Whether you’re an acclaimed history buff or just an average traveler, there are some archeological sites you should see at all costs. For example, when you travel to Egypt, seeing the Pyramids of Giza is a must, and when in Peru, you should definitely make a trip to Machu Picchu. Well, Iran certainly doesn’t lack such a site, and what we’re talking about is the ancient ruins of Persepolis.
Locally known as Takht-e-Jamshid, the UNESCO World Heritage site of Persepolis houses the largest, most impressive remnants of the Achaemenid Empire that ruled in Eurasia thousands of years ago. This includes well-preserved sculptures and stone carvings including ancient scripts, as well as palaces and the mausolea of some of the greatest Achaemenid rulers. A significant center for ancient Persian culture, Persepolis holds a special place in the hearts of Persians, who pride themselves in being the descendants of such a great civilization. This makes this archeological site one of the must-visit places in Iran, even if it may be a bit of a detour for your route.
I visited Persepolis and the nearby archeological site of Naqsh-e-Rustam as a day trip from Shiraz during my solo road trip across Iran in June 2022. In fact, Persepolis was my main motivation to even travel down to Shiraz, which in retrospect I’m more than thankful for because the city is truly breathtaking. There are a variety of ways to travel from Shiraz to Persepolis but they all require a bit of planning, so I compiled this post to help you make the best out of your trip. As mentioned, there are multiple sites nearby, which I’m combining all into this guide.
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History Of Persepolis
The Achaemenid Empire, also known as the First Persian Empire, was an ancient middle-eastern empire that at its peak ruled over vast masses of land encompassing modern-day Iran, Anatolia, the Caucasus, Mesopotamia, South and Central Asia, the Levant, parts of North Africa, and the Balkans. Founded in 550 BC by King Cyrus the Great, the Achaemenid Empire became well known for its well-developed civilization, culture, and successful foreign policy, until it was conquered by Alexander the Great two centuries later.
During the tumultuous rule of this legendary empire, Persepolis was one of the most important places, serving as the ceremonial capital of the empire. The collection of palaces in the small city of Persepolis was mainly used to hold royal ceremonies and celebrations of Nowruz (Persian New Year) and also housed some of the rulers’ tombs. More royal tombs can be found in the necropolis of Naqsh-e-Rustam, which is only a short drive from Persepolis. The site also includes some ceremonial sites of Zoroastrianism, which used to be the state religion of the Achaemenid Empire. It’s unclear whether the city of Persepolis was permanently inhabited or only visited during official ceremonies.
Persepolis was built under Darius I and its construction began as early as 515 BC. It was plundered and burned down by Alexander the Great during his conquest of Persia, leaving only ruins of the grandiose palaces to be excavated. Some of its artefacts have been shifted to museums across the western world (hello colonialism!) but the ruins of Persepolis of course remain the most impressive site of Achaemenid architecture.
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Where Is Persepolis?
Persepolis is located near the town of Marvdasht, about 60 kilometers northeast of Shiraz. The site is surrounded by the Zagros Mountains, giving the region a rather dry climate. I tried to add a map of Persepolis to better help you find the location of Persepolis in relation to Shiraz. Unfortunately, I was not able to pin the actual sites of Persepolis and Naqsh-e-Rustam, but you can see the names to the northeast of Marvdasht.
Weather In Persepolis
Similar to nearby Shiraz, the climate in Persepolis is quite dry, with hot summers and cool winters, where snow is not impossible. Locals generally don’t recommend visiting in summer due to the hot weather for such long hours spent outdoors, but if you do travel in summer, try to visit as early in the day as possible to avoid the afternoon heat. When I visited in June, I planned to leave early in the morning but (typically Arabela) I didn’t make it out of bed early enough and I only reached Persepolis in the early afternoon. I’m very much used to heat after roaming around some of the hottest parts of Pakistan but I wasn’t prepared to spend hours in the aggressive sunlight surrounded by heat-trapping rocks, so I got exhausted very quickly.
Also, the climate of Marvdasht is perfect for the cultivation of pomegranates, which you may get to sample if you visit in September or October.
How To Get To Persepolis From Shiraz
Only about an hour’s drive away, Shiraz is the perfect base for a day trip to Persepolis. There are a few ways to reach the site if you don’t have your own car:
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By Taxi/Snapp!
It’s very easy to find taxis and ride-shares in Shiraz. The most convenient way to arrange a ride from A to B in Iran is using the Snapp! app, which is the local equivalent to Uber. Do keep in mind that for going back to Shiraz, it won’t be as easy to find a ride, so you might want to pay your driver extra to wait for you.
