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Tehran

Tehran (also spelled Teheran) (Persian: تهران), is the capital city of Iran. A bustling metropolis of 14 million people, it sits at the foot of the towering Alborz mountain range. Tehran is a cosmopolitan city, with great museums, parks, restaurants, and warm friendly people. It deserves at least a few days of your Iranian itinerary.

Understand

The city can be roughly divided into two parts - north and south. The northern districts of Tehran are more prosperous, modern, cosmopolitan and expensive while southern parts are less attractive but cheaper.

At the time of the Zand dynasty, it was a little town that was significant from a strategic point of view. The first of the Qajar kings, Agha Mohammed Khan, named Tehran as the country's capital in 1778, and most of its growth started during the reign of a subsequent Qajar monarch, Fath-Ali Shah. The castle which Agha Mohammed Khan had built was to contain the new majestic buildings.

At the same time, the city's population doubled. Due to the increasing significance of the city, gates, squares and mosques were built and it was at the time of Nassereddin Shah that the city's master sketch was prepared and modern streets were constructed. Later, huge central squares like Toopkhaneh square (now Imam Khomeini) and quite a few military buildings were built. Even though the Qajar dynasty was in a period of decline, Tehran soon took the shape of a modern city. The structure of large government buildings, new streets, recreation centres, urban service organizations, and academic and methodical centres were started, even as most of the old gates and buildings were destroyed and the city's old architectural fabric replaced by a contemporary one.

Tehran has also earned itself an unenviable reputation as a smog-filled, traffic-clogged and featureless sprawl of concrete bursting at the seams with 14 million residents. But you can also find an endless number of nice and cosy places in and around the city - if you know where to look. Tehran is a city of more than 800 parks, all well-kept. The city is nearly a mile high above sea level and as a result is cooler than other cities in the Middle East. Still, summer temperatures are very hot, averaging 33°C (91°F) in July and frequently exceeding 38°C (100°F). The air tends to be very dry.

A combination of factors make Tehran a pleasant place to visit: the dry climate which is cool in the evenings, the proximity of the mountains, the parks and gardens where flowers blossom all through the year, the alleys of trees in the avenues or even smaller streets, and even the water that runs down from the upper city along deep and wide gutters which look like small rivers during spring. The Alborz range on the north of Tehran, which hosts the highest peak in Iran, provides fantastic conditions for ski lovers in the winter. In winter, the mountain hotels and ski clubs at Shemshak, and Dizine are very busy. There is some world-class skiing to be done in the resorts just north of Tehran.

Get in
For information on Iranian visas please refer the Iran page.

By plane

Getting there and away:
 * By metro – The easiest way to reach city center. Line number 8 connects Airport Terminal A with Metro Line 1 (red line) (75,000 rials, that can be used for the full network, Mar 2019). Runs irregularly: 06:50, 08:10, 09:30, 10:50, 12:10, 13:30, 14:50, 16:10, 17:30, 18:50, 20:10. For Metro Line 1 (red) there is a metro from IKA to Tehran durin daytime—the trains run hourly (Sep 2017).
 * By bus – To and from the city (e.g. Haram Metro station) every 30-60 min 07:00-23:00. They leave right in front of the main exit and cost 20,000-30,000 rial. There are unconfirmed reports of a shuttle bus operating between IKIA and Mehrabad Airport every 4–5 hours.
 * By taxi – They cost a fixed rate of 800,000 rials (or US$25 or €20 as of Oct 2017), ask at the taxi counter. The drive to/from the city center takes 45 minutes without traffic, but can take upwards of 90 minutes with traffic. There is a booth organizing taxis right outside the arrivals hall. You can also bargain with taxis dropping off passengers at the arrivals hall because otherwise they would have to go back to Tehran empty. Taxis to the nearest metro station (Haram-e-Motahhar) cost 500,000 rials.
 * Shuttle taxis and green minibuses operate between the airport and Shahed Station on the red line of the metro. This can be a convenient option going to the airport from town, but finding the shuttle taxis at the airport will be difficult as many don't stop there. At 7,000 rials for a metro ticket and 40,000 rials for a shuttle taxi (they will try to rip you off or charge for bringing in luggage even if there is space, so make sure to only occupy one seat if you don't want to pay extra), it is probably the cheapest option from town that doesn't require waiting a long time for the bus (shuttle taxis leave when full). At Shahed station, get out to the parking area (there is only one exit and you can't miss it) and on the very left you will see green minibuses. It takes about 30-40 min from there to the airport. Last one departs around 21:30.

Despite the warnings in some travel guides, there is no exit fee for foreign travellers, neither in Mehrabad nor in Imam Khomeini Airport. The exit fee applies to foreign travellers only when leaving Iran on land or by sea.

By train
There is at least one train per day (some overnight) from the Iranian cities such as Mashhad, Isfahan, Tabriz, Kerman, Yazd, Sari, Gorgan, Ahvaz and Bandar Abbas. Domestic tickets can be bought at any station, from travel agencies or online from various train operator websites, such as Raja, Fadak, BonRail, Joopar, and Behtarinsafar. You could also use one of Iranian OTAs to buy your tickets online.

An international train from Ankara, the Transasia Express, runs twice per week. There is an additional international train from Van via Tabriz as well.

By car
Traffic is very congested but has improved with the completion of several new tunnels and highways (referred to as autobahns by the locals) across the city. You can drive in from Turkey and the southern parts of Iran fairly easily. Although Iran has always had a reputation for a high number of driving accidents, the police have cracked down on accidents and driving is now safer than before. It is possible to rent a car at IKA airport, Mehrabad and in the city.

If you are going to use roads and ground transportation, there's a website maintained by the government's Ministry of Transportation and Urban Development available here or here that publishes roads' statuses. You might need to use Google Translate to understand the text when navigating through the pages.

By bus
Almost every city and far-flung village in Iran has bus services to Tehran-- hundreds of buses that pour in and out of the capital each day. Most buses arrive at one of four major bus terminals:

Get around
Getting around traffic-clogged, sprawling Tehran is a true test of patience. While taxis are your best bet, they are pricier here than the rest of the country. A large local bus network will also take you almost anywhere you need to go, as long you can make sense of the routes and Persian line numbers. The true star of Tehran's transport system, however, is the metro.

By bus
Tehran has an inexpensive but confusing bus network. Some require prepaid contactless card (min 5,000 rials), which can be bought from booths beside the bus stops and metro stations used when you get off the bus, and some should be paid by cash (ranging from 1,000-4,000 rials). The buses are partitioned in two sections, men-only (the front section) and women-only (the back section).

In the BRT lines, the women-only section is at the front. Also, the fee is paid on the station, using the prepaid contactless card (shared with Metro), or paying to the guard.

Since bus numbers, route descriptions and other information are in Persian, your best bet is to look confused at a bus terminal; a local will surely stop to help. Each bus line has a certain and almost invariable path but only people know exactly which bus stations exist for a certain road. You shouldn't expect a map or guides even in Persian showing the bus network or bus stations. Even asking the bus driver wouldn't be a great help for you to find your way either. If you get in a bus and looking for a certain station to alight, ask one to help you - you will find many people wish to help you to find your way, most of the time.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
The BRT buses are colored in red. BRTs has special lines and travels very quickly from Azadi square (west of Tehran) directly to the East (Terminal-e-Shargh). Railway square (south of Tehran) directly to the north (Tajrish square). Azadi square to free university (northwest). Azadi Square to South Terminal and parkway bridge (north of Tehran) to jomhuri square. Costs 1,000-3,000 rials. In high-traffic hours (07:00-09:00 & 16:00-20:00), it is the best way to traveling. BRT has many stations near main streets. Although you may not find an empty seat on the bus because of the crowds, people give their place to you if they know you are a tourist. The women's and men's seats and queues are separate.

By metro

Tehran's metro system has seven lines that will whisk you quickly from one end of the city to the other without having to deal with the noise, pollution and chaos of Tehrani traffic. However, many residents have decided to leave their cars and commute by metro, so expect huge crowds during rush hours.

There are seven lines but the two most useful are lines 1 (north to south- from Tajrish Station to Haram-e-Motahar Station) and 2 (east to west) which connect at the central Imam Khomeini station. All stations have signs in Persian and English. Trains run every 10 minutes or less on rush hours (15 minutes on Fridays and holidays) from around 05:30 to 23:00 every day.

