Tehran, Iran's sprawling capital at the foot of the Alborz Mountains, pairs Qajar-era palaces and a vast historic bazaar with modern towers, mountain gondolas, and a genuine after-dark cafe culture built around teahouses rather than bars.
As of September 2026, both the United States and the United Kingdom advise against all travel to Iran, and this advisory covers Tehran along with the rest of the country. The primary risks documented by both governments are the arbitrary detention of foreign nationals — with dual nationals facing especially serious and well-documented risk — regional security instability, and periods of civil unrest and internet blackout during 2026. Petty street crime against tourists is comparatively low by international standards, but the political and detention risk is the dominant safety consideration for anyone contemplating travel to Tehran.
Current safety advisory
Do-Not-Travel
The US State Department has maintained a Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advisory for Iran since December 2025, citing serious risk of wrongful detention of US nationals including dual US-Iranian citizens, students, journalists, business travelers, academics, and anyone with US military or government background. The UK FCDO advises against all travel to Iran, with its advisory most recently updated in August 2026, citing significant risk of arrest, questioning, or detention for British and British-Iranian dual nationals. Both governments issued additional security alerts during 2026 covering regional conflict, land border crossing closures, and periods of shelter-in-place guidance for nationals already in the country. Travelers should check the current advisory on travel.state.gov and gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iran immediately before any trip, as conditions have changed rapidly through 2026.
Last updated: 2026-08
Official advisories
Guidance from national travel-advisory services.
Level 4 - Do Not Travel
Do not travel to Iran due to the risk of kidnapping and the arbitrary arrest and detention of US citizens, including dual US-Iranian nationals. Advisory in effect since December 2025 with multiple 2026 security alerts covering regional conflict and border closures.
Advise against all travel
The FCDO advises against all travel to Iran. British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at significant risk of arrest, questioning, or detention. Advisory last updated August 2026.
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
Both the US State Department and the UK FCDO maintain their most severe travel warnings for Iran; independent travel by US and UK nationals carries serious risk and is advised against
Dual nationals (Iranian-American, Iranian-British, and other Iranian dual citizens) face a documented, elevated risk of arbitrary arrest and detention on charges such as espionage — Iran does not recognize dual nationality and treats dual nationals solely as Iranian citizens
Carry a printed copy of the visa and passport photo page separately from the passport itself, and keep the accommodation address written in Farsi to show taxi drivers
Photographing military sites, government buildings, airports, and border areas is illegal and strictly enforced; when in doubt, do not photograph a building
Public protests and demonstrations can arise with little warning and have turned violent in recent years — avoid any gathering or protest activity entirely and leave the area immediately if one begins
Foreign credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) do not work anywhere in Iran due to international sanctions — carry sufficient cash or arrange a prepaid Iranian tourist card before arrival
Alcohol is illegal in Iran; possession, consumption, or intoxication in public can result in arrest, fines, or corporal punishment under Iranian law
Internet access is heavily restricted and has been subject to nationwide blackouts during periods of unrest in 2026; do not rely on having continuous internet or messaging access, and keep offline copies of maps, bookings, and emergency contacts
Register travel plans and hotel details with someone outside Iran before departure, since consular access for detained dual nationals is frequently denied by Iranian authorities
Women must wear a headscarf covering the hair and loose clothing covering the arms and legs in all public places, including immediately upon leaving the aircraft at the airport
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Unofficial taxi overcharging at the airport
Unlicensed drivers approach arriving passengers at Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) offering rides at inflated, unmetered rates well above the standard fixed airport-taxi tariff.
How to avoid: Use the official airport taxi counter inside the arrivals hall, which quotes a fixed fare to central Tehran before departure, or book a transfer through Snapp once a local SIM or Wi-Fi connection is available.
Currency exchange shortchanging
Given the very large numbers involved in rial transactions (millions of rials for routine purchases) and the toman/rial naming confusion, some informal money changers and vendors miscount change in their favor, particularly with tourists unfamiliar with the currency.
How to avoid: Exchange money at licensed exchange offices (sarafi) with a clearly displayed rate board, count all change before leaving the counter, and confirm whether a quoted price is in toman or rial before paying.
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Vaccinations
- Routine vaccinations (MMR, tetanus-diphtheria, polio) should be up to date. Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccination is commonly recommended for travel to Iran given variable food and water hygiene standards. Consult a travel clinic 4-6 weeks before departure.
- Water
- Tap water in Tehran is treated and generally considered safe by municipal standards, but many residents and visitors still prefer bottled water due to taste and variable pipe infrastructure in older buildings. Bottled water is inexpensive and sold everywhere.
- Food
- Tehran has a wide range of restaurants with generally good food safety standards, particularly in established restaurants and hotel dining rooms. Street food from busy, high-turnover vendors is generally safe; use judgment with food that has been sitting out.
- Facilities
- Tehran has well-equipped hospitals accustomed to complex care, including Milad Hospital (one of Iran's largest, with full trauma, ICU, and cardiac care capability), Day Hospital (private tertiary hospital on Valiasr Street), and Tehran Heart Center (specialized cardiac facility affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences). Foreign payment cards do not work in Iran, so hospitals expect cash payment or a pre-arranged guarantee; comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is strongly recommended, and evacuation logistics from Iran are complicated by sanctions and limited international carrier access.
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Solo travellers
Solo travel to Tehran is not recommended by either the US or UK government while current advisories are in effect, primarily due to detention risk rather than street crime. Travelers who do proceed despite the advisory should keep embassy or third-party contact details accessible, avoid discussing politics or the current security situation with strangers, and avoid any location where a protest or gathering is occurring.
Female travellers
Female travelers must wear a headscarf and loose-fitting clothing covering the arms and legs at all times in public, including at the airport immediately after landing. Enforcement of hijab rules has varied through 2026, with periods of stricter enforcement following government crackdowns. Beyond dress requirements, reported rates of street harassment and violent crime against female tourists in central Tehran are relatively low, but solo female travelers should still avoid unlicensed taxis, agree on fares before departure, and avoid walking alone late at night in unfamiliar neighborhoods.
Families
Family travel to Tehran is not advised while the current Level 4/advise-against-all-travel guidance is in effect. Families already resident in or connected to Iran should register with their embassy's alternative-representation contacts (the Swiss Embassy handles US interests) and maintain updated emergency contact plans given the risk of internet blackouts affecting communication.
LGBTQ+ travellers
Same-sex relations are criminalized under Iranian law, with severe penalties that can include the death penalty in aggravated cases. LGBTQ travelers face serious legal risk in Iran regardless of nationality, and public displays of affection between any couple, same-sex or otherwise, are inappropriate in public. This is a significant and well-documented safety concern distinct from the general political detention risk.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 110
- Medical
- 115 (ambulance)
- Fire
- 125
- General
- 112 also connects to emergency services in Iran and works without a SIM card or account credit
- Embassy
- The United States has no embassy in Iran; consular interests are handled by the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which represents US interests. The UK Embassy in Tehran has been subject to intermittent closures and reduced staffing during periods of tension; check current UK government guidance before travel for embassy operating status.