Golestan Palace

About this place

Golestan Palace is a former royal Qajar complex in Tehran and one of the oldest monuments in the capital, on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2013. It consists of eight palatial groups inside an outer wall, today used mostly as museums. Its gardens and decorated walls offer a rare calm amid the noise of crowded central Tehran. The roots of Tehran's royal citadel go back further, and these buildings once lay inside its defensive walls. Most of the present structures date from the 19th century, when the Qajars ruled from Tehran. Its collections show Iranian and European crafts and gifts from the 18th to the 20th century, revealing the exchange between the two. You walk among long pools and thick trees and see facades covered in yellow and blue tiles showing scenes and flowers, along with the Wind Tower and its tall windows. The best-known room is the Hall of Mirrors, with glittering walls and ceilings, and the marble throne stands in the outer terrace. Tickets are usually sold separately for each section, so choose what suits your time. It is about 3 km in a straight line from central Tehran, close to the Grand Bazaar, so you can combine them. Photography is sometimes not allowed in some rooms, so ask first. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to Iran and warns that British nationals risk detention, so check official guidance before making any plans. We could not confirm the current state of this site.