Solo Female Traveler in Iran: is it Safe? 

For many solo female travelers traveling to Iran is a big concern. They would like to travel to Iran to explore the rich and fascinating culture of the country. However, most of the times, they are told not to travel to Iran as a solo female traveler. However, the good news is that Iran is known for being a welcoming place, and has become more tourist-friendly over the past few years. As a result, even solo female travelers can easily and safely explore Iran by themselves.
Here are some tips for you as a solo female traveler in Iran, and what famous bloggers think of their travel to Iran as a solo female traveler.

In this post you will read about:

What are the Dress Codes in Iran for Women?

How should Women use public transportation in Iran?

Find yourself a safe hotel: A Home away from Home

What famous bloggers think of their travel as a solo female traveler in Iran?

What are the Dress Codes in Iran for Women?

Never forget your scarf in public. Iran has a strict dress code, not the same as Saudi Arabia, but women have to wear a scarf in public areas. Wearing a chador, the black outer garment, is not mandatory, and only women who have strong religious believes wear that. For international visitors, including solo female traveler in Iran, a simple scarf would be enough. The only exception is the time you want to visit the holy places especially Imam Reza shrine & Fatima Masumeh Shrine; in this case, you have to wear Chador.
If you have a concern about safety of Iran, check out the article “ Is it safe to travel to Iran?”
On your first day, you will definitely see many girls who just wear a loose scarf and use it as a fashion accessory. So, don’t be surprised about that.
One more thing that you should know about dress codes for women in Iran is that you need to wear long sleeves. Avoid wearing a t-shirt or something that could show your arms.

How should Women use public transportation in Iran?

As a solo female traveler in Iran, you should know that there are two sections at every public transportation system. One section for men, and another one for women. At the metro, the first and the last wagons are for women. At the BRT buses, the front sections are for women. It is not obligatory for women just to use the women wagon. However, as a suggestion, it is always better to use women section during rush hours in order to avoid unpleasant reflections.
To know more about public transportation in Iran, please read “What to expect when traveling to Iran?”

Find yourself a safe hotel: A Home away from Home

If traveling alone, it’s best to consider hotels that have security checks at all entrances and are generally deemed safe. In fact, there are a number of safe, comfy, family-owned three-star hotels in Iran, where the staff is not only friendly and welcoming but also they look out for you once they get to know you.
You’d better always carry your hotel’s business card (which is usually in Farsi) when you go sightseeing. It’s a quick and easy way to get to the hotel, in case you’re lost in the warren of streets. Simply hand the car to any cab driver and you’ll be home safe in a flash.

What famous bloggers think of their travel to Iran as a solo female traveler?

Manouk is a travel writer and adventurer from the Netherlands. Despite being a medical doctor, she still hasn’t found a cure for her travel bug! So, she keeps on exploring. She loves the great outdoors, learning about different cultures and backpacking in offbeat destinations. She traveled to Iran in 2017, and here is what she has to say to solo female travelers in Iran: Solo Female Backpacking in Iran: Experiences And Tips For Future Travelers

You can also check her Instagram page to see more of her photos of Iran.

Ellis is a cultural anthropologist from the Netherlands who has traveled for more than 20 years to over 50 countries along the ancient Silk Road. This geeky and introvert travel blogger is a lover of good food, mountains, nature, wildlife and everything that lightens up the night sky. Here is her post about her travel to Iran. She traveled to Iran in 2016 and described the trip as “Iran is one of the safest countries in the Middle East and Iranians are among the friendliest people I have met in my travel history”
Solo female travel in Iran: traveling to Iran as a woman

Naomi is a Travel Blogger from the Netherlands. She traveled to Iran as a solo female traveler in Iran for 2 weeks in February and March 2017. She traveled in touristic areas like Tehran, Shiraz, Yazd, Esfahan, and Kashan. Here is what she says about her own experience in Iran.

Kami is a solo female frugal traveler from Poland. She believed “the whole “solo female travel in Iran” thing turned out to be really cool and easy there and I enjoyed every single bit of it! Iran is one of the best solo female travel destinations I’ve been to.” To read more about her experience and opinions of traveling to Iran, please read this page.

Ana comes from southern Spain, but you’ll hardly ever find her there. Although she loves her country, she longs for the unknown and has a strong desire to travel the world! She now lives in Istanbul where she teaches Spanish and writes about things she loves. Here is more about her experience as a solo female traveler in Iran in “A Guide to Traveling to Iran as a Woman Alone”