Essentials
- City
- Shiraz, Fars Province, Iran
- Population
- 1,600,000
- Internet Speed
- 15-25 Mbps (Fiber available in select areas like Maaliabad); VPN/Proxy is mandatory for most international sites.
- Currency & Banking
- Iranian Rial (IRR). Dual pricing: Toman (1 Toman = 10 Rials). 1 USD ≈ 600,000 IRR (Free Market Rate, March 2026).
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, but most locals and nomads use filtered water or bottled water (approx. 50,000 IRR for 1.5L).
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets (European standard).
- SIM Card
- Irancell or Hamrah-e Aval; available at Shiraz International Airport. Data packs ~500,000 IRR for 10GB.
- Banking for Expats
- International cards (Visa/MC) do NOT work. Use 'Mah Card' or 'DaricPay' (prepaid debit cards for tourists).
- Accommodation
- Traditional Boutique Hotels and guesthouses via Homestay.com or local 'SnappTrip'.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, domestically. Iran has a highly advanced local debit card system; cash is rarely used by locals.
- Short Term Rentals
- Jajiga or Shab.ir (local Airbnb equivalents). Expect $20-$40/night for high-end apartments.
- Budget Accommodation
- Taha Hostel or Sirah Traditional House (approx. $10-$15 per night).
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Lotfali Khan Zand Street/Historical District (near Nasir al-Mulk Mosque).
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Maaliabad or Afif-Abad Street (Modern, high-speed fiber availability, upscale cafes).
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Shiraz Hub (Zand Blvd); modern facilities, stable internet, ~2,000,000 IRR/day.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Ferdowsi Cafe (Ferdowsi St) or Hedayat Cafe (Asad-Abadi St); reliable Wi-Fi and power outlets.
- Networking Events
- Shiraz Tech Startups meetups (usually held at Shiraz University or Shiraz Hub).
- Social Events for Expats
- Couchsurfing Shiraz Community (monthly informal meetings at Eram Garden area).
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Snapp or Tapsi (Local equivalents of Uber; very cheap, ~150,000-300,000 IRR per crosstown trip).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Limited; bike sharing available in Eram Garden district through 'Pakcharkh' app.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Bushehr (approx. 4.5 hours drive to the Persian Gulf).
- Top Regional Airline
- Mahan Air or Iran Air.
- Top International Airline
- Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, or FlyDubai (via Shiraz International SYZ).
- Highway Access
- Route 65 (Connects Shiraz to Isfahan/Tehran) and Route 86.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Shiraz Railway Station (Northwest of city); Shiraz Metro Line 1 (Modern and fast).
- Public Transport Passes
- Shiraz 'Citizen Card' for Metro and Buses (~100,000 IRR for the card).
- Regional Travel
- VIP Buses from Karandish Terminal to Isfahan or Yazd (~$5 USD).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Namazi Hospital (Zand Blvd) or Ordibehesht Hospital (Chamran Blvd); high standards of medical care.
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Nirvana Yoga Center (Satarkhan St); private sessions ~1,500,000 IRR.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Oxin Gym (Maaliabad); modern equipment and English-speaking trainers.
- Laundry Services
- Snowa Laundry (Eram St) or specialized services in hotels/guesthouses.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- SnappFood (widely used, covers most restaurants in Shiraz).
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Kalam Polo Shirazi (Cabbage and meat herb rice) and Faloodeh Shirazi (Frozen dessert).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Ananda Vegetarian Restaurant (near Eram Garden) or Shater Abbas (for veggie sides).
- Best Dessert Spots
- Baba Bastani (Famous for saffron ice cream and Faloodeh near Karim Khan).
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Vakil Bazaar (Traditional) or HyperStar (Modern supermarket in Persian Gulf Complex).
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Digikala (The Amazon of Iran; delivers within 24-48 hours).
- Grocery Delivery
- SnappFood 'Market' section or Okala app.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Strictly dry (Alcohol is illegal). Nightlife consists of late-night tea houses and gardens in Ghasr-e Dasht.
- Local Brewery
- None (Alcohol-free malt beers like 'Delster' are popular in all stores).
- Wine Bars
- Non-existent (Historically famous Shiraz wine is no longer produced legally in Iran).
- Street Food Stalls
- Shahcheraagh Square area for diverse local snacks and Ash-e Sabzi.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Bell Passi (Italian) or Dragon Restaurant (Asian) in Afif-Abad.
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Persepolis (60km away), Nasir al-Mulk (Pink) Mosque, Eram Garden.
- Museums & Art Venues
- Pars Museum (Nazar Garden) and Shiraz Contemporary Art Museum.
- Historical Sites
- Karim Khan Citadel, Tomb of Hafez, Tomb of Saadi.
- Religious Sites
- Shah Cheragh Holy Shrine (Breathtaking mirror work).
- Annual Events
- Shiraz Day (May 5th), Nowruz (Persian New Year, late March).
- Cultural Districts
- Sang-e Siah (The Black Stone) neighborhood - revitalized art district.
- Theater Venues
- Hafez Hall (for concerts and theater performances).
- Local Markets
- Vakil Bazaar (18th-century architecture, selling carpets and spices).
- Music Scene
- Traditional Persian music performances at Saray-e Moshir.
- Street Art
- Murals on Chamran Blvd and the Sang-e Siah district.
- Cooking Classes
- Shiraz Cooking Class (traditional home-based experiences in the old city).
- Art Galleries
- Gooya Gallery or Mehr-e-No Gallery.
- Historic Buildings
- Narenjestan Qavam (House and gardens).
- Local Heritage
- Poetry is the soul of Shiraz; quoting Hafez is a major cultural symbol.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Ghalat Village (Old stone village with waterfalls, 40 mins from Shiraz).
- National Parks Nearby
- Bamou National Park (Great for wildlife spotting and hiking).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Chamran Blvd Path (Best for jogging and evening walks).
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Bahu Viewpoint (Afsaneh-ye-Shahr) overlooking the city.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Maharloo Lake (The Pink Lake) - seasonal flamingos.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated camping areas in Ghalat highlands.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Iran Post (Central office on Zand Blvd) or Tipax for express domestic shipping.
- Tech Repair Services
- Anahita Tech Center (Maaliabad) for laptop and phone repairs.
- Table Tennis Spots
- Shiraz Table Tennis House (near Azadi Park).
- Language Classes
- Dehkhoda Lexicon Institute or Shiraz University Persian Learning Center.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Library of Shiraz (Asnad-e Melli) on Hafeziyeh Blvd.
- Community Centers
- Eram Cultural Center.
- Gaming Lounges
- Infinity Gaming Center (Satarkhan Blvd).
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal and non-existent.
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $800 - $1,100 per m² ($44,000 for 40 m²).
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $500 - $700 per m² ($28,000 for 40 m²).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $950 per m² ($57,000 for 60 m²).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $600 per m² ($36,000 for 60 m²).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $900 per m² ($72,000 for 80 m²).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $550 per m² ($44,000 for 80 m²).
- Corporate Tax
- 25% standard; tax holidays available in science parks.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (Iran currently does not tax dividends distributed to individuals).
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35%
- VAT
- 9%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules currently in place.
- Property Tax
- Yes, but generally low; based on governmental valuation.
- Property Transaction Tax
- Around 5% of the regional value (usually lower than market value).
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; however, foreign income is rarely scrutinized by local tax authorities.