Line 6 (the pink line) was opened in Apr 2019 from Shohada Square on line 4 to Dowlat Abad. One intermediate station is open. The rest of the line and its stations are still under construction.

Tickets are valid for 1 or 2 trips (including change of lines) and cost 10,000 rials for a single (Mar 2019). There are ticket booths at every station. You can also buy a contactless fare card which is the best option if you are going to use metro a lot, or want to have less hassle by paying 50,000 rials for a card and use it on metro and some city buses (if you use this card, you usually pay less than any other tickets, since they charge for the longest trip on the network). There are two dedicated women-only carriages at each end of the train. Women can anyway choose to travel aboard the other carriages but rarely do.

There are a few apps for Android and iOS devices to assist passengers on using the metro. You can try downloading the Tehran Metro app which is made for foreign travellers. First you can find yourself on a Google map (with stations marked on it) and your destination to decide which station you can get in and to which you want to arrive. After that you can select them on the stations map to get a textual explanation on taking directions and line changes along with a travel time estimation.

By taxi

As with the rest of the country private and shared taxis are abound in Tehran, although you may find flagging down a shared taxi more difficult amid the traffic and chaos, while private taxis are more expensive than in the smaller cities. See the Get Around information on Iran for details on flagging a taxi. If you want to get around by shared taxi, your best bet is to hop from square to square, as drivers will be reluctant to pick you up if your shouted destination deviates too far from their route. In each square you will find certain places where the private taxis are lined up in a queue and drivers call for passengers to a destination. (mostly happening during the times when the number of waiting taxis exceeds the number of passengers). In this case, they would wait until the car gets full of passengers (mostly one person at front and 3 people at back, excluding the driver). Otherwise the people have to line up in a queue waiting for the taxis to come. This is the case during rush hours (approximately 07:00-08:00 and 17:00-20:00). All these depend upon finding their regular station in the square. You can also ask them to alight sooner than your destination wherever you like but you have to pay their total fee up to destination. The cost of such a ride from Azadi Square to Vanak Square is around 10,000 rials for each person. Most drivers are very poor at English though. Snapp is the Iranian version of Uber in Tehran. It is fairly cheap and the price is calculated in advance. You need to have a local SIM and to install an app, available in English and French. Although the drivers may not be good English speakers, the support line speaks English well and can handle the communication problems between you and the driver.

Motorcycle taxis are common. You'll see plenty of these drivers standing at the side of the road calling "motor" at all who pass by. Motor taxi operators can seem even more suicidal than the average Tehran driver. Agree on a price before you take off and expect to pay slightly less than with a private taxi.

Historic sites

Museums

Murals
A1one (aka Alonewriter, tanha) graffiti and street art works are a feature of Tehran's urban space. A famous local graffiti artist is at the centre of controversy about whether his work is art or vandalism, and you can see his early works on the Tehran-Karaj Expressway, on the southern side walls UP in Ekbatan and Apadana districts. A more recent work of stencil art is found at the entrance of the Saba Art Institute. - Kolahstudio-an Art Basement, Iranian Underground Arts.

Parks and recreation

 * There are also two alternative ways of hiking up the mountain:
 * There are also two alternative ways of hiking up the mountain:

Learn

 * Loghatnameh Dehkhoda Institute & International Center for Persian Studies is the only school which offers Persian courses and can arrange student visas for foreigners. Consult the timetable at their website and apply at least 3 months before. People with tourist visas are not allowed to attend classes.

Work
It is easy to find work in Tehran, but you must have a university diploma to be applicable for good jobs. Although there is some inflation, many of the people in Tehran have good and well paying jobs. Like every other big developing world city, there's a big difference between poor and rich.

Money exchange
For information on Iranian currency see Iran.

You can exchange your currency in most banks after filling out between two and five forms, but the exchange rate in exchange offices (sarraafis) is always better than what is offered by banks. It is much advisable to go to one of these (close to Jewels Museum). Such offices can also be found in other parts of the city, but are far more scattered. Ask them to show you a copy of their license, issued by the Central Bank of the country and/or the local guild. A list of licensed sarraafis of the whole country, in Persian (Farsi), can be found here. This list includes phone numbers and addresses as well as license numbers and dates.

Also, most exchange offices in Tehran don't exchange before 09:00, when the daily rate gets fixed.

Do not exchange your money with one of the many individuals offering to exchange along Ferdosi St. It is much riskier and illegal. They might be criminals offering counterfeit money.

As for March 2019, exchange offices in Tehran were not exchanging, and they announced lower rate than at the airport. The best rate was (surprisingly) at the airport, and higher than stated at XE Currency Exchange. Accommodation can be paid in euros, so you do not need to exchange all the money for the trip. In March 2019, they were changing 151,000-153,000 rials for €1; 170,000-173,000 rials for £1; 139,000 rials for US$1 (dollar rate as of 26 Apr 2019) - at the airport, first floor (departures).

Bazaars and shopping malls
Visit the Bazaar, very appropriate for shopping. It ranges from cheap things to very expensive luxury things. You can find almost anything in the Bazaar, from clothing to carpets, kitchen accessories, decorations, jewellery....

There are also numerous shopping malls in the city. Valiasr Street and Tajrish Square (also includes a traditional bazaar) are two of the many locations full of shopping centres in Tehran.

Computer software
Due to Iran's refusal to sign the Berne Convention, the sale of pirated software is legal in the country. However, bringing the software home is likely to be illegal and may carry large fines or jail sentences if caught. The software might also not include the correct ID keys and therefore might not work on your computer. Buyer beware!

Places where pirated software is for sale include the bazaar at the corner of Vali-e-Asr Avenue and Enghelab Avenue, Bazar-e-Reza, Bazar-e-Iran, and the "Paytakht Computer Complex", a modern complex of seven storeys filled with computer equipment at the intersection of Vali-e-Asr and Mirdamad. The prices at the "Bazaar Reza" (at Charrah-e-Vali-e-Asr) are usually cheaper. Some of the computer equipment that is sold in Iran are cheap knockoffs.

Jewellery & gold
Jewellery & gold boutiques in Geisha, Milade Noor, Karim Khaan St. Golds, gems, and diamonds.

Bags & shoes
Designer bags and shoes such as Gucci, Versace, Dior, Armani in Golestan shopping centre & Milade noor.

Eat
Prices quoted on the menu may exclude an 8% tax, a 10-15% service charge, and a 10% tip. Be prepared to add as much as 1/3 to the prices quoted on the menu.

Budget
You'll find cheap & good enough abgoosht stew in any of the places they call ghahvekhuneh (قهوه‌خانه) which you can find in any non-strictly-residential area. Just ask for a ghahvekhuneh or get this قهوه‌خانه printed and show it. Nice traditional working class ambience as a rule.

You can find several food courts around Tehran with a variety of cuisines from Thailand, India, Italy, China and Turkey.
 * Sharafol-eslam is a restaurant in the Bazaar. It is famous for its kebabs and chicken. It gets really crowded though, which requires some patience.
 * Sharafol-eslam is a restaurant in the Bazaar. It is famous for its kebabs and chicken. It gets really crowded though, which requires some patience.
 * Sharafol-eslam is a restaurant in the Bazaar. It is famous for its kebabs and chicken. It gets really crowded though, which requires some patience.
 * Sharafol-eslam is a restaurant in the Bazaar. It is famous for its kebabs and chicken. It gets really crowded though, which requires some patience.
 * Sharafol-eslam is a restaurant in the Bazaar. It is famous for its kebabs and chicken. It gets really crowded though, which requires some patience.
 * Sharafol-eslam is a restaurant in the Bazaar. It is famous for its kebabs and chicken. It gets really crowded though, which requires some patience.
 * Sharafol-eslam is a restaurant in the Bazaar. It is famous for its kebabs and chicken. It gets really crowded though, which requires some patience.
 * Sharafol-eslam is a restaurant in the Bazaar. It is famous for its kebabs and chicken. It gets really crowded though, which requires some patience.
 * Sharafol-eslam is a restaurant in the Bazaar. It is famous for its kebabs and chicken. It gets really crowded though, which requires some patience.

