If you are an international tourist you probably travel from Tehran to popular destinations like Kashan, Isfahan, and Shiraz. In order to get to these cities, you have to pass the city of Qom. While the city has not been a typical non-religious tourist attraction, nowadays more and more tourists find it a mysterious multi-cultural city worth visiting. If you are an experimental tourist, read our recommended top 10 things to do in Qom:

1. Visit Saadatmand Crafts

Since the location of the center is just 5 minute away from Tehran-Kashan-Isfahan highway, we recommend you to visit the center once you get to the city. You can spend almost two hours in the center visiting the shopping and workshop area and attending Kharmohre workshop. At the end of the workshop you have your own kharmohre ceramic products ready to fire in the kilns. Once the products are fired in the kiln, the center will send your custom products to your home in your country. Get Direction

2. Walk in Gozar Khan walking street

Gozar Khan is a 4 meter wide walking street where Arab people have their stores there. During Iran-Iraq war, 1980 to 1988, many Arabs migrated to Qom and settled down in the area. Walking in the street you may think you are walking somewhere in Iraq, so we can call it the little Arab Town of Qom. In this street you can find anything from fresh foods and arabic cookies to Mullah’s uniform. It’s live and energetic atmosphere is interesting to watch.  Nowadays Gozar Khan is one of the favorite places of Arab tourists where they buy their day to day needs and spend their time. It’s interesting to know there is a 100 years old bath in the middle of the street. Get Direction

3. Relax in Fatima Masumeh Shrine

After visiting Gozar Khan you may need a relaxing space to take your time. We recommend you to go to Fatima Masumeh Shrine and sit in the yard. You can watch little cute babies playing in the yard while their parents are praying. If you happen to be there during praying times, it’s highly recommended to go inside the mosque and see the harmonious movement of people praying together. Fatima Masumeh Shrine is one of the most beautiful mosques in Iran. It may be hard to get inside the shrine if you are not a muslim but give it a try, talk to the management and show your interest, they may let you in. Get Direction

4. Walk in Safayie street

The more you walk away from shrine the more modern life style you will see. Safayie street is a mysterious and interesting street in the city where you see some contradictions. Many of the high rank ayatollahs live in its alleys and it also happens to be where many modern young boys and girls meet. If you walk there during the morning you will see young Mollahs walking to their schools, if you hang there during the evening you will see people shopping and hanging out. Just walk, buy fresh juice from juice shop and watch the differences and contradictions. Get Direction

5. Buy Sohan

Sohan is a saffron based sweet cookie originated from Qom. Sohan comes in different shapes and forms. Typical Sohan and dessert Sohan are highly recommended to be tried with hot black tea. You can see thousands stores selling Sohan in Qom, don’t buy. There are just a few brands producing high quality Sohan: Saedi Nia (at Amin Blv), Mohammad Sima (at Meisam Sq) and Rohol Amin (at Sadough Blv). Saedi Nia is located in a cool area of the city so you can do more once you get to the store. Get Direction

6. Eat Iranian style corn above the city

Khezr hill has a great view to the city of Qom. There are some corn trucks (not fancy ones though) parking on the street right before the hill. You can buy the corn and then climb. The evening view is the best. Once standing on top of the hill, ask locals to show you Jamkaran Mosque. If you are not in the mood to climb the hill, you can just watch the city from the deck. Khezr Hill is very relaxing so we recommend you to go alone or with loved ones. Get Direction

7. See what the Well of Dreams brings for you

Write your dreams and wantings on a piece of paper and throw it into the Well of Dreams in Jamkaran. You do not know what it will bring back, health, a new life, a new friend, a new love, or a new country. Don’t think logically if it’s real or not, just give it a try, it may work. Get Direction

8. Walk in Kohne Bazar and go back in time

Kohne bazar is the oldest remaining commercial center in the city. You can see some old style shops and workshops. Visit the Kohne Bazaer sometime between 10 am to 1 pm or after 4 pm. The artisans working in workshops  are very laid back and they just work for a few hours during the day. Don’t be shy, enter the workshops and discover the old time tools and skills. Don’t be shy to take pictures with cool-looking ones. Get Direction

9. Eat Kebab at Haj Asdollah Kebab Place

If you’ve been in Iran for a few days, you may already had tons of Kebab and you may be sick of it, we know. Just give it one more try and go to Haj Asdollah Kebab Place at Ammar Yaser street, believe us it worths it. The real Koobide kebab is what you get at Haj Asdollah. Unfortunately there is no table in there but you can get your food and eat it in a park. Get Direction

10. Visit Qom Timcheh

If you like architecture, find Timcheh at Qom new bazar. About 130 years ago a rich philanthropist from Qom hired a skilled architect to build Timche carpet trading. Qom Timcheh has a 15 meter high ceiling which makes it the largest ceiling built using tagh-zarbi method in Iran. It’s interesting to know that there are still active carpet businesses in Timcheh. Get Direction