Archive note: This article was originally published in 2016 and looks back at travel writer Rick Steves’ earlier visit to Iran and his reflections on that experience. It presents Steves’ personal observations and interpretation, not a general explanation of Iranian society or current travel conditions.
Rick Steves traveled to Iran in 2008 while filming a television special that was released in 2009. He later discussed the trip in talks and in his Iran travel journal, using the experience to make a broader case for travel as a way to question assumptions and understand people in context.
Contents
What Rick Steves Took from His Iran Trip
Steves described the trip as an opportunity to meet people directly rather than rely only on political rhetoric or distant impressions. In his later talks, he connected the Iran experience with a recurring theme in his work: travel can add nuance to ideas that may appear simple from afar.
The “Death to Traffic” Anecdote
One of Steves’ best-known stories from Tehran concerns a traffic jam. He recalled his driver using the phrase “Death to traffic” while they were stuck on the road. Steves treated the remark as an example of how context can change the way a phrase is understood.
The anecdote reflects Steves’ own interpretation of an encounter during his trip. It should not be used to assign a single meaning to political slogans or to generalize the views of Iranians. His original account provides the fuller context in Rick Steves’ Iran Travel Journal, part 4.
Watch the Videos
The first video focuses on Steves’ Iran experience. The second is his TEDxRainier talk on the broader value of travel. Both are retained here as primary material for this archive article.
For current practical information rather than historical media commentary, use the SURFIRAN Iran Travel Guide.