Drink
For information on popular drinks in Iran, see Iran. Alcoholic beverages are illegal in Iran, other than some allowances for ritual use by Jews and Christians.

Coffee shops
Coffee shops are a great place for people watching as well as drinking.

 * There is a string of coffee shops on the south side of Jomhuriyeh Eslami Ave, a couple of hundred metres west of Ferdosi St. You can stock up on coffee beans and related paraphernalia, or even sample a cup for 4,000 rials.
 * Cafe Naderi - serves coffee, tea and pastries to a mix of Tehran's intelligentsia and bohemian elite. It's a great place to sit and watch hip young guys eyeing gossiping girls while old men reminisce about the "good ol' days" under the Shah.
 * Crystal Coffeeshop (at the top of the Borj-e Sefid Hotel) along Pasdaran Ave, Definitely worth a visit if in the area for the relaxing drink and view.
 * Crystal Coffeeshop (at the top of the Borj-e Sefid Hotel) along Pasdaran Ave, Definitely worth a visit if in the area for the relaxing drink and view.

Tea houses

 * Azari Traditional Tea House - Just north of the train station. A bit far from the center but worth the trek. The atmosphere here is unique, from the moment you enter from the beaded doorway. This is a popular hangout for people of all ages. Features an eclectic collection of water pipes and tea pots.
 * Gandhi Shopping centre. For trendy cafes filled with liberal Iranians. You will find about ten coffeeshops as well as a few very good restaurants, including Monsoon.
 * Gandhi Shopping centre. For trendy cafes filled with liberal Iranians. You will find about ten coffeeshops as well as a few very good restaurants, including Monsoon.

Juice bars

 * In many places you can find fresh sickly-sweet carrot juice - as well as some other juices - for just 30,000 rials a cup.
 * By most main bazaar in Tehran you can get a drink of blended honeydew melon with ice and sugar. It's delicious and extremely refreshing on a hot day. In the summer, you can try Khakshir a locally made amazing drink which is refreshing.

Sleep
The old-styled Mosaferkhanehs and budget hotels are often low quality and overpriced. The reason is that Iran has had very limited exposure to the outside world. In many low budget places there are no European toilets or even no toilet paper and staff can be rather unfriendly with no English-speaking ability. However, a couple of modern hostels have opened in Tehran.

Connect
For information on mobile phone operators and using the internet in Iran, see Iran

You need to use a proxy server, VPN or a software like Freegate or Psiphon to access Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and some websites; otherwise, you might see this page which shows that the site you want to access is filtered and blocked by the judiciary system. You also need to use Freegate to check your bank account balance; otherwise, your account might get blocked due to the sanctions against Iran.

Internet cafés
In addition to the above cafes, there are many others in all parts of the city.
 * Ferdosi Coffee Net - Enghelab Ave, (a few doors east of Ferdosi Square) is hard to find (look for the small sign plastered to a building) has two banks of computers.
 * Pars Net - one of south Tehran's hottest coffee nets, dishing up reasonable speed. It is on the eastern side of Ferdosi St, between Jomhuiyeh Eslami Ave and Enghelab Ave, across from the British embassy. They also provide fax and long-distance phone services.
 * Coffee Net Firouzeh - In Tehran's south in the nice and very friendly Firouzeh Hotel
 * Iranian Trade Centre - around Valiasr Square offers several Internet cafes (coffee nets).

3G and 4G internet connections
With a copy of the information page of your passport and a copy of the page with Iranian entrance seal and also, your visa, you can buy SIM cards and access the internet with GPRS, EDGE, 3G and 4G technologies. SIM cards are available in places like post and government e-services offices (Persian: singular: Daftar-e Pishkhan-e Khadamat-e Dowlat دفتر پیشخوان خدمات دولت; plural: Dafater-e Pishkhan-e Khadamat-e Dowlat دفاتر پیشخوان خدمات دولت), in big shops and at the Imam Khomeini airport. At least some shops refuse to sell SIM cards to British nationals.

3G
Mobile Communications of Iran (IR-MCI) or Hamrahe Avval همراه اول is a cellular phone company that provides SIM cards with 3G technology. You need to activate special packages to access the internet with less cost. This company has the largest cellular phones network subscribers and its numbers begin with 091. IR-MCI SIM cards have better signal coverage on roads. Irancell is another company that provides 3G service along with the other cellular phone services. Its SIM card numbers begin with 093 and 090. RighTel (رایتل) is anothe company providing reliable 3G internet connections.

4G
Irancel, Rightel, MCI all have 4G coverage in big cities.

Wireless portable internet connection
Irancell Wimax is one of the wireless internet networks available. MobinNet ISP Company is another service provider which provides wireless portable internet connection.

Stay safe

 * See also the warnings at Iran.

Considering that the population of Tehran is around 15 million, it is still one of the safer cities to visit in global terms. Violent crime is rare and exercising common sense and taking the usual precautions against pickpockets in crowded areas should ensure a hassle-free visit. Most areas are safe even late at night, although it is not advisable to take a private taxi at 02:00 for example (but the lack of public nightlife means that few tourists would be out at that time in the first place). South Tehran (or the areas south of the Tehran Bazaar) is the only area that should really be avoided after dark, as some of the more deprived neighborhoods are there.

Traffic in Tehran is very dangerous and should be considered to be among the worst in the world. Even though crossing the street might at first seem impossible, drivers usually do a very good job avoiding pedestrians. Still, try to cross the street when the locals do as there is safety in numbers. The rate of traffic accidents is disturbingly high, so faith should not be put on drivers' skills alone.

The fake police that have traditionally targeted tourists in Esfahan have also found their way to Tehran. These are usually uniformed men in unmarked cars flashing fake IDs and requesting to see your passport or to search through your luggage. You should ignore such requests and head to the nearest police station ("kalantari") if you feel unsafe. However, it can be somewhat hard for the untrained eye to tell these apart from real police.

If you decide to smoke the qalyan (waterpipe or hubble-bubble), make sure that you are not unintentionally smoking opium or any other kind of drug. Although drugs and alcohol are illegal in Iran, it is not impossible to get them, especially in Tehran. Obviously, you should not try to obtain or consume either, as the consequences can be very dire should you get caught. The government has banned smoking qalyan and cigarettes in public places, so finding a good place to smoke can be a challenge. If you really want to try the qalyan, do it only at a qahvekhane recommended by a Western guidebook or travel website.

Emergency services phone numbers

 * Police: 110 (has English-speaking operators)
 * Fire department: 125
 * EMS: 115
 * Road EMS: 115 or 112
 * Road Status Information: 141

Cope
The traffic in Tehran is horrendous. To get a break from it, head to the parks in the north of the city.

Go next

 * If the hustle and bustle of Tehran becomes too much, it's possible to go to the Caspian Sea for a day or two. The holiday town of Ramsar is about five hours away, and the drive across the Alborz Mountains is spectacular. A taxi round-trip for a day shouldn't set you back more than 500,000 rials (ask for taxis near Azadi Square).
 * Qom — about 2 hours away southwest of Tehran by bus and one hour by car (120 km) is the most religious city of Iran followed by Mashhad
 * Qom — about 2 hours away southwest of Tehran by bus and one hour by car (120 km) is the most religious city of Iran followed by Mashhad

title: Tehran


text:
Tehran (province)

Tehran Province (persian: استان تهران, transliteration: ostān-e Tehrān) is a province in Central Iran. It covers on area of 18,909 km² and is located to the north of the central plateau of Iran. This province has common borders with the Mazandaran province from north, Qom province from south, Semnan province from east and Qazvin province from west.

Geography
The province of Tehran has over 12 million inhabitants and is Iran's most densely populated region. Approximately 84.15% reside in urban areas and 15.85% in rural areas of the province.

The highest point of the province is Mount Damavand at an elevation of 5,678 m, and the lowest point of the province being the plains of Varamin, 790 m above sea level.

The largest Lakes of this province are Karaj River and Jajrud River.

Mountain ranges such as the Alborz span the north; Savad Kooh and Firooz Kooh are located in the north east; Lavasanat, Qarah Daq, Shemiranat, Hassan Abad and Namak Mountains are in the southern areas; Bibi Shahr Banoo and Alqadr are situated in the south east and the heights of Qasr-e-Firoozeh being located to the east of the province.

