The 20 Most Attractive Tehran Museums: The Best Places to Know the Iranian Culture 

There is no doubt that a primary role of museums is to engage the visitors with the contexts they exhibit. They are examples of informal learning environments whereby individuals acquire attitudes, values, and knowledge. A single visit to a museum in a foreign country can expose visitors to in-depth information on the area, culture, and civilization it displays. Having a Tehran travel in mind, you should not miss visiting some of the best Tehran museums that make you more familiar with the country as an ancient civilization.
As a metropolitan capital, Tehran offers numerous entertainments, one of which is visiting excellent museums. Tehran museums almost belong to the Qajar period up to the present time. There are more than 60 museums in Tehran, where you can find different subjects and themes. It is not easy to categorize Tehran Museums, since some of them belong to more than one class. However, we are trying to classify the museums in Tehran into seven main categories, including: Tehran History Museums
 Tehran Garden Museums
 Tehran House Museums
 Tehran Art Museums
 Tehran Wildlife Museums
 Tehran War Museums
 Others
Having an appropriate Tehran travel guide, you may find your favorite museums to visit during your Tehran tours. You will have relaxing entertainment in Tehran, visiting its excellent museums, far away from the city hullabaloo. Keep up with this record to know more about Tehran museums.

Tehran History Museums:

Offering a wide range of historical subjects, including rare ancient goods, historical remains, money, jewelry, clothing, etc., Tehran history museums are among the most popular museums in Tehran.ّّ

1. National Museum of Iran:

Being considered the so-called Tehran Met Museum, the National Museum of Iran is the largest historical and archaeological museum Tehran offers. The museum was constructed more than 70 years ago by a French architecture in an area of about 20,000 square meters. He has combined the Sassanid architectural principles with the art deco-style brickwork in constructing the National museum Tehran. You can find more than 300,000 rare objects, from Paleolithic to the Qajar period, in the National museum Tehran. The building consists of two museums: The Museum of Ancient Iran, where ancient Iranian antiquities before the Islamic era are exhibited, and The Museum of Islamic Archaeology and Art of Iran, which is considered the best Tehran Islamic museum displaying Islamic objects, monuments, and artworks.

The Salt Man was discovered in salt mines of Zanjan city. After archaeological studies of different samples of bones and textiles, the Salt Man was dated to about 1700 years ago.

A diverse collection of artifacts that traces Iran’s history over seven thousand years (from stone-age times right up to Cyrus, Darius, and the mighty Persian kingdoms) are proudly presented in this fascinating archaeological museum Tehran. You can find thousands of well-presented items, including spectacular collections of sculptures, ceramics, pottery, stone figures, and carvings in the National Museum of Iran that date back to the 4th and 5th centuries B.C. Among the numerous celebrated Iranian heritages exhibited in the National museum Tehran, the human-headed capital from Persepolis, the famous trilingual inscription from the time of Darius I, the four foundation tablets inscribed in cuneiform, and the famous Salt Man are worth mentioning.
Address: No 1, Henri Rolin St., 30 Tir Street, Imam Khomeini Avenue.
Opening Hours: Spring and summer (9:00 to 19:00) fall and winter (8:30 to 17)

2. Museum Of Anthropology Tehran:

Being located in Kakh-e Abyaz (Golestan Palace), the Museum of Anthropology Tehran offers works and tools created by people from different cities during the Qajar period and afterward. The objects and monuments exhibited in this museum represent the Iranian traditional life and atmosphere in various historical periods. You may see women in rural clothing, stone-made objects used in the everyday lives of the Iranian people, old marriage documents, stationeries, make up tools, traditional smoking stuff, weaponry, horse riding stuff, musical instruments, footwear, etc., in different showcases of the Museum of Anthropology Tehran.
Address: Golestan Palace, Panzdah-e Khordad Square.
Opening Hours: Spring and summer (9:00 to 19:30) fall and winter (9:00 to 15:30)

