The Rexan Hotel opened in 2015 as the Novotel at Imam Khomeini International Airport, one of the first international-brand hotels in Iran after sanctions were eased. Accor has since left the country and the hotel now operates under its own name, but it is still the most convenient bed for anyone with an early departure or a late arrival.
It is a large five-star with 492 rooms, an indoor pool, a spa, a gym, a restaurant and a lounge. A free shuttle and a pedestrian bridge connect it to the terminal, and it offers short stays of six or ten hours for travellers with a long layover.
Central Tehran is about 50km to the north, so this is a hotel for the start or end of a trip rather than a base for sightseeing. Its neighbour, the Remis (formerly the ibis), is a cheaper option on the same site.
Address: Persian Gulf Highway, Imam Khomeini International Airport, Tehran
Area: Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA)
Rating: Five-star
Rooms: 492
Airport: Beside the airport, linked to the terminal by a pedestrian bridge and a shuttle bus; central Tehran is about 50km away
Facilities: Indoor pool, spa, gym, restaurant, lounge, free airport shuttle, conference rooms, short stays of 6 or 10 hours
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.
If your flight lands late at night, booking the Rexan Hotel saves a 50km taxi ride into the city in the small hours, and you can travel into Tehran in daylight the next morning. Recent guest reviews are on Tripadvisor.
Planning where to stay? See our guide to hotels in Tehran and the latest prices in Iran.
