Guide to Tehran Book Garden: History and Access

Tehran, Iran’s vibrant capital, brims with cultural landmarks, and the Tehran Book Garden shines as a unique haven for knowledge and leisure. Nestled in the Abbasabad cultural district, this sprawling complex blends vast bookstores, interactive exhibits, and family-friendly spaces, surrounded by icons like the National Library and Holy Defense Museum.

Far from routine attractions, it offers robotics clubs, cinematic halls, and serene reading nooks, captivating kids and adults alike. This guide covers the Book Garden’s history, key sections, and how to reach it, ensuring a memorable visit. Book your trip with OrientTrips to dive into Tehran’s literary oasis.

History of Tehran Book Garden

The Tehran Book Garden began with a vision in 2004, when construction was greenlit by the city’s mayor to create a cultural landmark. Initially planned as a grand venue for Tehran’s annual book fair, the idea evolved to avoid a space idle most of the year. A later proposal to build the world’s largest bookstore faltered due to shifts in the publishing industry and global precedents like Borders’ struggles.

After years of debate, the project pivoted in 2015 to a multi-purpose cultural hub, blending retail, education, and entertainment. Completed in July 2017, Tehran Book Garden opened as a 110,000-square-meter masterpiece, hailed as Iran’s largest cultural complex and a global contender for bookstore scale.

Layout and Key Sections

Spanning three floors with glass-clad exteriors, the Book Garden organizes its 110,000 square meters into four thematic blocks—Beharistan, Khiyalistan, Negaristan, and Sarvestan—each tailored to specific audiences and pursuits. Here’s a detailed tour:

Beharistan (Block A)

• Focus: Children and teens, a vibrant hub for young minds.
• Features:
• Bookstore: Iran’s largest children’s bookshop, with thousands of titles and cultural products.
• Statues: Over 30 iconic cartoon figures—Pinocchio, Jean Valjean—perfect for selfies.
• Kids’ Café: Nutritionist-designed menus for ages 1+, offering healthy snacks and baking workshops (e.g., cookie-making).
• Robotics Club: For ages 5+, teaching AI and robot-building (entry restricted under 5).
• Serzamin Fekr Baziya: Play-based learning zones—nature, puzzles, crafts—boosting eight intelligences for kids.
• Study Lounge: Quiet desks for solo or group research, rentable for projects (~50,000 IRR/hour).
• Vibe: Playful, educational, with colorful decor.

Khiyalistan (Block B)

• Focus: A whimsical connector between Beharistan and Negaristan.
• Features:
• Walkway: A 60-meter corridor with two moving walkways for effortless transit.
• Projections: Walls glow with dynamic visuals—nature, art—set to soft music, ideal for photos.
• Cultural Passage: An upper-level path links to the garden’s lake, Holy Defense Museum, and Nature Bridge.
• Vibe: Dreamy, immersive, blending tech and tranquility.

Negaristan (Block C)

• Focus: Arts and science, a creative epicenter.
• Features:
• Cinema Complex: 11 theaters (2,000 seats), including a 190-square-meter main screen, second only to Cinema Africa in Tehran. Shows films, plays, and hosts events (€1.7/ticket).
• Kids’ Science Garden: For ages 6-13, interactive exhibits explore human biology, urban systems, and space via four tech-driven stories (€1.4 IRR).
• Education Center: Hosts 1-2 day workshops for kids and adults (capacity 50), with projectors, whiteboards, and speakers (€3.4/session).
• Shops: Handicraft stalls and cozy cafés line the cinema area.
• Vibe: Artistic, with a nod to curiosity and learning.

Sarvestan (Block D)

• Focus: Adults and teens, home to vast literary and recreational spaces.
• Features:
• Bookstore: A 25,000-square-meter giant, dubbed the world’s largest, with books across genres—novels, history, science—for all ages. Benches nestle among shelves for reading (€0.85–€8.5/book).
• Teen Science Garden: Iran’s biggest science playground, with 40 hands-on devices exploring physics and tech, open to all ages (€1.7).
• Game Café: Offers group fun—foosball, PlayStation, board games—for socializing (€1.7/hour).
• Escape Room: Three thrilling scenarios—Pharaoh’s Curse, Alien, Tehran—solve puzzles in teams (€2.55/person).
• Flight Simulator (Cessna 172): A realistic aviation experience for ages 5+ (€3.4/session).
• Vibe: Intellectual yet lively, balancing study and play.

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Additional Amenities

• Childcare: House of Child (ages 3-10) and Mother-Child Room for nursing moms.
• General: Prayer room, restrooms, parking (1,000 spaces), wheelchairs, and electric carts for accessibility.
• Dining: Cafés and a rooftop food court serve Persian, Italian, and fast food (€1.7–€5.1/meal).
• Lake Area: Outdoor greenery with benches, linked to nearby cultural sites.

