Few hotels in Tehran carry as much history as the Parsian Esteghlal Hotel. It opened in 1962 as the Tehran Royal Hilton, gained an east tower in 1970 and a south tower in 1973, and still stands at the junction of the Chamran Expressway and Valiasr Street, where the city's great avenue meets its northern parkland.
With 504 rooms and 48 suites it is one of the largest hotels in the country. There is the Yas restaurant, a seasonal restaurant, a 24-hour lobby café, a pool and sauna, two indoor tennis courts and a sports club. Its Daryay-e Noor hall seats around 850, and the ground floor has banks, ATMs and a currency exchange. Parking for some 350 cars and a round-the-clock taxi service, including to the airport, make it practical for those with a car or a driver.
The west tower is closed for renovation, so ask which building your room is in when you book: Trip.com lists the main hotel and its East and West Wings separately. Mellat Park is on the doorstep, and the cafés and restaurants of upper Valiasr Street are a short ride away.
Persian name (show your driver): هتل پارسیان استقلال
Address: Junction of Chamran Expressway and Valiasr Street (Parkway), Tehran
Area: North, Chamran Expressway / Valiasr Street junction
Rating: Five-star
Facilities: Yas restaurant, seasonal restaurant, 24-hour lobby café, 850-seat Daryay-e Noor hall, pool and sauna, two indoor tennis courts, sports club, banks/ATM/currency exchange, parking for 350 cars, 24-hour taxi including airport
Booking: Trip.com, which lists the main hotel and the East and West Wings separately
Paying: Foreign bank cards do not work in Iran, so bring enough euros or dollars in cash and change them at an exchange office or the hotel desk. Prices on Iranian booking sites are in rials or tomans and may differ from the rate a hotel quotes to foreign guests, so confirm the price in writing before you arrive.
The Parsian Esteghlal Hotel is a good choice for visitors who value space and history over polish. Its sheer size means it rarely sells out, and the location at the top of Valiasr Street makes the north of the city easy to reach. Recent guest reviews are on Tripadvisor.
Planning where to stay? See our guide to hotels in Tehran and the latest prices in Iran.