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Arranging A Private Driver
It’s best to plan in advance with a private driver for a smooth visit to Persepolis. You’ll see many touts when walking near the tourist sites of Downtown Shiraz who offer day trips to Persepolis but for the best rates, it’s recommended to hire a driver who doesn’t target foreigners specifically. You can find drivers either through local friends or chat up one of your Snapp! drivers and exchange contact information. When I visited, a good rate for a day trip was around $10 USD, but don’t forget to invite your driver for a meal and drinks!
With A Tour Guide
Traveling to Persepolis with a knowledgeable guide is an excellent idea because they know the history of the place well and can explain many details as you visit. As a tourist you’ll likely be approached by many tour guides in Shiraz who will offer to show you around for a decent price. While most of them are legit, it’s best to find a certified guide through a professional travel agency such as Termeh Travel to make sure you’ll be provided with the best service for your money.
Group Tours
There are daily group tours to Persepolis, Naqsh-e-Rustam, and Pasargadae out of Shiraz. Ask your hotel for further information or contact a local travel agency.
By Public Transportation
Lastly, if you’re on a really tight budget and have sufficient time, you can take public transportation such as mini buses to Marvdasht and then take a taxi to Persepolis and Naqsh-e-Rustam. In my experience, though, hiring a driver for the day is perfectly affordable.
Sites To Visit In Persepolis
As I mentioned before, I’m using the term ‘Persepolis’ rather broadly in this post to include other nearby archeological sites such as Naqsh-e-Rustam and Pasargadae. This being said, these are the sites to visit in and around Persepolis:
Persepolis (Takht-e-Jamshid)
The ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire is incredibly well preserved. Below are the ruins that can be found in the city of Persepolis (Takht-e-Jamshid).
Recommended duration for Persepolis: at least three hours.
For more information about Persepolis, check out the world heritage site’s official website.
Gate Of All Nations
Visitors to Persepolis are welcomed by the Gate of All Nations. Constructed under King Xerxes I, the impressive gates and columns once made up a single room. The name refers to the collection of diverse lands across Asia, Europe, and North Africa that the Achaemenid Empire used to rule over.
Apadana Palace
Apadana Palace refers to the ruins of a large hall that made up the first structures ever constructed in Persepolis. The impressively decorated columns and animal figures give visitors a small taste of the former glory of this grand palace, which was used for royal receptions back in the day.
Throne Hall
The Throne Hall is the second-largest structure in Persepolis and served as the imperial army’s Hall of Honor back in the day. It was used for official military receptions and gatherings of provincial representatives.
Tombs
A short walk up the hill behind the ruins of Persepolis one can find a small collection of imperial mausolea similar to those at Naqsh-e-Rustam. Historians believe them to be the resting places of kings Artaxerxes II and Artaxerxes III.
Inscriptions and Stone Carvings
As mentioned earlier, plenty of well-preserved inscriptions and stone carvings were discovered in Persepolis. Most inscriptions were written in multiple languages including Old Persian. The inscriptions often read praise to the rulers or practical notes from ancient times, while the stone carvings tended to illustrate historical events as well as plants and animals.
Persepolis Museum
The city of Persepolis houses an excellent little museum containing smaller relics found at the site, such as coins and memoranda (used as notepads). The information boards inside the museum, written in both Farsi and English, contain interesting information not only on the history of the structures but also about the social dynamics of the Achaemenid Empire.
Naqsh-e-Rustam
Only about 12 km outside of Persepolis lies the Naqsh-e-Rustam, which served as a necropolis (graveyard) for Achaemenid rulers as well as religious ceremonies.
Recommended duration for Naqsh-e-Rustam: 1 hour.
Tombs of Achaemenid Kings
The necropolis of Naqsh-e-Rustam houses impressive rock-hewn mausolea of at least four Achaemenid kings, who are believed to belong to Darius I, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, and Darius II. The tombs sit at an elevated position on the face of the mountain and contain impressive rock carvings and religious inscriptions.
Ka’ba-e-Zartosht
Translating to the ‘Cube of Zoroaster’, the Ka’ba-e-Zartosht is a cube-shaped structure in Naqsh-e-Rustam that served spiritual purposes for the Zoroastrian believers of the Achaemenid Empire and beyond. The structure contains trilingual inscriptions from later periods.
Sassanid Rock Carvings
The mountains of Naqsh-e-Rustam also contain intricate carvings from the Sassanid Era, the empire that ruled Persia a few centuries after the fall of the Achaemenid Empire. These large carvings depict scenes of historic events of the Sassanid Era, such as battle scenes.
