Shiraz

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Asia : Middle East : Iran : Fars : Shiraz
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Shiraz [1] (شیراز) is the capital of Fars province.

Afif Abad Gardens
Afif Abad Gardens

[edit] Understand

Shiraz is a treasure trove of Middle Eastern culture. It was the capital of Iran during the Zand dynasty (1747-79), and also the celebrated birthplace of the great poets Hafiz and Saadi. The city has a population or about 1,300,000.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

  • Shiraz International Airport (IATA: SYZ) (ICAO: OISS) has regular flights to all major and some smaller cities in Iran.

[edit] By bus

Shiraz is well connected to most parts of the country by bus.

[edit] By car

[edit] By Train

Train is under Construction thesedays, it would be connected to Isfahan.

[edit] Get around

For non-Persian speakers, taxis are probably the convenient means of transport. However, be sure to haggle for a good price prior to getting into the car. Many of the city's attractions are in the downtown area, and so can be reached on foot.

If an unmarked car stops while you are hailing a taxi, don't be alarmed. Many taxis in Shiraz are unmarked, and also as a means to supplement their income, is not uncommon to find private car owners touting themselves as taxis. However, it always best to find a taxi through a reputable "telephone taxi" agency. For a set fee, drivers of these agencies will take passengers to their destination, drive them around town and also wait for them while they shop or run errands. All hotels and local residents will have a phone number of a one these agencies. There are also taxis that are driven by women that specifically cater to women passengers.

The city also has a reasonable bus service.

[edit][add listing] See

  • Hafez Tomb - Recommended.
  • Saadi Tomb - Recommended.
  • Arg of Karim Khan - formerly a prison, but now an architectural wonder on exhibit.
  • Takht-e-Jamshid (Persepolis) - Highly recommended.
  • Afif abad Garden (Bagh-e-afifabad) - a garden and houses owned by the Ghavami family. Highly recommended.
  • Eram Garden (Bagh-e-eram) - Highly recommended.
  • Narangestan Qavam (Bagh-e-naranjestan) - highly recommended
  • Delgosha Garden (Bagh-e-delgosha)
  • Nasir al-Mulk mosque
  • Jame’e Atigh Mosque
  • Vakil Mosque
  • New mosque
  • Vakil Bath - Highly recommended.
  • Vakil Bazaar - hundreds of vendors housed in an ancient bazaar. Highly recommended.
  • Saray-e-Moshir - a caravansary at the south entrance of Bazaar Vakil, which now functions as exhibition space for Iranian handicrafts. highly recommended.
  • Mesgarha Bazaar
  • Moshir-e-Now Bazaar
  • Shah Cheragh - Highly recommended.
  • Khwaju Kermani Tomb
  • Abesh Khatoon Tomb
  • Seyed Taj-e-din Gharib Tomb
  • Sheykh Roozbahan Tomb
  • Khan school
  • Ghal'eye Karim Khan
  • Christians Church
  • Qor'an Gate (Dar vazeh Quran) - the city's main entrance. The original gate was built as an ornamental decoration by the Buwwayhids (Buwayhid dynasty) about 1000 years ago, but this was replaced 60 years ago by new gate, which is considered one of the finest architectural designs in Iran and has won numerous awards. From the the gate walk up the stone stairways to enjoy picturesque and panoramic views of Shiraz. The tomb of Khajooyeh Kermanee, a famous poet is also located here. Hidden in the alleys on the hill-side are numerous restaurants that serve the finest chelo kabob. It is an excellent place for picnics and taking photographs.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Retail stores usually open between 9AM and 1PM, reopening again from 5PM to 9PM. It is customary to haggle for a discount, which is referred to as a takhfeef.

  • Bazaar Vakeel - a huge ancient bazaar specializing in fine carpets, textiles, antiques and handicrafts, and spices . There is also a wonderful courtyard with a pool located in the bazaar perfect for photographs. It is called 'SARAYE MOOSHIR'. Visit Sharzeh and Hamam Vakeel for a great dining experience located just outside the bazaar.

Shopping Malls:

  • Hafez Shopping Center, Afifabad Blv.
  • Setareye Fars Shopping Center, Afifabad Blv.
  • Sina Shopping Center, Motahhari Blv.

