Updated November 2026 The Friday market has moved to the Art Garden in Abbas Abad, and trading in the Grand Bazaar has picked up again since the April 2026 ceasefire; we have updated each entry accordingly.
The best places to buy souvenirs in Tehran are its bazaars and a handful of old shopping streets where independent sellers stock Persian handicrafts: enamelled copper, hand-painted pottery, inlaid khatam boxes, block-printed cloth, saffron, sweets, carpets and silver. Below are the places we send visitors to, from the vast Grand Bazaar to a quiet street of glassware shops and a lively weekly craft market, with notes on access for wheelchair users and parents with pushchairs.
Tehran Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar (Bazar-e Bozorg) in south-central Tehran is a warren of covered lanes, each traditionally devoted to one trade: gold, copper, spices, fabric, carpets, household goods. It is a wholesale market first and a tourist sight second, which is exactly why it is worth visiting. Look for the carpet and handicraft sections, the spice and dried fruit stalls, and the metalwork lanes for trays and samovars.
Avoid the traffic and take Metro Line 1 to 15 Khordad station, then walk along 15 Khordad Street; several bazaar entrances open off it. Many shops shut during the war earlier in 2026, but more reopened and hours lengthened after the ceasefire in April, according to Aaj News. Prices have risen sharply, so bargain with patience; our guide on how to grab a bargain in the bazaar will help.
Access: very limited for wheelchair users, with steps, narrow lanes and vehicles blocking entrances. Stay on the pedestrianised part of 15 Khordad Street if you need step-free routes. Pushchairs are hard work at busy times, so a baby carrier is easier. This is a working market: porters push heavily loaded trolleys through the crowds at speed, so keep children close and watch your shins.
Nejatollahi Street (Villa)
Nejatollahi Street, still called Villa by many taxi drivers, runs south from Karim Khan Zand Boulevard in central Tehran. It was once the city’s travel quarter, lined with airline and tour offices, and it still has a good spread of independent shops selling Iranian glassware, fine metalwork, ceramics and other handicrafts. It is a calmer, easier place to browse than the bazaar.
Make time for a pastry: Villa has some of Tehran’s oldest confectioners, including Lord Café Confectionery, opposite the Armenian cathedral.
Access: the pavements are manageable for wheelchair users, though some shops are a step or two above street level and you may need a hand getting in.
Tajrish Bazaar and Qaem Bazaar
In the north of the city, Tajrish Bazaar is smaller and more manageable than the Grand Bazaar, with fruit, spices, nuts and household goods. Qaem Bazaar, the multi-level section on the hillside, is where to look for handicrafts. Expect much of the same stock you find downtown, often at slightly higher prices because rents in the north are higher. One floor is good for spices and gemstones, and the upper levels have small artists’ studios and shops.
Access: reasonable overall. Wheelchair users will find it easier to enter from the eastern side; pushchairs are fine in the main areas. Keep an eye on children, as it is a busy working market.
Jomeh Bazaar (Friday Market)
Tehran’s Friday market is the place for handmade jewellery, clothing from young designers, pottery, carpets, antiques and curiosities, sold by the makers themselves alongside dealers. For years it filled the floors of the Parvaneh car park on Jomhouri Street, but it now runs in the Art Garden (Bagh-e Honar) on the Abbas Abad lands, according to Tehran Picture and Eavar Travel. It is held on Fridays only, entry is free, and haggling is expected. Bring cash, although some sellers take bank cards.
See our full guide to Jomeh Bazaar for directions and tips. The Art Garden sits beside Honar Lake, so you can combine the two.
Tips for souvenir shopping
- Carry cash. Foreign bank cards do not work in Iran, and small sellers prefer cash. See our Iran prices trackers to get a feel for current costs and exchange rates.
- Bargain politely. In bazaars and markets a first price is an opening offer. In fixed-price shops on streets like Villa, there is usually less room to negotiate.
- Check export rules for carpets and antiques. There are limits on taking carpets and older items out of Iran, so ask the seller and keep your receipts.
- Buy saffron and sweets last. They travel best when bought close to departure.
If you love carpets, visit the Carpet Museum of Iran in Laleh Park before you shop: it is the best way to learn what good weaving looks like.
Learn the Persian: Our free lesson on shopping and the bazaar teaches you how to ask prices, request a discount and respond when a seller says ghâbel nadâre.
