Shiraz sits at 1,500 metres on the high plateau, so the climate is gentler than the Iranian deserts to the north and the Gulf coast to the south. The best times to visit are April and May — the rose harvest, the orange blossom, the gardens at their peak — and September to early November, when the heat is gone and the light on the brick is warm and low.
Summer (June–August) is hot and dry, often 35–40°C in the afternoon, though the evenings cool down quickly. The mosques and gardens are still bearable; the bazaar is a refuge.
Winter (December–February) is mild during the day, around 10–15°C, but the nights drop close to freezing and the buildings have minimal heating. Snow on the surrounding mountains is striking. A few of the famous photo moments — the stained-glass light through the Pink Mosque, the snow on the cypresses at Bagh-e Eram — only happen in winter.
The Persian New Year (Nowruz), around 21 March, is the busiest time of year. Iranian families travel and Shiraz is a major destination. Hotels are full and prices rise.