Tehran, Iran

Getting around Tehran

How to travel around Tehran — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Last updated 2026-08-09

1. Metro

Cheap, extensive and air-conditioned, with women-only carriages at each end.

Cost: Very low; buy a rechargeable card

2. Snapp

The dominant local ride-hailing app, with fares set in the app.

Watch outThe rial/toman confusion is used to overcharge visitors tenfold. App fares remove the ambiguity.

3. Shared taxis

Cars running fixed routes, hailed by shouting the destination.

Watch outBeing charged private-hire rates for a shared ride.

4. BRT buses

Dedicated-lane buses crossing the city, faster than cars at peak.

5. Currency, before anything else

Prices are quoted in toman (one-tenth of a rial) in speech but written in rial.

Tip: Confirm which unit any price is in. Cards from outside Iran do not work; bring cash.

Booking apps in Iran

Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page — lookalike apps are themselves a scam.

Snapp

The dominant Iranian ride-hailing app, with fares set in-app.

Coverage: Tehran and major cities.
Why it helps: Sets the fare in rial in the app, which removes the rial/toman confusion used to overcharge visitors tenfold.