When to visit Iran — an honest month-by-month guide

Every brochure says “spring and autumn.” True — but incomplete. April in Isfahan is glorious and busy; late October in Yazd is quiet and golden; and the two weeks after Nowruz are the single most crowded window of the Iranian year, which no first-time visitor is warned about.

Our rule of thumb: mid-April to late May for gardens and rosewater season in Kashan; September for the Zagros light; November for empty sites and sharp desert skies. Avoid the first half of April unless you enjoy sharing Persepolis with half of Tehran — charming in its own way, but you should choose it, not stumble into it.