Tehran Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Tehran.
Tehran's health system mixes public hospitals, private clinics, and charity-run centres. Tourists usually use private facilities for shorter queues and English-speaking staff.
Day General Hospital (Fereshteh Street), Pars Hospital (Valiasr Street), and Khatam-al-Anbia Hospital (next to Taleqani Metro) have 24-hour emergency rooms and English-speaking doctors.
Green-cross pharmacies are on almost every block. Common antibiotics and allergy meds are available over the counter. Prescription labels are in Farsi, ask the pharmacist to write the English equivalent.
Travel insurance is not legally required but is strongly advised. Hospitals routinely ask for proof of coverage or a cash deposit before non-urgent treatment.
- ✓ Bring a printout of your insurance policy with emergency hotline numbers, mobile signal in Tehran metro tunnels is patchy.
- ✓ Pack copies of prescriptions using generic drug names. Brand names differ in Iran.
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Pickpocketing and phone snatching on crowded buses and the Tehran Metro Line 1 between Tajrish and Imam Khomeini stations.
Aggressive lane-changing and motorcycles weaving between cars are routine. Pedestrian crossings are often ignored.
Tehran's altitude and winter temperature inversions trap smog, triggering cough or headaches within 24, 48 h.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Street touts near Ferdowsi Square offer better rates but swap IRR 100,000 notes for IRR 10,000 notes while counting.
Shopkeepers quote 'tourist prices' for carpets or spices, then drop dramatically when you walk away, creating confusion about the real market price.
Men in arrivals hall claim the official taxi queue is 'closed' and quote inflated flat rates to Tehran hotels.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
- • Metro lines are safe and cheap; women-only carriages are the first and last cars.
- • Request Snapp 'Snapp Eco' for transparent fares. Verify licence plate before entering.
- • Carry a colour photocopy of your passport. Originals stay in the hotel safe.
- • International cards do not work. Bring cash euros or USD and exchange gradually.
- • Download the offline Tehran map on Maps.me, network outages occur during protests.
- • Save your embassy's after-hours number in Farsi under 'Embassy Tehran Emergency' so locals can help dial if needed.
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Solo female travellers report feeling safe on metro and in cafés. But conservative dress codes are legally enforced and street staring is common.
- → Sit in women-only metro cars or next to families. Avoid responding to prolonged stares, looking away ends most encounters.
- → Book upper-floor Tehran hotel rooms away from street-facing windows to reduce unsolicited attention.
Same-sex relations are illegal and punishable under Iranian law.
- → Avoid dating apps that reveal location. Use a secure VPN if logging into social media.
- → Book twin beds in Tehran hotels rather than doubles to reduce questions at check-in.
Travel Insurance
Protect yourself before you travel.
Iran has no reciprocal health agreements with most nations. Even a brief hospital stay in Tehran can drain your wallet fast if you arrive uninsured.
Ready to plan your trip to Tehran?
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