Isfahan and Naqsh-e Jahan Square

Isfahan, once capital of Safavid Persia, was so beautiful that Persians said Isfahan is half the world, and its heart is the breathtaking Naqsh-e Jahan Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest and most magnificent public squares on earth. This vast rectangle is framed by masterpieces of Persian Islamic architecture, their tilework glowing turquoise and gold: the majestic Shah Mosque, the exquisite Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, the Ali Qapu palace, and the entrance to the sprawling, centuries-old grand bazaar.

What you actually see

• The Shah Mosque - the majestic turquoise-domed mosque.
• Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque - the exquisite dome and tilework.
• Ali Qapu Palace - the royal terrace overlooking the square.
• The bridges and bazaar - the historic bridges and grand bazaar.

When to go

Spring, April to May, and autumn, September to October, for mild, pleasant weather; the square is magical in the evening when it is floodlit and families gather. The famed Safavid bridges over the Zayandeh River are lovely, though the river is often dry.

Honest expectations

Isfahan's monuments can be busy, and the Zayandeh River that its beautiful bridges span is frequently dry due to water shortages, a poignant sight. Travel in Iran needs planning around visas, dress code and the fact that foreign cards do not work, so bring cash. The sublime beauty of the square, its mosques and the bazaar, though, is among the wonders of the Islamic world.

Nearby

The Armenian Jolfa quarter and the Safavid bridges are elsewhere in the city.