First Iran When planning my trip (year 2013) as a woman, I expected Iran to be challenging. Even though I wanted to go for a long time due to the imposition of covering my head, I was throwing it back in my list of places to go. At the end of my two trips to Iran in 2013 and 2022 Being a woman in Iran ve Being a female traveler in Iran I have compiled my experiences and opinions about Iran in this article, I hope it will be useful for those who are considering going to Iran.
Being a Woman in Iran
Let me first say what I will say later, being a woman in Iran is a really hard craft. All the women I met and talked to in Iran complain about the sharia laws that prevailed in the country after the Iranian Revolution 40 years ago. Always having to cover one's head and dress indoors; always come after the male sex before the law in public; Unhappy Iranian women for many reasons, such as their freedom being severely restricted… It is one thing to cover or cover one's head of your own free will, because of your religious belief, but completely different from being forced by the state. If you say what happens if they don't shut up, if the police sees your head uncovered and wants to deal with you (it depends a bit on the police), you are arrested and punished.
Despite many restrictions, women in Iran are actively involved in every aspect of their social life. It is possible to see women working in many jobs, from taxi drivers to shopkeepers. Young girls going on vacation with groups of friends and middle-aged women going to dinner, restaurants and cafes are also common sights. If you catch a group like that, don't let go, they're a lot of fun.
Iranian women are also very fond of their beauty. Iran is one of the countries where visual operations such as aesthetic operations, eyebrow-lip-cheek interventions are performed the most. You will usually see Iranian women with heavy make-up and very fancy. Sounds like a rebellion against forced confinement, what do you think?
It should not be thought that all the women in Iran wear their hair half open, tight trousers and shirts, dressed up. There is also a conservative section in Iran. You can see them praying on the street or in mosques with their black chadors.
Iran has very long beaches in the south. Beautiful beaches overlooking the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. In Iran, women are not allowed to swim in public places. However, they can enter the sea from places designated for women and closed off.
What Do Women Wear in Iran?
Hijab women in Iran compulsory, but you don't have to cover your head like a turban, it's okay to see the front of the hair. In fact, we can say that it is a form of cover-up. If you have a veil on your head, it is ok if it covers the back of your hair.
It is not enough for women to just cover their heads. They should wear loose fitting clothes and cover their hips. When I went to Iran in 2013, I just threw a few long-sleeved t-shirts in my bag without thinking much about it. But just the long sleeved t-shirt didn't work for me. Teheran After I came to the city center, I realized that there was something strange. There was no one other than me who wore a colorful t-shirt with white-blue-red stripes or a red headscarf, and there was not a single woman without a tunic. Everyone, including the tourists, wore clothes that covered their hips and did not reveal their body lines. In this case, I was drawing attention as if I was walking on Istiklal Street in a riding hood. First, I put on my fleece, but of course, when the weather was 20 degrees, it was not very comfortable to walk around in fleece. On the first day, I resisted, like "I'm a tourist, they should show me some respect" but it didn't work. When I suffered a lot of verbal and eye abuse, I wore my loose, dark colored and of course long sleeved T-shirt that I had taken with me to wear at night on the second day, but it still didn't work and I finally found a colorful and comfortable tunic that was "suitable for me", at least, and bought it. It turned out that all the ingenuity was in the tunic, and after the tunic, I suddenly became invisible.
When I went to Iran for the second time, this time I felt very comfortable because I took long kaftans and jackets with me. There was not even the slightest glance. In fact, when I left, I realized that women in Iran started to dress more comfortably and colorfully than in 2013, there were many women who wore tight trousers or long shirts over tights, I guess the practice was a little stretched.
If you are going as a tourist, loose trousers and a shirt or jacket below your hips will do the trick. However, you cannot wear anything with short sleeves.
The only exception to this situation is the entrances of some mosques, I say some because they do not have a certain standard. At some mosque entrances, women are given hijabs and you cannot enter the mosque without wearing them, even the officials walk around and warn you to wear it properly. In some mosques, you can enter with your own clothes.
Can a Single Woman Travel to Iran?
I planned my second trip to Iran to be alone for two weeks. I returned without any inconvenience, without the slightest security concerns. So, you can travel to Iran alone as a woman with peace of mind. Look, I have me as an example before you.
Is Iran Safe for Female Travelers?
