Accommodation in Iran

Nicoline (23) and her younger sister Kathrine (19) spent 1 month travelling around Iran and stayed with 3 homestay hosts. They chose homestays for the warm feeling of home while far from their own home in Denmark. Read on to find out how much they enjoyed homestaying.

I would first like to say thank you for making this site and for putting me in connection with the sweet people we have met on our trip. We had some amazing homestay experiences that has fully made our trip to Iran - staying in hotels and going on crowded tours wouldn't have given us half the knowledge and friendships we have now. So thank you for that and I hope this can help a little to spread the word of the kindness and generosity of the people of Iran

Nicoline and Kathrine

Isfahan

We certainly had some amazing hosts in Iran and all of the best experiences we had was in the homestay or with the hosts. When we stayed in Isfahan which was the first Homestay my sister and I stayed in we lived with Isaac and his wife Saba. We had just come to Iran and didn't really know anything and there they were helping us with everything we needed. But I think the best thing was how they really truly wanted us to feel at home in their home - Isaac said how we should just do our laundry everything without any cost you know just how we would have been doing in our own home. Saba also took us to the mountains walking and taught us about the political situation in Iran and we still have contact with her telling her about our trip and taking advice and help from her.

Nicoline with her host Saba in Isfahan

Shiraz

When living with Sara outside Shiraz we arrived on a Friday where they have holidays and therefore everything was closed. She was going to meet up with all her family in the woods to have a garden gathering and of course we were invited. We had an amazing day in the mountains cooking and eating amazing food and chatting with her family about Iran and Denmark and how two vegetarians could survive in the country of kabab. Common for both homestays we stayed in were the great hosts that just made us feel so welcome. So far we have visited Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz and Yazd before we now go towards north to the mountains.

Nicoline and Kathrine with Sara and her family

Any tips for other travellers going to Iran?

I think our best advice is to stay in a homestay and to spend that extra day in the different cities that makes you have time to get to know the people you are living with. I'd also advise that you go to that favourite place you have once more before you go. We have enjoyed it this way. And definitely try to buy a bag of walnuts and a big jaw of Iranian honey and then just dip and eat. We have never tasted honey or walnuts like this before. Also in the evening when the weather is cool and all the families gather in the park for a picnic, buy some fruit which is amazing and cheap and a big loaf of bread and honey and just enjoy. I shouldn't forget to mention the amazing feeling it is to pick a pomegranate straight from the tree - this made us go a little crazy.

Planning a visit to Iran?

View Iran Homestays