Cheap Flights to Tehran, Iran

By Bob | Permalink | October 11th, 2007

Tell people that you are taking a trip to Iran and you will receive a look of shock and amazement. Iran isn’t exactly a popular destination in the travel magazines and on Rick Steves these days, but for the adventurous traveler now is an excellent time to visit Persia.

I went to Iran a few years ago. As an American citizen, securing a visa meant working through the Pakistan embassy in Washington, DC. It took a little wrangling, but no worse than getting a visa to countries in the former Soviet Union. My flight path took me from the US to Amsterdam and than on to Tehran. Once I arrived in Iran I expected customs officials to interrogate me. They stamped my passport without even an eyebrow raised.

The reaction I got throughout my stay in Iran was one of appreciation. I was never hassled or bothered. People were genuinely happy to have an American visiting their country and to show off their renowned hospitality.

That isn’t to say that travel in Iran is easy for everyone. Certainly as a single male I had an easier time of it than a single female would. The language barrier was also a bit of a challenge. Many people in Tehran know some English, but when you leave the capital it gets harder and harder to find people who can help with translations.

All in all, Iran is a fascinating culture to see, especially with the headlines you read daily in the news. It is a rich culture with historic sites that are second to none. It is also a country that is not overrun by tourists, which means you will feel like your experience there is truly unique.

The cheapest airfare to Tehran, Iran generally is on flights that go through Europe and the Middle East. They can be spendy. Flying between cities in the country, however, is super cheap. I took a three-hour flight that cost less than $30 round trip.