By air is the most practical option for most visitors. Tehran has two international airports: Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA), 35 km south of the city, handles most international traffic; the older Mehrabad Airport (THR) is used for some domestic and regional routes. Mashhad, Isfahan, and Shiraz also receive international flights.
Iran Air operates routes to Europe and neighboring countries, but European carriers have reduced services since sanctions tightened. Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Flydubai, and several other Middle Eastern and Asian carriers serve Tehran regularly. Dubai and Istanbul are the most convenient hubs for connections from Europe or North America. Expect flight times of around 5–6 hours from Istanbul or Dubai, 8–9 hours from London.
By land from Turkey is the main overland route. Buses run between Istanbul and Tehran via Ankara and the Gürbulak/Bazargan border crossing, typically taking 30–40 hours. The border is reasonably efficient but can be slow during holidays. Buses also connect Tehran to Erzurum in eastern Turkey. A train runs between Istanbul and Tehran on the Trans-Asia Express, though the journey takes several days and schedules are unreliable — worth it for the experience rather than the speed.
From Turkmenistan, the Gaudan/Sarakhs crossing is the main route. Pakistan's Taftan crossing is possible but the Baluchestan border region on the Pakistani side has security concerns — check current conditions carefully.
By sea, ferries run from Baku (Azerbaijan) across the Caspian to Bandar-e Anzali or Bandar-e Turkmen, though schedules are irregular and can be disrupted. In the south, ferries connect UAE ports with Bandar-e Abbas and Kish Island.
Airport transport: Imam Khomeini Airport is connected to central Tehran by metro (Line 1, around 45 minutes, inexpensive). Taxis are available at fixed rates from official booths in the arrivals hall — agree on the fare before getting in any unofficial cab.