Visiting Conditions

• Entry: Free for the main garden, bookstores (Beharistan, Sarvestan), and outdoor areas. Paid sections—Science Gardens, escape rooms, cinemas—range from €0.85–€3.4.
• Hours: Daily, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM; extends to 10:00 PM on holidays. Some sections (e.g., Science Garden) close at 8:00 PM. Check bagheketab.ir for updates.
• Rules: No pets, smoking, or outside food. Photography is allowed (no tripods without approval). Kids under 5 need supervision in most areas.
• Crowds: Weekends and Nowruz peak; visit Tuesday-Thursday mornings for calm. Plan 4-6 hours to explore fully.

Tip: Book tickets for paid attractions via OrientTrips or the garden’s site to skip lines.

Access to Tehran Book Garden

Address: Abbasabad, Bolvar Haghani, after Modarres Hwy intersection, National Library exit, Tehran, Iran.

From Downtown Tehran

• Distance: ~7 km from Enqelab Square, 15-25 minutes.
• Metro: Line 1 (Tajrish-Kahrizk) to Haghani or Hemat stations (€0.17). From Haghani:
• Walk 10-15 minutes via garden signs.
• Take free electric shuttles from the station (~5 minutes).
• Bus: BRT Line 5 (Azadi to Bimeh) to Haghani Stop, walk 800m (€0.14).
• Taxi: €0.51 via OrientTrips’ taxi service or Snapp.
• Car: Drive via Haghani Hwy (west to east) from Vanak Square, exit at National Library. Parking (1,000 spaces) is free but fills fast on weekends.

Tehran Airport Transfers

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From Imam Khomeini Airport

• Distance: ~45 km, 40-60 minutes.
• Taxi: €2.04 via OrientTrips.
• Metro: Line 1 from Shahed to Haghani, €0.34 total (transfer at Behesht Zahra).
• Car: Persian Gulf Hwy to Haghani Hwy; follow National Library signs.

From Mashhad

• Travel: Fly (~1.5 hours, OrientTrips’ flights) or train (~10 hours, OrientTrips’ trains).
• From Mehrabad Airport: ~12 km, 20 minutes by taxi (€0.85) or car via Valiasr St.
• From Railway Station: ~15 km, 25-35 minutes by taxi (€1.02) or Metro Line 3 to Valiasr, then Line 1 to Haghani.

Accessibility: Ramps, elevators, and shuttles ensure wheelchair access. Parking includes disabled spaces.

Why Tehran Book Garden Stands Out

The Book Garden transcends typical bookstores, rivaling global giants like New York’s Strand or Tokyo’s Kinokuniya. Its 25,000-square-meter Sarvestan claims the world’s largest bookstore title, dwarfing Mashhad’s libraries.

Unlike Tajrish Bazaar’s chaos, it offers curated calm, with robotics, cinemas, and escape rooms outpacing Kish’s recreational hubs. The Hachamanid-inspired design echoes Persepolis, while its Abbasabad setting—near Nature Bridge—links culture and nature. Free entry and diverse pricing (€0.85–€3.4 for activities) make it inclusive, blending Tehran’s past and future.

Location

Tips for Visitors

• Book Travel: Fly from Mashhad or take a train (OrientTrips); spring/fall for mild weather, summer for quieter visits.
• Timing: Arrive 9-11 AM to beat crowds; evenings glow with projections. Avoid Nowruz rush.
• Budget: Bring €8.5 for activities, food, and books. Cards widely accepted; ATMs onsite.
• Explore Nearby: Walk to Nature Bridge (~2 km) or Holy Defense Museum (~1 km) post-visit.
• Dine Smart: Try Rooftop Café for kebabs or Kids’ Café for snacks (€1.7). Avoid peak lunch hours (1-3 PM).
• Stay Close: Hotels like Espinas Palace (~5 km) suit—book via OrientTrips for discounts.
• Capture It: Snap Khiyalistan’s projections or Beharistan’s statues; share on Instagram.

Final Thoughts

Tehran Book Garden, born in 2017, is a cultural titan, merging the world’s largest bookstore with cinemas, science labs, and play zones. Its four blocks—Beharistan’s kid-friendly charm, Khiyalistan’s dreamy walkways, Negaristan’s arts, and Sarvestan’s literary depth—offer endless discovery. Accessible via Tehran’s metro or taxis from Haghani Hwy, it’s steps from Nature Bridge. Plan with OrientTrips for flights, trains, or hotels like Homa, and immerse in Tehran’s bookish paradise—share your favorite block below!