Iran is a country of breathtaking contrasts: snow-capped mountains and burning deserts, misty forests and turquoise seas, ancient empires and living traditions. It is divided into 31 provinces (ostan), and each one has its own landscapes, history, dialect, food and pride.
Ask any Iranian where they are from, and you will hear more than the name of a city. You will hear about the mountains they grew up under, the castle on the hill, the bazaar their grandparents walked through. This guide takes you on a journey through all 31 provinces of Iran and the landmarks that make each one unforgettable.
It is also the story behind our Provinces of Iran Collection: 31 original designs, one for every province, each available as a hoodie and a t-shirt.
How Many Provinces Does Iran Have?
Iran has 31 provinces. The most recent, Alborz, was created in 2010 from part of Tehran Province, with Karaj as its capital. Tehran is by far the most populous, while vast desert provinces such as Kerman and Sistan and Baluchestan cover the largest areas. Below, we group the provinces by region to make the journey easier to follow.
The Caspian North
Green, misty and mild, the provinces along the Caspian Sea are covered by the ancient Hyrcanian forests, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with rice fields, tea gardens and mountain villages.
Gilan
Capital: Rasht
Iconic landmarks: Rudkhan Castle & Hyrcanian Forests
Wear it: Gilan hoodie · Gilan t-shirt
Mazandaran
Capital: Sari
Iconic landmarks: Badab-e Surt & Veresk Bridge
Wear it: Mazandaran hoodie · Mazandaran t-shirt
Golestan
Capital: Gorgan
Iconic landmarks: Great Wall of Gorgan & Hyrcanian Forests
Wear it: Golestan hoodie · Golestan t-shirt
The Northwest: Azerbaijan and Beyond
A land of high mountains, ancient fortresses and great lakes, with Mount Sabalan, the Arasbaran forests and the salt-white shores of Lake Urmia.
East Azerbaijan
Capital: Tabriz
Iconic landmarks: Babak Castle & Arasbaran Forests
Wear it: East Azerbaijan hoodie · East Azerbaijan t-shirt
West Azerbaijan
Capital: Urmia
Iconic landmarks: Hasanlu & Lake Urmia
Wear it: West Azerbaijan hoodie · West Azerbaijan t-shirt
Ardabil
Capital: Ardabil
Iconic landmarks: Shahr-e Yeri Stone Figures & Mount Sabalan
Wear it: Ardabil hoodie · Ardabil t-shirt
Zanjan
Capital: Zanjan
Iconic landmarks: Chehrabad Salt Mine, Katale Khor Cave & Rainbow Mountains
Wear it: Zanjan hoodie · Zanjan t-shirt
The Zagros West
The Zagros Mountains run like a spine through western Iran: oak forests, deep gorges, waterfalls and some of the oldest rock reliefs and inscriptions in the world.
Kurdistan
Capital: Sanandaj
Iconic landmarks: Ziwiye, Hawraman & the Sirwan River
Wear it: Kurdistan hoodie · Kurdistan t-shirt
Kermanshah
Capital: Kermanshah
Iconic landmarks: Taq-e Bostan & Behistun Inscription
Wear it: Kermanshah hoodie · Kermanshah t-shirt
Hamedan
Capital: Hamedan
Iconic landmarks: Ganjnameh, Mount Alvand & Ancient Ecbatana
Wear it: Hamedan hoodie · Hamedan t-shirt
Ilam
Capital: Ilam
Iconic landmarks: Razianeh Gorge & Elamite Rock Reliefs
Wear it: Ilam hoodie · Ilam t-shirt
Lorestan
Capital: Khorramabad
Iconic landmarks: Falak-ol-Aflak Castle & Bisheh Waterfall
Wear it: Lorestan hoodie · Lorestan t-shirt
Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari
Capital: Shahrekord
Iconic landmarks: Zard-Kuh & Koohrang Waterfall
Wear it: Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari hoodie · Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari t-shirt
Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad
Capital: Yasuj
Iconic landmarks: Tang-e Balqis, Mount Dena & Yasuj Waterfall
Wear it: Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad hoodie · Kohgiluyeh & Boyer-Ahmad t-shirt
The Iranian Plateau and Center
From the capital at the foot of the Alborz to the desert cities of the plateau, central Iran is home to some of the country’s most famous architecture.
