As my Tabriz-bound flight waited on the tarmac in Shiraz, I looked through my itinerary to see what my two days in northwestern Iran’s largest city would bring. Besides the Tabriz Blue Mosque, of course, which is what motivated me to add Tabriz to my trip at the last in the first place.
That’s funny, I thought as I noticed the words “Azerbaijan Museum” on my itinerary. I remembered how vehemently the exhibit inside the Vank Cathedral of Isfahan had denounced the Caspian Country. I wonder if they meant ‘Armenia.’
As it turns out, Armenia and Azerbaijan were not the only other countries my time in Tabriz would evoke. In fact, Iran itself was just about the only place traveling in Tabriz didn’t call to mind.
Tabriz Feels Like Turkey
After running—literally—out of Darya Hotel, which might just be the filthiest lodging I’ve seen with my own eyes, I took to the streets of Tabriz. As I made my way through its city center, past attractions like the Arg-e Tabriz Citadel and the historical Nikdel House toward the aforementioned Blue Mosque, I had a strange sense of déjà-vû, as if I’d accidentally flown to Turkey instead of Tabriz.
And what about Tabriz reminded me so much of Turkey? Well, everything. The people, both their look and mannerisms, and even the way women wore their hijabs. The shops and the sorts of souvenirs they sold. The fact that Turkish language seemed to be just as ubiquitous on local businesses as Farsi.
My guide confirmed my suspicions as we approached the dilapidated entrance to the Mosque, which was never fully repaired (don’t worry, that’s part of its charm!) following its damage in an 18th-century earthquake.
“The people here speak Turkish—they are Turks,” she said, before contradicting herself. “But not Turks from Turkey.”
What to Do in Tabriz
Culture, beyond the Blue Mosque
Tabriz is a city of non-Turkish Turks that serves as capital of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, the actual namesake of the Azerbaijan Museum. If it sounds confusing, that’s because it is, especially when you consider the fact that people in Azerbaijan-proper are also Turks, more or less. Further adding to the neurosis you feel when spending one or two days in Tabriz is the fact that the popular local dish Tabrizi Koofteh is reminiscent, both in name and in flavor, of Turkish Köfte.
Parks and bazaars
Tabriz is confounding, but it’s also tantalizing, if only because of how profoundly different it from everywhere else I saw in Iran. The historical attractions I’ve mentioned notwithstanding, you can easily occupy a day in Tabriz with a morning stroll through the Tabriz Bazaar, an afternoon in Elgoli Park and sunset from the hill just above it, returning to a non-awful Tabriz hotel (I liked Kaya Laleh Park) before your next day’s excursion.
Kandovan: Cappadocia comes to Iran
“You can tell he is Turkish,” my guide explained to me, as our driver careened along the curved highway that leads away from Tabriz, “because he pronounces ‘Kandovan’ as ‘Chandovan.'” (Apparently, the hard “k” sound doesn’t exist in Turkish, or at least the dialect of it people in Tabriz speak.)
At any rate the driver was charming, and the rather short drive to Chan…er, Kandovan was gorgeous, especially since fall colors were on full display. Once we finally saw trees, that is: Much of the mountainous landscape was arid, not unlike what I expect to find in the Central Asian republics, once I make it there.
To be sure, just as Tabriz itself had evoked Turkey, Kandovan looked extremely similar to Göreme, the principal town in the Cappadocia region of Iran’s western neighbor—the resemblance between the rock-hewn houses of the two towns was uncanny! There are no hot air balloons here, of course, but thankfully just as few tourists.
Certainly, Kandovan was the weirdest place I saw in Iran, and definitely the most interesting part of my few days in Tabriz.
How Many Days Should You Spend in Tabriz?
Given that you may or may not even be planning to visit Tabriz, it’s difficult to say how long you should spend there. I personally spend two full days in the city center, plus a full day and a night in Kandovan. While I found Tabriz’s city center interesting, I also felt that I didn’t necessarily need the entirety of the time I spent there—a full day and night likely would’ve been sufficient.
Of course, you also have to consider that it’s a trek to get to Tabriz, even if you end up flying. You’ll probably want to spend at least a couple of days in its vicinity, if only to make your journey worthwhile. Looking back, if I could change my trip, I probably would’ve spent just one full day in Tabriz, traveled to Kandovan on morning two and spent the night there, then flown back to Tehran on day three.
Other FAQ About Visiting Tabriz
What is Tabriz known for?
Tabriz is known among Iranians (and, I suppose, among some tourists), for being a really good place to buy rugs. It’s actually not very known to tourists for any reason, however, which is most of why I find it such an intriguing place to visit.
Is Tabriz a Kurdish city?
Although people who are ethnically Kurdish call Tabriz home, I find the city to be Turkish, if anything. The fact that Kandovan resembles Cappadocia, geographically speaking, solidifies this feeling for me, regardless of the underlying demographic reality.
Can you fly from Tehran to Tabriz?
There are many direct flights from both of Tehran’s airports to Tabriz every day. In addition, you may also be able to fly directly to Tabriz from other cities like Shiraz and Isfahan, although some flights route indirectly via Tehran.
The Bottom Line
Is Tabriz worth visiting? Although the city might not be exciting, but it’s interesting: A city well within the borders of Iran that doesn’t feel Iranian in the least. Whether you’re more intrigued by the Turkish vibes you get walking the streets of its city center, or the otherworldliness of Kandovan and its rock-hewn houses, one or two days in Tabriz is a worthwhile addition to any trip to Iran.
I traveled in Tabriz (and the rest of Iran) courtesy of Surfiran. Whether you’re looking for a comprehensive Iran tour (which you’ll legally need if you’re American, Canadian or British) or simply need piecemeal Iran travel services, Surfiran can help you take your trip to the next level.
