How much does it cost to travel to Iran?
The cost of traveling to Iran is closely related to your lifestyle and the type of travel. Do you want to put your backpack on your shoulder and travel to Iran to see different lifestyles and different cultures or do you prefer to spend your honeymoon in the most luxurious hotels and tourist areas of Iran? You have to pay different expenses for your trip to Iran according to your travel goals, mood and personality traits.
Keep in mind that if you buy a tour to travel to Iran, you will not have to worry about Iran’s expenses and you will pay all your expenses to the tour organizer through the package you buy. However, if you want to travel to Iran individually and without participating in the tour, it is better to stay with us until the end of this article. In general, the costs of traveling to Iran include the following:
Accommodation costs
Staying in hotels in Iran is usually more expensive. For example, you will never find a four-star hotel for less than $100 per person per night. If you are looking for cheap and safe accommodation, we suggest you to stay in eco-friendly houses. These houses are licensed and provide you with good services. However, they have lower costs than other types of hotels. Normally, for each night’s stay in Iran, you should consider about 10 to 30 dollars per person. This fee often includes breakfast and internet.
Of course, there are people who prefer to try Couchsurfing in Iran. If you know a family that is willing to host you during your stay and you can make the necessary arrangements with them for your trip, be sure to do so. In this way, you can closely experience the unique phenomenon called Iranian hospitality culture and make the most beautiful memories for yourself during your trip to Iran. Keep in mind that there is no official organization in charge of this type of traveling in Iran and you have to find the host family yourself.
Transportation costs
Transportation in Iran is divided into two main categories: Suburban transportation and intra-city transportation. The best option for suburban transportation and traveling from one city to another is the bus. There are two types of buses in Iran. Normal buses and VIP or special buses. If you plan to travel a long distance by bus, we suggest you to use VIP buses. These buses have more facilities and their seats can be converted into beds. For shorter distances, regular buses seem more suitable due to their lower cost.
Here we have collected the cost of some popular tourist routes for you to have a clearer view of transportation costs in Iran:
Tehran – Isfahan VIP buses: 8 dollars (350,000 riyals)
Tehran-Shiraz VIP buses: $18 (650,000 riyals)
Tehran – Bandar Abbas VIP buses: $20 (750,000 riyals)
Regular buses may not be as comfortable, but they cost about $6-$7 less than the special ones.
Many tourists prefer to use airplanes to go from one city to another. Domestic flights are more expensive than bus transportation. For example, you have to pay 60 to 80 dollars for a flight from Tehran to Shiraz and 50 to 60 dollars from Tehran to Isfahan. Keep in mind that in Iran, the price of plane tickets fluctuates according to the flight time, the airline providing the service, and also the seasons.
Trains are another option that you can use to go from one city to another in Iran. Trains are very comfortable to travel and their biggest advantage is having toilets as well as beds in the compartments. The cost of the train is almost the same as the VIP bus.
Intra-city transportation costs in Iranian cities are relatively cheap. There are taxis in all cities, whose fare is half a dollar per passenger on average. (In Iran, taxis start with 4 passengers). Some cities like Tehran have a metro. You can get a metro ticket from the metro or bus stations. High-speed buses also operate in many cities.
Food costs
On average, you should spend about $4 to $6 per meal. However, you may also find much cheaper food. For example, you can eat samosa or falafel for half to one dollar. Keep in mind that canteens, which are considered traditional Iranian restaurants, have higher costs and you should consider about 30 to 40 dollars per person to enjoy full service. You should also spend between 5 and 9 dollars for fast food.
Ticket fee to visit tourist attractions
On average, you have to pay between 1 and 5 dollars to visit any tourist attraction in Iran. Of course, there are also more expensive attractions, which are very few in number. For example, you have to pay about 18 dollars to visit Ali Sadr Cave. Keep in mind that you can visit some attractions in Iran for free. For example, Khajo Bridge and Siose Pol Bridge in Isfahan or Amirchakhmaq Square in Yazd or all traditional markets in all cities.
Fees for buying souvenirs and gifts
Iranians have a famous proverb that says that the more money you pay, the more soup you’ll have. Accordingly, the more you spend to buy souvenirs and gifts from Iran, the better gift you can get. In the lowest case, you can buy an Iranian souvenir for about 10 dollars. You have to spend a lot of money on luxurious and expensive items such as gold and silver jewelry, as well as silk rugs and carpets.
Unforeseen expenses
Determining a budget for unexpected expenses is one of the things that you should definitely consider in your travel financial planning. Unforeseen expenses include possible expenses for getting medical services, expenses for watching theater or attending a concert, expenses for preparing a gift for a friend you may find in Iran, and so on. Consider an amount for these cases as well. Maybe $100 to $200 is a decent amount. If you do not spend this amount, it will return to your pocket.
Bring enough money
Iran is not connected to the global monetary system. So you can’t count on your credit cards and savings account. Therefore, there is only one way left, and that is to bring as much money as you need. In the international airports of Iran, there is an exchange office to change your money. In addition, in all cities and some hotels there is an exchange to convert your money into Iranian money. Keep in mind that in Iran’s international airports, it is possible to have a tourist debit card for foreign guests. Three banks, Mellat, Melli and Tourism Bank, are in charge of issuing tourism debit cards. These cards are connected to the nationwide banking network of Iran and you can receive cash from all ATMs in the country using your credit card. In fact, tourist debit cards are a good alternative to your cash. Tourist debit cards can be recharged.
For travel and tourism in Iran, you can use Kantal Travel agency for online hotel booking and secure stay in all cities of Iran.
