Hamadan Travel Guide: Sights and Day Trips
Ecbatana, the Alvand foothills and day trips from Hamadan
Start in central Hamadan with Hegmataneh, the archaeological site of ancient Ecbatana, and leave time for the bazaar and Avicenna’s mausoleum. Save Ganjnameh, where two Persian kings left inscriptions in the Alvand foothills, for a separate outing.
With a second day, choose between the boat route at Ali Sadr Cave and the pottery workshops of Lalejin. Both lie outside the city, so plan your return transport before setting out.
Contents
Overview of Geography and Climate
Hamadan lies at the foot of the Alvand massif in western Iran. The city center spreads around Imam Square, while the ground rises toward the foothills southwest of town.
Climate of Hamedan
Hamadan has hot, dry summer days and cold winters. Conditions can differ between the city center and the trails above Ganjnameh.
Spring: March to May
Spring brings greener slopes around Alvand. After rain or late snow, start with the city monuments and leave higher routes for a clear day.
Summer: June to August
In summer, start exposed stops such as Hegmataneh early and spend the hotter part of the day in the bazaar or a museum.
Autumn: September to November
Early autumn is a good time to combine city walks with the lower slopes of Alvand. Carry an extra layer for the evening.
Winter: December to February
Snow and ice can affect winter travel, especially around Alvand. Allow more time for roads outside the city.
The Best Time to Visit Hamedan
For a trip focused on the city and the foothills, aim for late spring or early autumn. If you’re mainly coming for the museums and tombs, build the day around their opening hours and allow time to move between sites.
History and Heritage
The name Ecbatana comes from the Greek form of Hegmataneh. Ancient sources identify it as the Median capital, and it later served as a summer seat of Achaemenid rule.
At Ganjnameh, the royal inscriptions of Darius I and Xerxes I show how the Achaemenids used several languages to address their empire.
The Avicenna Mausoleum marks the burial place of Ibn Sina, the physician and philosopher who died in 1037. The present tower is a twentieth-century monument.
From Ecbatana to Hamadan
Begin with the mound of Hegmataneh in the northeast of the city center. It preserves layers of settlement from successive periods, with especially clear remains of Parthian urban planning.
Archaeological Discoveries and Significance
UNESCO inscribed Hegmataneh on the World Heritage List in 2024. Look for the surviving mudbrick walls and the regular layout of the excavated streets.
The site museum helps put those remains in context. Some sections of the fortifications have been reconstructed to make their original form easier to read.
The Influence of Dynasties and Empires
Under the Achaemenids and Parthians, Ecbatana remained an important government seat. The city’s later history is easier to follow by comparing the sites around the center with the inscriptions out at Alvand.
Must-Visit Attractions
Pair Hegmataneh with the Alaviyan mausoleum, which stands close to the archaeological mound. The Stone Lion and the tombs of Avicenna and Baba Taher make separate stops across the city.
Ganjnameh: Ancient Inscriptions
Two cuneiform panels are cut into the rock at Ganjnameh, in a pass through the Alvand foothills. Darius I commissioned the panel on the left and Xerxes I commissioned the one on the right.
Each inscription repeats its text in Old Persian, Elamite and Babylonian. Compare the parallel columns and the similar royal formulas, which invoke Ahura Mazda and name the ruler and his father.
The inscriptions sit near a waterfall. Give the rock face time before continuing up the valley, where the walk becomes more exposed.
Alaviyan Dome
Gonbad-e Alaviyan is a square brick mausoleum near Hegmataneh. Its exact date is uncertain, but scholars generally place it in the 12th century by comparison with other Seljuk buildings.
Look closely at the carved stucco on the facade and inside the main chamber. Leaves and vines interlace in deep relief, and a stairway leads to a crypt containing two Alaviyan family tombs.
Esther and Mordechai’s Tomb: A Jewish Pilgrimage Site
In Judeo-Persian tradition, this shrine is the burial place of Esther and Mordechai, the central figures in the biblical Book of Esther. The story is commemorated at Purim.
A low stone doorway leads to the burial chamber, where Hebrew inscriptions and two wooden markers identify the figures honored here.
Lion Stone Statue (Shir Sangi)
Shir Sangi is an ancient stone lion that gave its name to the surrounding area. It is often attributed to the Hellenistic period, though its date and original purpose remain uncertain.
Medieval accounts describe the lion as a talisman for Hamadan. The weathered body is still recognizable as a crouching animal, even though the head and paws have suffered damage.
Baba Taher Mausoleum
The modern mausoleum honors Baba Taher, a dervish poet associated with Hamadan and remembered for short verses known as do-bayti.
The tower replaced an older tomb and stands on a rise northwest of the city center.
Delicacies of Hamadan: A Culinary Journey
For a meal after the bazaar, look for dizi or a bowl of ash reshteh. These dishes are common across Iran, and the descriptions below can help you recognize them on a menu.
