Getting Around Iran: Farsi for Taxis, Buses, and Trains

Your GPS App Is in Farsi. Now What?

The first time I put my Italian friend in a Tehran taxi, the driver asked kojaa mirin? (کجا میرین؟). where are you going? My friend froze. He'd been using Google Maps in English the whole trip, but Google Maps doesn't talk to taxi drivers. The driver repeated himself, slower. My friend showed him his phone screen. The driver squinted at the English text, shrugged, and said balad nistam (بلد نیستم). I don't know.

This guide is part of our Essential Farsi for Traveling in Iran series.

That's transportation in Iran in a nutshell. Everything runs on Farsi. the street signs, the bus route displays, the metro maps, the ride-hailing apps. English exists in airports and on some Tehran metro signage, but once you step outside those zones, farsi for transportation in Iran becomes a survival skill, not a bonus.

This isn't a vocabulary dump. It's organized by how you'll actually move through the country: taxis first (because you'll use them most), then metro, buses, trains, and domestic flights.

Taxis: Shared, Private, and App-Based

Tehran alone has three completely different taxi systems, and each one requires different Farsi.

Shared taxis. savari (سواری): These run fixed routes through the city. The driver shouts the destination out the window, and if it matches where you're going, you jump in. You'll share the car with 2-3 strangers. The fare is fixed and cheap. To ask if a shared taxi goes where you need, lean toward the window and shout your destination as a question: Tajrish? or Vanak? The driver nods or waves you off.

Private taxis. darbast (دربست): This literally means "closed door". the whole car is yours. More expensive than shared, but you go directly to your destination. Before getting in, always agree on the price: taa [destination] chand migirin? (تا [مقصد] چند میگیرین؟). how much to [destination]? Don't get in without settling this. There are no meters in most Iranian taxis.

Snapp and Tapsi. Iran's ride-hailing apps. changed everything. Snapp is basically Uber, but the entire interface is in Farsi. You enter your destination in Persian script, the app calculates the fare, and a driver picks you up. No haggling. The catch: you need an Iranian phone number to register, and the app is Persian-only. If you can read basic Farsi script or have a friend set it up for you, Snapp is the cheapest and easiest way to get around cities.

Essential taxi phrases:

• Kojaa mirin? (کجا میرین؟). Where are you going? (the driver asks you this)
• Mano bebarid be [place] (منو ببرید به [مکان]). Take me to [place].
• Hamin-jaa nege daarin (همینجا نگه دارین). Stop right here.
• Chand shod? (چند شد؟). How much was it? (at the end of the ride)
• Darbast mirid? (دربست میرید؟). Do you go private? (asking a shared taxi driver for a private ride)

Tehran Metro: Tokens and Station Names

Tehran's metro is clean, fast, and absurdly cheap. It's also entirely in Farsi, with some station names transliterated into Latin characters. but not all of them, and not consistently.

To ride the metro, you buy a zheton (ژتون). a token. from the ticket booth. Walk up and say: ye zheton, lotfan (یه ژتون لطفاً). one token, please. Or do taa zheton (دو تا ژتون) for two. You can also buy a rechargeable card. kart-e metro (کارت مترو). if you're staying more than a few days.

Reading station names in Farsi takes practice. The signs use Persian script, and station names are usually neighborhood names you'll recognize if you've looked at a map: Tajrish (تجریش) at the north end of Line 1, Meydan-e Azadi (میدان آزادی). Azadi Square. and Emam Khomeini (امام خمینی) at the central transfer point.

Useful metro phrases:

• In khat mire [station name]? (این خط میره [نام ایستگاه]؟). Does this line go to [station]?
• Kojaa baayad avaz konam? (کجا باید عوض کنم؟). Where do I need to transfer?
• Istgaah-e ba'di chi-e? (ایستگاه بعدی چیه؟). What's the next station?

One cultural note: the first and last cars of every Tehran metro train are women-only. vagn-e baanovaan (واگن بانوان). Men who accidentally walk in get pointed back out immediately. It's not hostile, just a firm system. The signs are clearly marked if you can read baanovaan in script.

City Buses: The Cheapest Ride

City buses in Iran are dirt cheap but hard to figure out without Farsi. Route numbers and destinations are written in Persian on the front of the bus. No English. No tourist-friendly route maps at most stops.

Your survival phrase: in otoboos mire [destination]? (این اتوبوس میره [مقصد]؟). Does this bus go to [destination]? Ask the driver or anyone standing at the stop. Iranians are genuinely helpful with directions. someone will probably walk you to the right bus.

The fare is almost nothing. You pay with a card. kart-e otoboos (کارت اتوبوس). that you tap on a reader when boarding. In some cities, the Tehran metro card works on buses too. If you don't have a card, cash works but you need exact change, and the driver might wave you through for free if you look confused enough. (This has happened to me, and I was born there.)

Buses in Iran are also gender-separated. Men board from the front, women from the back. or vice versa depending on the city. A curtain or barrier divides the two sections. Just watch what other people do and follow their lead.

Intercity Buses: The Long-Haul Workhorse

Intercity bus travel is how most Iranians get between cities. It's reliable, comfortable (especially VIP buses), and cheaper than flying. Companies like Royal Safar and Hamsafar run modern coaches with reclining seats and onboard snacks.

You buy tickets at the bus terminal. terminal-e otoboos (ترمینال اتوبوس). Every city has at least one, and bigger cities have multiple terminals for different directions (Tehran has four). Walk up to a counter and say:

Ye belit baraa-ye [city], lotfan (یه بلیط برای [شهر]، لطفاً). One ticket to [city], please.

They'll tell you the departure time. saat-e harkat (ساعت حرکت). and the platform number. Belit (بلیط) is ticket. Sokuye chand? (سکوی چند؟) means "which platform?"

