1. Do the world financial systems work in Iran? Master Card and Visa card in specific?
2. Can I count my money in public?
3. Can we travel to Iran in Ramadan?
4. Why so many zeros in Iranian Rials?
6. How does public transportation work in
8. What is the corona virus-related and vaccine procedure to enter Iran?
1. Do the world financial systems work in Iran? Master Card and Visa card in specific?
Due the American and UN sanctions on Iran, this country is not connected to the world financial and monetary system. But if you are having questions on how possibly can a country have import and export trades with the world, I can tell you we have our second, hidden system of banking in Iran.
A company that sells products to Iraq or other countries, asks them to pay via financial offices. They pay on the name of one person. Then give the address and details of the office. When this one specific person shows up at the office, he or she can receive money and so the deal is done.
Due to this situation, you need to carry more of your money with you as cash in euros or dollars. But in terms of losing your money or forgetting to bring cash to Iran, You can do the transfer by these offices. How can you find these offices? Almost impossible to find them by looking at the internet or boards at the street. You need to ask people who you trust to introduce you a trusted office. They are mainly in Tehran.
But taking cash with you to Iran (maybe in big bills like 500 euros) will do the easier job for you. But you should have your money always with you. Do no leave it in hotels or houses you sleep.
Get one of those plastic zipper bags, get your money into it (in case you luggage gets wet) and carry it wherever you go.
Another recent option is the cryptocurrency.
Some tourist guides or travel agencies in Iran can accept cryptocurrency. Tether is very common and the easiest to deal with.
2. Can I count my money in public?
I highly recommend do not never ever do that. No matter it is in euros or dollars, or even in Iranian rials, counting your money in front of people who are strangers to you, will turn you into a target for the thieves. Always bring out smaller amount of money from you bag and pay what you want. When receiving change, you can recount it. It is absolutely ok and it is never considered rude. By this, you make sure the service/goods provider doesn’t make mistakes or by any chance would not have malice.
3. Can we travel to Iran in Ramadan?
Absolutely yes! Fasting is not obligatory for everyone. The only essential thing is that you cannot eat or drink in public. You (as a tourist) can eat and drink inside your hotel and in restaurants that serve during the day. At evening, right after Azan (evening prays), the life goes back to usual and there is no limits at all.
Here have a more comprehensive idea.
4. Why so many zeros in
Iranian Rials?
We (as locals) are also sometimes confused! Our parliament tried to omit some four zeros from the national currency, but nothing has happened up to now.
But here are some clues:
Inside the country, we never say Rials. Instead, we omit one zero (in our mind!) and call it Toman. Example:
10/000 rials equals to 1/000 tomans.
100/000 rials equals to 10/000 tomans.
1 USD equals 250/000 rials or 25/000 tomans.
Sometimes you may hear among people that they managed to even omit all of the zeros (in their head!). Example:
1/000 toman equals to 1 toman. Imagine you have a coffee. The price is approx. 250/000 rials (1 USD). You may see or hear 25/000 toman or most probably 25 toman.
You will definitely get used to it. The point is, DO NOT get stressed when you want to pay for sth. And do not expose all of your money in public. Take as much as 2/000/000 rials in a pocket and have a go with that for an evening. Sorry to tell but in a conservative country, you need to be a little conservative.
5. Is Iran safe?
Yes! Despite the image you see from Iran in your country, Iran is absolutely safe. Of course the stealing and other crimes exist, but in total, it is quite safe for the local people and tourists who travel to Iran.
But like many countries in the world, maybe it is not a good idea to walk alone in a dark spot in downtown or have a walk in the park at 1 a.m! Likewise, exposing your precious items in public (like money, or whatever expensive) is not a good idea. Do what people do in the country to have a normal, happy vacation in the country.
6. How does public transportation work in Iran?
Unlike many items you find a not-European level of standard, the public transport can be as good as Europe.
The buses are imported from Europe, thus the VIP buses can give you a pleasant experience of long trips.
The trains if are at a good level, then can make you happy with the standards. There are sleeper trains with sleeping facilities.
Domestic flights can be relatively quite cheap for western and eastern travelers.
The key to public transportation in Iran is: when you have the options to choose, always choose the highest one. The price difference may be just a couple of euros, but the quality will definitely differ.
Before you move to Iran, you can book the tickets via some Intermediary websites like 1st Quest.