Environmentally speaking, the climate of Tehran province in the southern areas is moderately warm, but in the mountain vicinity it is cold, and in the higher regions it is even colder with long winters and fairly large amounts of snow. The hottest months of the year are from mid-July to mid-September when temperatures range from 28°C to 30°C, and the coldest months experience -10°C around December–January. Tehran city has cold winters and hot summers. Average annual rainfall is approximately 500 mm, the maximum being during the winter season.

Cities

 * – the capital of Iran
 * – a small town outside of Tehran
 * – biggest ski resort
 * – the oldest existing city in Tehran province
 * – village with ski resort, second largest in Iran
 * – the oldest existing city in Tehran province
 * – village with ski resort, second largest in Iran
 * – village with ski resort, second largest in Iran

See

 * Palaces, museums, mosques, shrines, mausoleums and churches.
 * Golestan Palace in Tehran, a UNESCO World Heritage site where the Peacock Throne of the Persian Shahs can be found.
 * National Museum of Iran, in Tehran
 * Sa'dabad Palaces Complex in Tehran
 * Glassware and Ceramics Museum of Iran
 * The Carpet Museum of Iran in Tehran
 * Tehran's Underglass Painting Museum
 * Niavaran Palace Complex in Tehran
 * The Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art features works of great artists such as Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.
 * Soltani Mosque, built by Fath Ali Shah
 * Atiq Mosque ("old mosque"), built in 1663

Churches:

 * Surep Georg Church, 1790
 * Thaddeus Bartoqimus Church, 1808
 * Tatavus Church, from the Qajar era
 * Enjili Church, 1867
 * Assyrian Church

Do
Parks and recreation are among the greatest things to do while you are in Tehran Province. Here are things that might amuse you while you are in Tehran Province:

 * Lavizan Forest
 * The Niavaran Public Library
 * Darband hiking trail
 * Chitgar Park
 * Mellat Park
 * Laleh Park
 * Jamshidieh Park in Tehran
 * Niavaran Park
 * Sa'ei Park
 * Shatranj Park
 * Tangeh Savashi
 * Darabad hiking trail
 * Darakeh hiking trail
 * Jahan-e Kudak Park
 * Azadi Sports complex

Today, 12 ski resorts operate in Iran, but the most famous are Tochal, Dizin, and Shemshak, all within one to three hours of Tehran. In some glaciers and year-round snow fields near Tehran, skiing began in 1938, thanks to the efforts of two German railway engineers.

Tochal skiing resort
One of the best ski resorts around the world. Tochal 7th station has skiing eight months of the year.

The French (Poma) built gondolas that carry tourists and skiers to Tochal mountain. Within 10 minutes of driving distance from Tehran lies a ski resort. Tochal is the world's 4th highest ski resort at over 3,730 m (12,240 ft) at its highest 7th station. The resort was completed in 1976 shortly before the overthrow of the Shah.

Here, one must first ride the eight kilometres (five mile) long gondola lift, which covers a huge vertical. The 7th station has three slopes. The resort's longest slope is the south side U shaped slope which goes from the 7th station to the 5th station. The other two slopes are located on the north side of the 7th station. Here, there are two parallel chair ski lifts that go up to 3,900 m (12,795 ft) near Tochal's peak (at 4,000 m/13,125 ft), rising higher than the gondola 7th station. This altitude is higher than any of the European resorts.

From the Tochal peak, one has a spectacular view of the Alborz range, including the 5,671-m (18,606 ft) high Mt. Damavand, a dormant volcano.

At the bottom of the lifts in a valley behind the Tochal peak is Tochal hotel, located at 3,500 m (11,483 ft) altitude. From there a T lift takes skiers up the 3,800 m (12,500 ft) of Shahneshin peak, where the third slope of Tochal is.

Eat
Kebab shops are scattered all over the province. If you are sick or not into kebab, there are lots of international restaurants in the city which range from Persian to Italian.

Drink
There are a lot of tea houses in the province, especially the capital. Soft drinks such as cola, Fanta and Pepsi are also available. The ZamZam Cola is the local Iranian cola. Although alcohol is not allowed, it is drunk in some underground parties and weddings.

Go next
Qom Province and the Caspian Mazandaran Province are just some of the existing beautiful and more cultural provinces close by.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Tehran (province)


text:
Teignmouth

Teignmouth is a coastal town in the English Riviera and South Devon region of Devon. It is on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign in an area of the South Devon coast that is famed for its red sandstone cliffs. It had a population of approx 15,000 in 2021.

In 1690, it was the last place in England to be invaded by a foreign power, when a contingent of the French fleet anchored of Torbay attacked the town. The town grew from a fishing port associated with the Newfoundland cod industry to a fashionable resort of some note in Georgian times, with further expansion after the opening of the South Devon Railway in 1846.

Its port still operates, and the town remains a popular seaside holiday location.

Understand
Don't call it "TAYN-mouth". It's "TIN-muth".

By car

 * From the north there is the B3192 which is off the A380 (Telegraph Hill) which is a winding route going through the mostly forested areas. These are particularly colourful in the autumn.
 * From the east the A370 from Exeter takes a longer and more scenic route along the Exe estuary going through Kenton, Starcross and Dawlish.
 * From the west the A381, again off the A380, at Kingsteington has some panoramic views up the Teign Estuary towards Teignmouth.
 * From the south the B3199 from Torquay via Shaldon (which is situated on the opposite bank of the Teign estuary overlooking Teignmouth).

By train
is near the centre of town on the line from London Paddington to Penzance in Cornwall. Alternatively it is on the Riviera Line serving Exeter, Starcross, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Torre, Torquay and Paignton.

Teignmouth station is served by Crosscountry and Great Western Railway trains. The journey from Exeter is famous for its beauty as it hugs the red sandstone cliffs with great views out to open sea. It is worth getting the train to Exeter just for the journey.

By plane
Teignmouth is from   which has scheduled flights to many destinations in the UK and Europe.

Get around
Most of Teignmouth can easily be reached by foot. Taxis can be found near the train station. Buses leave from the centre of town for Exeter, Torquay and Newton Abbot.

See
The beach and promenade stretch the entire length of the town and there is a Victorian pier and promenade.

There is a children's play area and mini golf on the grass area by the beach front called 'The Den'.

Do
The South West Coast Path, which passes through the town, is a great way to see the coast in this part of Devon.

 * Fishing - There is some excellent sea fishing to be had from Teignmouth, indeed it is famed for its flounder fishing. There is also a chance of bass, mackerel and there is some good game fishing to be had with both salmon and seatrout running up the river Teign.
 * Fishing - There is some excellent sea fishing to be had from Teignmouth, indeed it is famed for its flounder fishing. There is also a chance of bass, mackerel and there is some good game fishing to be had with both salmon and seatrout running up the river Teign.
 * Fishing - There is some excellent sea fishing to be had from Teignmouth, indeed it is famed for its flounder fishing. There is also a chance of bass, mackerel and there is some good game fishing to be had with both salmon and seatrout running up the river Teign.
 * Fishing - There is some excellent sea fishing to be had from Teignmouth, indeed it is famed for its flounder fishing. There is also a chance of bass, mackerel and there is some good game fishing to be had with both salmon and seatrout running up the river Teign.

Festivals
Every summer Teignmouth hosts a folk festival, jazz festival and carnival.

Connect
As of Sep 2023, Teignmouth and its approach roads have 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, and 5G from Three

Go next

 * Dawlish is a town to the east of Teignmouth.

title: Teignmouth


text:
Tekirdağ

Tekirdağ (pronounced TEH-keer-daa) is a city in Eastern Thrace, the European part of Turkey, 132 km west of Istanbul. It is on the northern shoreline of the Sea of Marmara. In 2019 its population was 204,000.

Understand
There are signs of human settlement here right back to the dawn of the Stone Ages. The first recorded settlement of "Byzanthe" was founded by Thracians in what is now Barbaros, a village 9 km to the southwest. The seed of the modern city was a colony of Greeks from Samos in 550 BC, who called it "Rhaidestos". When the Roman Empire divided, Tekirdağ became part of the Byzantine portion, and equally Byzantine was the evolution of its name. In 14th century it was captured by the Ottomans, who called it "Rodosçuk". In the 19th century it became "Tekfurdağı" meaning "Byzantine lord" but by the 20th century this had mutated into Tekirdağ which means "tabby mountain" and refers to the range to the southwest. The old name persists in some other languages, eg "Rodostó" in Hungarian. The Hungarian connection was important in the 18th century, with exiles such as Francis II Rákóczi and Kelemen Mikes settling here, but that emigre community has long disappeared.

