The Best Parks in Isfahan + Photos, Addresses, and Visitor’s Guide
The parks transform the appearance of the dry and harsh urban landscape, contributing to a better quality of life. For this reason, municipalities allocate sections of the urban space to parks and beautify them for families. The best parks in Isfahan are among the most attractive sights in the city, attracting not only Isfahan residents but also many tourists.
Best Parks in Isfahan:
1.Naqsh-e Jahan Park
Address: Shahid Habibollahi Highway, Sohravardi Square, Alaf Street
Naqsh-e Jahan Forest Park is one of the largest and main parks in the city of Isfahan, also known as a coastal park due to its location next to the Zayandeh Rud River. Naqsh-e Jahan is derived from the combination of two words, “Naqsh” meaning a plant from the pine family, and “Jahan” which refers to a place. Altogether, Naqsh-e Jahan is referred to as the location of pine trees.
Naqsh-e Jahan Park covers an area of 1200 hectares located in the extreme northwest of Isfahan and is known as the city’s lung. Its forested area and the passage of the Zayandeh Rud River through the park have made it a suitable and pleasant place for picnics and daily outings. Naqsh-e Jahan Park is situated along the path of western winds, and due to the location of most polluting industries in the west of Isfahan, this park acts as an air filter.
Naqsh-e Jahan Forest Park offers excellent facilities such as sports fields, swimming pools, camping areas, children’s playgrounds, equestrian and horseback riding stations, boating, and cycling, all of which are freely accessible to the public. In addition to these amenities, Naqsh-e Jahan Forest Park includes sections that we will mention below.
Butterfly Museum Garden
Visiting Hours: The Butterfly Museum Garden is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Covering an area of two thousand square meters, the Butterfly Museum Garden is located in Naqsh-e Jahan Park. This unique museum garden promises a captivating visit.
The Butterfly Museum Garden is adorned with 100 species of plants, including Persian lilac, cypress, linden, Benjamin fig, and ficus, and is home to approximately 2200 different and fascinating butterflies. These taxidermied butterflies are housed in 48 display cases.
Aquarium
Visiting Hours: The Aquarium complex is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Aquarium complex at Naqsh-e Jahan Park is known as the country’s first and largest aquarium. Covering an area of 3500 square meters, it features a 30-meter-long aquarium tunnel and 30 aquariums ranging from five to ten meters in size. Touch tanks, large cylinder aquariums, several quarantine centers, a laboratory, and a shop are among the other attractions of this complex.
The large aquarium at Naqsh-e Jahan Park houses various species of saltwater and freshwater fish collected from different parts of the world and maintained in the best possible conditions. The tunnel aquarium in this complex gives visitors the sensation of being in the oceans. The opportunity to feed the fish in a section of the aquarium is another attraction of this complex.
Bird Garden
Visiting Hours: The Bird Garden in Naqsh-e Jahan Park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the first half of the year and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the second half of the year.
The beautiful and captivating Bird Garden of Naqsh-e Jahan Park was established in 1375 with an area of 55,000 square meters. This garden is located four kilometers west of Vahid Bridge and is unique in its design. Approximately 3,500 species of birds from 200 different varieties are housed in this garden.
The inner area of the Bird Garden, covering 17,000 square meters, is covered with mesh for the free flight of birds. This mesh covering is installed on 16 metal columns ranging from 25 to 32 meters in height. By meeting the environmental needs of various bird species, this garden effectively cares for them.
Chairlift
Visiting Hours: The chairlift at Naqsh-e Jahan Park is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The chairlift is known as one of the most exciting attractions of Naqsh-e Jahan Park. With a length of 1,925 meters and 60 three-seat chairs, it provides services to visitors. Passing through pristine and beautiful nature, tall trees, and a river, the chairlift offers a beautiful view of Naqsh-e Jahan Park, Zayandeh Rud River, and Mount Sofeh, providing enjoyable moments for families.
