Carpet Museum of Iran

It has a fine source with more than 2000 carpets from all around the Persia region. Carpets are changed periodically, so every month or every season you can see different carpets from the previous months

I’m in love with the beautiful architecture of the Carpet Museum, and I could kiss Kamran Diba’s hands for designing it! The exterior space, with its repetitive columns, felt like the warp and weft of a carpet. As someone without much background in carpets, seeing the differences in motifs and colors from various regions of Iran was incredibly fascinating to me. The entrance area of the museum felt a bit confusing—I didn’t know where to go. It seemed that after the revolution, during the Pahlavi era, the museum officials had arranged the carpets and graphic signs in a poorly thought-out way, which made it difficult to understand the navigation. That said, the museum guides were very active and helpful, always ready to provide thorough explanations if asked. It was also the first museum I’ve ever seen with huge billboard advertisements from a jewelry brand, which struck me as odd for a government-run museum. The carpets were categorized based on different regions of Iran and were mostly from the Qajar and Pahlavi periods. Around 2,500 carpets are preserved in this museum, and the oldest one dates back about 500 years!

It’s a big and beautiful museum with magnificent carpets. The entrance fee is very cheap, and they also have guides who give you explanations about each carpet.

Great collection of carpets from different regions of Iran. They are woven mostly in Qajar Era, but you can find many carpets from Safavid, Pahlavi, and other times as well. We could find one or two tour leaders who had great information. We visited this place on Nowruz, and it was not that crowded, which was a pity. Taking the fact that it was the Picasso exhibition in the museum of Contemporary Art of Tehran near the Carpet Meuseum, I expected the museum would be more crowded. Maybe some advertisements or incentives are needed to bring people and tourists to see these fine collections of Iranian and persian art, which shows their high culture. What was also surprising is the second floor, exhibiting some great paintings for two contemporary artists who had different styles. Although I couldn't understand why they were keeping in the Carpet Museum, I liked them a lot. We could find a couple of photos taken by great director Abbas Kiarostami as well. All together we had a great time in this place, highly recommended and don't forget to buy some souvenirs from the gift shop.

Hidden at the threshold of Tehran’s bustling urban fabric, the Carpet Museum of Iran stands as a silent guardian of centuries-old artistry. The moment one approaches its unique modernist façade — designed with motifs reminiscent of a grand carpet loom — it becomes apparent that this edifice is not merely a museum but a poetic homage to the craft it shelters. Within its tranquil halls, the visitor is transported to a world where threads become tales and patterns evolve into entire civilizations. Each carpet on display is not just a woven object, but a historical manuscript — whispering stories of royal courts, remote villages, forgotten nomadic tribes, and the skilled hands that spent months, sometimes years, to conjure a masterpiece. The permanent exhibition on the ground floor displays an exquisite array of Persian carpets from various regions: the floral elegance of Isfahan, the bold tribal geometry of Qashqai, the intricate symmetry of Tabriz, and the deep, regal tones of Kerman. One cannot help but marvel at the precision of each knot, the harmonious balance of colours, and the hidden symbolism woven into every motif. The upper floor frequently hosts temporary exhibitions, workshops, and cultural events, offering a dynamic experience for returning visitors. What truly elevates this museum beyond mere aesthetic pleasure is the almost sacred silence that envelops you inside — a silence that allows you to contemplate the profound legacy of Persian weaving, uninterrupted by the chaos of the modern world outside. The staff are courteous and knowledgeable, happy to answer questions with genuine enthusiasm. The museum is not excessively large, making it ideal for a contemplative one- to two-hour visit. A small but charming library and souvenir shop near the exit offer books and prints for those who wish to carry a piece of this cultural splendour home. Whether you are an art historian, a cultural traveller, or simply someone in search of beauty, the Carpet Museum of Iran is a destination that quietly lingers in the mind long after one leaves, like the fading echo of a beautiful poem. Highly recommended for those who wish to witness the soul of Persian culture woven, knot by knot, into eternal works of art.