The best of Istanbul in 24 hours
24 hours in Istanbul is way too short and I really regret I did not have more time to explore this vast multicultural city. Tthere are so many things to do in Istanbul. I arrived late in the evening on…
Middle East
The Persian food guide: Eating your way through Iran
Years ago, when I was still a small child and I never even heard of Iran, our family was invited for dinner by an Iranian family. I never forgot that evening. We had such a great time and the food…
Top 10 budget hotels in Iran
In preparing my Iran trip it was sometimes hard to find information on budget hostels or hotels in Iran. The 2012 Lonely planet was outdated. Airbnb was not yet working and many hotels do not have an internet presence and…
Tehran bazaar in pictures
I just wanted to buy some souvenirs on my last day in Iran and therefore I headed to the Tehran bazaar. I was planning to go there for maybe an hour, but ended up spending the whole day there. What…
The best of Yazd: Gateway to Iran’s desert
It was a long bus ride from Shiraz to Yazd so I decided to treat myself on a VIP bus. Normal buses in Iran are already comfortable, but the VIP buses even take it to the next level. It was late…
How to visit Persepolis: Iran’s Glorious past
Persepolis was once the ceremonial capital of the great Persian empire of the Achaemenid kings. It was built-in the 6th century BC by the kings Darius, Xerxes and Antexerxes. In that time the Persian empire was the largest empire of…
The best of Shiraz: Iran’s center of poetry and beauty
I arrived in Shiraz after a 7 hour bus journey from Esfahan. A taxi driver and a family got my attention and I joined them to the shared taxi stand. When I saw the taxi I regretted my decision as the…
The best of Esfahan: the blue jewel of Iran
Iranians say that Esfahan is half of the world. The old capital of the Persian empire is still full of history with beautiful Persian Islamic architecture and a lively bazaar famous for their Persian carpets and other local handicrafts. Unfortunately…
The best of Kashan: the traditional heart of Iran’s desert
Kashan was the first desert city on my itinerary. I arrived late in the afternoon after my visit to Qom. Luckily, my hotel was not too far away from where the bus dropped me. I checked in when dark brownish clouds…
Qom: the religious face of Iran
Not every Iranian I met during my trip appreciated the fact I went to Qom. Some told me they would never visit this city of fundamentalists. I was also a bit nervous about my visit as a female travelling alone. Qom…