3. The Treasury of National Jewels:

Tehran Jewelry Museum or the Treasury of National Jewels, located in the Central Bank of Iran, is a dazzling collection of the most expensive gemstones and jewels known in the world. This Treasury has been collected since the Safavid era (16th century) by the Persian monarchs, and it includes the Iranian Crown Jewels of the Safavid, Afsharid, Qajar, and Pahlavi dynasties. The worth of this priceless collection is not limited to the economic value but is also a reflection of the creativity and taste of Iranian craftsmen throughout history. The Treasury of National Jewels offers elaborated crowns, bejeweled tiaras, aigrettes, swords, shields, and thrones as well. You can also find some well-known treasures in the Tehran Jewelry Museum, including the Kiani Crown, the Nadir Throne, the Globe of Jewels, and the Peacock Throne (or the Sun Throne).
Address: The Central Bank of Iran, Ferdowsi Avenue.
Opening Hours: Saturday to Tuesday 14:00 to 16:30

4. Reza Abbasi Museum Tehran:

Being named after Reza Abbasi, a reputed artist in the Safavid era, this museum offers a rich historical-cultural collection. This precious collection belongs to a period from the 2nd millennium B.C. to the early 20th century. You may find over 50,000 items exhibited in the Reza Abbasi Museum Tehran, such as artifacts made of baked clay, metal and stone from the pre-historic age, to more modern pottery and metal objects, textile and lacquer paintings, manuscripts, and jewelry belonging to the Islamic period. As to the subjects and themes, Reza Abbasi Museum Tehran is considered a smaller sample of the National Museum of Iran.
Address: No. 972 Seyed Khandan District, Shariati Street.
Opening Hours: Spring and summer (9:00 to 19:00) fall and winter (9:00 to 17:00)

5. Abgineh Museum of Tehran:

Tehran Museum of Glass and Ceramics (also known as Abgineh Museum of Tehran) houses unique collections of glass and clay works made thousands of years ago. The building formerly belonged to the Qajar Prime Minister Ahmad Qavam from 1921 until 1951. As the only Tehran glass museum, Abgineh Museum of Tehran exhibits glassblowing art dating back from the 1st millennium B.C. to the contemporary era.
Address: 30 Tir Street, Imam Khomeini Avenue, Tehran Museum of Glass and Ceramics.
Opening Hours: Everyday 8:00 to 16:30

6. Tehran Money Museum:

Tehran Money Museum (known as Dafineh) exhibits the evolution of the bills and coins in Iran. Each section of the museum belongs to a specific historical era, even when money was not invented. Iranian coins from the Achaemenid, Sassanid, Seljuk, and other periods are offered in Dafineh as well.
Address: Dafineh Street, Mirdamad Blv., Valiasr Avenue.
Opening Hours: Everyday 8:30 to 16:00

Tehran Garden Museums:

Iranian gardens have always been reputed in the world for their exquisite, stunning structure and the eye-catching buildings within. Modeled from them, several famous Iran museums are also located in the middle of refreshing gardens. Golestan Palace, Niavaran palace, and Art Museum Garden Tehran are just a few examples you should not miss.

7. Golestan Palace:

Originally constructed in the Safavid era, Golestan Palace is one of the oldest Tehran museums attracting the visitors’ attention to its beauty and glory. The palace was selected as the royal residence by Nasser Al-Din Shah; therefore, the exhibited items mostly belong to the Qajar period. Having several halls and palaces, the Golestan Garden Museum offers numerous precious gifts, dedicated from the European and Asian monarchs to the Qajar Kings. You can see paintings, royal jewels, and other royal artifacts in the Museum Hall, which was built by Nasser Al-Din Shah, imitating the European museums. Note that the Golestan Palace is one of the most popular Tehran attractions, visited by almost all Tehran tours.
Address: Panzdah-e Khordad Street, Arg Square.
Opening Hours: Spring and summer (9:30 to 18:30) fall and winter (9:00 to 17)

8. Saadabad Palace Complex:

The cultural and historical Saadabad Palace Complex was initially constructed and inhabited by the Qajar kings in the 19th century. Later on, in the 20th century, it was developed by the Pahlavi family, who gathered so many artworks by the Iranian and non-Iranian artists. Mellat Museum, Fine Art Museum, Master Behzad Museum, Abkar Museum, and Miremad Museum are just a few Tehran art museums located in the Saadabad Palace complex. Exquisite miniature paintings and eye-catching manuscripts dating back to the Safavid and Qajar dynasties are exhibited in this Tehran art museum.
Address: Saadabad Street, Tajrish Square.
Opening Hours: Everyday 9:00 to 17:00