Tekirdağ has grown into a large industrial town, based on the agriculture of its hinterland, which has become dotted with industrial units as businesses move out of congested Istanbul. It's too far out (and public transport is insufficient) for it to be part of Istanbul's commuter belt, but it's certainly within the weekend-escape zone and gets busy in summer. It's the capital of Tekirdağ Province, with its other main towns described elsewhere (insofar as they have any interest to travelers): Çerkezköy, Çorlu, Ergene, Hayrabolu, Kapaklı, Malkara, Marmara Ereğlisi, Muratlı, Saray and Şarköy. Süleymanpaşa is the district containing Tekirdağ itself.

The climate is typical of the west Marmara region: Mediterranean but with colder winters. Summers are very warm, and usually dry, nevertheless with occasional downpours. Spring and autumn are ideal times to visit, and in autumn the sea is warm and usually calm. Midsummer breezes can stir up heavy surf. Winters are cool to chilly with frequent rain and occasional snow.

The TIC is in the park near the ferry pier. It wasn't open in 2021.

By plane
Quickest if you fly into Istanbul's new airport. The Asia-side airport has budget flights but means crossing the metropolis.

Istanbul Seyahat bus runs direct from IST airport to Tekirdağ, about every two hours round the clock for 230 TL (Nov 2023). Otherwise by public transport you have to go into Istanbul city centre then travel out again to Tekirdağ.

Çorlu Airport, about 60 km northeast, is much closer, but it is only served by infrequent flights from Ankara, and isn't well-connected to public transport.

By bus
Several bus lines run from Istanbul to Tekirdağ, taking two hours for a fare in late 2023 of around 200 TL. Some terminate here, but most are heading down the Gallipoli peninsula to Çanakkale. You should be able to stroll into Istanbul Esenler station any time of day or night and find a bus departing within the hour.

The main bus lines are Pamukkale, Flixbus, and Metro Turizm who run from Istabul Bayrampaşa via Silivri.

Other destinations with a less frequent service are Şarköy on the coast, and Keşan and Gelibolu down the peninsula – most buses nowadays bypass these on the new motorway and Dardanelles bridge. For nearby Çorlu take a dolmuş.

In normal times Flixbus also run via Sofia and Bucharest from western Europe, but these routes remain suspended in 2022.

A new bus station,, was opened in 2022 on the outskirts north of the highway bypass. Public bus lines 10 and 17 run into the centre with 15–30 min intervals through the day. Alternatively it's a 3 km gently downhill walk along Muratlı Cd, but part of the route lacks a sidewalk and you need to negotiate across the on-ramp system of the bypass.

The (eski otogar), 500 m east of city centre on Şht. Yüzbaşı Mayadağlı, remains a hub of the local public buses.

By road
From Istanbul city centre follow O-3 / E80 toll motorway and from IST airport follow O-7. These meet at Kınalı, where you take D110 / E84 west through Marmara Ereğlisi, reckon 90 min to two hours. If you're aiming for west end of the city or Kumbağ beach resort, stay on E84 bypass rather than dragging through the centre.

From Bulgaria you'll probably cross the border at Kapitan Andreevo / Kapıkule. Take E80 which bypasses Edirne and becomes O-3 / E80 toll motorway. (Or you can exit to follow D-100, but it's hardly worth it to avoid the tolls.) Follow O-3 to exit at signs for Lüleburgaz and Muratlı. Here you join D-100, signed eastbound for Çorlu and Istanbul. Some 10 km east turn onto D-565 which brings you through Muratlı to Tekirdağ. It's 160 km from Kapıkule so two hours should do it.

However from Burgas you enter Turkey at Tirnovo / Dereköy on D-555 / E87. Stay on it south through Kırklareli to Babaeski to join D-100 - you cross O-3 but it's not worth joining. Head east via Lüleburgaz to the D-565 turn-off then south as above. From Dereköy to Tekirdağ is about 155 km.

From Greece you enter at Peptos / İpsala on D110 / 84. Follow it past Keşan all the way to town, about 110 km so say just over an hour.

By thumb: Lots of trucks and private cars pass Tekirdağ on their way to Istanbul, Gallipoli and the border. The main highway bowls along the promenade, and the trick for the outbound hitcher is to be not too close in, clogged among local traffic, or too far out where traffic picks up speed and it becomes an expressway. Eastbound, try Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bulvarı at its beginning, a block south of the old otogar. Westbound this highway becomes Atatürk Bulvarı towards Keşan: try the stretch west of the Archaeology Museum.

By boat
Marmara RoRo sail five times a day from Erdek; some call at Marmara Island or Avşa. These ferries dock at Barbaros pier.

They also sail twice a day from Bandırma, docking at Ceyport pier.

By train
The nearest station is Çorlu, which has trains twice a day from Istanbul, continuing west to Edirne or Uzunköprü. The branch line to Tekirdağ nowadays only handles freight.

Get around
Walk for anywhere downtown.

Dolmuş: public buses run by the city council are white with blue and green stripes. They ply from the old otogar to outlying residential areas — some via city centre, so this is the only occasion you might have to use them. Privately-run minibuses share the same colour pattern with the buses and you're most likely to use them to Barbaros and Kumbağ, or to Değirmenaltı, which may be badged as Route 1.

All dolmuşes run on a fixed route, every 10 min daytime dropping to 30 min late evening, with the last around midnight. They mostly start from Yazar Mehmet Serezli Cd below Rüstem Paşa Mosque, but don't otherwise have fixed stops, holler to get off or wave to flag one down. The flat fare in town is 3 TL.

Taxis are available from many stands around the city.

See

 * Traditional Ottoman houses have been ruthlessly bulldozed from most of the city and replaced by drab concrete blocks. Several survive – some renovated, but many sadly tumbledown – in the streets between the Archaeology and Rakoczi museums, with another scattering on the hill by the old otogar.Rakoczi Müzesi.JPG
 * was built by the renowned Sinan in 1553. Not one of his greatest (see Edirne and Istanbul), but he set the bar high.
 * Ertuğrul Bazaar by the mosque is a 1980s reconstruction. The courtyard is a pleasant place to sit.
 * Eski Mosque means "old mosque" but it's a rebuild of 1830 after the old-old mosque burned down. It's 200 m west along the street from Rüstem Paşa Mosque.
 * Barış ve Özgürlük Parkı means "Peace & Freedom Park" and it's populated by statues of those who wrote and did plenty but didn't enjoy much of those desiderata, such as Namık Kemal, Francis II Rakoczi and Kelemen Mikes – this last is a striking Hungarian wood carving. The park is by the marina, 300 m south of the old otogar. There's a funfair, see below.
 * is the small town at the south end of the beach strip straggling out from the city. The beach is sandy and there's accommodation and eating places. Further south the road winds into the hills towards Uçmakdere and eventually Şarköy.
 * Ertuğrul Bazaar by the mosque is a 1980s reconstruction. The courtyard is a pleasant place to sit.
 * Eski Mosque means "old mosque" but it's a rebuild of 1830 after the old-old mosque burned down. It's 200 m west along the street from Rüstem Paşa Mosque.
 * Barış ve Özgürlük Parkı means "Peace & Freedom Park" and it's populated by statues of those who wrote and did plenty but didn't enjoy much of those desiderata, such as Namık Kemal, Francis II Rakoczi and Kelemen Mikes – this last is a striking Hungarian wood carving. The park is by the marina, 300 m south of the old otogar. There's a funfair, see below.
 * is the small town at the south end of the beach strip straggling out from the city. The beach is sandy and there's accommodation and eating places. Further south the road winds into the hills towards Uçmakdere and eventually Şarköy.
 * is the small town at the south end of the beach strip straggling out from the city. The beach is sandy and there's accommodation and eating places. Further south the road winds into the hills towards Uçmakdere and eventually Şarköy.

