If you’ve been following us for a while you know how deep our love is for small towns. Kashan, just 250 kilometers south of Tehran, is an oasis nestled between the Dasht-e Kavir desert and the Karkas mountain range. Despite it being relatively small, Kashan offers some of the most fascinating and visually appealing historic monuments and sites in the province. The city’s proximity to the former capital of Iran, Isfahan, made it a bustling economic and cultural hub for several centuries.
Kashan was actually the epi-center for the production of pottery and tiles, and today in modern Farsi the word for tile (Kashi) comes from the name of the town. This comes as no surprise as all of the historic homes and structures around town display mind-blowing colorful tile work – keep scrolling to see for yourself to see the best things to do in Kashan.
Where to Stay
Kashan is filled with boutique stays and traditional houses, we can probably name 20 places where you should stay. Our best breakdown is by budget, for a fancier stay we recommend Saraye Ameriha Hotel, located in the heart of the old town and in close proximity to most attractions. More budget friendly options, but just as beautiful, are Sang Poloy Boutique Hotel and the Morshedi Historic House.
What to See
Sialk Hills (Tepe Sialk)
A wonderful archeological site dating back over 7,000 years – one of the earliest settlements known to date. Sialk is one of the four oldest Ziggurats, rectangular stepped pyramids, constructed in Iran. Although there are only a handful of artifacts left at the site, it’s exquisite to visit.
Fin Garden (Bagh-e-Fin)
The royal Fin Garden complex was built in 1590 under the Safavid dynasty, making it one of the oldest gardens in Iran. Despite its age, the garden is in remarkable shape and remains one of the top attractions in Kashan today. In fact, it’s been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site back in 2012.
Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse
The bathhouse was one of our favorite stops in Kashan. The interior is decked from the floor to the ceiling with colorful tiles, bricks and glass domes. The space is divided into two sections, a dressing area and the bathing rooms.
Even the rooftop of the bathhouse is visit-worthy. The pod like domes with the blue stained glass are an incredibly intricate and unique design. You can also spot the windcatchers of the famous Borujerdi House with its mountainous backdrop from here.
Agha Bozorg Mosque
A mosque, a theological school and an architectural masterpiece built in the Qajar era. The two minarets of the mosque are windcatchers – designed to circulate air through the entire structure during hot summer days.
Kashan Bazaar
The Bazaar in Kashan is a labyrinth of historic gems and shops. Although there is nothing in particular to see, we highly recommend spending a morning exploring the bazaar. You can stop by an old bathhouse that’s been turned into a café or visit one of the authentic wool dying workshops.
Aminoddole Caravanserai
Back then, the construction of caravanserais, or enclosed courts, was popular for traders that needed restful places along their journeys – most notably along the Silk Road. Aminoddole is exactly that, a resting space within the bazar for merchants to trade, enjoy traditional tea and oftentimes spend the night.
Old Town
As always, we are promoters of wandering and getting lost to best experience the authenticity of any city. Kashan is no different, in fact this is the place to explore narrow alleys, check out the old water ‘anbars’ or traditional reservoirs, take a horse carriage ride and buy lots of ‘Gollab; or rosewater extract.
Traditional Houses
Perhaps the quaintness of Kashan stems from the vast traditional architecture that envelopes the entire city. The houses do not have eye-catching exteriors, but the interiors are magnificent – in fact, they are far from houses and more like palaces. At each of the houses, you can truly see what it was like to live as a wealthy family in the 18th and 19th century in Kashan. Of course, we can’t forget the intricate windcatchers in every house and many buildings in Kashan.
Windcatchers can be found in many cities throughout Iran, although architecturally they are different depending on the city and the era in which they were built. These Persian structures were built to create natural ventilation and cool the air in buildings in desert areas – and they are incredible. Stand underneath one of the many windcatchers in Kashan’s historic homes and you’ll understand their significance – especially on a hot summer day.
Borujerdi House
The Borujerdi House is a historic home and museum that was built in 1857, its construction took 15 years and over 150 craftsmen. The house engulfs the best of Persian architecture, local craftsmanship, and art.
Tabatabai House
Truly the jewel of Kashan, the Tabatabaei house was built in 1880 during the Qajar dynasty and is a symbol of the wealth of the city during that period. You can spend hours exploring the historic home, it’s several floors, terraces and courtyards. This was hands down our favorite structure in all of Iran.
Where to Eat
There are a few places to have traditional meals in Kashan. Perhaps the most visited is the Abbasi Tea House, which is yet another traditional house in the heart of Kashan. Despite its age and architecture, you’re going to come here for the food. At Abassi house, guests can experience eating on traditional tables, called Takhts. The Saraye Ameriha Hotel also has an impeccable restaurant open for non-guests and we highly recommend a dinner here.
Cafe Baam
A great place for sunset is Café Baam, which is on the terrace of the Khaneh Noghli Hotel. The views alone are worth a visit.
Excursions outside of Kashan
The Underground City of Nushabad
Just north of Kashan, lays 1,500-year-old, 3-story underground city where Persians took refuge when attacked by invaders. Despite its huge size, the city was only discovered in the last decade by accident, when a local man found one of the tunnels while digging in his backyard. When you’re done, cross the street and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee at Anousheh Cafe.
Kheshti Castle
Just a few feet away from the underground city is a historic castle in the city of Noushabad. There’s very little information about this site available online, but locals tell us it’s connected to the underground tunnels.
Matin Abad Eco Resort
The eco resort and farm was founded in 2008 and is a whimsical getaway from bustling cities nearby. Only 45 km from Kashan, the eco resort is a great place to experience nature, camp in one of their many eco-friendly accommodations, trek with camels and play with farm animals.
Abyaneh Village
The red village of Iran, an isolated tiny town located 80 km south of Kashan. The beauty of the town comes from its stepped brick like structures nestled in the mountain. Abyaneh is one of the oldest villages in Iran, and has to be included in your itinerary to Kashan or elsewhere. This area is so unique and colorful that we dedicated an entire post to it. Although, the photos below should be enough to convince you!
That’s a wrap for our extensive guide to the best things to do in Kashan – if you’d like us to connect you to a local guide in town, shoot us a message and we’ll happily share the contact information.
Amal Ramadan
💯💯I really dream to visit this historic place
Patricia
Absolutely beautiful pictures.
Adaisha
Beautiful!!
farah
Really great stuff Yara. Content was informative and engaging. Can’t wait to visit Iran some day with your recommendations in mind