Unveiling the Charming Nicknames of Iran’s Beautiful Cities: From ‘Little Paris’ to the ‘Bride’ and the ‘City of Heavenly Springs’ + Photos

According to Saed News Social Service, via Namnak: Iran is a vast land with a 7,000-year-old civilization, home to numerous beautiful cities. Among these cities, some have earned famous nicknames inspired by their culture, nature, industries, products, or customs. Do you know the nicknames of each Iranian city and the reasons behind them?

Here is an introduction to the nicknames of Iranian cities:

Shiraz – City of Flowers and Nightingales, City of Secrets, Joy, Grace, and Orange Blossom
Shiraz is the city of Hafez and Saadi, filled with world-renowned gardens whose orange blossom fragrance fills the city from afar, attracting travelers from everywhere. For this reason, Shiraz is called the City of Flowers and Nightingales and the City of Orange Blossom. Historically, the city was known as the City of Secrets, gradually becoming Shiraz. Other famous nicknames include the City of Joy and Grace and the City of Knowledge.

Sistan and Baluchestan – Land of Palms and Sun, Desert and Sea, Legends
Located in southeastern Iran, Sistan and Baluchestan is the birthplace of many Iranian legends, including Rostam, Keykavus, and Ya’qub Leith Safari. This beautiful province, situated between desert and sea, boasts lush palm groves and abundant sunshine, earning it the nickname Land of Palms and Sun, Desert and Sea.

Abadan – Brazil of Iran
Abadan is famously known as the Brazil of Iran, likely due to the locals’ passion for football, historic football clubs, and perhaps a slight resemblance to Brazilians. The city is so famous that even the Brazilian ambassador visited for a local derby. Football stadiums here proudly display Brazil’s green and yellow flags.

Chabahar – Land of Eternal Spring
Chabahar is a beautiful, temperate region that enjoys spring-like weather year-round. Its name evolved from "Chahar Bahar" (Four Springs) to Chabahar.

Urmia – City of Water, City of Religions
The abundance of water, including Lake Urmia, has earned the city the nickname City of Water. Urmia is also known as the City of Religions and Ethnicities because Kurds, Turks, and many Christians live together harmoniously. Another nickname, Dar al-Nashat (City of Joy), was given during the Qajar era due to the pleasant climate, fertile gardens, green nature, and peaceful coexistence of diverse communities.

Damghan – City of a Hundred Gates
Damghan, visited by Alexander the Great in 330 BCE, became part of the Seleucid Empire and later one of the Parthian capitals. Its ancient history earned it the nickname City of a Hundred Gates, inspired by the Greek term Hekatompylos, meaning "hundred gates," for cities with more than four gates.

Ardabil – Holy City, City of Safety
Ardabil is one of Iran’s most beautiful cities, with nicknames like Dar al-Rashad, Dar al-Aman, and “Paradise of Beekeepers.” Its name originates from the Avestan words Arta (sacred) and Vil (city). Scholars believe Zoroaster spread his teachings from this region. During the Safavid era, it was called Dar al-Aman, and during Timur’s reign, Dar al-Rashad. Its nickname “Paradise of Beekeepers” comes from local products like Ardabil honey and Sabalan honey.

Ramsar – Bride of Iranian Cities
Ramsar, a beautiful northern city, is known as the Bride of Iranian Cities for its lush vegetation, green landscapes, pleasant summer resorts, and location between forest and sea.

Isfahan – City of Turquoise Domes, Half of the World, God’s Beautiful City
Isfahan, one of Iran’s largest cities, is called “Half of the World” due to its six thousand historical monuments—from palaces and gardens to mosques, churches, minarets, and historic houses—that showcase the grandeur of Iranian civilization. Its architectural beauty also earned it the title God’s Beautiful City. Other nicknames include City of Turquoise Domes and, historically, Dar al-Saltaneh.

Rasht – City of Silver Rains, City of Rain
Rasht, the third most visited city in Iran and the largest in the north, is called the City of Rain or Silver Rains due to its frequent heavy rainfall.

Ahvaz – City That Never Sleeps, City of Bridges
Ahvaz is called the City That Never Sleeps because residents are active at night to escape the daytime heat. Parks, fast-food outlets, and local eateries stay open at night. It is also known as the City of Bridges, with around ten bridges—the most in any city in the Middle East.

Rafsanjan – City of Green Gold
Rafsanjan is known as the City of Green Gold because it houses the world’s largest man-made forest and extensive pistachio orchards (120,000 hectares).

Ilam – Land of the Rising Sun, Bride of Zagros
Ilam’s natural beauty earned it the title Bride of Zagros. It is also called Land of the Rising Sun because Babylonian inscriptions referred to it as Alam or Alamtu, meaning “mountainous land” or “country of the sunrise.”

Chenasht Village – Land of Colors
Chenasht, a village in South Khorasan, is called the Land of Colors because of its colorful traditional clothing. Women wear vibrant dresses—green, red, or blue—with red or blue floral scarves and silver embroidery, while men wear long coats with head scarves.

Borujerd – Little Paris
Borujerd, a small, picturesque city, is nicknamed Little Paris because its surrounding lowlands resemble European landscapes. Similarly, Bojnord, in North Khorasan, is also called Little Paris for its organized streets, gardens, canals, and early electricity factory.

Makhunik Village – Land of Iran’s Lilliputians
Makhunik, in eastern South Khorasan, is known as Iran’s Lilliput village because its inhabitants are short, and the houses are tiny, built from stone, mud, and tree branches with only small entrances.

Borujen – Little Greece
Borujen, 2,197 meters above sea level, is called Little Greece due to its many famous personalities in various fields.

Saravan – Birthplace of Iran’s Sun
Saravan, the easternmost city of Iran bordering Pakistan, is called the Birthplace of Iran’s Sun because it is the first Iranian city to see sunrise. Sunrise in Saravan occurs 1 hour and 17 minutes earlier than in Iran’s westernmost city.

Bastam – City of Mystics
Bastam is known as the City of Mystics. You may have heard of Bayazid Bastami, but he is not the only mystic from the city. Sheikh Abolhassan Kharghani, another mystic, is buried in the Kharqan district. Shabestar is another city famous for its mystics, including Sheikh Mahmoud Shabestari.

Sarein – Land of Heavenly Springs
Sarein, near Mount Sabalan, is famous for its 12 mineral hot springs. In Persian, Sarein literally means “spring source.”