Iran

After the nuclear deal: travel in Iran

Huge change is afoot in Iran. The historic nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers means fresh dynamics in the Middle East, a change in the world's perception of Iranians, wild speculation about oil prices...all this and more. But what we really want to know is – will the country become more travel-friendly? The answer is almost certainly yes.

The deal lifts a wide range of sanctions on the country. If the economy starts developing as fast as expected, cash is bound to be poured into improving the tourism bedrocks: hotels, restaurants, transport, sports and adventure facilities. At long last, Iran's airline industry will be able to replace its ancient planes, making the country's huge span easier and safer to cover by air. Hopes are high that warmer diplomatic relations will translate to easier visa processes (not a minute too soon) and in future, even hitting the famous bazaars with an international bank card won't be out of the question.

Helen Elfer

Lonely Planet Writer

Don't skip Tehran's unmissable sights

Tehran is the city travellers love to hate, with many avoiding a stay here altogether en route to Iran's more popular tourist destinations. But as Mike Milotte discovers, the capital's gorgeous galleries, sociable locals and exhilarating pace give it a beautiful side too.

Iranian friends and our guide/interpreter alike think we’re mad, but we persist with our plan to spend 10 days of our month-long visit to Iran in the polluted and architecturally unattractive capital, Tehran. It’s a city most organised tours dispose of in a day or two with a quick visit to the crowded and bling-choked Jewellery Museum, a glimpse of the Azadi Tower, and a stop at one of the former Shah’s flashily opulent palaces. For my part, eleven museums, six art galleries and three bazaars later – not to mention two mountain trips, one cinema visit and a memorable night at home with a Tehrani family – I’m glad we persevered.

Mike Milotte

Lonely Planet Writer

Sports in unlikely places

Watching or playing your favourite sport while on holiday can be a great conversation starter. If the sport is truly unexpected in the region, you’ll experience a commonality with a group of people – even though you are, geographically, and perhaps linguistically, worlds apart. Here are some sports that have evolved in truly unlikely surroundings.

Ice hockey came to Turkey in the mid-1980s when a group of embassy and consulate workers based in Istanbul and Ankara wanted to play organised hockey in their cities. In addition to playing in their own matches, the foreigners coached local kids and provided them with skates and sticks.

Joe Tuck

Lonely Planet Writer