With such a rich history and culture, there is so much to experience during your visit to Iran.
To help you plan, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 must-see Museums to visit while you’re here.
What is one of the most famous museums in Iran?
National Museum of Iran, Tehran
The National Museum of Iran is the most famous of them all, holding the grand title ‘The Mother of Museums.’
It celebrates the rich heritage of Iran and holds an incredible collection of sculptures, ceramics, and seals dating back to the 4th and 5th centuries B.C.
Among the important works of this museum is the oldest handmade quartz rock, which has a history of more than one million years and the earliest remains of man discovered in Iran.
These magnificent exhibits truly reflect the brilliance of Iran’s culture. It is interesting to know that the façade of the museum is influenced by the works of that era built in the style of Taq Kasra façade. This museum consists of two separate buildings called the Museum of Ancient Iran with the opening date of 1937 and the Islamic Era Museum with the opening date of 1996.
Where is the national museum of Iran?
Location: 30th Tir St.,Imam Khomeini St. Tehran.
Opening times: 9am – 5pm
Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran
How is Tehran Contemporary Art Museum?
Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the largest art museums in Iran, holding and impressive 3000+ pieces. Here you’ll find spectacular collections from the likes of Gauguin, Renoir, Picasso, Magritte, Ernst, Pollock, Warhol, Levitt, and Giacometti.
Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art is also the owner of a very important and comprehensive collection of modern and contemporary Iranian art. The value of these arts is estimated at $ 10 billion.
It’s iconic Persian architecture, and grand exhibitions are enough to leave you wanting more.
Still, need convincing? Take a look at this wonderful review: ‘Iran Has Been Hiding One of the World’s Great Collections of Modern Art.’
Where is the MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART of Tehran?
Location: Laleh Park, North Kargar St.Tehran
Opening time: 8 am-5 pm except on Saturdays.
The Treasury of National Jewels, Tehran
Why should you visit The National Jewelry Treasury?
The breathtaking Treasury of National Jewels is a collection of the most expensive jewels in the world. This striking exhibit of gems originally belonged to the Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi monarchs and is now on a spectacular display for all to see.
The most famous diamond called Daria-i-Noor or sea of light is held at this museum. Daria is the sister of Stolen Koh-i-Noor or Mountain of Light diamond that is kept by the Queen of the United Kingdom.
The Iranian crown jewels are considered so valuable that they are still used as a reserve to back Iranian currency. This place is one for the top of your list!
Location: front of Germany embassy, Ferdowsi St. Tehran
Opening times: 2 pm – 4.30 pm (Saturday- Tuesday )
Golestan Palace Museum, Tehran
Now, this is a masterpiece. Golestan Palace (which means ‘Roseland Palace’ in Persian) consists of a number of magnificent buildings with beautiful gardens featuring pools and planted areas. Inside displays the Palace’s rich ornaments dating back to the 19th century.
This grand complex is full of charming Persian art surrounded by royal buildings and museums. If you visit Tehran as part of your travel plans, do not overlook the complete visit of this palace complex and its 12 museums.
What’s Golestan palace famous for?
The Mirror Hall. It is the most famous of the halls in worlds.you can visit this amazing extraordinary mirror.
Where is Golestan palace?
Location: 15 Khordad St. Arg Square, Tehran
Opening times: 9am – 5pm
Sa’dabad and Niavaran Museums, Tehran
These magnificent buildings are a testimony to the lifestyle of the monarchy before the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Sadabad Palace currently houses several museums, a natural forest, streets, galleries, mansions, and museums. It was originally the summer residence of Shah (Mohammad Reza Pahlevi and his Queen (Farah Diba). The legacy of its previous life is still evident in the opulence of the 110-hectare grounds, full of trees, mansion houses, and lavish rooms.
Location: Shahid Kamal Taheri Street, Shahid Fallahi Street (Zaferanieh), Valiasr Street, Tehran.
Opening time: 9 a.m to 7 p.m
The Palace of Niavaran is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions. It was built in the scenic surroundings of Tehran and was used by the Qajar king Naser-e-din Shah in the 19th century and used as a summer residence.
It holds five museums and other cultural, historical, and natural attractions such as a Private Cinema, Gallery, and Niavaran Garden (even some famous artworks from Salvador Dali and Picasso!)
Location: Niavaran Square, TehranOpening times: 9am – 5pm
Carpet Museum of Iran, Tehran
What is the carpet museum?
Founded in 1976, This museum was built near the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Carpet Museum of Iran displays a wide variety of mesmerizing Persian carpets dating right back to the 16th century. This museum is the best place to learn the history and origin of Persian Carpets. You’ll see all the different styles of carpets from all over Iran, from the different patterns to the colors and knots.
Here you’ll learn why Persian Carpets became so famous worldwide.
Where is the carpet museum?
Location: Laleh Park, Dr.Fatemi St, Iran
Opening times: 9 a.m – 6 p.m
National Car Museum of Iran, Tehran
How is the Iran car museum?
This museum has an incredible collection of classic vehicles, which were previously owned by the last Shah of Iran, who was eventually exiled and died in 1979.
The collection includes a number of Rolls Royce’s, several Ferraris, a Maserati Ghibli Coupe, and even a Mercedes Benz 500K (once owned by Hitler!).
Rolls-Royce Phantom 4 model, has produced in a total of 18 units in the world, of which only one is a bullet-proof model, which has been imported by Ahmad Shah Qajar.
Where is the Tehran car museum?
Location: 25th st, Lashkari Highway(10th KM of Makhsoos-e Karaj), Tehran
Opening times: 9am – 4pm
Persepolis Museum, Shiraz
What will I find in Persepolis Museum?
Situated in Persepolis itself, the oldest Palace. The Persepolis Museum contains a rich variety of objects from the Achaemenid era 2,500 years ago. You’ll see artifacts from weapons, dishes, pots and sculptures to clay tablets and more. This is a fascinating place to visit when you travel to the ancient city. However, most of the objects obtained from the Persepolis are currently held at the museums outside of Iran.
Where is Persepolis located?
Location: Marvdasht, Fars Province, Iran
Opening times: 8am – 8pm
Astan Quds Razavi Central Museum, Mashhad
Why Razavi Museum is famous?
Astaan Quds Razavi Central Museum is one of the largest museums in Iran (welcoming more than one million visitors each year!) Here you’ll find collections of historical and artistic works at the heart of the Imam Reza shrine. There are three museums; Malek Abad, Ganjineh-ye-Quran, and Central Museum. In Quran museum which hold valuable ancient books and archaic samples from the pages of Qurans linked to.
Some of the dates of the works of Razavi museum complex back over a thousand years.
Where is the location of the Imam Reza Museum?
Location: Emam Reza Holy Shrine, Mashhad, Iran
Opening times: 8am – 8.45pm
Museum of Zoroastrians History and Culture, Yazd
Where is most famous museum in Yazd?
This museum is over 80 years old and is located close to Markar Square and the Varahram Fire Temple, originally made as an orphanage by an Indian-Persian Zoroastrian benefactor named Markar. It is now used as a museum and religious school where you can visit the Towers of Silence, the Fire Temple, and many more interesting exhibits.
Where is Zaroatrians museum and fire temple?
Location: Montazer Ghaem St. Markar Squar, Yazd, IranOpening times: 9am – 1pm, 4pm – 8pm