The Naqsh-e Jahan Park chairlift has two stations, one at the beginning of Alaf Street and the other near Zayandeh Rud River, adjacent to the Bird Garden. This chairlift moves at a height of 24 meters from the ground and has a speed of two to three meters per second.
Shell Museum
Visiting Hours: The Shell Museum at Naqsh-e Jahan Park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Shell Museum at Naqsh-e Jahan Park is the first specialized museum of shells and marine snails. This collection, with its rich assortment, is housed in a 300-square-meter hall. The Shell Museum boasts one of the rarest collections in the Middle East, including approximately 2,000 specimens of shells and marine creatures from 800 species. It includes marine and terrestrial gastropods, several specimens of marine and freshwater crabs, and several species of echinoderms from various seas and oceans worldwide. This collection has been gathered and curated from around the world over 25 years.
Reptile Garden
Visiting Hours: The Reptile Garden at Naqsh-e Jahan Park is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The Isfahan Reptile Garden is a unique collection within Naqsh-e Jahan Park, featuring 25 large vivariums and 12 small vivariums showcasing various types of reptiles. The Reptile Garden has been operational since 2012 alongside the Aquarium complex at Naqsh-e Jahan Park.
The largest boa skeleton in Iran and the largest Iranian helmet shell are among the highlights of the Reptile Garden. Other animals in this collection include various venomous and non-venomous Iranian and foreign snakes, scorpions, beetles, bats, iguanas, and Amazonian caimans.
The reptiles in the Reptile Garden at Naqsh-e Jahan Park are kept both alive and taxidermied. Besides serving as an entertainment venue for the public, this collection also serves as a research and educational center, with its reptile venom used for medicinal purposes.
Amusement Park
Visiting Hours: The Amusement Park at Naqsh-e Jahan Park is open daily from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.
The Naqsh-e Jahan Amusement Park is located at the entrance of the forest park and offers a cheerful and exciting space for children and adults alike. With over 30 gaming and recreational facilities such as karting, 4D cinema, and bouncy castles, this amusement park can create lively and thrilling moments for visitors.
Naqsh-e Jahan Children’s Water Park
Visiting Hours: Naqsh-e Jahan Children’s Water Park is open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays through Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays.
Naqsh-e Jahan Children’s Water Park, covering an area of 2,500 square meters, is one of the recreational places for children in Isfahan. It is located near the amusement park and bouncy castle park. This water park features facilities such as water slides, water sprayers, frog water play area, water umbrellas, unbalanced water bucket, water cycling, Archimedes screw, water spraying alcove, palm tree water spraying, floating bridge, boats, water pavilions, and wet ring attractions, providing joyful and exciting times for children.
Naqsh-e Jahan Children’s Water Park ensures high safety standards for children. Designed for use by girls aged three to nine and boys aged three to twelve, parents can sit nearby and watch their children play and have fun.
2.Soffeh Park, Isfahan
Address: Shahid Soffeh Boulevard
Soffeh Mountain is one of the favorite recreational spots for the people of Isfahan and one of the best night entertainments in Isfahan. If you enjoy mountaineering and picnicking, don’t miss visiting this park during your trip to Isfahan. Soffeh Park is located in the southwest of Isfahan and is part of the Zagros mountain range, known as Soffeh Mountain. “Soffeh” means flat and smooth, and the name was chosen due to the flatness of the mountain’s foothills. The highest peak of Soffeh Mountain is 2,257 meters above sea level.
The sunset and beautiful sunrise in Soffeh Mountain are famous views of this mountain park. Another important feature of Soffeh Park is the presence of tall rocks in various parts, which are used for specialized mountaineering and rock climbing training. Soffeh Mountain Park has good recreational facilities and various attractions, including a bowling center, zip line, artificial waterfall, and amusement park. We will introduce other sections of this mountain park below.
Esfahan Roof
Esfahan Roof is located at an altitude of 2,240 meters on Soffeh Mountain and is famous for its pristine and beautiful view of the city of Isfahan. This place has good recreational facilities, including a cafe and restaurant. Soffeh Mountain can be easily seen from almost all parts of Isfahan, which is why it is generally called Esfahan Roof.
