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Bushehr
Book Capital of Iran

Bushehr is a port city and the capital of Bushehr Province located on the Persian Gulf coast in southern Iran. Bushehr has humid, hot summers, mild winters and pleasant springs.

The current city of Bushehr was built in the Afsharid era (1736–1796) near a much older Elamite city named Liyan, a port city which was a cultural center in the old world and bridge connecting the civilizations of the East and West.

The founder of the Sassanid dynasty (224–651 CE), Ardashir I (180-242 CE) the Unifier, rebuilt Liyan, renaming it ‘Riu-Ardashir’ or ‘Ram-Ardashir’ which over time came to be known as Rey Shahr (Reishahr).

In the Sassanid era, the city was an important literary and scientific center where countless books were written and housed in its libraries. For this reason Bushehr has been nicknamed the Book Capital of Iran.

Fishing plays a major role in the local economy and fresh catch of the day is always available at the Bushehr fish market. The city is famous for its seafood dishes like Qalieh Meigoo and Qalieh Mahi.

Bushehr is one of the centers where Lanj or Lenj boats are built. These small, hand-built wooden boats are used by the inhabitants of southern Iran to sail, trade and fish on the Persian Gulf. The skill of building and sailing these traditional fishing boats was inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011.

The city is famous for its Ashura mourning ceremonies, which are held nationwide for two days to mark the martyrdom of the second Shia Imam, Hussein (PBUH) (626-680), in the battle of Karbala along with some of his family members and companions.

Bushehr

Book Capital of Iran

  • Population

    195,222

  • Coordinates

    28°58′N 50°50′E

Top things to do:  

Top foods to try:

  • Qalieh Meigoo- A spicy, sour stew made with shrimp and herbs like cilantro, fenugreek and garlic, simmered to perfection in red pepper and tamarind sauce.
  • Meigoo Polow- A mix rice dish with shrimp and herbs like cilantro, fenugreek and garlic.
  • Dal Adas- A lentil soup made with crushed garlic, onion, potato and tomato paste served with bread.