9. Niavaran Palace:

As the final domicile of the royal family, Niavaran Palace offers the imperial furniture, chinaware, decorative items, private belongings, and queenly clothes of the Pahlavi family. Being constructed in the Pahlavi era, it is presenting a more modern building in the middle of the fantastic Niavaran Garden. The Mirror Hall (or Jahan-Nama Hall and museum) exhibits artworks bought by or dedicated to the royal family. As a Tehran Museum of Modern Art, the Mirror Hall offers many precious paintings by the world’s most famous painters, such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Paul Gauguin, and Pierre Renoir. You can also see a few excellent visual works by great Iranian artists like Parviz Tanavoli, Bahman Mohasses, and Sohrab Sepehri in this modern art museum Tehran.
Address: Bahonar Street, Tajrish Square.
Opening Hours: Everyday 8:00 to 14:30

10. Tehran Time Museum:

Tehran Time Museum is located in a beautifully designed building within a 5-hectare garden in northern Tehran. A marvelous collection of ancient clocks, including sundial clocks, water clocks, hourglasses, etc., are exhibited in this museum. The visitors can see the evolution of various mechanical clocks and watches from the 17th century to the 20th century in Tehran Time Museum as well.
Address: No. 12, Zafaranieh (Fallahi) Street, Valiasr Avenue.
Opening Hours: Everyday 9:00 to 18:30

Tehran House Museums:

House museums are generally the historical houses of well-known people that have been transformed into museums. Moghadam Museum, Master Mo’een Museum, Simin and Jalal Museum are some popular examples of house museums in Tehran.

11. Moghadam Museum:

Being the former house of a well-reputed art professor, Mohsen Moghadam, the Moghadam Museum in Tehran exhibits a fabulous artistic collection collected by Prof. Moghadam and his wife. Historical objects and works, valuable crafts, magnificent tiles, carved stone pieces, pottery, glass, paintings, coins, and even old documents are exhibited in this modern art museum, Tehran.
Address: No. 249, Between Valiasr and Sheikh Hadi Str. Imam Khomeini Avenue.
Opening Hours: Everyday 9:00 to 17:00, Mon: Off

Tehran Art Museums:

Exhibiting traditional or contemporary artworks, Tehran art museums are among the fascinating Tehran attractions to visit. Museum of Modern Art Tehran, Carpet Museum Tehran, Tehran Music Museum, and Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art are among the most famous art museums in the city.

More than 3,000 items, including world-class paintings, painted by famous artists are exhibited in Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. Rare works of Picasso, Matisse, Van Gogh, Dali, Monet, Renoir, Munch, and many others are kept in this museum.

12. Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMOCA):

Offering a concrete modernist building, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art architecture is a fabulous artwork itself. Taking a look at Laleh Park in Tehran, the museum plan seems truly fascinating. This modern art museum in Tehran was opened in 1977 by the art lover queen, Farah Diba. Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art architecture was designed and performed by Farah’s cousin Kamran Diba. As the largest museum of modern art in Tehran and Iran, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tehran exhibits more than 3,000 items, including the 19th and 20th centuries’ world-class paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures by well-known Iranian, European, and American Artists. Works by Picasso, Matisse, Van Gogh, Dali, Bacon, Pollock, Monet, Pissaro, Renoir, Moore, Munch, Warhol, and many other famous modern artists are exhibited in the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art.
Address: Laleh Park, North Kargar Street, Keshavarz Blv.
Opening Hours: Sat. to Wed. (8:00 to 17:00), Thur. (8:00 to 12:00), Fri: Off