In this option, normally you will pay at least 20 percent over the real price.
These Intermediary websites have the opportunity to pay online via your cards.
While you are in Iran, many websites and travel agencies can book hotel rooms, train and flight tickets for you. You need to go in person to these offices.
The helpful tourist guides in Iran can always be of help to you to make your trip to Iran easier.
For bus tickets normally there is no need to book in advance. But if you really need to book a bus ticket, you can ask a guide in Iran to do the booking and (online) payment for you, then you can pay to that guide.
The Facebook group named: “See you in Iran” is a good idea to get help from guides in Iran and also former travelers to Iran.
7. Traffic system in Iran.
If you are traveling to Iran overland and especially you drive your own car to the country, you should expect one of the most confusing systems of traffic in Iran.
Traffic and driving rules are modeled from European systems, but the majority of people do not follow the rules. Why? I don’t know. Mainly people tend to fight or flee from the rules instead of following them.
You will witness the drivers and the passengers rarely tend to fasten seat belts. A full stop before a red light has been obligatory just within the recent two decades.
You will see motorcyclists riding with no helmet, even sometimes with no lights at night!
The cars may change their direction with no indication.
The cars may go reverse where they are not allowed and even you may witness them enter the “no-entrance” roads!
So what I try to highlight is that in Iran, you have to be very careful, and you should expect whatever illegal in terms of driving and the traffic system.
You can imagine there is no rule, then maybe the driving would be much easier for you.
If you are looking for a sample to make everything real in your mind, imagine India as a perfect example.
A few years ago, one of the national tv channels that specialized in kids’ programs, created an animated series named “Traffic”. It went to some short episodes which addressed the kid and teenage audience. It seems the Traffic organization finally is trying to do something in terms of training and culture of traffic.
Here you can see the episodes of Traffic (only in Farsi).
8. What is the corona virus-related and vaccine procedure to enter Iran?
The latest news about this question which is published in Iran is (March 2022) says that the tourists need to announce their document of at least 2 doses of the vaccine “or” a PCR test.
But what we are witnessing is that “or” has changed to “and” or it is better you are prepared to have the document of the vaccines “and” a PCR test.
There must be 14 days passing from the last dose of the vaccine and the PCR test should be done not before 72 hours.
9. What can we eat in Iran?
Iran is a large country with a diverse culture. The two mountain ranges of Alborz in North and Zagros in West, the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea and the deserts in the middle, bring many cultures together under one flag.
Different regions and cultures bring different food types. So be prepared to eat quite a few types of meals in Iran.
Rice is the basis for the Iranian cuisine and the majority of the dishes include meat. The meat of chicken, turkey, fish, lamb and beef in general. But regionally speaking, you may find meat of camel and ostrich as well, but they are not common.
Pork is not allowed and hence, not possible to find.
Green food is not yet completely published, so if you are a vegetarian or a vegan, you should emphasize in advance (some days or hours) that you absolutely do not want to eat meat.
Especially at restaurants, it is not easy to convince the owners that you do not like to eat meat in any form. But in traditional atmospheres and in local houses with people, they understand quite well.
When you have no option, you may ask the host or the owner to prepare some simple food like:
Rice + steamed tomatoes (برنج همراه با گوجه بخار پز)
Rice + French fries (برنج همراه با سیب زمینی سرخ کرده)
Rice + yogurt (برنج با ماست)
Bread + mashed potatoes (نان با پوره سیب زمینی)
I have included the Farsi equivalence in terms of the host doesn’t speak any English.
In total, you will not starve in Iran. The food range can be enough for some weeks of your trip to Iran.
10. How About Getting a Sim card?
I highly recommend you get a sim card for
calling and for the internet in Iran. The price is less than 10 euros with some
over 10 gigabytes of data and some credit for calling. Usually, this much
credit and data are enough for you for a one-month trip in Iran.
There are two main telecoms in Iran.
Irancell and Hamrahe Aval. Irancell has got an easier process, better coverage
in towns and a higher speed of data. But if it was not available, then easily
stick to the other one which is Hamrahe Aval.
There is a tourist-specific sim card that
you can get. The price is not different and only the validity is special. It is
valid for up to 3 months.
GET your sim card at the airport! At IKIA
airport, the process and availability are much easier than if you go inside the
country.
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