What do you think?
Rate this book
Lonely Planet Iran
Pause on the Grand Stairway at Persepolis and imagine trumpeters heralding your arrival Indulge in rosewater ice cream as you stroll between centuries-old bridges in Esfahan Believe it when you see it: check out the world's most unexpected ski resorts Rent a room with a view in a mountain village and watch life unfold as it has for centuries
In This Guide:
Two authors, five months of on-the-ground research, 379 invitations to tea Packed with tips for overlanders, women, and solo travelers Incorporates Farsi words and script throughout Get up-to-the-minute info from other travelers on the Iran branch of the Thorn Tree: lonelyplanet.com
496 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
72 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 11, 2022
I have just come back from my two weeks trip in IRAN. This is the worst lonely planet I have used, and I cannot refrain from making some complaints. This book is abusing the legacy of lonely planet.
- Too much mistaken information. I have encountered a dozen of mistakes during my short trip. For example, this book said Tochal telecabin closed on Mondays, but actually it is Sundays; it said Vank cathedral closed on Friday mornings, but it is Friday afternoons; it said Shiraz to Kerman took 12 hours bus, but it is 8 hours. Indeed, Iran is a changing country for travelers, such as in tickets price, but I checked with local people, many points in this guide have been wrong since 2011.
- There are minor mistakes in editing and grammar, which I have not seen in any other lonely planet guides before. For example, on the same page, Khomeini has two different dates of death: 3 June and 4 June. Much information is only copied and pasted from earlier version, but has not been kept consistent with the latest update.
- USD labeling simply inflates the price of everything. Despite IRR depreciation, many hotels recommended by this guide use the USD price consistent with this book, while inflation in Iran has not been so significant. You can find many low key accommodations and restaurants at much lower price, as long as they are not recommended by lonely planet.
- Its country insight and background information are very fluffy. It does not look into the reality of Iran and somehow worsen the misunderstanding. Neither have I found any interesting articles and columns as I have found in other lonely country guides. I think Wikipedia and wikitravel work much better.
If you are making a trip in Iran, I hope you can exercise some caution in using this book. Also, Iranians are among the most friendly on earth, if you need more accurate information, check with the locals.
- Too much mistaken information. I have encountered a dozen of mistakes during my short trip. For example, this book said Tochal telecabin closed on Mondays, but actually it is Sundays; it said Vank cathedral closed on Friday mornings, but it is Friday afternoons; it said Shiraz to Kerman took 12 hours bus, but it is 8 hours. Indeed, Iran is a changing country for travelers, such as in tickets price, but I checked with local people, many points in this guide have been wrong since 2011.
- There are minor mistakes in editing and grammar, which I have not seen in any other lonely planet guides before. For example, on the same page, Khomeini has two different dates of death: 3 June and 4 June. Much information is only copied and pasted from earlier version, but has not been kept consistent with the latest update.
- USD labeling simply inflates the price of everything. Despite IRR depreciation, many hotels recommended by this guide use the USD price consistent with this book, while inflation in Iran has not been so significant. You can find many low key accommodations and restaurants at much lower price, as long as they are not recommended by lonely planet.
- Its country insight and background information are very fluffy. It does not look into the reality of Iran and somehow worsen the misunderstanding. Neither have I found any interesting articles and columns as I have found in other lonely country guides. I think Wikipedia and wikitravel work much better.
If you are making a trip in Iran, I hope you can exercise some caution in using this book. Also, Iranians are among the most friendly on earth, if you need more accurate information, check with the locals.
June 12, 2009
Very informative and makes me dream of going to see all the historical places and great museums. I hope I could get a visa and that we don't have a war with them, too.
September 14, 2012
Love Iran and can't wait to go back!
October 2, 2017
Very outdated as of September 2017, especially re. prices - recommend getting the latest edition instead.
July 8, 2024
My armchair vacation within a vacation. No idea how to rate it since it should be rated on practical use and accuracy of info, and I'll never get a chance to fact-check any of that. Still made for a great mental trip.
September 21, 2018
Muy completa y sin fallos en todo lo que necesitamos a lo largo del viaje.
Quizá faltaría el metro que ha abierto hace unos meses, pero es por poner una queja.
Quizá faltaría el metro que ha abierto hace unos meses, pero es por poner una queja.
September 15, 2014
Insomma, contiene pregi e difetti, le solite cartine imprecise e soprattutto i prezzi dei musei indicati per le persone del posto e non per gli stranieri... a meno che negli ultimi due anni non siano triplicati!
In definitiva comunque ci è stata molto utile e ovviamente l'abbiamo letta, vissuta, imparata a memoria (o quasi!)!
In definitiva comunque ci è stata molto utile e ovviamente l'abbiamo letta, vissuta, imparata a memoria (o quasi!)!
November 5, 2017
Although it’s barely a month into its print run, it’s a little disappointing that many new establishments have been left out. You’re better off researching places to eat and stay and how to get around from other online sources. That aside, the historical and cultural information are useful (evergreen stuff including ‘old’ tourist attractions).
December 27, 2021
I'll go one day. Hopefully longer. I much prefer a guidebook that gives details, even if minimal, about all places in a country. If some places are off limits it is still up to me, the traveller, to decide if I wish to go there or not. All in all, a useful guide and it helped to stimulate my interest even more in a very interesting country.
April 29, 2017
Used this fairly thoroughly & I do find LP to be one of the most comprehensive travel guides to places. I still yearn for a few more photos to assist in being able to know what I'm looking at & this particular edition is now getting a little dated.
April 9, 2014
Adorei o livro porque adorei a viagem
April 17, 2014
Soliti pregi e difetti: ottima per la parte pratica, meno per quella storica e culturale. In abbinamento con la Polaris sono perfette!
February 16, 2016
What a fantastic country! I visited northwest , north and Central Iran using this book and the informations that it countains were very useful and trustable. Visit Iran!
May 5, 2016
well written and complete, Lonely Planet is always top quality
October 31, 2016
This book was very helpful when we traveled there.
Love this wonderful and ancient country, rich historical and beautiful minded people of Iran. Miss them a lot.
Love this wonderful and ancient country, rich historical and beautiful minded people of Iran. Miss them a lot.
April 26, 2018
Ik wil steeds de lonely planet vermijden, omdat iedereen die koopt. Maar ja, het is nu éénmaal het beste.
November 10, 2019
بخريد و توى سفرهاتون با راهنماييهاش لذت ببريد. اگرچه چون نسخه قديميه به روز نشده اما هنوز خيلى بهتر از اينترنت و تورليدرها راهنماييتون ميكنه.
December 9, 2020
I am eager to visit Iran one day.
July 18, 2024
As an Iraninan it was a honest book in most of content. I wondered how they could collect these informations. It is comprehensive and good guide for travelling in Iran.
August 23, 2022
Alcune informazioni da rivedere.
Le case tradizionali come alloggio, per dire, sono una soluzione paradossalmente cara e poco pulita.
Gli itinerari proposti sono validi.
Le case tradizionali come alloggio, per dire, sono una soluzione paradossalmente cara e poco pulita.
Gli itinerari proposti sono validi.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews