Shiraz Gardens and Hafez Tomb

Shiraz has been the city of Persian poetry for centuries, and its gardens are the physical form of that reputation. Bagh-e Eram is part of the UNESCO listing of Persian gardens - a formal layout of cypress avenues, water channels and a painted pavilion built on the classic chahar bagh plan that shaped garden design from Spain to India. Across the city, the tomb of Hafez sits under a domed canopy in its own garden, and it functions less as a monument than a living site: families come in the evening with copies of his poems, read aloud, and take fal-e Hafez, opening the book at random for guidance.

What you actually see

• Bagh-e Eram - the UNESCO Persian garden with cypress avenues and pavilion.
• Hafez's tomb - the evening gathering of readers in the garden.
• Saadi's tomb - the other great Shirazi poet, in his own garden.
• Vakil bazaar - the covered market and its caravanserai courtyards.

When to go

Spring is Shiraz at its best - roses and orange blossom in April and May. Autumn is equally pleasant. Summer is very hot. Evenings at Hafez's tomb are the atmospheric hours, when locals rather than visitors fill the garden.

Honest expectations

Iran requires a visa for most nationalities with some processing time, and independent travel arrangements differ by passport - checking current requirements well ahead is essential. Dress rules apply to visitors: women cover hair and wear loose clothing covering arms and legs, men wear long trousers. International bank cards do not work in Iran, so all money must be brought in cash and exchanged. Photography of official buildings is restricted.

Nearby

Persepolis an hour away, Nasir al-Mulk mosque and the Vakil bazaar.