Ahvaz

White Bridge

Ahvaz (Persian: اهواز, also Romanized as Ahwaz) is a city in Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran.

Understand

Ahvaz sits on the banks of the Karoun River, which splits the city into two large districts. The western half is mostly housing with some government departments. The eastern half is both residential and industrial. The main train station is on the western side and the airport is on the eastern side.

It is extremely hot in the summer. Expect 45°C in July and August.

Get in

By plane

There are daily flights from Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. There are weekly flights from Dubai-Kuwait City-Mashad. Airlines serving Ahvaz airport are Iran Air-Caspian Airlines-Mahan Airlines-Eran Air-Aria Air-Iran Air Tours-Iran Asseman Airlines.

There are many travel agencies. OXIN travel agency sits on the corner of the 7th street in Kianpars. They have flight tickets for all the destinations in Iran, and provide vacation tours to Asian countries like UAE, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Japan, and Vietnam.

By train

There are daily trains from Tehran-Khorramshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini.

Ahvaz is the major junction for trains heading from the southern ports to Tehran, and from Tehran you can change trains and go further to Mashad or Tabriz.

There are 3 daily trains to Tehran. 1 Ahvaz railway station (ایستگاه راه آهن اهواز) is located on the western side of the city, with Saat (ایستگاه مترو ساعت) being the nearest metro station.

By car

There are several highways that lead to Ahvaz, including Route 5, which goes to Ahvaz from the capital of Iran, Tehran.

By bus

There are daily buses to many destinations in Iran:

• Ahvaz-Tehran
• Ahvaz-Isfahan
• Ahvaz-Shiraz
• Ahvaz-Mashhad
• Ahvaz-Khorramabad

The main bus station is in Kampelo for buses headed north (i.e., Tehran).

For buses headed east (Isfahan and Shiraz-Masjed Suleiman), the station is at 4 Lions Square.

Southbound buses leave from Khorramshahr Square.

Get around

Taxis roam around the city 24 hours a day and are relatively inexpensive. Around 30,000 rials for the longest trip in the city.

There are also taxi agencies everywhere, if you can't find one on your own, all the hotels have taxi agencies.

Buses ply most inner city routes and are very cheap.

See

• Karoon county or known as "Kut Kut" is where most of the Ahvaz tourist attractions are gathered. Kut Kut is the home to water buffaloes. Its Arab residents have a culture that is unique in the country. They live a simple village-like life just 10 minutes drive away from city center. They answer every "hello" with sincere "welcome". They bring their cattle to the water during the day, making a breath-taking view. Also their simple yet strong breakfast is offered to every traveler who knocks on the door.
• Ghazaviyeh Village is one of the most elegant villages in the region. It is 6 km away from the city, filled with date palm farms and vineyards which are all green even in the dead of summer. Here, you can see the famous classic Arabic gatherings every day at noon, and participate in their coffee ceremonies hosted by the head of the village.
• Riverside Park, Kianpars, Ahvaz. The best places in Ahvaz are along the river. The river boulevard is a nice place to stroll and has many parks. The oldest park of the city is in Kianpars beside the White Bridge. The view of Karoun river, white bridge, other side of the city and the islands are interesting. 
• White Bridge. The white bridge was the first bridge crossing Karoun river made by German engineers in the 1930s. The bridge is now considered as the main symbol of the city. 
• One of the attractions of Ahvaz is the oil well flares on the border of the city, but it's only nice at night time.

Do

• 1 Sailing on the river. You can rent a boat and go sailing on Karoun river in many parks nearby the river. (updated Jun 2018)

Buy

All the Ahvaz neighborhoods have a local market place. The upscale shops are mostly situated alongside Chamran Blvd. (Kianpars), Zeitoon Karmandi (Cheetah Square), and the main bazaar is on Taleqani Street.

Eat

Budget

There are many sandwich shops and fast food shops in the city. Most are average.

A good ice cream store is in a cellar below a cake store. Haji Baba Coffee Shop can be found next to the bazaar, heading towards the white bridge.. No English spoken.

Mid-range

Oxin Hotel Restaurant- Try the Shir Mahi (fish) kebabs and they also serve great meat kebabs. They have specials that change daily.

Splurge

Astoria Hotel Restaurant-Expensive and below average food.

Drink

You cannot legally find alcohol in Iran so your drinking is limited to soft drinks and fruit juice.

There are many good fruit juice shops in Ahvaz and you will find them easily. In the summer stay away from cantaloupe juice and banana milk shakes.

Sleep

Budget

There are many mehmansara (guest houses) in Ahvaz. Most don't admit foreigners and the ones that do are not up to foreign standards. But they are inexpensive.

Naderi Hotel is a decent one.

Mid-range

Oxin Hotel is near the airport and is moderately priced. It has an excellent restaurant and the rooms are clean and they have great air conditioning. They also have large screen televisions in the lobby and mostly show football games. They speak very good English and can help you arrange any kind of tour or transport.

Hotel Iran is reasonably ok. Ask for a renovated room; there is plenty of hot water and good AC in refurbished rooms. Basic English is spoken. The restaurant is good and reasonably priced at around 90,000 rials for a chicken kebab.

Splurge

• 1 Hotel Pars (هتل پارس), ☏ +98 61 3222 1091. The former Astoria Hotel, now Hotel Pars, is the best hotel in the city. It is on the riverside and has great views; however, it's expensive and not fully up to international standards. (updated Nov 2016)

Connect

You can find small internet cafes across the city which provide you with a high quality internet connection; these small shops are called "coffeenets" by locals. Public Wi-Fi networks might be a little hard to find and aren't recommended for an emergency. It is important to note that the Iranian government banned some of the social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube but Whatsapp and Instagram are easily accessible.

Stay safe

Iran is generally a safe country. It is advised however, that being an obvious tourist may attract some unwanted attention from interested Iranians, but do not be alarmed or react negatively. Standard advice to keep your bag secured and safe, and to leave personal and valuable belongings in your hotel room or hotel safe should be regarded. Iranians are generally peaceful, hospitable people, but it is advised to act with caution when walk in the streets alone late at night or when approached by strangers to the same degree that you would in your native country.

Emergency services

• Police: 110
• Fire department: 125
• EMS: 115
• Road EMS: 115 or 112

Stay healthy

Ahvaz, in Iran according to a 2011 WHO survey is found to be the worst air polluted city in the world. People with respiratory problems, for example asthma patients, should consider before visiting.

Cope

Not easy without Farsi or Arabic. The Arab visitors to Ahwaz have little trouble in communicating as the majority of the city's population are Arabs (almost 70%), so the local residents can communicate with Arab tourists and visitors or can act willingly as interpreters from Farsi to Arabic and vice versa.

Go next

• Abadan
• Khorramshahr
• Dezful
• Masjed Solayman
• Izeh
• Shushtar