Shiraz [1] (شیراز) is the capital city of Fars province and a treasure trove of Persian culture. It is also the former capital of Iran, during the Zand dynasty's era (1747-79), and also the celebrated birthplace of the great Persian poets Hafiz and Saadi. It is also been said to be the origin of one of the best wines in the world called Syrah. The city has a population of about 1,300,000. Get inBy plane
As the metro have not reached the Dastgheib roundabout there is a shuttle bus running from Namazi to the airport. Number is 110 and runs about every 15th minutes. Number 120 (Minibus with yellow stripe and approximately 10 seats, located at the outside of the Namazi roundabout/first platform of the bus station) also runs from Namazi on the main street through Shiraz to the airport. Price is 10000 Real. By busShiraz is well connected to most parts of the country by bus. By carMotorways connect the city to Isfahan, Kerman, Bushehr, Ahvaz and Yasouj, and Bandar-e Abbas is reachable by highway. By trainShiraz Train station has recently been finished and there are Trains to Tehran but not to Esfahan (Oct 2015). However, the bus journey is shorter (2hrs less), so that might be recommended. There is a connecting bus from the train station to Ghasr Dasht bus and metro station. Price in Aug. 2015 was 10000 real for single ticket. Get aroundThere is a tourist information on the main boulevard a bit west of the palace. They speak English and can give helpful tips and have English maps. For non-Iranian visitors, taxis are probably the most convenient mean of transport. However be sure to haggle for a good price prior to getting into the car. If an unmarked car stops while you are hailing a taxi, don't be alarmed. Many taxis in Shiraz are unmarked and also as a means to supplement their income, is not uncommon to find private car owners touting themselves as taxis. However it always best to find a taxi through a reputable "telephone taxi" agency. For a set fee, drivers of these agencies will take passengers to their destination, drive them around town and also wait for them while they shop or run errands. All hotels and local residents will have a phone number of one these agencies. There are also taxis driven by women that specifically cater to women passengers. The city also has a reasonable bus service. TalkDont hesitate to talk to people, especially youths. Almost all of them speak English well enough to talk to you, answer your questions and chat with you. They're all very welcoming and like getting into conversation with you. Some of them might even invite you to be their guest. SeeNote: As of January 2016, all government-administered sights (mausoleums, Persepolis, most gardens, ...) apply a discriminatory fee of 20 kTomans for foreigners vs 3 kTomans for iranians. No combination card available either.
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BuyRetail stores usually open between 09:00 and 13:00, reopening again from 17:00 to 21:00. It is customary to haggle for a discount, which is referred to as a takhfeef.
Shopping malls
Eat[edit][add listing]Local foods
RestaurantsAlmost all of these places have Live music playing
Fast FoodYou can find at least one fast food parlor in every Street of Shiraz.
CafesYou can find coffee shops at shopping centres and on the main streets. Some are big and some are small.
Food GardensThere are a lot of gardens out of Shiraz, most have been remodeled as restaurants. Most have live music playing in the evenings and offer great view.
DrinkFor more information on typical drinks in Iran, see Iran#Drink
SleepBudgetThere are a few budget hotels located about 200m south of the roundabout at Arg-é Karim Khan.
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