Stand on Chogha Hill in the late afternoon and the whole shape of Borujerd opens up below you: the flat spread of the city, the Zagros ridgelines running away to the south-east and north-west, and the snow still sitting on the high peaks. It is the quickest way to understand where you are.
Borujerd suits travellers moving between Tehran, Khuzestan, Isfahan and Kermanshah who want to break the journey somewhere with real substance, and anyone interested in early Islamic architecture, bazaar life and mountain country. Winters are cold and wet, with snow that can close roads to the villages, so plan around the season.
This guide covers the historical monuments, the bazaar, the parks and natural features around the city, and a one-day route that links the strongest of them.
Top things to do in Borujerd
1. Jameh Mosque of Borujerd
The oldest mosque in western Iran, dating back to the 10th century AD, and the anchor of any visit to the city. A former Zoroastrian fire temple once stood on the site, which makes the building a useful starting point for understanding how old this settlement really is.
Give it unhurried time rather than treating it as a photo stop, and pair it with the bazaar, which is close enough to fold into the same walk.
2. Bazaar of Borujerd
The Great Bazaar of Borujerd is the working heart of the city and the best place to see and understand the tribal Lurs who trade and shop here. The lanes are busy, so go on foot and let yourself drift.
Walking the bazaar lanes is listed as a thing to do in its own right, not just a shopping errand. Combine it with the Jameh Mosque and the Soltani Mosque, both of which sit within the same area of town.
3. Imamzadeh Ja'far
A mausoleum dating back to the 11th century AD, dedicated to Abulqāsim Ja’far ibn al-Husayn, grandson of the fourth Imam in Shiʻi Islam, Ali ibn Husayn. It is one of the few examples of Seljuk architecture in Iran, which is the reason to make the trip even if you have seen other shrine buildings.
Dress and behave conservatively, as you would at any active religious site, and allow time to look properly at the Seljuk detailing.
4. Soltani Mosque of Borujerd
A large mosque built in the 19th century, during the Qajar era. It belongs to the period when Borujerd was a garrison town and a base for Qajar campaigns in the western regions, so it reads as a statement of that era's confidence.
Visit it in the same outing as the Jameh Mosque and the bazaar, since all three sit together and the contrast between the 10th-century and 19th-century buildings is the point.
5. Chogha Hill
A hill above the city with a 360° view of Borujerd and the Zagros Mountains. The recommended way to do it is a 20-minute hike in the afternoon, staying on for the change into night lights over the city.
This is the best single introduction to the setting of Borujerd, so it works well on your first day. Take the climb at an easy pace and stay for both the daylight view and the lit-up version after dark.
6. Goldasht Valley
A valley 3 km west of the city, one of the natural features that gives Borujerd its reputation for combining historical and natural attractions in one place.
It is close enough to the city to combine with a morning in the bazaar or a mosque visit, and makes a good half-day rather than a full expedition.
7. Vennai
A tourist-friendly village in the Garrin Mountains. The Wikivoyage guidance is to spend half a day here and try the local pickled cucumber, which is the kind of specific, small thing worth building a trip around.
Half a day is the right amount of time. Eat there rather than carrying food in, and treat the pickled cucumber as the thing to order.
8. Kuche Bagghi gardens and farmlands
Gardens and farmland on the edge of the city, described as a parkland to chill out in with a local friend. It is a slow, ordinary kind of place rather than a monument.
Best used as downtime between the mosques and the mountains, and better with company than alone.
9. Fadak Garden
One of the city's parks and natural features, and a straightforward place to spend an hour away from the streets.
Slot it into an afternoon when you want something undemanding between the historical sights and the evening walk.
10. Samovar Park
A municipal park with a statue of a samovar. It is a small, distinctly local landmark rather than a major sight, and that is exactly why it is worth a look.
Treat it as a short stop, and use it as a break while walking the city rather than as a destination in itself.
11. Imamzadeh Ghasem
A religious site in the city, listed among the historical attractions of Borujerd.
Combine it with the other religious buildings rather than making a separate journey, and observe the same conservative dress and behaviour you would at Imamzadeh Ja'far.
12. Shahzadeh Abolhasan
Another of Borujerd's religious monuments, grouped with the city's historical attractions.
Fit it into the same half-day as the other shrines and mosques, when you are already moving between them on foot.
13. Tomb of Zavvarian
A tomb 5 km north of Borujerd, listed among the historical sites of the area.
Because it sits outside the centre, it is best paired with a trip out of the city rather than squeezed into a walking route.
14. Sametieh tomb of Borujerdi poet Samet
The tomb of the Borujerdi poet Samet, one of the city's literary monuments.
Worth adding if you have an interest in Persian poetry, and easy to combine with the other historical sites in the centre.
15. The old houses of the Qajar era
More than 30 Qajar-era houses are distributed in the Sufian suburb. They are domestic buildings rather than monuments, which makes them a different kind of sight from the mosques and shrines.
Set aside time to wander the suburb on foot, and expect houses rather than a single ticketed attraction.
16. Evening walk on Shohada, Takhti and Bahar streets
The local way to end a day in Borujerd is to walk these three streets in the evening, ideally with friends who know the city.
Go after dark, when the streets are at their liveliest, and treat it as social time rather than sightseeing.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Jameh Mosque of Borujerd while the day is still cool, then move on to the Soltani Mosque of Borujerd and the Bazaar of Borujerd, walking the busy lanes between them. If time allows, add Imamzadeh Ja'far for its Seljuk architecture before lunch.
Afternoon. Take the 20-minute hike up Chogha Hill for the 360° view of the city and the Zagros Mountains, and stay long enough to watch the light change. If you would rather stay closer to town, spend the afternoon in Kuche Bagghi gardens and farmlands or Fadak Garden instead.
Evening. Walk Shohada, Takhti and Bahar streets as the city fills up, then return to Chogha Hill for the night view over Borujerd if you have the energy for a second climb.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time of day to visit Chogha Hill?
The afternoon, for a hike of about 20 minutes, staying on to see the 360° view of the city and surrounding mountains in both daylight and night lights.
How long should I allow for Vennai?
Half a day. It is a tourist-friendly village in the Garrin Mountains, and the local pickled cucumber is worth trying while you are there.
Where can I see the tribal Lurs of the region?
In the busy lanes of the bazaar, which is the place to walk if you want to see and understand them.
What is there to do in Borujerd in the evening?
Walk Shohada, Takhti and Bahar streets with local friends, or hike Chogha Hill for the night view of the city.
Decide your season, pick your route in from Tehran, Khuzestan, Isfahan or Kermanshah, and start planning a stop in Borujerd.