Overview
Few countries reward the curious traveller like Iran. This is ancient Persia: the turquoise domes of Isfahan, the poetry gardens of Shiraz, desert cities of mud-brick and windcatchers, and a tradition of hospitality that genuinely surprises first-time visitors. There are currently no direct flights from the UK to Iran, so travellers connect through a hub in Turkey or the Gulf. Before booking, check the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice for Iran on gov.uk, as at the time of writing it carries serious warnings and the position can change.
Best time to fly to Iran
Spring (mid-March to late May) and autumn (September to November) are the sweet spots, with mild days ideal for sightseeing in Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd and Shiraz. Nowruz, the Iranian New Year around 21 March, is festive but busy and pricier. Summers are punishing across the centre and south, where Yazd and Ahvaz regularly pass 40°C, while the west and north-west turn cold in winter, with skiing in the Alborz near Tehran. Use the price charts on this page to line up dates with lower fares.
Main gateway cities & airports
Tehran Imam Khomeini International (IKA), roughly 50km south of the capital, is the main international gateway. Mehrabad (THR) handles mostly domestic flights. Regional airports at Shiraz (SYZ), Isfahan (IFN), Mashhad (MHD) and Tabriz (TBZ) take some international services, but most UK travellers arrive into IKA and pick up a domestic connection from there.
Airlines and routes
No nonstop UK-Iran flights operate at present. The common one-stop options are Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, Pegasus via Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (from Stansted, Gatwick, Luton, Manchester and Edinburgh), Qatar Airways via Doha, Emirates and flydubai via Dubai, and Azerbaijan Airlines via Baku. From London, allow roughly 8-11 hours in total via Istanbul including the connection; from Manchester it is broadly similar. Gulf routings via Doha or Dubai usually run 11-14 hours.
Popular places to visit in Iran
- Isfahan: Safavid squares, blue-tiled mosques and covered bazaars, long called 'half the world'.
- Shiraz: gardens, Persian poetry and the launch point for Persepolis.
- Persepolis: the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, carved with processions of tribute-bearers.
- Yazd: a honey-coloured desert city of windcatchers, lanes and Zoroastrian heritage.
- Tehran: museums, Qajar palaces and the dazzling National Jewels, framed by the Alborz mountains.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Iran
- Compare hub routings: Istanbul-based carriers often undercut the Gulf airlines, so check the When to book chart above.
- Fly midweek and avoid Nowruz in late March and the peak summer holiday weeks.
- Book around two to four months ahead for spring and autumn travel.
- Consider an open-jaw ticket into Tehran and out of Shiraz or Isfahan to save backtracking.
Travel essentials
British passport holders need a visa arranged before travel and, under current Iranian rules, normally must travel on an organised tour or with an approved guide; visa on arrival is not reliable for UK nationals. The currency is the Iranian rial. Because of sanctions, UK debit and credit cards do not work in Iran, so take enough euros or pounds in cash to exchange, or arrange a prepaid tourist card on arrival. For the best fares, watch the price charts on this page and set a fare alert.
