Stand on the roof of the Kashan Bazaar and the old city opens up around you: mudbrick domes, wind towers and the desert light that has shaped this town for centuries. Kashan is one of the oldest cities in Iran, and much of what makes it worth your time sits within a short walk of its covered market.
It suits travellers who want traditional Persian houses, gardens and a working bazaar rather than a checklist of monuments, and it works well as a first stop after Tehran, where the pace is slower and the tea houses invite you to linger.
This guide covers the sights in the city itself, plus a few trips nearby, and finishes with a plan for a single day.
Top things to do in Kashan
1. Fin Garden
Fin Garden is a Persian Paradise Garden, a type of garden that uses waterways to split the garden into four rectangles down the centre, and it is one of nine World Heritage Persian Gardens. It is the oldest garden in Iran, built in 1590, and covers 2.3 hectares with a main yard surrounded by ramparts with four circular towers.
It contains Kashan's Fin Bath, where Amir-Kabir, a famous vizier of Qajarid, was murdered by the King Nasereddin Shah. Give it a proper half-day rather than a quick stop, and note the foreigner price of 200,000 rials.
2. Kashan Bazaar
With its mudbrick architecture, the bazaar is one of the jewels of the city. Walk around a bit in the neighbouring streets as well to catch the feeling of an Iranian town on the fringe of the desert.
Pay a small amount to one of the touts hanging around the bazaar and you will be led to the roof, where you can get an idea of the technical marvel of building such large structures from mudbricks and have a wonderful view over the old city.
3. Boroujerdi ha Residence
The house of Boroujerdi, belonging to a trading family who migrated to Kashan, was built over a hundred years ago, and the construction date can still be seen on the covered inscription of the building. Completion took 18 years of work by tens of labourers, architects and master painters.
Exceptional attention has been paid to all minute architectural details demanded by the geographical and climatic conditions of the area, which is why the house has attracted the attention of architects. The foreigner price is 150,000 rials.
4. Tabatabaie Residence
This is a large house with several courtyards, which once belonged to a wealthy merchant. It is a good place to experience how well the wind towers work.
It consists of wall paintings with stained glass windows and includes other classic signatures of Traditional Persian residential architecture such as biruni and andaruni. The foreigner price is 150,000 rials.
5. Sultan Amir Bath
This is a beautifully restored bathhouse, with lighting installed to make the impression even more memorable. Don't forget to ask for the stairs to the roof.
The foreigner price is 150,000 rials.
6. Agha Bozorg Mosque
This historical mosque was built in the late 18th century by master-mimar Ustad Haj Sa'ban-ali. The mosque is not in use any more, but the theological school in its basement is still active.
It was here that Ustad Ali Maryam started his career as a brilliant architect while a pupil. Entry is free.
7. Abbasian House
A large traditional historical house built during the late 18th century, it is a beautiful example of Kashani residential architecture and is said to have been the property of a famous cleric.
It has six courtyards that would fit the needs of different families, and one of the chambers has a ceiling designed with mirror pieces so as to give the impression of a starry sky under the nocturnal glitter of candlelight. The house is now a public museum.
8. Ameri-Ha (Amerian) House
This traditional house was built in the mid-19th century during the Qajar era and is one of several large spectacular old houses in the central district. Like the other houses around it, it was re-built after Kashan was ravaged by a series of massive earthquakes in the 18th century.
The house is now a boutique hotel, which makes it a natural stop while walking between the other houses of the central district.
9. Timcheh Amin-o-dowleh
Forming a part of the bazaar, this large structure was a caravanserai and has been renovated. Have a tea from the stand, take a break and look at the Iranian way of doing business here.
It pairs naturally with a walk through the bazaar itself.
10. Historical bathhouse (Hammam-e-Khan)
An old hammam beautifully transformed into a traditional coffee shop where you can take a rest, drink tea or smoke a shisha.
There is no entrance fee, and a serving of tea with cookies costs 100,000 rials. It is a sensible pause in the middle of a bazaar walk.
11. Sialk Ziggurat
Claimed to be the world's oldest ziggurat, it dates to the 3rd millennium BC. Entry is 150,000 rials.
It sits on the Historical Axis of Fin, Sialk, Kashan, so it can be combined with Fin Garden in the same outing.
12. Sultan Amir Shrine (Imamzadeh-ye Sultan Mir Ahmad)
This shrine is free to enter. Women must be covered with a chador.
It is close to the Sultan Amir Bath, so the two fit easily into the same stretch of walking.
13. Puppet and toy museum
If you are tired of historical houses, consider this museum showing some Iranian puppets and toys, with a workshop included. It is signposted from Tabatabaei residence, at No 43 Allameh Alley.
The foreigner price is 50,000 rials.
14. Ghal'eh jalali
This is a walled fortress with a grass field inside. Entry is free.
It makes an easy, low-cost addition if you have time left after the houses and the bazaar.
15. Underground City Of Ouyi
In Nooshabad, this is a labyrinth of tunnels consisting of three underground floors. It was dug as a shelter to hide from the summer heat, but later was used as a hiding place at times of enemy invasions. Only a couple of hundred metres are accessible for the public, out of the tunnel's total 4 km.
A guide fluent in English is likely to give more information. Two different entrances exist: entrance 1 has the shortest tunnel length, so entrance 2 is more interesting. These are signposted in the village. Entry is 500,000 rials.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Fin Garden while the light is still soft, and take in the waterways, the ramparts and Fin Bath. If you have time, add the Sialk Ziggurat, which lies on the same historical axis.
Afternoon: Move into the old city and work through the houses: Boroujerdi ha Residence, Tabatabaie Residence and Abbasian House, with Ameri-Ha (Amerian) House on the same walk. Then head into the Kashan Bazaar, stopping at Timcheh Amin-o-dowleh and the Historical bathhouse (Hammam-e-Khan) for tea, and pay a tout to take you up to the bazaar roof for the view over the old city.
Evening: Visit Agha Bozorg Mosque and the Sultan Amir Shrine, then finish at the Sultan Amir Bath, where the lighting makes the restored bathhouse memorable. Ask for the stairs to the roof before you leave.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Kashan?
Kashan has a hot desert climate with cold winters and very hot, dry summers, and it is significantly warmer than other cities on the Iranian Plateau. If you want to see the rose gardens in the suburb, plan your visit for spring.
How do I get to Kashan?
Kashan is connected via freeways to Isfahan and Natanz to the south, and to Qom, which is an hour's drive away, to the north. Kashan railway station is along the main north–south railways of Iran, and Kashan Airport reopened on 2 June 2016 after a twenty-year hiatus.
Do I need a car for the Maranjab desert and Namak Salt Lake?
Yes. The Maranjab desert sand dunes lie 60 km from Kashan, where the last 40 km is a gravel and sand road accessible only with a rented 4x4. The Namak Salt Lake cannot be accessed with a normal car either; you will be stopped at the gate and will have to rent a 4x4 with a driver.
Can I visit Abyaneh as a day trip?
Yes. Abyaneh is a historic Iranian village in Natanz County near Kashan, and it can be accessed on a day trip from Kashan, or you can hire a driver to take you to Abyaneh and Natanz and drop you in Isfahan.
Decide how many days you can spare, pick the houses and gardens that matter most to you, and start planning your route through the old city.