Iran operates a domestic aviation network connecting 67 airports through Iran Air, Mahan Air, Qeshm Air, and fourteen smaller carriers. Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport serves as the primary hub, with Mehrabad Airport handling most domestic flights within the capital. Direct flights link Tehran to Mashhad in approximately 1 hour 20 minutes, to Isfahan in 1 hour, to Shiraz in 1 hour 30 minutes, and to Tabriz in 1 hour 15 minutes. Mashhad International Airport processes more than 9 million passengers annually, making it the second-busiest facility after Tehran. Kish Island and Qeshm Island maintain regular connections to mainland cities, with flights to Tehran departing multiple times daily. Airlines require advance booking during Nowruz (March 20-21) and religious holidays when domestic travel increases substantially. International credit cards do not function for purchasing tickets within Iran, requiring cash payment in Iranian rial or pre-arranged bank transfers.
The railway network extends 8,484 kilometers across the country, operated exclusively by Raja Passenger Train Company under the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Railways. The Tehran-Mashhad route covers 926 kilometers in approximately 12 hours on standard service trains and 7 hours on the newer high-speed Simorgh trains that entered service in 2020. Tehran-Isfahan trains complete the 418-kilometer journey in 6 hours, while Tehran-Tabriz requires 13 hours for 736 kilometers. A direct rail line connects Tehran to Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf, traversing 1,387 kilometers in 19 hours through Qom, Kashan, and Kerman. Sleeper cabins offer four-berth or six-berth compartments on overnight routes, with separate cars designated for women and families. The trans-Iranian railway connecting the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf achieved UNESCO World Heritage status in 2021 for its engineering significance across 1,394 kilometers of mountainous terrain constructed between 1927 and 1938. Tickets cost approximately 30 to 40 percent less than equivalent bus routes, with reservations required during peak travel periods. No rail service currently reaches Shiraz, requiring bus connections from Isfahan or Kerman.
Intercity buses form the primary public transport infrastructure, with approximately 3,700 licensed bus companies operating from 320 terminal facilities nationwide. VIP buses feature reclining seats, onboard refreshments, and reduced passenger capacity compared to standard services. The Tehran-Isfahan route operates every 30 minutes during daylight hours, completing 420 kilometers in 5 to 6 hours depending on traffic conditions. Tehran South Terminal dispatches buses to southern cities including Shiraz (930 kilometers, 12 hours), Kerman (1,076 kilometers, 14 hours), and Bandar Abbas (1,420 kilometers, 18 hours). Tehran West Terminal serves destinations including Tabriz (619 kilometers, 8 hours), Rasht (313 kilometers, 4 hours), and Hamadan (336 kilometers, 5 hours). Mashhad-Shiraz requires approximately 21 hours to cover 1,760 kilometers, typically departing in evening hours with overnight travel. Companies including Iran Peyma, TBT, and Seir-o-Safar operate the majority of intercity routes with advance booking available through domestic online platforms. Passengers must present identification matching the ticket name, with separate seating areas maintained for unrelated men and women on most routes.
Tehran operates a six-line metro system totaling 245 kilometers, carrying approximately 3 million passengers daily as of 2023. Line 1 runs 42 kilometers from Kahrizak in the south to Tajrish in the north, intersecting with Lines 2, 3, 4, and 7 at various transfer points. Line 4 connects Shahid Kolahdooz station to Azadegan, passing through Tehran Bazaar and enabling access to central commercial districts. Single journey tokens cost 15,000 rial as of 2023, with rechargeable cards available for frequent travelers. Peak hours between 7:00 and 9:00 and 17:00 and 19:00 experience severe crowding, particularly on Line 1. The first two cars of every train are designated for women only, with the remaining cars mixed or male. Isfahan operates a single 20-kilometer metro line connecting Qods to Kaveh, opened in 2015 and carrying approximately 60,000 passengers daily. Mashhad's two-line system extends 34 kilometers and serves key areas including the Imam Reza Shrine, though it does not reach the intercity bus terminals. Shiraz and Tabriz maintain metro systems under various stages of construction as of 2024, with limited operational segments.
Savari shared taxis operate on fixed routes between cities and within urban areas, departing when all four or five passenger seats fill. Tehran-Karaj savaris travel the 40-kilometer route continuously throughout the day, charging approximately 50,000 rial per passenger. Intercity savaris cost roughly double the bus fare for the same route but reduce travel time by 20 to 30 percent through fewer stops. Passengers can reserve an entire vehicle by paying for all seats, termed darbast service. Urban savaris in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, and Shiraz follow specific street routes marked by signs, stopping at designated points along main corridors. Yellow taxis circulate in major cities with meters required by law but frequently non-functional, requiring fare negotiation before departure. Snapp and Tap30 ride-hailing applications function in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Kerman, requiring Iranian phone numbers for registration. Credit cards issued outside Iran cannot be added to these platforms, necessitating cash payment directly to drivers.
Road 7 connects Tehran to the Persian Gulf via Qom, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Bandar Abbas as the primary north-south highway. Road 2 extends from the Turkish border at Bazargan through Tabriz, Zanjan, and Tehran to the Turkmenistan border, spanning approximately 2,100 kilometers. The Tehran-Qom-Isfahan freeway maintains generally good surface conditions, while secondary roads in mountainous regions including the Zagros and Alborz ranges deteriorate significantly outside main routes. The Chalus Road crosses the Alborz Mountains from Karaj to the Caspian coast, ascending to 2,100 meters through 51 numbered tunnels across 165 kilometers. Transiting the Zagros Mountains between Isfahan and Yasuj involves numerous hairpin turns and gradients exceeding 8 percent. Police checkpoints occur on highways entering and exiting major cities, requiring identification documents from all vehicle occupants. Speed limits range from 95 to 120 kilometers per hour on freeways depending on road classification, with radar enforcement common and fines issued through registered vehicle ownership. Women can legally drive in all regions, though international driving permits are not recognized without conversion to an Iranian license requiring residency documentation.
Rental vehicles require an Iranian national identity card or valid residency permit, effectively excluding tourists from standard rental procedures. Some agencies in Tehran and Isfahan arrange rentals for foreign passport holders with substantial cash deposits between 100 million and 300 million rial, varying by vehicle class. Insurance coverage excludes international policies, requiring purchase through Iranian providers. Fuel costs 30,000 rial per liter for regular gasoline as of 2023 under the subsidized domestic pricing structure, with stations requiring Iranian fuel cards linked to vehicle registration numbers. Foreign-plated vehicles face complications obtaining fuel without temporary permits issued through customs at entry points. Traffic proceeds on the right side, with highway signage in both Persian and English on major routes. Urban signage typically appears in Persian script only, with Tehran street names following a complex district-based numbering system that changes across neighborhood boundaries.
Bicycles face limited infrastructure outside dedicated parks in Tehran, Isfahan, and Mashhad, with no protected bicycle lanes on urban streets in most cities. The Caspian coastal road between Astara and Bandar-e Anzali attracts cycling tourists, though shoulders narrow considerably through mountain sections. Yazd maintains relatively flat terrain suitable for cycling within the old city, where many locals use bicycles for short trips. Humidity along the Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea coasts exceeds 80 percent during summer months, creating challenging conditions for extended physical exertion. Temperatures in Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut surpass 50 degrees Celsius during June through August, making desert cycling hazardous without extensive water supplies.