Things to do and where to stay in Shiraz
Where to stay · Iran

Where to stay in Shiraz — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks

Shiraz is Iran's cultural soul — the city of the poets Hafez and Saadi, of roses and Persian gardens. At dawn, sunlight pours through the stained glass of Nasir al-Mulk (the Pink Mosque), scattering rainbows across its carpets. Wander the centuries-old Vakil Bazaar, sip tea at Hafez's tomb, then take an easy day trip to Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of ancient Persia. Stays range from heritage guesthouses in the old town to five-star hotels in the city center.

🌷Pink Mosque📜Tomb of Hafez🏛️Persepolis🌳Eram Garden🕌Shah Cheragh
4areas to consider
0ranked guides
14See & Eat
🤝 Curated by the TopOfHotel team · scores from real guest reviews · live price comparison across 3 sites · no hidden adsHow we review →

Why stay in Shiraz

🌷

The legendary Pink Mosque

At Nasir al-Mulk, morning light through stained glass floods the hall in color — one of Iran's most iconic sights.

📜

A city of poets

The tombs of Hafez and Saadi draw Iranians to read verse and sip tea — serene, deeply atmospheric spots.

🏛️

Gateway to Persepolis

The ceremonial capital of the ancient Persian Empire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is just a day trip away.

🌳

Persian gardens & roses

Eram Garden, Afif-Abad and more — cypress trees, fountains, and fragrant roses, especially in spring.

Pick an area first — where to stay in Shiraz

Location is the single most important thing about a hotel — choose the right area first, then pick the hotel

Old City / ZandOld City / Zand

Near Karim Khan Citadel, Vakil Bazaar & the Pink Mosque · walkable

Coming soon
Quran Gate AreaQuran Gate Area

Near Hafez's tomb, mountain views, large five-star hotels

Coming soon
MaaliabadMaaliabad

Modern northwest district · malls, restaurants, hotels with pools

Coming soon
Afif-AbadAfif-Abad

Near Afif-Abad Garden · quiet residential area with resort-style hotels

Coming soon

Ranked reviews — find your ideal stay in Shiraz

Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then explore food and sights

We're rolling out Shiraz stay reviews — meanwhile search Shiraz hotels across all 3 sites now

Local dishes to try in Shiraz

  1. 1🥬

    Kalam Polo

    Rice cooked with cabbage, minced meat, basil and tarragon — Shiraz's signature dish, typically served with Shirazi salad.

    📍 Main dish
  2. 2🥗

    Shirazi Salad

    Finely diced tomato, cucumber and onion tossed with mint and lemon juice — a fresh staple on nearly every Shirazi table.

    📍 Side
  3. 3🍧

    Faloodeh Shirazi

    Chilled thin rice-starch noodles in rosewater syrup, topped with lemon or sour-cherry juice — a dessert locals say was born here.

    📍 Dessert
  4. 4🍚

    Shirazi Polo

    Saffron rice with orange peel, almonds and pistachios — a fragrant, colorful dish popular for holidays and celebrations.

    📍 Festive rice
  5. 5🍮

    Masghati

    A soft, translucent confection flavored with rosewater and pistachio — a classic Shiraz souvenir treat.

    📍 Sweet
  6. 6🌹

    Rosewater & Persian Tea

    As the city of roses, Shiraz scents its sweets and drinks with rosewater; sipping black Persian tea with sweets is a local ritual.

    📍 Drinks
  1. 1🌷

    Nasir al-Mulk Mosque (Pink Mosque)

    A Qajar-era mosque clad in pink tiles, famous for stained glass that floods the hall with rainbow light at dawn — arrive before 9am for the best light.

    📍 Old City
  2. 2📜

    Tomb of Hafez (Hafezieh)

    The shrine of Iran's beloved 14th-century poet, set in a tranquil garden — a pilgrimage spot where locals read poetry over tea.

    📍 Quran Gate
  3. 3🕌

    Shah Cheragh Shrine

    A sacred shrine whose interior glitters with millions of tiny mirror fragments — modest dress required and visitors enter with a guide.