VIP buses have assigned seats. Regular buses don't. If you want VIP (and you do. the leg room and AC are worth the extra few thousand toman), specify: VIP daarin? (وی آی پی دارین؟). The staff usually understand "VIP" in English pronunciation.

Trains: Overnight Adventures

Iran's train network connects major cities, and overnight trains are a genuine experience. The Tehran-to-Isfahan and Tehran-to-Mashhad routes are the most popular. Trains are slower than buses but more comfortable for long distances.

Buy tickets at the train station. istgaah-e ghatar (ایستگاه قطار). or online through the Raja app (again, Farsi-only). At the counter:

• Ye belit-e ghatar be [city] (یه بلیط قطار به [شهر]). One train ticket to [city].
• Takht-e baalaa yaa paiin? (تخت بالا یا پایین؟). Upper bunk or lower bunk? On overnight trains, you get a compartment with bunk beds. Lower. paiin (پایین). is easier to get in and out of.
• Saat-e chand harekat mikone? (ساعت چند حرکت میکنه؟). What time does it depart?
• Key miresim? (کی میرسیم؟). When do we arrive?

Overnight trains serve dinner and breakfast. A steward. mohaandes-e ghatar is what some people call them colloquially. brings food to your compartment. The quality ranges from decent to "well, at least the tea is good." Speaking of tea, it flows endlessly on Iranian trains. Just say ye chaai, lotfan (یه چای لطفاً).

Domestic Flights and Airport Farsi

Domestic flights in Iran are surprisingly affordable and connect cities that would take 12+ hours by bus. Airlines like Iran Air, Mahan Air, and Aseman operate routes between Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Mashhad, Tabriz, and Kish Island.

Airports are the one place where you'll find some English signage. But check-in counters, gate announcements, and security instructions are all in Farsi. Key vocabulary:

• Parvaz (پرواز). Flight.
• Gate is usually said as geit (گیت). borrowed from English but pronounced differently.
• Parvaz-e shomaa az geit-e [number]. Your flight is from gate [number].
• Ta'khir daare (تأخیر داره). It's delayed. You'll hear this a lot. Iranian domestic flights are not famous for punctuality.
• Kart-e savaar shodan (کارت سوار شدن). Boarding pass.
• Baarband (باربند) or chand taa chamedaan daairin? (چند تا چمدون دارین؟). How many suitcases do you have?

For domestic flights, check-in is often a chaotic experience. Lines form loosely. People cut in. Nobody seems bothered except you. Just hold your ground and keep your belit (بلیط). ticket. and paasport (پاسپورت) ready.

Ride-Hailing Apps: Snapp and Tapsi Deep Dive

If you're spending any time in Iranian cities, Snapp (اسنپ) is the app you need. Think of it as the Iranian Uber. it works the same way, but the entire thing is in Persian. Tapsi (تپسی) is the second-biggest competitor.

Getting set up requires an Iranian SIM card. sim kart (سیم کارت). which you can buy at the airport or any phone shop. Irancell and Hamrah-e Aval are the main carriers. Once you have a number, download Snapp, register, and you're in.

The interface shows a map. You type your destination in Farsi script. or drop a pin, which avoids the typing problem entirely. The app shows the estimated fare before you confirm. No negotiation. No surprises. The driver arrives, you get in, and at the end the fare is charged automatically or you pay cash. naghdi (نقدی).

Useful to know: Snapp drivers sometimes call to confirm the pickup location. They'll say something like shomaa kojaa vaaistaadin? (شما کجا وایسادین؟). where are you standing? If your Farsi isn't strong enough for phone calls, text back your location or just send a pin through the app's chat. Most drivers figure it out.

Cultural Notes for Getting Around

A few things that no Farsi travel guide always mentions:

Sitting in the front seat of a taxi is normal in Iran if you're a man. In a shared taxi, the front passenger seat is just another seat. Women generally sit in the back, but this varies by city and generation.

Tipping taxi drivers isn't standard. With Snapp and Tapsi, you can tip through the app. With regular taxis, rounding up the fare is appreciated but not expected. If a driver goes out of their way for you or helps with luggage, a tip of a few thousand toman is generous.

Traffic in Tehran is legendary. What looks like a 15-minute drive on the map can take over an hour during rush hour. saat-e sholooghí (ساعت شلوغی). If someone asks you where you're going and then sucks air through their teeth... that means traffic is going to be brutal. Plan accordingly.

Understanding the gap between written and spoken Farsi matters here because the signs are in formal Persian, but every conversation you'll have about directions is in colloquial Tehrani. The bus sign says meydan-e Valiasr. The guy giving you directions says Valiasr and waves vaguely south. Reading the formal and understanding the spoken are two different skills, and transportation is where that gap hits hardest. For a full foundation, the beginner's guide to learning Persian covers both registers.

Want to practice this vocabulary? Try ZabanYar. it's free and works offline.

Getting around Iran without Farsi is possible. people are helpful, gestures work in a pinch, and Snapp reduces the need for conversation. But the difference between surviving and actually being comfortable is knowing the phrases. And if you want to practice before your trip with someone who'll teach you the real spoken versions. not the textbook ones. I teach practical Farsi on Preply, and "getting around the city" is one of my favorite lesson topics.

Keep Learning

This guide is part of: Essential Farsi for Traveling in Iran

Read next: Hotels & Guesthouses · 10 Farsi Mistakes Tourists Make

New to Farsi? Start with the complete beginner's guide.

Get it wrong and the worst that happens is a warm laugh and a story they’ll tell for years. Get it right — refuse the tea twice, accept on the third — and you’ll watch a face open up. You didn’t just speak Persian. You played the game.