Do

 * Dal Lunapark is a funfair by the Barış & Özgürlük park at the east end of the promenade. Not the biggest or scariest rides, but it will amuse children with its ferris wheel, rollercoaster, gondola and the like. It's open daily in summer 11:00-00:00.
 * Windsurfing: the local beaches are exposed to the onshore breeze in summer, so the waves get up and it's a good area to windsurf. Try Kumbağ beach strip to the south.
 * Hiking in Mt Ganos south of Kumbağ has trails of all grades, including a 20 km trek to Uçmakdere.
 * Paragliding on Mt Ganos generally launches from Nişantepe (600 m elevation) to land on the beach at Ayvasıl. You'll need to be self-sufficient with kit. Contact the Tekirdağ Paragliding Club (TEYAK) for the availability of tandem flights.

Buy

 * ATMs are found outside several banks on Hükümet Cd, the downtown high street - this is also the place to find money exchange kiosks. In Kumbağ they're likewise on the main drag Belediye Cd.
 * Tekira is the main city-centre mall at 304 Hükümet Cd. Carrefour is open daily 09:00-23:00.
 * Maxi Alışveriş is the edge-of-town mall east at the junction with D110 bypass, so it's the better one for passing traffic. Migros is open daily 10:00-22:00.
 * Rugs and carpets are handmade at Karacakılavuz (say "ka-ra-DJA-ka-lah-vooz") 20 km northwest of Tekirdağ. This village was settled by Yörük, nomadic people from Anatolia, after the Ottoman conquest of Thrace in the 14th century. The villagers still weave patterns handed down from nomadic times. Their outlet shop in the village is open M-Sa 08:00-18:00. See also Çorlu 40 km north for its outlet stores and factory sale shops.

Eat

 * Alkolsüz posted outside a restaurant means "alcohol-free." Any restaurant without a sign usually does serve alcohol.

 * Local specialties: Tekirdağ köftesi is the local style of meat-balls, made of fatless meat and mildly spiced. It's shaped into a cylinder and grilled.
 * Desserts: Höşmerim (or peynir helvası) is made of cereals with cheese dissolved into it - best served with ice-cream on top. Hayrabolu tatlısı takes its name from the nearby town of Hayrabolu; variants of it under different names (such as Kemalpaşa) are common across western Turkey. It's a spongy, soft cookie doused in syrup, and served with tahini and ground nuts on top, 25-35 TL/piece (Jul 2023).
 * Local specialties: Tekirdağ köftesi is the local style of meat-balls, made of fatless meat and mildly spiced. It's shaped into a cylinder and grilled.
 * Desserts: Höşmerim (or peynir helvası) is made of cereals with cheese dissolved into it - best served with ice-cream on top. Hayrabolu tatlısı takes its name from the nearby town of Hayrabolu; variants of it under different names (such as Kemalpaşa) are common across western Turkey. It's a spongy, soft cookie doused in syrup, and served with tahini and ground nuts on top, 25-35 TL/piece (Jul 2023).
 * Local specialties: Tekirdağ köftesi is the local style of meat-balls, made of fatless meat and mildly spiced. It's shaped into a cylinder and grilled.
 * Desserts: Höşmerim (or peynir helvası) is made of cereals with cheese dissolved into it - best served with ice-cream on top. Hayrabolu tatlısı takes its name from the nearby town of Hayrabolu; variants of it under different names (such as Kemalpaşa) are common across western Turkey. It's a spongy, soft cookie doused in syrup, and served with tahini and ground nuts on top, 25-35 TL/piece (Jul 2023).
 * Local specialties: Tekirdağ köftesi is the local style of meat-balls, made of fatless meat and mildly spiced. It's shaped into a cylinder and grilled.
 * Desserts: Höşmerim (or peynir helvası) is made of cereals with cheese dissolved into it - best served with ice-cream on top. Hayrabolu tatlısı takes its name from the nearby town of Hayrabolu; variants of it under different names (such as Kemalpaşa) are common across western Turkey. It's a spongy, soft cookie doused in syrup, and served with tahini and ground nuts on top, 25-35 TL/piece (Jul 2023).
 * Desserts: Höşmerim (or peynir helvası) is made of cereals with cheese dissolved into it - best served with ice-cream on top. Hayrabolu tatlısı takes its name from the nearby town of Hayrabolu; variants of it under different names (such as Kemalpaşa) are common across western Turkey. It's a spongy, soft cookie doused in syrup, and served with tahini and ground nuts on top, 25-35 TL/piece (Jul 2023).

Drink

 * Bars by the park and marina include Look Pub & Shot, Moon and Bermuda Club. On Şükran Sokuk in the centre are 44 Beydağı and Best Of The Kemal Babanın Yeri.
 * Rakı, Turkey's national drink, was traditionally made in Tekirdağ. The factory (owned by Mey, part of Diageo) closed in 2017 and production moved to Alaşehir 140 km east of Izmir, but you won't go short of rakı here.
 * Wine: the best-known vineyards are southwest in the hills of Şarköy District: Barbare and Umurbey are the closest. Barel, in Karaevli, is one of several nearby to the east.

Sleep
You probably only need to book ahead in peak season July-Aug. For small apart-hotels or flats, look for kiralık signs, meaning "for rent". Many places close down in winter.

Town centre
Hotels are clustered near the promenade and sea-front boulevard, with more a couple of blocks back. Traffic noise can be a problem.

Further out
Kumbağ is the main resort 8 km south, and Değirmenaltı is the district 8 km east.

Connect
As of Sept 2021, the city has 4G from all Turkish carriers. 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Wifi is widely available in cafes and public places.

Stay safe
Like any big city there are rough, down-at-heel quarters, such as the northern district of Aydoğdu. These are well away from the coast and downtown, and visitors have no reason to go there.

Don't swim within 5 km of the commercial harbours west of the centre. Bilge water is the main problem, and marine waste has been another. In July 2021 the national government announced vigorous measures against what they referred to as deniz salyası but most call deniz sümük - "sea snot".

National emergency number is 112.

Cope
As a city which is slightly off-the-beaten path, you will encounter less English-speaking people. This is not to mean that nobody in Tekirdağ can speak English, but you may have to look for a little more than the usual in more tourism-oriented towns of western and southern Turkey. And you can also take it on the bright side: you will never come across with a tout in Tekirdağ.

 * 🇭🇺 Hungary

Go next

 * Marmara Ereğlisi is a coastal town 40 km east of Tekirdağ, on the highway to Istanbul. This is the site of ancient Perinthos, with a few scrappy remnants.
 * Şarköy District is the coastal strip and wine-growing area extending from Şarköy town through Mürefte to Uçmakdere. With your own transport you can follow the twisting hill road from Kumbağ to Uçmakdere, a well-preserved village from pre-1923 when this area had a majority Greek population.
 * Marmara Island is visible out to sea and has a car ferry from Tekirdağ.
 * Istanbul to Izmir is an itinerary that swings through town, to continue south by road down the Gallipoli peninsula or by ferry to Erdek.

title: Tekirdağ


text:
Teknaf

Teknaf Upazila is the southern-most city on the mainland in Bangladesh, on the narrow strip running along the coast of Myanmar. It's a dusty featureless frontier town - this is remote Bangladesh and it feels like it. Electricity can be scarce, so having a flashlight for the dark evenings is wise.

Get in

 * Buses running from Cox's Bazar (Tk 70-120, 2 hours) are crowded and pass through nice scenery as you get closer to Teknaf. If you're trying to head straight to Saint Martins Island and don't want to stay the night in Teknaf, try for a 6AM bus from Cox's Bazar and specify which ferry port you want to get off at - you may make it.

You can take a bus straight from Dhaka to Teknaf. Saudia: Leave at 8.30PM daily (to Dhaka 6:30PM) S. ALAM: leaves Dhaka daily at 10:30PM (to Dhaka 6:15PM)

 * The main ferry port is about 5 km north of town on the road to Cox's Bazar. Eagle I leaves here at around 10AM daily.
 * Keari Sindbad (+8801727 266077) has its own port about 3 km further north from the main port on the same road. Their service is a little more reliable and costs about the same. The ferry leaves at 9:30AM daily (during peak season, or Thursday & Friday only during off peak season), then leaves Saint Martins Island around 3:00PM. Roundtrip tickets to Saint Martins Island run Tk 650 for main deck, 700 for open deck and 750 for bridge deck.

