Updated November 2026 Saei Park is open as usual; we have rewritten this guide and rechecked the history, size and transport details.
Saei Park (Park-e Saei) is one of the oldest and most loved green spaces in central Tehran, and a must-see if you want a quiet break from the traffic of Valiasr Street. Its tall old trees, shaded paths, streams and resident animals make it a favourite with families, couples, chess players and photographers, and you can wander it for free at any time of year.
What the park is like
The park sits right on Valiasr Street, the long tree-lined avenue that runs north to south across the city. Step a short way inside and the noise of the road fades surprisingly quickly, replaced by birdsong and running water. It covers roughly 12 hectares, so there is plenty of room to get lost on the winding paths.
What sets Saei apart from newer Tehran parks is the age and variety of its trees. Many were planted decades ago, and the canopy is dense enough to keep the paths cool on a summer afternoon. In autumn the leaves turn yellow, orange and red, and the park becomes one of the best places in the city for seasonal photos.
Things to look out for:
- Streams and a waterfall running through the grounds, with benches beside them.
- Gazebos and lawns that are popular for picnics, especially on Friday mornings and summer evenings.
- Chess tables dotted around the park, where regulars play for hours.
- Statues, including several animal sculptures that children enjoy.
- A playground for younger visitors.
Animals and birds
Saei is known for its animals as much as its trees. A pond area, often called the Japanese Garden, is home to ducks, geese and swans, and you may also spot peacocks, pheasants, pigeons, squirrels and rabbits elsewhere in the park. There have been discussions over the years about moving some of the birds to Tehran’s Bird Garden, so do not be surprised if the mix of animals has changed since your last visit. Please do not feed them bread; it is bad for the birds and the ponds.
A short history
The park takes its name from Karim Saei, the forester who set up Iran’s first forestry office in the late 1930s and is regarded as a founding figure of natural resources management in the country. He planted the site as a tree garden, and it later passed into state hands and became a public park named in his honour. That origin explains why it feels more like a mature woodland than a landscaped city garden.
How to get there
Being so central, Saei Park is easy to reach:
- Metro: Mirza-ye Shirazi station on Line 3 is a short walk away.
- BRT bus: the Valiasr bus rapid transit line stops close to the park.
- Taxi or ride-hailing: ask for “Park-e Saei, Valiasr” and any driver will know it.
The park has several entrances. The main gates are on Valiasr Street, and you can also enter from the Vozara (Khaled Eslamboli) side to the east, which is handy if you are combining a walk with lunch in the cafés and restaurants around Vozara and Abbasabad.
Tips for visiting
- Go early on a weekday morning for the quietest walk; Friday afternoons and summer evenings are busy.
- Autumn, from mid-October to late November, is the most photogenic time of year.
- Bring a blanket and snacks if you want to picnic, and take your rubbish with you.
- Combine a visit with a stroll along Valiasr Street, which is lined with shops, cafés and more old plane trees.
Got a question this guide didn’t answer?
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