Tehran
Capital: Tehran
Iconic landmarks: Azadi Tower, Mount Damavand & Golestan Palace
Wear it: Tehran hoodie · Tehran t-shirt
Alborz
Capital: Karaj
Iconic landmarks: Alborz Mountain Lake & Chalus Road
Wear it: Alborz hoodie · Alborz t-shirt
Qazvin
Capital: Qazvin
Iconic landmarks: Alamut Castle & the Alborz Cliffs
Wear it: Qazvin hoodie · Qazvin t-shirt
Qom
Capital: Qom
Iconic landmarks: Deir-e Gachin Caravanserai & the Desert
Wear it: Qom hoodie · Qom t-shirt
Markazi
Capital: Arak
Iconic landmarks: Khorheh Ancient Site & Haftad Gholleh
Wear it: Markazi hoodie · Markazi t-shirt
Semnan
Capital: Semnan
Iconic landmarks: Qasr-e Bahram Caravanserai & Abr Forest
Wear it: Semnan hoodie · Semnan t-shirt
Isfahan
Capital: Isfahan
Iconic landmarks: Naqsh-e Jahan Square & Si-o-se Pol Bridge
Wear it: Isfahan hoodie · Isfahan t-shirt
Yazd
Capital: Yazd
Iconic landmarks: Narin Castle, Dovecote & Dowlatabad Windcatcher
Wear it: Yazd hoodie · Yazd t-shirt
The South and the Persian Gulf
The south is where Persian history began, from Susa and Persepolis to the ancient ports and colorful islands of the Persian Gulf.
Khuzestan
Capital: Ahvaz
Iconic landmarks: Ancient Susa & Shushtar Water System
Wear it: Khuzestan hoodie · Khuzestan t-shirt
Bushehr
Capital: Bushehr
Iconic landmarks: Ancient Port of Siraf & the Persian Gulf
Wear it: Bushehr hoodie · Bushehr t-shirt
Fars
Capital: Shiraz
Iconic landmarks: Persepolis & Achaemenid Columns
Wear it: Fars hoodie · Fars t-shirt
Hormozgan
Capital: Bandar Abbas
Iconic landmarks: Portuguese Castle of Hormuz & Laft Windcatchers
Wear it: Hormozgan hoodie · Hormozgan t-shirt
The East: Khorasan, Kerman and Sistan
The land of the rising sun: home of Ferdowsi, the great deserts of Lut and the Burnt City, one of the oldest urban settlements in Iran.
Khorasan Razavi
Capital: Mashhad
Iconic landmarks: Tomb of Ferdowsi & Kalat-e Naderi
Wear it: Khorasan Razavi hoodie · Khorasan Razavi t-shirt
North Khorasan
Capital: Bojnord
Iconic landmarks: Shirvan Citadel & Aladagh Mountains
Wear it: North Khorasan hoodie · North Khorasan t-shirt
South Khorasan
Capital: Birjand
Iconic landmarks: Birjand Citadel & the Lut Desert
Wear it: South Khorasan hoodie · South Khorasan t-shirt
Kerman
Capital: Kerman
Iconic landmarks: Arg-e Bam & Shazdeh Garden
Wear it: Kerman hoodie · Kerman t-shirt
Sistan & Baluchestan
Capital: Zahedan
Iconic landmarks: Shahr-e Sukhteh, Hamun & the Makran Coast
Wear it: Sistan & Baluchestan hoodie · Sistan & Baluchestan t-shirt
Carry Your Province With You
Wherever life has taken you, your home province stays with you: its mountains, its food, its accent and its stories. That is why we created a design for every one of Iran’s 31 provinces, each bringing together its most iconic landmarks in one original artwork.
Explore the full Provinces of Iran Collection, shop by style in Hoodies and T-Shirts, or discover the symbols that unite all Iranians in our Spirit of Iran Collection and our guide to the Lion and Sun.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many provinces are there in Iran?
Iran has 31 provinces. The newest, Alborz, was established in 2010.
Which is the most populous province of Iran?
Tehran Province, home to the capital, has the largest population of any province.
Which province is Persepolis in?
Persepolis is in Fars Province, about 60 km northeast of Shiraz.
What is the capital of Isfahan Province?
The capital is the city of Isfahan, famous for Naqsh-e Jahan Square and its historic bridges, including Si-o-se Pol.
Can I buy a hoodie or t-shirt for my home province?
Yes. Arya Roots offers an original design for each of Iran’s 31 provinces, available as unisex hoodies and t-shirts and printed to order.
