Landed In

Arrival guide

Landed in Tehran.

Getting from Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) into the city, what money to carry, the apps locals use, and how to get online.

International cards and banks do not work in Iran. Bring enough clean, undamaged cash in euros or US dollars for your whole trip.
Check your government's travel advice and entry rules before you fly. Conditions and advisories can change quickly.
Imam Khomeini airport is about 45 km south of the city. Plan on a transfer of an hour or more.

From the airport to the city center

Easiest

Airport taxi (official counter or Snapp)

1,500,000 to 3,500,000 IRR (rial prices shift fast; ask for the current rate) ($10 to $25)

50 to 90 min

  1. 1Collect your bags and clear customs, then walk into the arrivals hall.
  2. 2Find the official taxi or agency counters inside arrivals and say your destination is central Tehran.
  3. 3Agree the price before you get in, and pay the counter if it issues a ticket.
  4. 4Alternatively, connect to Wi-Fi or a SIM and order a Snapp from the pickup area.
  5. 5Show your driver the hotel name in Persian if you can.
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Cheapest

Tehran Metro Line 1 from Imam Khomeini Station

Very low fare, usually well under 100,000 IRR (Under $1)

60 to 90 min

  1. 1Follow signs from the terminal to the Imam Khomeini metro station.
  2. 2Buy a single-trip ticket or a metro card at the station, using cash.
  3. 3Take Line 1 north toward the city and check the map for your transfer.
  4. 4Change lines to reach the central station nearest your hotel.
  5. 5Finish with a short Snapp ride if you have heavy luggage.

Daytime hours; check the current schedule locally.

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Fastest

Pre-booked hotel transfer

3,000,000 to 6,000,000 IRR ($20 to $40)

45 to 75 min

  1. 1Message your hotel before you fly and ask for a pickup quote.
  2. 2Share your flight number so the driver can track your arrival.
  3. 3After customs, look for a driver holding your name in arrivals.
  4. 4Confirm the price and the drop-off in central Tehran before you leave.
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Want a driver waiting for you?

Book a fixed-price transfer before you fly and skip the taxi queue.

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Money

Iranian rial (people often quote prices in toman, which is one tenth of a rial)

IRR

$1 is about 600,000 to 1,000,000 rial on the open market; the rate moves often

Cards

Visa, Mastercard and foreign bank cards do not work. Pay in cash, or use a tourist prepaid card if you arrange one in advance.

Tipping

Tipping is modest. Round up taxi fares and leave 5 to 10 percent in restaurants if no service charge is added. Taarof, the polite offer-and-refusal custom, is common.

Cash

  • Bring euros or US dollars in new, unmarked notes.
  • Always ask whether a price is in rial or toman before you pay.
  • Change money at licensed exchange offices, not with strangers on the street.

ATMs

  • Foreign cards do not work in Iranian ATMs, so do not rely on them.
  • Consider an Iran-specific tourist card from a licensed provider if you want to pay by card.
  • Keep your cash in a few places on you.

Apps to download

Snapp

Must have

Ride-hailing for the city and airport, with fixed prices

App StoreGoogle Play

Neshan

Must have

Offline-friendly Persian maps and navigation

App StoreGoogle Play

Balad

Maps and local place search

App StoreGoogle Play

Snappfood

Food delivery

App StoreGoogle Play

Telegram

Messaging; widely used by locals and hotels

App StoreGoogle Play

Stay connected

Many Western sites and apps are blocked or slow in Iran. Get a local SIM and a VPN installed before you land.

  • Buy an Irancell or Hamrah-e Avval (MCI) SIM at the airport counters in arrivals; bring your passport.
  • Rent a tourist SIM through your hotel or a local agent.
  • Install a reliable VPN before you travel, as app stores and VPN sites may be hard to reach there.

Get your eSIM before you fly

Install it at home and you'll have data the moment you land, with no airport SIM queue.

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Good to know

  • Always agree on a taxi price before you get in, or use Snapp to avoid haggling.
  • Taarof means people may refuse payment at first. Insist politely once or twice before you accept an offer.
  • Dress codes are legally enforced. Follow local rules on head coverings and modest clothing.
  • Photography near military, government and security sites is prohibited. Ask before photographing people.
  • Alcohol is illegal, and public displays of affection can cause trouble.
  • Traffic is heavy and crossing roads is hard. Cross with locals and watch for motorbikes.

Emergency numbers

Prices and tips are AI-written estimates, so double-check anything important.