Karaj/ Small Iran 

Karaj is one of the mega cities of Iran and the capital of Alborz province that is located at foothills of Alborz mountains. After Tehran, Karaj is the largest immigrant city of Iran and it is known as “ Small Iran “. Geographically, Karaj is located in 36 km from the west of Tehran. From the north the city leads to Mazandaran Province, from the south it leads to Shahriar city and Markazi Province, from the west to Savojbolagh and Qazvin cities, and from the east to Tehran. Since Karaj is located in mountainous region, it has very cold winters and mild summers. Historical monuments of the city that are mainly related to Acheamenid, Parthian and Sassanid eras indicate the advanced civilization of the city in the past.

Where to stay in Karaj?

There are many good hotels in Karaj that you can choose any of them that you can afford. For example Marmar, Saman and Amir Kabir are the suitable hotels of Karaj that are located in the city. But if you like to experience the environment around the city and especially the road, we recommend you to stay at Jahangardi or Gachsar hotels.

What to eat? Where to eat?

Since Karaj is a multi-ethnic city you can find different kinds of Iranian traditional foods there, but Tehran’s foods like various kinds of Khoresh, Barely pottage, Haleem and Dizi( Abgoosht) are more common in the city. There are many good restaurants in the city that the best of them are: Orkideh, Bizans, Roma, Pizza Apple, Venhan, Rabo, Caesar, Mr. Dizi and Banchia.

Beverages ( Soft Drinks)

There are a lot of nice cafes in Karaj that you can go and enjoy your time such as: Mordab, Darchin, Kafka, Ivan Sepid, Kebrit, and Ketab.

What do we buy from Karaj?

Since Karaj is located near Alborz mountains, Chalous valley and Karaj river, different kinds of fruits like White Mulberry, Hazelnut, Grape,Persian Olive, Persimmon, Jujube, and Medlar are the main souvenirs of the city. Karaj also has handicrafts such as Pottery, Kilim, Stained glass and Statue. Thare are a lot of shopping centers in the city that you can go and buy the souvenirs, for example: Taleghani Tower, Mollasadra mall,Parsian shopping center, Karaj Milad Tower, Chechelas mall and Mahestan shopping center. You can also go Derakhti avenue in Golshahr district of Karaj that is the most popular place for shopping in the city.

Where to go and visit in Karaj?

Karaj has a lot of attractive places to visit that we introduce the most important of them to you: Chalous road which is one of the most beautiful roads in Iran and the world, Shams Palace that is one of the architectural masterpieces of the world, Shah Abbasi Caravanserai which is the starting point of the city’s formation, Dizin ski resort that is the first ski resort in Iran which has been officially recognized and granted the title by the International Ski Federation, Birds Garden that has the largest complex of Poultry of the world, Amir Kabir Dam that is the first multi-purpose dam in Iran, Morad ice cave,Jahan Nama forest park, and Soleymaniyeh Bridge.