Get around
Auto-rickshaws (babytaxis) can be found near the bus stop. To the main ferry port should costs Tk 50 and to Keari Sindbad's port Tk 70. Cycle-rickshaws may be cheaper but the road north can be steep and you'll end up walking a good deal of the way. The Bangla word for port is "Bondor".

See

 * Take a walk over the bridge, passing the river filled with colorful fishing boats, makeshift houses filled with curious children, and beautiful farmland looking out towards Myanmar, dotted with patrolling soldiers.
 * Teknaf beach is a large beach about 5km west of the center of town, very popular with locals at sunset. It's much quieter than Cox's Bazar, though the 50+ motorcyclists racing back and forth along the shoreline won't help you to relax, nor will all your new friends. There's a small snack shack where the road meets the beach.

Buy
There's a market down the road behind the bus stop and over the bridge in which can be found goods smuggled from Myanmar, possibly even beer.

Eat
There's a largish restaurant tucked behind the bus stop that serves decent food at decent prices, and several more similar restaurants along the road behind the bus stand en route to the bridge. None are signed in English.

Drink
Inquire at your hotel or at one of the local restaurants and you may be able to score some beer from Myanmar.

Sleep
It's likely that you'll have to spend a night here en route to Saint Martins Island, since the ferries leave so early.

Go next

 * Saint Martins Island - a beautiful tropical island and one of the most relaxing places in the country - this is likely the reason you're in Teknaf in the first place.
 * Myanmar is close but the border is closed. The Myanmar army has planted landmines to ward off illegal crossing and smugglers.

title: Teknaf


text:
Te Kuiti

Te Kuiti is a small town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is known as the "Sheep Shearing Capital of the World" and hosts the famous Great New Zealand Muster and Running of the Sheep in April each year.

By car
Te Kuiti is on Highway 3, between Hamilton and New Plymouth.

By bus
Intercity services between Auckland and New Plymouth stop in Te Kuiti, sometimes stopping here for refreshments.

By train
The Northern Explorer train, which runs several days a week each way between Auckland and Wellington, will stop in Te Kuiti but only for groups of 10 or more.

Get around
You can easily walk from one end of the town to the other, though during the hot summertime you'll probably want to take a break now and then.

The train station is located in the centre of town. Exiting the station, to your left there is an Information Centre and public lavatories. Rora Street, which runs parallel to the station, has places to eat and shop.

The Information Centre can give you a map of town which points out different things to see as you walk around the town.

Sleep

Go next

 * New Plymouth
 * Taupo
 * Waitomo - glowworm caves, 15 minutes drive (18 km) away

title: Te Kuiti


text:
Tela

Tela is a city in Honduras. It is a sleepy coastal town of 100,000 people (2015) with nice beaches, in a region inhabited by the Afro-Caribbean communities called the Garifuna.

Understand
The Garifuna live on communally owned land around the area and have their own distinct language and culture. It has been slowly but surely working its way to becoming an important beach destination.

Tela has been the site of a pilot program aimed to create the Tourist Police. The result has been outstanding, with a force of 20 bilingual, friendly tourist police officers.

By plane
Less than 90 km east of San Pedro Sula's international airport, and connected by an excellent paved highway, Tela is very easily reached from San Pedro Sula and El Progreso.

By car
If you are driving your own car, the driving time is under one hour from San Pedro Sula.

By bus
If you are taking the public bus, the classiest option would be to choose Hedman Alas, a first class service coach operator that has non stop service from San Pedro Sula to Tela; otherwise, there are several companies offering comfortable direct non-stop buses to La Ceiba. A ticket from SPS to Tela should cost L100. Just let the driver know you wish to get off at the entrance to Tela. From this point, you can easily catch a taxi (L30/pp) to take you to the beaches, Tela's main attraction.

Get around
Once in Tela, like in most Honduran cities, the taxi services will provide a reliable way to get around. Also Tela is a great place to walk around and explore the beach and downtown areas.

A taxi from the town to the botanical gardens should cost L100 for two people.

Do
Go to the beach! Tela has a beautiful coastline, with tall palms, white sand, and exceedingly warm water. Make sure your belongings are watched at all times--either by you or a friend or family member--as unattended items can be taken by passing thieves. On the whole however, the beach experience is wonderful, and not to be missed.

Beaches
Triunfo de la Cruz. For those looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience in Tela, a trip to the Garifuna community of Triunfo de la Cruz is a necessity. Located just a few miles up the beach from Tela, the area has not been invaded by the hotel industries. Small beach restaurants often have changing cabins, showers and beach shacks for tourists to relax. Some will even supply you with hammocks for your day of relaxation. A bus from the center bus station or a taxi are your best way to get to this area. Walking is not recommended. You could try Garifuna Tours (+504 24482904).

Buy
Tela's Garifuna community provides some of the best items to purchase in Tela. Strolling along the beach area, tourists will surely find people selling their hand made crafts and jewelry. Shell and shark tooth jewelry, coconut shell jewelry, and the more common hand woven jewelry, are the most prevalent items being sold.

A great purchase is the coconut bread or coconut candy (called 'tabla'). Women can be found carrying large buckets on their heads, which often contain the delicious baked goods.

Eat
One of the best restaurants in the area is a small pizza place right near the oceanfront bridge in downtown Tela. A new patio out back of the restaurant is right on an inner-coastal waterway, which enhance the dining experience. It also has a play area and swings for those traveling with young children. The pizza is affordable and delicious.

In addition, Hondurans say that the baleadas in the Tela and La Ceiba areas are the best in the country. A baleada is a thick tortilla with refried beans, avocados, scrambled eggs, fresh crema, butter and other ingredients such as chicken and sausage. They are fantastic.

A trip to Tela can not be completed with out trying the fresh seafood of the region. Sopa de Caracol (conch soup) and sopa de jaiba (crab soup) are well known treats in local restaurants. Locals have their opinions about which seafood restaurant is better, but they are not always the same. The people of Tela are very helpful (and use to wondering tourists) if you would like a recommendation.

Most hotels have their own restaurants, often inside of a secure compound for those that do not wish to walk around outside of the security of their hotels.

Drink
For the brave tourist, the Garifuna community will be happy share their homemade brew called Gifi (a coconut liquor).

For the more traditional experience, the beach front offers several bars. In addition most restaurants will have local beers and mixed drinks.

For those looking for a non-alcoholic beverage, a fresh, cold coconut will surely hit the spot. While at the main beach areas, someone will surely find you at some point and offer you a fresh coconut to drink from. It is part of the Tela experience and should at least be tried before leaving.

Go next

 * The Bay Islands. Take a yellow bus to La Ceiba, the launching point for ferries to Utila and Roatan. The 2½-hour bus ride leaves every half hour from the station near Calle 9 and Avenida 9, and costs L55. Be ready to leave Tela no later than noon, as the last ferry to the islands leaves at 16:00 and the ferry terminal is around a 30-minute taxi ride from the bus station.

title: Tela


text:
Telangana

Telangana is a state in Southern India. It is a mainly agricultural state, but a cosmopolitan atmosphere can be found in the major city and capital, Hyderabad.

Cities

 * — the pearl city of India, and capital of Telangana

 * — a fine starting point to explore the landscapes of the surrounding areas

 * — Jogulamba temple (Shakthi peetam)

 * (Ankapoor) — a small self-sufficient, progressive model village

 * — a major pilgrim town situated on the banks of the Godavari River

 * — a town with the impressive and fascinating Bhongir Fort

 * — a town with a number of temples including Narasimha Swamy, Venkateshwara Swamy and Vigneshwara Swamy

 * — a fast developing district with many famous monuments and temples

 * — home to the Khamman Fort and the Narasimha Swamy Temple

 * (Garmilla) — commercial hub and agricultural market

 * — Nagarjuna Sagar is the world's largest masonry dam

 * — well known for its wooden toys and paintings and the Nirmal Fort

 * — home to the famous Temple of Lord Shiva (Kanteshwar around 1400 BC)

 * (City carved in stone) — a city to see various temples, lakes, gardens and the Warangal Fort

Other destinations

 * — a small park in Jubilee Hills in which the Chiran Palace is located. It is a green space (a jungle in the concrete city) of the busy city of Hyderabad. One may find peacocks and a variety of small mammals and birds here
 * — the largest green space in the city of Hyderabad inhabited by black buck, chital deer as well as reptiles and many species of birds
 * (Manyamkonda) — hilltop temples
 * — the largest tiger reserve in India contained within 5 districts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
 * — Golden Shivalingam Temple
 * — part of the Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary
 * — a largely suburban area south and west of Hyderabad, home to Ramoji Film City, Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar
 * Edupayalu
 * Kuntala Waterfalls
 * Ramaneswaram - Shiva Shakthi Shirdi Sai Anugraha Mahapeetam
 * Ramaneswaram - Shiva Shakthi Shirdi Sai Anugraha Mahapeetam

Understand
Telangana is a state in southern India. It is bordered by the states of Maharashtra to the north and north-west, Karnataka to the west, Chhattisgarh to the north-east, and Andhra Pradesh to the south and east.

