Ahvaz

Ahvaz is situated on the banks of the Karoun River, which splits the city into two large districts.
The western half is mostly housing with some government departments. The eastern half is both residential and Industrial. The main train station is on the western side and the airport is on the eastern side.
It is extremely hot in the summer. Expect 45°C in July and August.

By plane

There are daily flights to Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz.
There are weekly flights to Dubai-Kuwait City-Mashad.
Airlines serving Ahvaz airport are Iran Air-Caspian Airlines-Mahan Airlines-Eran Air-Aria Air-Iran Air Tours-Iran Asseman Airlines.
There are many travel agencies. OXIN travel agency sits on the corner of the 7th street in Kianpars.
They have flight tickets for all the destinations in Iran, and provide vacation tours to Asian countries like UAE, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Japan, and Vietnam.

By train

There are daily trains to Tehran-Khorramshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini.
Ahvaz is the major junction for trains heading from the southern ports to Tehran, and from Tehran you can change trains and go further to Mashad or Tabriz.
There are 3 daily trains to Tehran. (ایستگاه راه آهن اهواز) is located on the western side of the city, with Saat (ایستگاه مترو ساعت) being the nearest metro station.

By car

There are several highways that lead to Ahvaz, including Route 5, which goes to Ahvaz from the capital of Iran, Tehran.

By bus

There are daily buses to many destinations in Iran:

• Ahvaz-Tehran
• Ahvaz-Isfahan
• Ahvaz-Shiraz
• Ahvaz-Mashad
• Ahvaz-Khorramabad

The main bus station is located in Kampelo for buses headed north (i.e., Tehran).
For buses headed east (Isfahan and Shiraz-Masjed Suleiman) the station is at 4 Lions Square.
Southbound buses leave from Khorramshahr Square.

By boat

Taxis roam around the city 24 hours a day and are relatively inexpensive. Around 30,000 rials for the longest trip in the city.
There are also taxi agencies everywhere, if you can't find one on your own, all the hotels have taxi agencies.
Buses ply most inner city routes and are very cheap.

• Karoon county or known as "Kut Kut" is where most of the Ahvaz tourist attractions are gathered. Kut Kut is the home to water buffaloes. here local Arabs with their one of a kind culture in the country, live a simple village-like life just 10 minutes drive away from city center. they answer every " Hello " with sincere " welcome ". they bring their cattle to the water during the day, making a breath taking view. also their simple yet strong breakfast is offered to every traveler who knocks on the door.
• Ghazaviyeh Village is one of the most elegant villages in the region. it is 6 km away from the city, filled with date palm farms and vineyards which are all green even in the dead of summer. here, you can see the famous classic Arabic gatherings every day at noon, and participate in their coffee ceremonies hosted by the head of the village.

• Riverside Park

  address: Kianpars, Ahvaz
  Riverside Park the oldest park of the city. It is located in Kianpars and beside the White Bridge. The view of Karoun river, white bridge, other side of the city and the islands are interesting.The best places in Ahvaz are situated alongside the river. The river boulevard is a nice place to stroll and has many parks.

• White BridgeThe white bridge was the first bridge crossing Karoun river made by German engineers in the 1930s. The bridge is now considered as the main symbol of the city.

• One of the attractions of Ahvaz is the oil well flares situated on the border of the city, but it's only nice at night time.

• Sailing on the riverYou can rent a boat and go sailing on Karoun river in many parks nearby the river.

All the Ahvaz neighborhoods have a local market place, the upscale shops are mostly situated alongside Chamran Blvd.(Kianpars), Zeitoon Karmandi (Cheetah Square), and the main bazaar is on Taleqani Street.

Budget

There are many sandwich shops and fast food shops in the city. Most are average.
A good ice cream store is in a cellar below a cake store. Haji Baba Coffee Shop can be found next to the bazar, heading towards the white bridge.. No English spoken.

Mid-range

Oxin Hotel Restaurant- Try the Shir Mahi (fish) kebabs and they also serve great meat kebabs.
They have specials that change daily.
Athena Pizza in Kianpars serves excellent deep dish pizzas.

Splurge

Astoria Hotel Restaurant-Expensive and below average food.

You cannot legally find alcohol in Iran so your drinking is limited to soft drinks and fruit juice.
There are many good fruit juice shops in Ahvaz and you will find them easily. In the summer stay away from cantaloupe juice and banana milk shakes.

Budget

There are many mehmansara (guest houses) in Ahvaz. Most don't admit foreigners and the ones that do are not up to foreign standards. But they are inexpensive.
Naderi Hotel is a decent one.

Mid-range

Oxin Hotel is near the airport and is moderately priced. It has an excellent restaurant and the rooms are clean and they have great air conditioning. They also have large screen televisions in the lobby and mostly show football games. They speak very good English and can help you arrange any kind of tour or transport.
Hotel Iran is reasonably ok. Ask for a renovated room; there is plenty of hot water and good AC in refurbished rooms. Basic English is spoken. The restaurant is good and reasonably priced at around 90,000 rials for a chicken kebab.

Splurge

• Hotel Pars

  phone: +98 61 3222 1091
  The former Astoria Hotel, now Hotel Pars, is the best hotel in the city. It is situated by the riverside and has great views; however, it's expensive and not fully up to international standards.

Iran is generally a safe country. It is advised however, that being an obvious tourist may attract some unwanted attention from interested Iranians, but do not be alarmed or react negatively. Standard advice to keep your bag secured and safe, and to leave personal and valuable belongings in your hotel room or hotel safe should be regarded. Iranians are generally peaceful, hospitable people, but it is advised to act with caution when walk in the streets alone late at night or when approached by strangers to the same degree that you would in your native country.

Emergency services

• Police: 110
• Fire department: 125
• EMS: 115
• Road EMS: 115 or 112

Ahvaz, in Iran according to a 2011 WHO survey is found to be the worst air polluted city in the world. People with respiratory problems, for example asthma patients, should consider before visiting.

Not easy without Farsi or Arabic. The Arab visitors to Ahwaz have little trouble in communicating as the majority of the city's population are Arabs (almost 70%), so the local residents can communicate with Arab tourists and visitors or can act willingly as interpreters from Farsi to Arabic and vice versa.

• Abadan
• Khorramshahr
• Dezful
• Masjed Solayman
• Izeh
• Shushtar