The Best Markets To Visit In Iran

It’s easy to get caught up in the historical sites of Iran, but the markets (known as bazaars in these parts) are just as exciting. Not only are they full of history and beautiful architecture, but they are also the perfect place to pick up local handicrafts or other goods. Read our guide to the best markets around Iran.

Jomeh Bazaar

Art Gallery, Market, Bazaar, Market

Nearly every Friday, the multi-story parking garage of Parvaneh Mall in downtown Tehran is converted into a flea market. The first couple of levels are an antique collector’s dream, with everything from vintage photos and records to home decor and paintings, before moving on to small rugs, clothes, and handmade items. Channel your bargaining skills, grab a backpack for your purchases, and go early for the best buys. If you get hungry, there are plenty of kiosks selling falafels, traditional Persian soup, and samosas.

Tabriz Bazaar

Due to its strategic location along the Silk Road, Tabriz has long been an important center of commerce. Its historic bazaar, which was added to the UNESCO inventory in 2010, is one of the oldest in the Middle East. The maze of red brick buildings with high ceilings and arches link different parts of the complex, but the most notable area is the rug bazaar. Between the vendors transporting stacks of rugs, sewing up loose ends, and talking business over tea, visitors can witness the modern-day trade of this centuries-old tradition.

Ganjali Khan Bazaar

This bazaar is in the Ganjali Khan Complex in Kerman, where you can also find a famous bathhouse, coin museum, and Vakil teahouse. Four paths lead to charsouq, a crosspoint known for its ceiling frescoes and for being the best little nook to buy spices, namely cumin, for which Kerman is famous. Try some warm ghavoot, a powdered mix of various spices, nuts, and seeds, before moving on to the copper section where you’ll lay eyes on some of the biggest pots you’ve ever seen. Pateh, the city’s traditional handmade cloth made from wool and natural dyes, are also plentiful here.

Khan Bazaar

Market

Walking around Amir Chakhmagh Square in Yazd, you’re sure to hear sounds of pounding hammers that will lead you inside the covered bazaar of coppersmiths. In this 9th century bazaar you’ll find craftsmen busily working with fire to make the copper sheets more malleable, while others design them with hammers. The vaulted alleys of brick mosaic tiles also lead to the gold and textile bazaars, where termeh, a traditional silk and cotton textile produced in this city, are sold.

Esfahan Bazaar

A man handprints traditional cloth in a workshop in Esfahans bazaar | © Paul Keller / Flickr

Located in Naqshe-e Jahan Square in Esfahan, it’s quite easy to spend an entire day here as you alternate between haggling in the bazaar and marveling at the sites. The Imperial Bazaar is not only one of the oldest in the region but also a living museum, and fantastic place to witness the making of handicrafts. Metal workers engrave decorative metal while artists lay fine pieces of wood and bone for khâtamkâri (marquetry) and paint miniatures with a single-haired brush. Elsewhere, textiles hand printed with wooden stamps are available, as is the city’s most famous sweet,gaz.

Vakil Bazaar

Shiraz’s Vakil Bazaar is not only a fine example of Zand-era architecture, but it also sells everything under these vaulted brick ways and ceilings, from rugs to handicrafts to spices, all at fantastic prices. It’s the perfect place to meander for a couple of hours, stock up on some souvenirs, or take a rest in the courtyard next to the pool under the shade of sweet-smelling orange trees.

Tajrish Bazaar

Less chaotic and more beautiful than Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, Tarjish Bazaar is located to the north of the city, in one of the oldest neighborhoods. The go-to locale for fresh and hard-to-find produce, this bazaar also serves dairy products from camels, and has plenty of atâri, apothecaries, which lure visitors with the smell of herbs and spices. Between shopping, try some local street food on the main Shahrdari Street. If you are in Iran just before Nowruz, this is the place in Tehran to catch the hustle and bustle of new year’s preparations.

About the author

Pontia Fallahi

Born and raised in the US, Pontia lived in four countries before moving to Tehran, Iran where she has been living for 3 years. She's passionate about languages, culture, and travel. Determined to dispel any misconceptions about her adopted home, she regularly blogs about life as an expat in Iran and Persian culture/language on her personal blog MyPersianCorner.com. When she isn't writing, she's either teaching languages (or picking up a new one herself) or traveling.