Esfahan

Esfahan is a pleasant city with an unforgettable architecture. There is a whole host of sights in Esfahan and you'll probably won't have time to see it all. Already during the 16th century the expression Esfahan nesf-é jahan (Esfahan is half the world) was invented and even today it is not completely outdated. The city's Islamic buildings all have distinctive blue tiles and several magnificent bridges span the river. Under the bridges are nice teahouses. The surrounding area is hot, arid and dusty.

Esfahan is a nice city to walk around. There are numerous bustling bazaars and nice gardens. Interesting sights include the Emam Mosque, which is completely covered in light blue tiles and the Emam Khomeini Square, which is one of the largest town squares in the world and listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The Chehel Sotun Museum & Park includes a 17th-century pavilion and it is always busy with people having a picnic. The center of Iran's Armenian church is the Vank Cathedral in Esfahan.

There are numerous hotels and restaurants in town. Esfahan is 335 km south of Tehran and the two cities are connected by air, rail and bus.