Cable Car
The Soffeh Mountain cable car is designed with a length of 1,900 meters and 50 six-person cabins in two lines. The first line passes over Soffeh Highway and continues to Badi Neck. The second line starts from the heights of Badi Neck and moves towards Shahdezh Castle. At the end of the cable car route, there are good recreational facilities such as a cafe and restaurant.
The cable car is one of the attractions of Soffeh Mountain and facilitates access to high points of the park. Watching the panoramic view of historic Isfahan city and Soffeh Mountain Park from the cable car, especially on days when the weather is clear and sunny, will be very appealing.
Dervish or Khajik Spring
There are numerous mineral water springs in Soffeh Mountain, among which Khajik Spring is the most well-known. This spring is located inside a natural rocky pit and has long been considered a resting place for mountaineers. Other springs in Soffeh Mountain include Pachenar, Zard Gol, and Noqt.
Soffeh Zoo
Soffeh Zoo is the largest place for animal conservation in Isfahan city. Covering an area of 50,000 square meters, this zoo accommodates various attractive and rare species.
3. Ghalehstan Park, Isfahan
Address: Imam Khomeini Highway (View on Map)
Ghalehstan Park is located in the Dovv area of Isfahan. With its clean and beautiful environment, this park is a suitable place for friendly gatherings or family outings. Ghalehstan Park provides facilities such as pergolas, walking paths, and a buffet, offering a healthy environment for children to play and families to relax. Beautiful landscapes such as rivers, water features, and large ponds have made this park even more attractive.
4. Golha Park, Isfahan
Address: Bozorgmehr Square, Beginning of Salman Farsi Street
Golha Park is built on an area of 67,000 square meters near the Zayandeh Rud riverbank. Besides showcasing various plant species and flowers, this garden serves educational, cultural, and research purposes. Golha Park includes 395 different plant species. It features beautiful sections such as a rock garden, pond, water features, medicinal plant garden, coniferous garden, bulbous plant garden, rose garden, lily garden, and a David garden.
5. Pardis-e-Honar Park, Isfahan
Address: Abshar-e Sevvom Street
Pardis-e-Honar Park was inaugurated in February 2019 on a land area of 75,000 square meters along the Zayandeh Rud riverbank. It houses the country’s largest open-air amphitheater. A striking wooden structure at the entrance of Pardis-e-Honar Park catches the eye.
The park has numerous booths for displaying artworks by artists from various fields. Beautiful lighting, water features, and light dances have made this park much more attractive. Dalan-e-Behesht is a part of Pardis-e-Honar Park where pathways are covered with climbing flowers.
The Flower Carpet is another notable section of Pardis-e-Honar Park. It is located at the end of the garden and features Islamic patterns created by flowers. Two ponds and several artificial waterfalls are among the other attractions of this garden.
6. Moshtagh Park, Isfahan
Address: Bozorgmehr Bridge, Bozorgmehr Square, Moshtagh Street, after Abdullah Ansari
Moshtagh Park is one of the waterfront parks located next to the Zayandeh Rud river. This park starts near Khaju Bridge and extends to near Shahrestan Bridge. Moshtagh Park is a large and new green space in Isfahan. It provides a suitable place for walking, picnicking, sports, recreation, children’s play, and cycling.
7. Mardavij Park, Isfahan
Address: Azadi Street, after Esteghlal-e-Meyani
Mardavij Park is located in the south of Isfahan, in the municipality’s District 6. This park has a calm and peaceful atmosphere. Facilities in Mardavij Park include playground equipment for children, ping pong tables, sports facilities, and chess tables.
8. Abasar Water Park, Isfahan
Address: Sepahan Shahr, Shahid Boulevard
Abasar Water Park is built on an area of 12,000 square meters. This park features 13 open-air and tunnel slides, a children’s play area, dry and steam saunas, a Turkish bath, a massage salon, computer games, a soap bubble area, a restaurant, and a café. Abasar Park, in a safe and serene environment, welcomes visitors.