Pasargadae
Pasargadae was the official capital city of the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great and houses his tomb. The UNESCO World Heritage site is a bit further away from the before-mentioned sites. By car it takes more than an hour to reach Pasargadae from Persepolis and at least two hours from Shiraz. Due to this distance, many travelers (including myself) decide to skip this comparatively small archeological site. If you travel from Shiraz to Esfahan by private transportation, I recommend visiting Pasargadae on the way. If you add the site to a day trip from Shiraz, though, you should expect to pay double the price as for a trip to just Persepolis and Naqsh-e-Rustam. If you book a Persepolis group tour out of Shiraz, Pasargadae is oftentimes included.
Recommended duration for Pasargadae: 1-2 hours.
For more information about Pasargadae, check out the world heritage site’s official website.
More Tips For Visiting Persepolis, Iran
Persepolis Opening Hours
The sites of Persepolis, Naqsh-e-Rustam, and Pasargadae are usually open from 8 am – 5 pm, but it’s best to confirm with a knowledgeable local in Shiraz or check this official website.
Entrance Fees
Like all touristic sites in Iran, the sites of Persepolis, Naqsh-e-Rustam, and Pasargadae charge different prices for Iranians and foreigners. Typically, Iranians have to pay 50,000 rials whereas foreigners have to pay 1,000,000 rials. Keep in mind that all these sites plus the Persepolis Museum charge separate entrance fees, and since international credit and debit cards don’t function in Iran, you need to make sure you have enough cash on you when leaving Shiraz.
I’m speaking out of experience: I ran out of Iranian currency during my trip to Persepolis and there were no banks outside of Shiraz that could exchange US dollars. In the end, I gave $100 note to my driver and he had to call up three different friends to gather enough change in rials!
Guides
As I mentioned earlier, it’s an excellent idea to hire a knowledgeable guide for your visit to Persepolis who can give detailed explanations about the relics as you walk by. While you may run into knowledgeable and affordable guides randomly in Shiraz, it’s best to arrange someone in advance through a reputable travel agency. You can also ask the on-site staff for more information or ask for an audio guide.
I normally don’t hire guides for my daytrips but I was very lucky that my driver happened to be knowledgeable about the archeological sites, so I invited him to enter the sites with me and he gave excellent explanations. 🙂
Dress Code
Persepolis adheres to the same basic dress code as any other place in Iran. This means men should wear pants and shirt and women should wear longer dresses or tunics and a headscarf. This being said, the area around Persepolis isn’t particularly conservative and you won’t be visiting any mosques or shrines, so there’s no need to wear a chador.
Is It Safe To Visit Persepolis?
Persepolis is very safe to visit. The location is neither too busy nor too remote and you’ll find plenty of local and foreign tourists at all times. The area is safe for women to roam around alone and locals are respectful. I personally never encountered any scams but I still recommend watching out, especially with unofficial drivers and guides.
Restaurants Near Persepolis
While the museum complexes generally only offer refreshments, there are plenty of restaurants in the town of Marvdasht offering everything from Persian to western food. Some restaurants are especially Persepolis-themed to attract tourists, and their food is good and affordable. I recommend having lunch at one of those restaurants.
Hotels Near Persepolis
I recommend staying in Shiraz and visiting Persepolis for a day trip but if you happen to get stuck, rest assured, there are some tourist hotels in Marvdasht and even right next to the archeological sites. Just remember that you must pay for your stay in cash or using an Iranian debit card. Some hotels may offer currency exchange but it’s certainly not guaranteed.
Where To Go Next
Did you enjoy your visit to Persepolis? Here’s where you can head next:
- Shiraz: if you haven’t explored Shiraz at this point, it should be the first thing on your list when returning from Persepolis!
- Esfahan: If you’re traveling from south to north, Esfahan is the next logical stop. Before you indulge in the breathtaking architecture of Esfahan though, try to squeeze in a quick stop at Pasargadae.
- Yazd: Yazd is the next stop when traveling eastward. Besides beautiful architecture, the city also houses important religious sites of Zoroastrianism, which makes it a great lesson after learning about the Achaemenid Empire.
Conclusion
A visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Persepolis Iran is a must when traveling to Iran. The Achaemenid ceremonial capital houses the best preserved and most impressive ruins of ancient Persia, reflecting the rich heritage of one of the greatest empires in ancient history. Besides the ruins of Persepolis, you should also try to visit the nearby necropolis of Naqsh-e-Rustam and if possible, the ruins of Pasargadae. I hope this guide answered all your questions regarding Persepolis Iran, including how to get to Persepolis, what to see, practical tips, and more.
Have you ever been to Persepolis? How was your experience? Share your opinion in the comments below!