Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the fee at the
Bank Melli
(Shariati Ave)
five minutes away down Hamid Alley and across
Shariati Ave. Return for security check and,
insh'Allah,
the extension.
Getting There & Away
Tehran is Iran's transport hub and every town and city of any size is directly linked to the
capital - always by bus, usually by air and increasingly by train too. Tickets from Tehran
can sell fast so book ahead if you can.
Air
Tehran has two civilian airports: the newer
Imam Khomeini International Airport
(IKIA; 36;
www.ikia.ir
)
, 35km south of the city for international flights, and old
Mehra-
bad Airport
(
http://mehrabadairport.ir
)
south of Azadi Sq in the west for domestic
flights. For information about international routes and carriers,
Click here
.
Every day there are flights between Tehran and almost every provincial capital in Iran.
Iran Air
(Timetable and price information 4467 2200; 8am-midnight)
flies most
routes and is complemented by a growing number of smaller airlines. Domestic flight
prices are fixed by the government so with no price differential between airlines, it's best
to buy tickets from travel agencies where you'll have more options.
INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS
Customs and immigration procedures at IKIA are slow but generally hassle-free if your
papers are in order. Bags are X-rayed as you leave the baggage hall, but tourists are sel-
dom hassled.
You'll need cash to leave the airport and several banks in the arrivals hall can change
money at poor rates. However, it will get you an official exchange receipt, which is worth
having.
Mobile phone operator MTN has two offices selling Irancell SIM cards more cheaply
than you'll get them in town, and with less hassle (they can register the SIM while you
wait). The tourist information counter was little help to us. All these services are open 24
hours (in theory). For transport to the airport,
Click here
.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES
The hardest part about leaving Tehran is getting to the airport on time. Unless your flight
is very early or very late (as many are), give yourself well over an hour to get to IKIA
from central Tehran, then an hour to get through customs and immigration. If you have
changed money legally at a bank, and have a receipt, you can in theory convert unused ri-
als into cash euros. However some travellers have reported being unable to do this.
