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Iran · Safety report last updated
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Iran · Assessed 13 October 2026
20
/ 100
Safer than ~7% of countries
Score capped at 20 — Level 4 advisory — "Do Not Travel". No other indicator can raise the score above this.
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Advises against all travel
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). FCDO advises against all travel to Iran FCDO advises against all travel to Iran.”
Updated 2026-10-07T13:26:00Z
Full advisory →Avoid all travel
“Canada's official risk level for Iran: avoid all travel.”
Updated 2026-09-25T09:36:55.3305531-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
LowMugging and armed robbery of visitors are rare; incidents typically involve locals and occur in poorly lit outskirts at night
Pickpocketing
LowPickpocketing and bag-snatching are uncommon but may occur in crowded bazaars like Vakil Bazaar or near major shrines
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly negative
76/100
Recent traveler reports indicate widespread anxiety due to arbitrary detentions and protest crackdowns, despite low personal crime encounters; many describe feeling unsafe after dark due to security patrols and checkpoints.
No. Shiraz is unsafe for travelers due to the Iranian government's Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advisory and ongoing internal unrest.
Despite relatively low violent crime and terrorism rates, Iran's nationwide Level 4 advisory from multiple governments reflects severe risks from arbitrary detention, political repression, and potential for sudden violence during protests. Street-level crime against visitors remains low, but the security environment is volatile and unpredictable.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Shiraz faces no active natural disasters or extreme weather this October, with temperatures around 30°C and stable seismic conditions. However, the city remains under intense security pressure following months of nationwide protests, as documented in January 2026 reports of strikes, bazaar closures, and street clashes. By July 2026, Iranian courts had sentenced individuals to death for aiding wounded protesters, reflecting the judiciary's role in suppressing dissent. While violent street crime targeting tourists is uncommon, the January 2026 hanging of three men for armed robbery and rape shows that serious crime does occur, though such cases are rarely directed at foreigners. Travelers should note that arbitrary detention remains a real risk, particularly for those perceived as engaging in political activity or unauthorized photography. The Vakil Bazaar and surrounding historic districts are generally safe during daylight hours but require caution after dark due to increased security patrols and checkpoints. Official taxis or app-based rides are strongly advised over unmarked vehicles, which may pose risks of impersonation or extortion. Currency exchange should only be done through licensed banks or hotels to avoid counterfeit rials. Despite the city’s cultural appeal and low homicide rate relative to global averages, the overriding security environment — shaped by state control, protest suppression, and limited consular access — makes Shiraz currently unsuitable for tourism. Visitors are strongly advised to heed the Level 4 advisories and avoid all travel.
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06 · After Dark
Mugging and armed robbery of visitors are rare; incidents typically involve locals and occur in poorly lit outskirts at night
No specific districts were flagged as no-go areas after dark, but the usual night-time rules apply: stay in lit, populated areas and keep your phone out of sight.
07 · Questions
No. Shiraz is unsafe for travelers due to the Iranian government's Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advisory and ongoing internal unrest. Despite relatively low violent crime and terrorism rates, Iran's nationwide Level 4 advisory from multiple governments reflects severe risks from arbitrary detention, political repression, and potential for sudden violence during protests. Street-level crime against visitors remains low, but the security environment is volatile and unpredictable. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)
Safety is not one number, and this Shiraz report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.
Shiraz ranks #1 of 9 Iran destinations we've assessed, scoring 20/100. See the Iran safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: shiraz.json (CC BY 4.0).
