Tourism industry has been very thriving in Shiraz due to the historical and natural sites located in and around the city. The most internationally famous historical sites around the city are Persepolis and Pasargadae (the tomb of Cyrus the Great). Tourists come to visit Shiraz for different purposes:
As in the cultural tourism, the lifestyle, the history, the art and the religions of the residents are considered. Shiraz has the potentials for this kind of tourism thanks to its long history. Shiraz is the cradle of literature and the tombs of many famous Iranian poets including Sa’adi and Hafez are located in the city. Their tombs are in the middle of picturesque gardens which attract many visitors annually.
It is not surprising to notice the application of unique Islamic architecture styles and motifs as Shiraz is a religious city. Nasir-al-Mulk, the pink mosque, is a great example of Iranian-Islamic architecture.
A few minutes’ drive off the city, Persepolis and Pasargadae stand to welcome visitors and portrait the old and rich history of Iran.
Since 60 years ago, the city of Shiraz has always been known as a hub of health-care tourism in the southern part of Iran, and each year hosts thousands of foreign national patients, particularly from Arab Persian Gulf countries.
Shiraz is equipped with more than a dozen specialized academic, private and charity hospitals where, thanks to the dexterous physicians, patients have access to the best health-care services such as:
- Organ Transplantation: such as liver, kidney, pancreas, bone marrow
- Cerebral artery angioplasty
- Hepatic artery angioplasty
- Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer
- Ocular surgery
- Plastic surgery and skin and slimming services
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Orthopedic and hip and knee replacement
- Infertility and IVF
Due to low health-care fees offered in Shiraz and the high quality services patients received, it is the tourist top destination in the region.
Also, traditional medicine is very common in Shiraz because of herbal medicine and herbal distilled water which are available widely in the city. Natural springs around the city of Shiraz serve as hydrotherapy centers and even tourist attractions.
With the great poets like Sa’adi and Hafez, Shiraz is one of the cities that can be considered as a hub of Literary Tourism in Iran. This kind of tourism is a subset of cultural tourism and adds the information and knowledge of the tourists and thus is a combination of fun and education.
This kind of tourism is linked with the life and works of poets, scholars, writers and artists. However, famous sites already described in the popular literary works can be considered as attractions for literary tourists.
Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively undisturbed natural areas, intended as a low-impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism. It means traveling to natural areas, conserving the environment and improving the well-being of the local people.
Shiraz has beautiful natural locations around it and thus is a place to visit for Eco-tourists. Some natural attractions around Shiraz in Fras province include: National Bamou Park, Maharloo Lake, Parishan Lake, Village of Qalaat, The Lost Paradise, Margoon Waterfall, Bahram-e-Gūr Conservation Area, Tang-e Boraq, and Salt Lake.
Shiraz is the 3rd important religious city in Iran after Mashhad and Qom. The city can also be called the city of Turquoise domes because of the numerous holy shrines located in the city. The most important of which is Shahcheragh-the mausoleum of Ahmad ibn Musa (Peace be Upon Him). Imamzadeh Seyed Mir Mohammad, Imamzadeh Ibrahim, Imamzadeh Seyed Ala al-Din Hossein, Imamzadeh Seyed Taj al-Din Gharib and Imamzadeh Ali ibn Hamzeh are the most known religious shrines in Shiraz.
