From the top of Falak-ol-Aflak Castle you look down over a city folded into a mountain valley, the Khorram-Rud running below and the old bridge carrying its arches across the water. Khorramabad is the capital of Lorestan province and the largest Luri-speaking city in the country, set in the Zagros Mountains with a mild, semi-humid Mediterranean climate and heavy spring and winter rain.
It suits travellers who are drawn to layered history: a Sasanian citadel at the centre, a Seljuk-era minaret and bridge on the southern edge, and prehistoric cave sites in the surrounding valley that were recognised by UNESCO in 2025. This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, with practical notes on how to fit them together.
Top things to do in Khorramabad
1. Falak-ol-Aflak Castle
A tall citadel on a rocky outcrop in the city centre, known in historical travelogues as the Bala Hissar and translated as the Heaven of Heavens. Its stone and brick foundations were laid in the Sasanian era, and Qajar governors later renovated and expanded the complex. The castle today houses a popular museum.
Because it sits at the immediate base of the valley's central fortress rock, it works as the anchor of a walking day in the centre. Pair it with the Shapuri Bridge, which lies south of the fortress across the Khorram-Rud.
2. Shapuri Bridge
A historic bridge dating back to the Sasanian era and registered on the list of National Monuments. It was built to span the valley floor and withstand seasonal flooding across the Khorram-Rud River, and historical surveys record it with twenty-eight stone arches.
Come here after the castle, since the bridge sits south of the fortress. It is an outdoor site, so plan it for a dry stretch of the day given the city's high rainfall in spring and winter.
3. Brick Minaret
A cylindrical brick tower from the Seljuk and Buyid eras, located inside the ancient city of Shapur Khast, south of Khorramabad. It combines the Indian stupa, commemorative columns, and the Central Asian tradition of tower building for defensive and communication purposes.
It stands 30 metres high and was built to help caravans find their way through dark nights, with a fire once lit at the top. Combine it with the other southern sites rather than making a separate trip.
4. Kaldar Cave
One of the prehistoric cave settlements outside the city, listed in 2025 as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site covering the prehistoric sites of the Khorramabad Valley. The valley contains evidence from the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic periods, with Mousterian and Baradostian cultures.
These sites are outside the city, so treat a cave visit as a half-day or full-day excursion rather than a stop between city sights. Check access locally before setting out.
5. Ghamari Cave
Another of the six prehistoric cave settlements listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025. The valley's cave sites, including Yafteh, Kunji and Gar Arjeneh, yielded Upper Paleolithic Baradostian blade industries and are the primary material for studying the regional transition from Neanderthals to anatomically modern humans.
If you are visiting more than one cave, group them into a single excursion, as they share the same valley setting outside the city.
6. Gilvaran Cave
Part of the same 2025 UNESCO listing of prehistoric cave settlements in the Khorramabad Valley. The valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right, with systematic excavations notably led by Frank Hole.
Bring the same practical preparation as for the other caves: this is open terrain outside the city, so allow proper time and confirm access before you go.
7. Yafteh Cave
One of the key cave sites identified in the valley's excavations, and one of the six prehistoric settlements listed by UNESCO in 2025. It is among the locations that produced distinct Upper Paleolithic Baradostian blade industries.
Since the caves sit outside the city, plan them as a dedicated outing and combine several in one trip rather than returning to the city between each.
8. Kunji Cave
Another key cave site from the valley's systematic excavations and part of the 2025 UNESCO listing. Together with Yafteh and Gar Arjeneh, it is one of the locations that yielded the Baradostian blade industries.
Visit as part of the same valley excursion as the other caves, and leave the city sights for a separate day.
9. Gar Arjeneh Rock-shelter
A rock-shelter rather than a cave, and one of the six prehistoric sites in the Khorramabad Valley listed by UNESCO in 2025. It is named among the key sites identified in the valley's excavations.
It rounds out the prehistoric group, so include it if you are already visiting the other valley sites in one outing.
10. Masur Tepe
A major archaeological site in the south of Khorramabad, with layers extending from the Neolithic to the Islamic periods. It is one of the city's historical monuments and sits in the same southern part of the city as the Brick Minaret.
Because it lies south of the city, it fits naturally into the same trip as the Brick Minaret and the Shapuri Bridge.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Falak-ol-Aflak Castle in the city centre, where the citadel and its museum give you the Sasanian and Qajar layers of the city in one stop.
Afternoon: Head south to the Shapuri Bridge and then the Brick Minaret, both in the southern part of the city near the ancient city of Shapur Khast. Add Masur Tepe if time allows, since it is also in the south.
Evening: Return to the centre below the castle rock for the evening. Keep the prehistoric caves for another day, as they lie outside the city.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best-known sight in Khorramabad?
Falak-ol-Aflak Castle, the tall citadel in the city centre. It dates back to the Sasanian era, was later renovated under the Qajar governors, and now houses a popular museum.
Can I see the prehistoric caves in a day?
The six prehistoric cave settlements are outside the city, so they are best treated as a separate excursion from the city sights. They were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025.
When should I visit given the weather?
Khorramabad has a mild, semi-humid Mediterranean climate with high rainfall in spring and winter. If you plan outdoor sites such as the Shapuri Bridge or the valley caves, build in flexibility for wet weather.
Which sights are close enough to combine?
The Shapuri Bridge, the Brick Minaret and Masur Tepe all lie in the south of the city, so they combine well in one outing. Falak-ol-Aflak Castle stands in the centre, south of which the bridge crosses the Khorram-Rud.
Use these notes to sketch your own route, then check local access for the valley caves before you set out.