    📍 Old City
  4. 4🌳

    Eram Garden

    A classic Persian garden and UNESCO World Heritage Site with a mansion, towering cypresses, fountains and fragrant flowers, dazzling in spring.

    📍 UNESCO
  5. 5🛍️

    Vakil Bazaar

    A Zand-era bazaar under vaulted brick arcades selling Persian rugs, spices, sweets and crafts — easily a half-day of wandering.

    📍 Old City
  6. 6🏰

    Karim Khan Citadel

    A Zand-dynasty fortress in the heart of the city, once a royal residence, with tall brick walls and a famously leaning tower.

    📍 City center
  7. 7🏛️

    Persepolis

    The ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, a UNESCO site founded by Darius the Great in 518 BCE — about a 1-hour drive from the city.

    📍 Day trip · 61 km
  8. 8⛰️

    Naqsh-e Rostam

    Monumental rock-cut tombs of Persian kings carved into a cliff, just ~3 km from Persepolis — usually combined on the same day trip.

    📍 Near Persepolis

Things to do in Shiraz

Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Shiraz — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.

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★ TEAM'S TOP PICKS

3 Shiraz hotels our team picked for you

Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison

Zandiyeh Hotel★ 9.4Luxury

Zandiyeh Hotel

📍 Shiraz⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Persian-style luxury downtown

From~$113/night
read the full review →
Chamran Grand Hotel★ 9.0Luxury

Chamran Grand Hotel

📍 Shiraz⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

High-rise with panoramic city views

From~$134/night
read the full review →
Homa Hotel Shiraz★ 8.4Luxury

Homa Hotel Shiraz

📍 Shiraz⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Classic 5-star, mountain views, full facilities

From~$74/night
read the full review →
🏨 ALL PICKS

โรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในShiraz

ครบทุกระดับงบ — คัดจากคะแนนรีวิวจริง พร้อมเทียบราคา 3 เว็บ

#4

Karim Khan Hotel

★ 8.3⭐⭐⭐⭐Upper-mid📍 Shiraz

Great location near sights, good value

~$46/night
#5

Parhami Traditional House

★ 8.2⭐⭐⭐Value📍 Shiraz

200-year-old house, walk to old town

~$20/night
#6

Niayesh Boutique Hotel

★ 8.0⭐⭐⭐Value📍 Shiraz

Traditional boutique, best value in town

~$17/night

🚆 Getting around Shiraz

✈️

Shiraz Int'l Airport (SYZ)

Shahid Dastgheyb Airport sits south of the city, handling domestic flights and some international routes.

🚇

Metro

Two lines: Line 1 runs from the north of the city to the airport (Shahid Dastgheyb station); Line 2 passes through Zand Street in the center.

📱

Snapp / Tapsi apps

Iran's ride-hailing apps show the fare upfront — cheaper and easier than flagging a taxi, much like Grab.

🚕

Yellow taxis & buses

Yellow taxis and an extensive bus network cover the city; many accept payment via City Way cards.

💵

Cash & tourist debit cards

Visa/Mastercard don't work in Iran — bring USD/EUR cash to exchange, or load a prepaid tourist debit card accepted almost everywhere.

Where to go next near Shiraz

Frequently asked — where to stay in Shiraz

Which area should I stay in for a first visit to Shiraz?+

The Old City / Zand area is best — within walking distance of Karim Khan Citadel, Vakil Bazaar and the Pink Mosque. The Quran Gate area is near Hafez's tomb with large hotels and mountain views, while Maaliabad and Afif-Abad are quieter with pool hotels.

How do I get to Persepolis from Shiraz?+

Persepolis is about 61 km away, roughly a 1-hour drive. Most travelers hire a car or join a day tour, which usually also stops at Naqsh-e Rostam (just ~3 km away) and sometimes continues to Pasargadae.

How do I pay in Shiraz — do foreign cards work?+

Foreign Visa/Mastercard cards do not work due to sanctions. Bring USD or EUR cash to exchange into rials (prices are often quoted in 'toman' = 10 rials), or use a prepaid tourist debit card you can load and swipe almost everywhere.

Ready to book your Shiraz stay?

Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking