiting their country. Whenever I entered “woman only” territory such as a shrine, the hairdresser, or a park, I felt welcomed. 

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