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Voykit pocket guide · Iran
Maragheh
Half a day is enough for Maragheh's Ilkhanid sights: the observatory ruins and two 13th-century domed tombs. Use it as a stop between Tabriz and Tehran, not a base.
Maragheh, once the capital of the Ilkhanid Dynasty, holds the remains of the 13th-century Maragheh Observatory and two brick domed tombs from the same period. The city is small, the sights are within a few kilometres of each other, and most travellers pass through on the train between Tabriz and Tehran. A half-day visit covers the main monuments; there is little else to hold you longer.
- Country
- Iran
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot), Dec–Feb (cold, snow possible)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IRR
- Money
- Foreign cards and ATMs do not work in Iran: see Insurance & payments above.
- Daily spend
- Budget 1,500,000–2,500,000 IRR excl. bed · Mid 2,500,000–4,500,000 IRR excl. bed · High 4,500,000+ IRR excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Ambulance 115 · Fire 125
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea at a local teahouse | 50,000–100,000 IRR |
| Kebab with rice (chelo kebab) | 300,000–600,000 IRR |
| Taxi ride within the city (up to 5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi ride within the city (up to 3.1 mi (5 km)) | 100,000–200,000 IRR |
| Train ticket Tabriz–Maragheh (ordinary class) | 200,000–400,000 IRR |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ACP · Sahand Airport
- Weekly flights from Tehran; 15 km (9.3 mi) west of the city, taxi about 30 min (check)Weekly flights from Tehran; 9.3 mi (15 km) west of the city, taxi about 30 min (check)
Typical fares
- Sahand Airport → city centre
- about 500,000 IRR, 30 min (check)
- Taxi city centre → Maragheh Observatory
- about 150,000 IRR, 10 min
- Train Maragheh → Tabriz
- about 300,000 IRR ordinary class, 1.5–2 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The observatory is 2 km (1.2 mi) west of the centre, the domed tombs are within the city. Taxis cost about 100,000–200,000 IRR per ride (check). Walking covers the centre.The observatory is 1.2 mi (2 km) west of the centre, the domed tombs are within the city. Taxis cost about 100,000–200,000 IRR per ride (check). Walking covers the centre.
See and do
Known for
- Maragheh Observatory (1259 CE)
- Guy Gunbad (Gök Günbəd, tomb of Hulagu Khan)
- Qirmizi Gunbad (Red Dome)
- Ilkhanid-era architecture
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tabriz | Train or bus, about 1.5–2 h | About 2 h |
| Urmia | Bus via Tabriz, about 3 h | About 3.5 h |
| Kaleybar | Taxi or bus, about 2 h | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- City centre (around Imam Khomeini Square)
- Closest to the domed tombs and a few basic hotels; walkable to most sights.
- Near the railway station
- Convenient for arriving/departing by train; fewer eating options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | سلامsalaam |
| Thank you | مرسیmersi |
| How much? | چنده؟chande? |
| Where is the toilet? | دستشویی کجاست؟dastshooyi kojast? |
| I don't understand | نمیفهممnemifahmam |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- The observatory is a ruin on a hill: no shelter, bring water and sun protection.
- Domed tombs may be locked outside prayer times; ask a caretaker or local shopkeeper.
- Credit cards are rarely accepted; carry enough cash (Iranian rials).
Maragheh is generally safe for travellers. Usual precautions: avoid political gatherings, dress conservatively, carry cash and a copy of your passport. Summer heat and winter cold can be extreme.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Maragheh yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Maragheh Observatory (1259 CE)
- Guy Gunbad (Gök Günbəd, tomb of Hulagu Khan)
- Qirmizi Gunbad (Red Dome)
- Ilkhanid-era architecture
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Maragheh, revision 5244555 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5244555
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Maragheh
به این آدرس، لطفاً
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Most embassies are in Tehran; the nearest consulate for many countries is in Tabriz (check).
Prices are in Iranian rials; many locals quote prices in tomans (1 toman = 10 rials).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/maragheh). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.