Next to the Abasar pool is the Abasar sports complex, which includes facilities such as squash, skating rink, aquatic therapy center, bowling alley, and gym.
9. Fadak Garden, Isfahan
Address: Kaveh Street, Farzangan Boulevard
Fadak Garden in Isfahan was built in 1996 in the northeast of the city, covering an area of 85 hectares. There are 47,000 seedlings of trees and shrubs in this park that help soften Isfahan’s climate. Fadak Park is designed to serve citizens, travelers, and tourists, with suitable facilities for camping and accommodation.
Fadak Garden offers amenities such as sports fields, a library, a study hall, a skateboarding area, a children’s play site, and a women’s garden. The artificial lake in the east of Fadak Garden, with its beautiful and pleasant atmosphere, is another tourist attraction.
10. Ghadir Park, Isfahan
Address: Siyad Shirazi Highway, Aminieh Street
Ghadir Park is one of the recreational and cultural centers of Isfahan. Established in 1993, this complex covers an area of 52 hectares in the east of Isfahan, with the aim of commemorating Allameh Amini. Ghadir Garden has various facilities, including an exhibition hall. The memorial building of Allameh Amini and the public library of Allameh Amini are among the important sections of Ghadir Park.
In Ghadir Park, there is a sports complex covering an area of 3,680 square meters, which includes various sections such as a sports hall, a swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam and dry sauna, gym, massage room, empowerment and prevention of occupational hazards hall, tennis courts, bowling alley, and 4D cinema.
Ghadir Park has various and important sections such as Children’s and Youth House and Media Cultural Center.
The Isfahan Children and Youth House is located in Ghadir Park and is affiliated with the Children and Youth Intellectual Development Association. Various art classes and celebrations for children and teenagers are held in this complex.
The Qalamestan Literary Creation Center and the Media Cultural Center are two other important sections of Ghadir Park where various cultural activities take place. Part of Ghadir Park is considered a holy shrine for the unknown martyrs of the Sacred Defense. This place enjoys tranquility and a special spiritual atmosphere.
11. Isargaran Park, Isfahan
Address: Bozorgmehr Bridge, near the first waterfall
Isargaran Park in Isfahan is built next to the Zayandeh Rud river. This park, with its lush greenery, beautiful trees, and colorful flowers, is a suitable place for walking. Being next to the Zayandeh Rud river has made the air in this garden cooler.
Isargaran Park is a great space in the city for morning stretches and cycling. Amenities such as restrooms and a prayer room are available in the park. Children’s play areas and multiple water features are among the other advantages of this park.
12. Women’s Park, Sadaf, Isfahan
Address: Next to Safa Terminal
Sadaf Park, located in a very beautiful and picturesque area on the roof of Isfahan, welcomes esteemed women. This park, covering an area of 6,000 square meters, provides good recreational facilities in a safe and covered environment for women. Holding educational classes, cultural gatherings, and recreational competitions are among the activities for women in this beautiful park.
13. Women’s Park, Bagh-e Noosh, Isfahan
Address: Noubahar Street
Bagh-e Noosh Park is one of the parks designed for women, built in an area of two thousand square meters. This park, aimed at enriching women’s leisure time, has many recreational facilities such as volleyball courts, basketball courts, badminton courts, skating, cycling, playgrounds, green spaces, and a gym, which can provide enjoyable hours for women.
If you have experienced visiting parks in Isfahan, share your thoughts with us and other Gulf City Pedia users.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Which are the best parks in Isfahan?
Najvan Park, Safa Park, Qalehstan Park, Bagh-e Golha, Pardis-e Honar Park, Moshtagh Park, and Mardavij Park are among the most beautiful and best parks in Isfahan.
Which parks in Isfahan are suitable for camping?
Najvan Park, Safa Park, Moshtagh Park, and Bagh-e Fadak are among the best parks in Isfahan for camping.
Which parks in Isfahan are located on the beach?
Najvan Park and Moshtagh Park, located next to Zayandeh Rud, are considered beach parks in Isfahan.