Major city · Iran
Urmiaارومیه
Spend 1–2 days in Urmia: see Urmia Lake, the museum and the Friday Mosque; stay near the bazaar for easy walking access.
Urmia, capital of West Azerbaijan, sits beside the salty Urmia Lake and offers a compact historic centre. A short stay covers the lake, museum, Friday Mosque and bazaar, with easy day‑trip links to Tabriz.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- IRR
- Best months
- May–September
- avoid December–February (cold, possible snow)
- Airport
- OMH
- Nights
- 1–2
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Security advice in this region can change within a dayCheck your own government travel advice for Iran before a…
- Middle East ↗Security advice in this region can change within a day; re-read your government's page before departure and again before any border or regional flight.
- Middle East ↗Public drunkenness, public displays of affection and offensive gestures or online posts can lead to arrest in the Gulf states and Iran; dress modestly outside beaches and hotels.
- Iran ↗Check your own government travel advice for Iran before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Iran ↗Entry rules, visa type and nationality restrictions differ sharply by passport and change quickly.
- Iran ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Iran before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Urmia110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Urmia, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Foreign cards and ATMs do not work in Iran: see Insurance & payments above.Iran-wide
- SafetyUrmia is generally safe for tourists; keep ID handy near borders and watch personal belongings in crowded bazaars.
- Emergency numbers110 police · 115 ambulance · 125 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckOMH Urmia Airport (Two daily flights from Tehran; also from Mashhad and Van (check schedule).).
- Getting aroundThe city centre is walkable around the bazaar and Friday Mosque.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- OMH Urmia Airport (Two daily flights from Tehran; also from Mashhad and Van (check schedule).)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Feb
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Mar
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Apr
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
May
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Jun
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jul
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Oct
not flagged
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Nov
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Dec
Avoid
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)), coolest Jan (−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C) low), wettest Apr (11 rain days), driest Aug (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Urmia: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
8 rd
Feb
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
7 rd
Mar
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
10 rd
Apr
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
11 rd
May
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
9 rd
Jun
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
5 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
3 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
2 rd
Sep
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
3 rd
Oct
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
7 rd
Nov
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
8 rd
Dec
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
8 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The city centre is walkable around the bazaar and Friday Mosque. Taxis and minibuses cover longer distances; a taxi from the airport to the centre costs about 150,000 IRR (check). Local buses run on main routes but have no English signage.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Tabriz
goDoor to door: About 2 h
Bridge over Urmia Lake, then highway; about 1½ h by car
Popular for a half‑day visit; return same day by car.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Reza Hotel
Near the bazaar
International Park Hotel
Near the lakefront
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- IRR 1,000,000–2,000,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- IRR 2,000,000–4,000,000 excl. bed
- High
- IRR 4,000,000+ excl. bed
Watch out
Safety
- Urmia Lake is a salt lake; swimming is possible but there are no lifeguards or facilities at the shore.
- The museum and some mosques may close for prayer times or religious holidays; check locally.
- Taxis from the airport may quote higher prices; agree the fare before getting in.
- Credit cards are rarely accepted; bring enough cash (Iranian rial) for your stay.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 115
- Fire
- 125
Pocket card
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Urmiaارومیه
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
به این آدرس لطفاًTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Ambulance115
- Fire125
Embassy
US consulate in Tehran; Iranian visa required (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Urmia Airport → city centre (taxi): ≈ 150,000 IRR, 15 min (check)
- Local bus (city): ≈ 30,000 IRR per ride (check)
Say or show
- ببخشید — Excuse me / Sorry (bebakhshid)
- متشکرم — Thank you (moteshakeram)
- چقدر است؟ — How much is it? (cheghadr ast?)
- دستشویی کجاست؟ — Where is the bathroom? (dastshooei kojast?)
- میتوانم با کارت پرداخت کنم؟ — Can I pay by card? (mitavanam ba kart pardakht konam?)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Urmia. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–September · avoid December–February (cold, possible snow)
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 1 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport‑to‑city taxi contract (OMH → bazaar).
- Walking clusters: lakefront, bazaar‑mosque, museum‑park.
Sources
- secondaryWikidata – Urmia
- officialUrmia official website
- secondaryWikivoyage: Urmia, revision 5332642 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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