For centuries the Grand Bazaar has been the commercial heart of Tehran, and its merchants — the bazaaris — have played a role in the country’s politics too. Its maze of vaulted lanes stretches for kilometres, each section devoted to one trade: gold, carpets, copper, spices, fabrics, household goods.
Between the lanes hide caravanserais, small mosques and grand domed halls (timcheh) with beautiful tilework. The busy crowds, porters pushing carts and calls of traders make it one of the most authentic experiences in the capital. Stop for a traditional lunch of dizi or chelo kebab in one of the old eateries inside.
Highlights
- Lanes devoted to carpets, gold, copper and spices
- Tiled domed halls (timcheh)
- Traditional dizi lunch inside the bazaar
- The everyday life of Tehran’s merchants
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