Characterized as an old historical bazaar, but the Tehran Grand Bazaar is so much more than that, still to this day acting as a vital economic center of Tehran where everyone comes to buy anything. You name it; you can find it here if you wander for long enough through its seemingly endless labyrinths of covered alleys. Make sure you have a map on your phone and then get as lost as you can, safe in the knowledge you will somehow find your way back! Incredibly photogenic, be sure to visit the Tehran Grand Bazaar in the morning before all the stock gets refilled in the afternoon by scary fast-moving haulage equipment, which somewhat distracts from the experience. Iranian carpet sellers will undoubtedly try to befriend you. They can make an interesting guide if you don’t mind the hard sell at the end (although in our experience they knew Westerners generally couldn’t afford their outrageous prices and were just happy to chat!)
