The Shrine of Fatimah al-Masumah is the defining landmark of Qom and one of the most important Shia pilgrimage sites in the world. The golden dome and minarets rising above the city have been rebuilt and expanded over many centuries; the current complex dates primarily from the Qajar and Islamic Republic eras, though the original grave beneath dates to the 9th century.
Non-Muslims cannot enter the shrine itself, but the exterior is entirely accessible. The surrounding courtyard is large and often crowded with pilgrims; the atmosphere — incense, supplication, weeping, and recitation — is unlike anywhere else in Iran. The golden dome gleams dramatically at night when lit.
The bazaar immediately around the shrine sells religious goods, sweets, and souvenirs, and is genuinely busy and worth wandering. The sohan candy from Qom (a brittle toffee with saffron and pistachios) is the city's most famous export and available everywhere around the shrine.