13. National Carpet Museum Tehran:

Located on the northwestern corner of Park-e Laleh, the Persian Carpet Museum Tehran exhibits precious carpets from the country’s main weaving centers, including Kashan, Kerman, Tabriz, Isfahan, Yazd, and Shiraz. The Carpet Museum Tehran offers a great variety of Persian carpets from the 16th century to the present, on an area of 3,400 square meters. The fascinating modern building of the Carpet Museum Tehran was designed by Abdol-Aziz Mirza Farmanfarmaian and Kamran Diba, the same designer of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art architecture.
Address: Laleh Park, North Kargar Street, Keshavarz Blv.
Opening Hours: Everyday 9:00 to 18:00, Fri: Off

14. Tehran Music Museum:

With more than 20,000 records of Iranian traditional music and Persian folk music, the Tehran Museum of Music is a fantastic place to visit. On an area of 3650 square meters, the Tehran Museum of Music exhibits over 410 musical instruments as well as a comprehensive library, including audio and video archives.
Address: No. 9, Museum Alley, Takhti Junction, Tajrish Square.
Opening Hours: Everyday 10:00 to 19:00, Sat: Off

15. Cinema Museum Tehran:

Being considered a museum of modern art Tehran, Cinema Museum offers interesting elements of Persian cinema. The Cinema Museum Tehran is located within an exquisite garden, called Bagh-e Ferdows, where you can have an unforgettable walk while watching the stunning museum building. There is also a movie hall within the Cinema Museum Tehran, and several handicraft shops are also available for purchasing souvenirs.
Address: Bagh-e Ferdows, Valiasr Street, Tajrish Square.
Opening Hours: Sun to Thur (9:00 to 18:00), Fri (14:00 to 19:00), Sat: Off

Tehran Wildlife Museums:

These museums are focusing on the importance of the biodiversity of the ecosystem. The extinct species or the animals in danger of extinction are usually exhibited in Tehran Wildlife Museums. Darabad Museum of Wildlife and Tehran Biodiversity Museum are two examples of this genre.

16. Darabad Museum of Wildlife and Nature:

As a rich natural history museum, the Darabad Museum of Wildlife and Nature is a house for various stuffed animals (taxidermy), such as birds, reptiles, mammals, etc. There are also two cinema halls within the museum, where films regarding wildlife are shown.
Address: Sabari (Ajdaniyeh) Street, Darabad Street, Niavaran Square.
Opening Hours: Everyday 8:00 to 20:00, Sat: Off

17. Tehran Biodiversity Museum:

Tehran Biodiversity Museum of Pardisan Park depicts the different species of animals, plants, stone, and fossils very professionally. Some extinct animals and species in danger of extinction, such as the Persian lion, Khazar tiger, and Asian leopard, are exhibited in this museum.
Address: Pardisan Park, Hemmat Expressway.
Opening Hours: Everyday 8:00 to 19:00

Tehran War Museums:

Exhibiting various aspects, concepts, and objects related to the war, ammunition, and weaponry, Holy Defense Museum Tehran and Tehran Military Museum are two iconic examples in this genre of Tehran Museums.

18. Holy Defense Museum Tehran:

As the largest museum in the country and probably Asia, the Holy Defense Museum Tehran focuses on the technologies and devices applied in the eight-year war between Iraq and Iran. (1980-1988)
Address: Sarv Street, Haqqani Expressway, Vanak Square.
Opening Hours: Everyday 9:00 to 21:00

Others:

Some other Tehran museums are not easily categorized in the genres above. Ebrat Museum Tehran, Tehran Car Museum, Tehran Air Museum, and Tehran Aviation Exhibition are just a few examples.

19. Tehran Car Museum:

Historical and royal automobiles mostly owned by the Pahlavi family are exhibited in Tehran Car Museum on a land area of 22,000 square meters. Visitors can find 45 classic cars, including different models of Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Daimler, Lamborghini, Porsche, Ferrari, and Mercedes Benz, two carriages, and three motorcycles in this fantastic museum.
Address: Km 10-11 Karaj Highway.
Opening Hours: Everyday 9:00 to 16:00, Fri: Off

20. Ebrat Museum Tehran:

Being fundamentally the SAVAK prison, the Ebrat Museum Tehran gives you information about the victim’s experiences and tortures in this prison. The museum covers a short period of Iranian political history, when Anti-Shah activists were arrested and tortured in this place.
Address: District 12, Yarjani Street.
Opening Hours: Everyday 9:00 to 16:00