Historically, this region's statehood status has seen multiple changes throughout its existence. Originally called the state of Hyderabad, it was annexed in 1950, shortly after India became independent. In 1956, it was merged with Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh. On 2 June 2014 this region was promoted to statehood, with the city of Hyderabad as its capital, and called Telangana following a popular movement for separation. Don't let the newness of the state deceive you; Telangana is rich in cultural heritage and historical sites.

Telangana is landlocked and two major rivers flow through it: the Godavari River to the north and Krishna River in the south. Summers are sweltering, starting around March and lasting until May. Monsoon season occurs from June to September. The state experiences mild winters between November and early January, and this may be the best time to visit if heat or humidity are a concern.

Talk
Telugu is the official language and is spoken by virtually all of the state's inhabitants. Urdu (the largest minority language), Hindi, and English are also spoken as well.

As in the rest of South India, Hindi is neither widely spoken nor understood, except in a few urban areas. People will respond more readily to English than Hindi.

Minimal knowledge of Telugu is extremely useful, though not essential.

By plane
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad is the only international airport in Telangana. It has direct flights from many countries. International carriers are Air India, Emirates, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Scoot, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines and Thai Airways. Domestic connections are operated by Air India, Deccan, GoAir, IndiGo and SpiceJet.

By bus
The Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) runs all types of buses including air-conditioned, non air-conditioned and Volvo, Garuda-Plus, Garuda-Sleeper, Indra, Super Luxury and express buses to all major cities in South India

There are several state-owned bus operators like KSRTC APSRTC, also there are several private operators like redBus, abhiBus, and Ticketgoose operating bus services to Telangana

See
Hyderabad is the heart of Telangana and features a wide assortment of historical sites, bazaars, restaurants and bars.

A delightful fusion of Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture can be seen throughout the state. Many temples in Telangana are well worth visiting.

Telangana has several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. It contains India's largest tiger sanctuary: the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve. Please note that unrest and extremist activities in the area of and inside the sanctuary can make visiting undesirable at this current time.

Eat
Perhaps unique from its surrounding states, millet-based breads are more common in Telangana. Common dishes, known and popular in other Indian states, can be found here but may be called by a different name. Check with the locals if you are craving a particular dish and are unsure if it is offered. Curries here are often more tamarind-based and may be called koora or pulusu. In general you will find that tamarind, red chilies (koraivikaram) and asafetida are frequently used to flavor dishes.

For variety and ease of access, Hyderabad is the place to eat. Don't forget to taste Hyderabadi biryani when you go to Hyderabad, as the city is considered to be the dish's birthplace. It is spicy but worth the taste. Eat at renowned biryani restaurants like Paradise, Bawarchi, and Cafe Bahar for the best experience.

It is important not to dismiss food establishments found in the smaller villages. Many times the best and most authentic experiences can be found off the main streets.

Drink
A traditional alcoholic drink available in most parts of Telangana is kallu (English: toddy). This drink is extracted from two types of palm tree known as "Eetha chettu" and "Thaati chettu". Its taste is a delicious mix of sweet and sour. Kallu extracted from "Thaati Chettu" is called "Thaati Kallu"; kallu extracted from "Eetha Chettu" is known as "Eatha Kallu".

Stay safe
Drink plenty of water and avoid going out in the afternoon when the temperature exceeds 40°C in summer (March-June).

Go next

 * Karnataka
 * Mantralayam
 * Ballari
 * Hampi
 * Raichur
 * Pattadkal

title: Telangana


text:
Telavi

 * If you were looking for the Israeli city, look here

Telavi (Georgian: თელავი), with a population of 21,800, is the capital of the province of Kakheti in the country of Georgia.

Understand
Located within the Alasani valley and besides Sighnaghi, Telavi is an important regional tourist centre with many accommodation options; it serves as a base for trips (churches, wineries, parks) into the rest of the region. Nevertheless, it is also great for a day trip from Tbilisi. The similarity of the city's name to Tel Aviv is often used in Georgian jokes.

In the 2nd century, Telavi was first mentioned as Teleda on the world map Geographike Hyphegesis of the Greek geographer Ptolemy. The name originated from the Georgian word Tela, meaning elm. Under Kwirike the Great and during the 9th century, the city became the capital of the kingdom Kakhati-Hereti. The city developed into an important Georgian trade centre until the 12th century, due to its convenient location near the silk road. King Artshil II. made the city capital of the Kakheti region and built his palace and fortress here.

By marshrutka
There are 3 marshrutka stations:

By car
There are two options to get to Telavi from Tbilisi. One is highway no. 5 and no. 42 by Gurjaani, about 140 km. The shorter and newer option is highway no. 38, departing shortly after the Tbilisi city border near Vaziani north from highway no. 5, about 70 km. The latter one is via the Gombori Pass and notably shorter, even though not much faster due to the many turns and serpentines. In winter and with snow it is recommended to take the longer route.

The road between Akhmeta and the Georgian Military Highway, via Tianeti, can only be done by 4WD.

Get around
The city is small enough to be walkable. However, visiting the neighboring sites requires the use of further marshrutkas and/or taxis.

Whereas seeing one or two sites (e.g., the fortress/palace and nearby Alaverdi Monastery) can be a one-day activity from Tbilisi, it is best to stay several days in Telavi to fully enjoy the surroundings (including Tusheti and Sighnaghi).

See
Close-by sights that can easily be reach by marshrutka or taxi are Alaverdi Monastery, Ikalto Monastery, Shuamta Monasteries, Tsinandali and even Gremli – see Kakheti.

Do
Telavi is part of the popular wine route, see.

Buy
Different sorts of wine in the small wineries as well at manufactures, handmade crafts are very beautiful, take some picture in the local gallery.

Eat
Several restaurants on the main street, majority of them located on the basement level.

Drink
Kakheti is Georgia's most famous wine region, so Telavi is perfect for sampling some. The tourist information (along Erekli 2 street) has an overview of all the wine cellars and companies in and around Telavi, and maps of the region if you have your own car.

A good starting point is the shop close to the big Plane tree and the statue in Telavi itself. The staff speaks fluent English, they sell wines from a number of wineries and they have information and prices for different tastings you can do. They can also organize a driver to take you there.

Sleep
Numerous homestays have opened up in Telavi. Many Kakhetian houses are quite large and are traditionally home for both the family of the wife and the husband. If part of the family moves out, the resulting empty floor is used by guests. There are also a few traditional hotels, and a couple luxury resorts too.

Cope

 * Several medical clinics, some specialized, can be found on southern hillside of the city, nearby the university.
 * Several medical clinics, some specialized, can be found on southern hillside of the city, nearby the university.

Go next
Besides the close-by sights mentioned under, the following are popular destinations from Telavi:
 * Sighnaghi – A restored wine town with an extensive wall and close-by the popular Monastery of St. George at Bodbe (aka Bodbe Convent).
 * Gurjaani – One of the centres of Georgia's wine industry. Landmarks include the Church of the Dormition aka Church of All Saints (Kvelatsminda; 8th-9th century).
 * Tusheti National Park – A mysterious, remote region high in the mountains bordering Chechnya with ancient pagan and Christian monuments; to go here is to wander back in time hundreds of years. Famous for its historic towers.
 * Pankisi Gorge – The gorge is now safe and still home to many Chechen refugees–probably the safest place in the world to experience Chechen culture.
 * Lagodekhi – A pretty border town (next to Azerbaijan) and a nearby nature reserve with subtropical forests.

Also, see Kakheti for more details.

title: Telavi