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • Kebab with rice - like elsewhere in Iran, the mighty ol' kebab with rice is common fare, though Shiraz does offer a local variation on the national dish.
  • Shirazi Salad - delicious and famous throughout Iran.
  • Masghati Halva - a great dessert and snack.
  • Nokhod(Chickpea) Cookie - a great & delicious cookie made from chickpea. it is also one of Shiraz's souvenir. be careful, these cookies is very brittle.
  • Shirazi Paloodeh - Shirazian paloodeh is the best Paloodeh in iran. specially when it mixed with Bahar-e-Naranj Distill.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Alcohol is illegal in Iran, though available on the black market. Shiraz is internationally famous for its distinctive red wine.

  • Doogh is a popular and delicious naturally-carbonated yogurt drink. It is generally served with ice and a dash of mint.
  • Distill's - Shiraz have many kind of aromatic distill's.

[edit] Food Place

Shiraz is place of Restaurants, Cafe , Coffeshop,Fastfoods and Food Gardens. there are plenty of these food places in Shiraz or vicinity. These places is Famous enough that you can ask a taxi driver to drive you there.

[edit] Restaurant

Almost all of these places have Live music playing

  • Lotus Restaurant, Top Floor of Setareh-e-Fars Shopping Center
  • Kaktoos Restaurant
  • Shater Abbas, Old one with delicious food
  • Sharzeh Restaurant, a Classic Old Style One located just outside the Vakil bazaar
  • Soofi Restaurant, Classic Old Style one Located at Sattarkhan St.
  • Hammam-e-Vakil (Vakil Bath), Classic Old Style Restaurant
  • Parmin Restaurant, Italian Restaurant with Italian Food
  • Shandiz Restaurant, above all of the city

[edit] Fast Food

You can find at least one Fastfood in every Street of Shiraz.

  • Givani, Modern With All Burgers,FC,Pizza, etc.
  • Safir, Modern With All Burgers,FC,Itallian Pizza, etc.
  • Soofi, Modern With All Burgers,FC,Pizza, etc.
  • Shaverma
  • 110 Wimpy, and Old one but still delicious.
  • Emperor

[edit] Cafe & CoffeShop

You can find CoffeShop's in All Shopping Centers and All Main Streets. Some are big and some are small and tiny.

  • Safir

[edit] Food Garden

there are a lot of Gardens out of Shiraz, these gardens were ReModeled for being restaurant. Almost all of them have Live Music Playing at nights and have great view.

  • Nakhlestan Garden
  • Dalahoo Garden
  • Darband Garden
  • Silvia Garden

[edit] Stay

[edit] Budget

There are a few budget hotels located about 200m south of the roundabout at Arg-é Karim Khan.

[edit] Mid-range

  • Aryo-Barzan Hotel, Roodaki Ave. Tel: +98 (711) 2247182-4 . Fax: +98 (711) 2228959 [2]
  • Parseh Hotel, 22Bahman St. Tel:+98 (711) 2226600 . Fax: +98 (711) 2223003
  • Parsian Hotel, Roodaki Ave. Tel:+98 (711) 2304965-69 . Fax:+98 (711) 2331000
  • Apadana Hotel, Ahli St. Tel:+98 (711) 2301336 & 2359322 . Fax:+98 (711) 2301337
  • Shiraz Eram Hotel, Karim Khan-é Zand. Tel:+98 71 230-3884 [3]

[edit] Luxury

  • Homa Hotel, Meshkinfam St., next to Azadi Park. Tel:+98 (711) 2288000-9 . Fax:+98 (711) 2288014 & 2288021 [4] - housed in the former Intercontinental.
  • Pars International Hotel, Zand Boulevard. Tel:+98 (711) 2332255 . Fax:+98 (711) 2307006 & 2336380 - highly recommended.
  • Persepolis International Hotel, Atlasi Sq. , Azadi Blvd., Tel: +98 (711) 2271280-94 . Fax: +98 (711) 2280941 [5]

[edit] Get out

Pasargadae was a Persian capital built by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC. Around 500 BC, Darius built a new capital at Persepolis 50 km away. Both are now on the UNESCO World Heritage List and both are near Shiraz.

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