Steve Hanisch and his buddy David went to Tehran on a mission to discover Iran in the course of a few weeks. They kickstarted their journey by visiting the Azadi monument, one of the most iconic buildings in Tehran.

Let’s dive in with them.

Tehran is the capital city of Iran with a population of about 15 million people. The last Shah of Iran commissioned the monument in 1966 to mark the Persian Empire’s 2500th anniversary which was due five years later.

In 1971, the first official name given to the structure was Šahyād Āryāmehr (King's Memorial). Later on in 1979, following the Revolution, the monument was renamed Borj e Āzādi (Freedom Tower). The flawless symmetry of the tower makes it a true masterpiece.

Another must-see attraction is the Golestan Palace which literally means ‘The Palace of Flowers’ because of the beautiful gardens situated inside.

On Fridays a good spot to head to is 30 Tir street where one can find van cafes among many other food places. Some people might find it surprising how modern Iran, and especially Tehran is, a fact that becomes immediately evident from the sheer amount of coffee shops one can find. They make for very hip places to hang out.

Steve and David decided to indulge in the local cuisine and went to Sofre Khune, a typical Iranian place where they ordered the national dish – Kebab and Dizi. Dizi is a kind of thick soup.

The trading business has always played a major role in Iran, due to the country being located on the Silk Road. This is why it is imperative one visit the big bazaar in Tehran. It is a true maze of more than 11 kilometres of corridors filled with wondrous odds and ends.

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