Marvdasht

Marvdasht is a town in Fars province, about forty minutes from Shiraz, on a fertile plain at the foot of the mountains. It is unremarkable in itself, but it serves as the gateway to the great monuments of Achaemenid Iran: Persepolis and the necropolis of Naqsh-e Rustam. Most travellers base themselves in Shiraz and come here for the day.

Main sights

• Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid) — the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid empire, a UNESCO site. The Apadana staircases with their reliefs of tribute processions, the Gate of All Nations and the columns burned by Alexander are the country's foremost antiquity.
• Naqsh-e Rustam — a sheer cliff with the cross-shaped tombs of Darius and other kings cut high above the ground, Sasanian reliefs at its foot and, beside it, the enigmatic tower known as the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht.
• Naqsh-e Rajab — a small group of Sasanian reliefs nearby, away from the crowds.
• Pasargadae — the first capital of Cyrus the Great with his tomb, a UNESCO site about 80 km to the northeast.

Food and money

The cooking is Shirazi; it is easier to eat in Shiraz itself, where people return in the evening. Cash is essential — foreign cards do not work in Iran.

Getting there

The nearest airport is Shiraz (SYZ), about 50 km away. Almost everyone sees Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rustam on a single trip out of Shiraz, by taxi for the day or on a tour; the sites themselves are only a few kilometres apart.

When to come

The climate has hot dry summers and cool winters. The best time is spring, March to May, though Persepolis is crowded at Nowruz, and then October to November. Walking open ruins at midday in summer is hard going.