Iran is a safe country for travelers regardless of male or female. Since sharia laws are valid in the country, heavy penalties are applied in cases such as theft, harassment and rape, so no one tries to do such a thing. However, it is said that there has been an increase in snatching cases in the last few years due to the economic difficulties during and after the pandemic and the country's receiving too many immigrants. I think it's enough just to be a little careful. Iran is still a much safer country than many other countries in the world.
Let me repeat, Iran is a country where all travelers, regardless of men and women, can travel comfortably and enjoy a lot with its history, culture, food and people.
Stay on track.
16 Comments
Traveling is not like reading. It is very nice to read, but when you read, you evaluate it with the author's eyes, with the author's perceptions - perceptions and conditioning restrict people - traveling and seeing is completely different. You live and evaluate yourself. Learning becomes more permanent and more effective.
We have so many negative perception operations about our own close geography. However, we shared the same geography, language and culture for years. But today, when we identify ourselves with countries that are miles away from us – which they never accept and separate us – we need to think why this separation with neighboring countries that are closer to us and are definitely more human….
Well done, it's a very good article. Always travel with that smiling face, with health and happiness… I love you so much….
Thank you so much 🙂
It's scary to go as a woman. The flock of bigots, who have not completed their evolution, eat every damn thing, it's a sin! The bigots who say that you are exaggerating here are no different from those over there. They are trying to make this place in Iran soon... When there are so many beautiful countries in the world, what is there to see in Iran...
I have postponed my trip to Iran for many years, but nothing is as it seems from the outside.
Hello,
I will go on a trip to Iran as a single woman, frankly, I have some uneasiness inside me, what are the issues I should pay attention to other than clothes? How can I get from the airport to the city center early in the morning? I'll be happy if you can help me
I think you're exaggerating a bit. The reason you get so much attention is just because you're wearing different clothes.
I think you are exaggerating as an Iranian, I've been to Turkey 7 times alone, Turkish men are very angry with our men, there is a lot of respect for women here, but maybe it was a bad coincidence that it could happen in any country, besides, I noticed that Iranian men are very fond of white-skinned women. there seems to be we do not have white skin, most of us people are white skinned and a brunette is like you, I like the people of Turkey and Iran very similar to each other, our food, culture, customs, our guest parvarage are very similar to each other, my very Turkish friends came to Iran and they were very satisfied.
Iran is one of my favorite countries. Both because of its low cost and because of the interest and love of the people for the Turks. I have seen many times that there is no problem in traveling alone as a woman in Iran, especially men are shy towards foreign women, because crimes against women are punished more severely and without exception. I was curious about the events that caused you to have this belief. As for staying in the same hotel without marriage; If you're not staying with an Iranian, it's fine. Unlike our country, hotels are not asked for a marriage license. In other words, a foreign and unmarried couple can stay wherever they want, provided that they are both foreigners. Moreover, when you are asked to say that you have a religious marriage, it is enough to accept that you are married.
Dear Seville,
You have clarified the subject of clothing, which is a very important and curious subject. God bless your hands.
Contrary to what is known, Iran is a country that will surprise you at every opportunity and is way above your expectations. It is a must-see and must-see place.
Hello, our trip to Iran starts on May 29, we are going as two women, I am trying to collect as much information as possible, I especially need your information about hotels. or if you write anything else we need to know, I would be very happy.
Hello Asia,
You can choose hotels on Lonely Planet or Trip Advisor. There will not be a problem.
Be sure to take something long in the form of a tunic with you.
For your questions, you can reach me at sevil.mert (at) gmail.com.
Iran is quite beautiful, I am sure you will like it 🙂
i live in tehran i am turkish
Iran is a country that I also want to go to, but I always have question marks because of the headscarf. It is a very nice and useful article, well done.
How was the accommodation? This is what I'm most curious about. Is it a problem to stay in a hotel as a single woman? Can a tourist stay in the same room with her girlfriend/boyfriend?
I didn't go as a single woman, I went with my boyfriend, but the hotel I found was one with good reviews on both Lonely Planet and Trip Advisor. As a couple it was okay, probably not as a single woman either.
Unknown Route,
I have come across female travelers traveling alone in Iran. You will not have any problems other than the single fee difference in accommodation 🙂
We also met and chatted with travelers traveling as a couple with her boyfriend. Even one of them was Turkish. There is no problem with accommodation.
The most important factor to consider is clothing. Dressing like them and being camouflaged 🙂
Greetings,