Updated November 2026 We have refreshed this guide to airport taxis in Tehran, removed fares that are long out of date, and added the metro and ride-hailing options now available at Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Getting a cab from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) is straightforward once you know where the official taxi rank is and how to avoid the touts in the arrivals hall. The airport lies around 50 kilometres south of the city centre, so the journey usually takes an hour or more depending on traffic, and an official airport taxi is the simplest and safest way to make it. International flights resumed at IKA in April 2026 after a halt during the conflict, IntelliNews reported, so check with your airline for the latest schedule.
Beware of the touts
As soon as you walk out of customs, you may be approached by men, and occasionally women, who greet you as though they were waiting for you and then offer a ride into Tehran. Some are freelance drivers; others work for the official taxi companies and try to grab passengers before their colleagues can. Either way, their prices are rarely better than the official fare and are often much worse. Politely say no and head for the official rank.
The official taxi rank
Official airport taxis wait outside the arrivals exit, to the right as you leave the terminal, with a booth where fares are set. Boards above the rank, in Persian and English, show the fixed price to different parts of Tehran for each type of vehicle. Fares rise regularly with inflation, so check the board, or ask the dispatcher, and confirm the price with the driver before you set off. Have your destination written in Persian, with a phone number for your hotel or host, as most drivers speak little English.
You will usually be offered a choice of vehicles:
- Saloon cars: the standard option for one to three passengers with ordinary luggage.
- Vans: larger vehicles for families and groups, or anyone with lots of bags.
- Minibuses: available for bigger groups, though less common.
Carry enough cash in rials for the fare, as you cannot rely on paying by foreign card. There are exchange counters in the arrivals hall if you need to change money on arrival; for a sense of current costs, see our Iran price trackers.
Ride-hailing and the metro
If you have an Iranian SIM card and the Snapp or Tapsi app, ride-hailing is now an option at IKA, after the authorities relaxed earlier restrictions on app-based taxis entering the airport. Check in the app for the designated pick-up point. Our guide to the best apps for foreigners visiting Tehran explains how to set them up.
Line 1 of the Tehran Metro also has a branch to the airport, linking it to the city’s metro network. Trains on the airport branch are infrequent and you will probably need to change, so it is best suited to travellers with light luggage and time to spare.
VIP transfers and pre-booked cars
Passengers using the CIP (Commercially Important Person) terminal, which sits to the right of the main building, can arrange for a driver to meet them there. Several private car firms, including Royall Taxi, also run airport transfers in newer, more comfortable cars at a fixed price, and the driver will usually help with your luggage. These firms generally take bookings by phone in Persian, so ask your hotel, host or a Persian-speaking friend to book for you.
Pre-booking makes particular sense when you are heading to the airport for an early flight, or if you want a reliable car rather than taking your chances with an older vehicle. For everything else about the airport itself, see our guide to Imam Khomeini International Airport, and for getting around once you are in the city, read about hailing a darbast taxi in Tehran.
Learn the Persian: Learn to say “straight on”, “turn left”, “stop here” and how to ask for a private ride in Persia Learning’s lesson on directions and taxis. Try the first lesson free →