Ghormeh Sabzi
Ghormeh sabzi is a stew of herbs, beans, dried lime and meat. The dried lime gives it a tart note.
Kufteh
Kufteh are large meatballs. Ingredients vary, and some versions have a center of dried fruit or nuts.
Dizi
Dizi usually combines lamb, chickpeas, beans and potatoes. Pour the broth into a bowl to eat with bread, then mash the remaining solids.
Ash Reshteh
Ash reshteh is a thick soup of herbs, beans and noodles, often topped with fried onions and kashk, a tangy dairy product.
Fesenjan
Fesenjan combines ground walnuts and pomegranate in a thick sauce, often served with poultry.
Accommodations in Hamadan
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Azadi Hotel Hamadan
Azadi is one of the accommodation names you may see when searching Hamadan. Use the map below to check the address before booking.
- Address: Imam Khomeini Street, Hamadan, Iran
- View Azadi Hotel on Google Maps
Amiran Hotel Hamadan
- Address: Motahhari Street, Hamadan, Iran
- View Amiran Hotel on Google Maps
Katibeh Hotel Hamedan
Katibeh Hotel is on the Eram Boulevard side of Hamadan, at the entrance to the Abbasabad recreational area. Its own website lists double and triple rooms and a two-bedroom family suite. This location suits an outing towards the foothills; it is separate from the central bazaar area.
- Address: Eram Boulevard, at the entrance to the Abbasabad recreational complex road, Hamadan, Iran.
- Katibeh Hotel: official address, map and contact details
Hegmataneh Hotel Hamedan
- Address: Ecbatana Street, Hamedan, Iran
- View Hegmataneh Hotel on Google Maps
Khatam Hotel Hamedan
- Address: Shohada Square, Hamedan, Iran
- View Khatam Hotel on Google Maps
Safir Hotel Hamedan
- Address: Emam Street, Hamedan, Iran
- View Safir Hotel on Google Maps
Shopping and Souvenirs
Start around the covered bazaar near Imam Square. Its lanes are a practical place to compare goods before buying or arranging to carry fragile purchases home.
Leather and Leatherworks
Look for leather bags, belts and wallets, and ask where they were made if you want a locally produced piece.
Ceramics and Pottery
For pottery, consider a side trip to Lalejin, a town in Hamadan Province known for ceramics. In town, look for both glazed tableware and decorative pieces.
Handwoven Carpets and Kilims
If you’re shopping for a carpet or kilim, ask where it was woven and check both sides before you buy. The weave and weight matter if you plan to carry it home.
Local Delicacies to Take Home
Spices and dried herbs pack more easily than pottery. Ask what the mix contains and check any rules on bringing plant products home.
Turquoise of Neyshabur
Neyshabur turquoise comes from northeastern Iran. If you see it on sale in Hamadan, ask the seller to identify the stone and its origin.
Exploring the Ali Sadr Cave
Ali Sadr Cave is a road trip north of Hamadan, near Ali Sadr village in Kabudarahang County. The visitor route includes a boat ride through flooded passages.
Bring a light layer for the underground section. If you’re traveling with someone who has limited mobility, ask the visitor center about steps and boarding before you make the drive.
From the boat, look for stalactites above the water and mineral deposits along the chamber walls.
How to Get To Hamedan
Compare road, rail and air for your travel date. If you only have a short stay, allow for the transfer from your arrival point to the center before arranging a timed visit.
Airplane
Search for Hamadan Airport using the code HDM. Check the airline’s schedule for your date before building your itinerary around a flight.
Bus
For an intercity coach, search for Hamadan and use the departure terminal named on your ticket. Tehran has several terminals, so check the exact one before crossing the city.
- The largest passenger terminal in Hamedan is located in Ashura Square and provides service to all parts of the country (within and outside the province).
- The Ekbatan terminal, located on Ekbatan Street, serves outside the province.
- The Sefid Abi terminal is located on Badi’ al-Zaman Hamedani Boulevard and offers services within the province.
Train
For rail, search for Hamadan and read the station name on the ticket. Malayer is a separate city in the province and requires an onward road transfer if you book to that station.
Personal Vehicle
From Tehran, the route via Saveh is one road approach to Hamadan. If you’re driving in winter, check conditions before leaving, particularly for the higher stretches.
Public Transportation in Hamedan
Imam Square is a useful landmark for the center. Several streets radiate from it, and the bazaar and central monuments can be combined on foot. Ganjnameh and Ali Sadr Cave require separate rides.
Bus
If you plan to use a city bus, ask for the route and stop by the name of your destination. For a short visit, group the central sights together so you can walk between them.
Taxi
For a taxi to the foothills or to Ali Sadr, agree on the destination and return plan with the driver before leaving town.
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