1Grand Bazaar
World's largest bazaar, 10 km of corridors + 200+ years old. Persian carpets, gold, spices. Get lost intentionally. Sat-Wed 9:00-18:00.
Photo: Brunobuisson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) · Iran
3-Hour Layover in Tehran: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 3-hour layover in Tehran?
Entry
Iran visa-on-arrival available for 50+ nationalities (US, UK, Canada NOT eligible). $80-100 fee. Photographs of women in transit areas required to cover hair. Many travel insurance plans exclude Iran.
Into town
Tehran Metro Line 1 (to Imam Khomeini Sq): 90 min, IRR 40,000 (€0.10).
Time outside
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
Times from IKA arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
Top Tehran: Where to Go
The sights in Tehran worth leaving the airport for.
1
2Golestan Palace (UNESCO)
Qajar-era royal complex, mirror halls + tile work. IRR 500,000 (€1.30) per pavilion. 3-4 pavilions = 2 hours.
Photo: ZarlokX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
neighbourhood
Tehran Bazaar + Tajrish
Tajrish district at Tehran's northern end — at the base of the Alborz mountains. Pleasant gardens + Iran's most-affluent neighbourhood.
landmark
Milad Tower
435m communications tower — observation deck for Tehran city views to the Alborz mountains. IRR 700,000 (€1.80). Pollution-dependent visibility.
Itinerary ideas for Tehran
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
3 hours
You are here3 hours in Tehran
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
Insider tip
IKA is 35km south of central Tehran — Snapp ride-share is the standard option for tourists (€7-12, 60-90 min). US dollars + Euros are the most-accepted foreign currencies (Iran sanctions = no foreign credit cards work; bring cash). Visit confirmation: check current Western government travel advisories before traveling.
Into Tehran
Getting to Tehran City Centre
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tehran Metro Line 1 (to Imam Khomeini Sq) | IRR 40,000 (€0.10) | 90 min |
| Airport bus (to Tehran) | IRR 200,000 (€0.50) | 90 min |
| Taxi (official IKA Taxi) | IRR 4,000,000–6,000,000 (€10–15) | 60–90 min |
| Snapp ride-share | IRR 3,000,000–5,000,000 (€7–12) | 60–90 min |
Eat like a local
Eat Like a Local in Tehran
Chelo kabab at Moslem Restaurant (downtown). Ash reshteh (herb + bean soup) at Khan Ali. Persian saffron ice cream + faloodeh at Akbar Mashti.
3 hours in Tehran
3-Hour Itinerary
1
0–30 min
Stay airside and find your departure area
With 3 hours, leaving Imam Khomeini International Airport is risky: passport control, the trip into Tehran and security on the way back take most of the time.
2
30–120 min
Eat, rest or use a lounge airside
Check the departures board for your gate before you settle in.
3
120–180 min
Go to your gate
Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
Your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a 3-hour layover in Tehran?
Iran visa-on-arrival available for 50+ nationalities (US, UK, Canada NOT eligible). $80-100 fee. Photographs of women in transit areas required to cover hair. Many travel insurance plans exclude Iran. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Is 3 hours enough to leave Imam Khomeini International Airport?
Stay airside — 3h is too tight. Getting into Tehran by Tehran Metro Line 1 (to Imam Khomeini Sq) takes 90 min each way.
How do I get from Imam Khomeini International Airport to Tehran centre?
Tehran Metro Line 1 (to Imam Khomeini Sq): 90 min, IRR 40,000 (€0.10). Airport bus (to Tehran): 90 min, IRR 200,000 (€0.50). Taxi (official IKA Taxi): 60–90 min, IRR 4,000,000–6,000,000 (€10–15). Snapp ride-share: 60–90 min, IRR 3,000,000–5,000,000 (€7–12).
Getting out of Imam Khomeini International Airport
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Trains & buses from Tehran
Compare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.
Also useful for your Tehran trip
Stay connected abroad — no roaming bills
Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.
Airlines that fly to Tehran
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from IKA.
Caspian Airlines route mapIran Aseman Airlines route mapQeshm Air route mapTaban Air route mapZagros Airlines route mapAeroflot route mapAir Arabia route mapAirAsia route mapArmenia Airways route mapATA Airlines (Iran) route mapAustrian Airlines route mapAzerbaijan Airlines route mapChina Southern route mapChina Southern Airlines route mapConviasa route mapIran Airtour route mapIraqi Airways route mapKish Air route map
Tehran travel deals
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
How a layover in Tehran works
01
Check you can leave
Iran visa-on-arrival available for 50+ nationalities (US, UK, Canada NOT eligible). $80-100 fee. Photographs of women in transit areas required to cover hair. Many travel insurance plans exclude Iran.
02
Head into town
Tehran Metro Line 1 (to Imam Khomeini Sq): 90 min, IRR 40,000 (€0.10).
Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.
03
Back in time for your flight
Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
Ready for Tehran?
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.
Daylight on the ground
Daylight in Tehran runs from about 9.6 hours in Dec to 14.4 in Jun. Enough of a difference that a winter stopover gives you noticeably less usable time outside than a summer one.