Townapedia
Azimieh Aerial View
Azimieh Aerial View · Civilaut, CC BY-SA 4.0
Karaj - Azadegan Ave - panoramio
Karaj - Azadegan Ave - panoramio · Ali Safdarian, CC BY 3.0
Karaj - Azadegan Ave - panoramio (1)
Karaj - Azadegan Ave - panoramio (1) · Ali Safdarian, CC BY 3.0
Karaj - Azadegan Bridge - panoramio
Karaj - Azadegan Bridge - panoramio · Ali Safdarian, CC BY 3.0
Karaj - Azadegan Bridge - panoramio (1)
Karaj - Azadegan Bridge - panoramio (1) · Ali Safdarian, CC BY 3.0
Karaj B1 bridge after the attack (8)
Karaj B1 bridge after the attack (8) · Tasnim News, CC BY 4.0

Karaj, Iran

کرج

Karaj is a regional capital of 1,448,075 people in Alborz Province, Iran.

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Population1,448,075 GeoNames
Local nameکرج
Elevation1,341 m 4,400 ft
Time zoneAsia/Tehran
Land area162.0 km²
Nearest airportPayam Airport (PYK) 16 km

Why visit Karaj

Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 50 parks and trails, 168 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Raisi Bridge, Imamzadeh Taher (Karaj), موسسه هنری هفت سرزمین هنر پارسیان and Fateh Garden.

About Karaj

Karaj (Persian: کرج; pronounced [kæˈɾædʒ] ) is a city in the Central District of Karaj County, Alborz province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. Earliest evidence of inhabitation in Karaj can be dated to the Bronze Age at Tepe Khurvin. The city was developed under the rule of the Safavid and Qajar Empire and is home to historical buildings and memorials from those eras. This city has a unique climate due to access to natural resources such as many trees, rivers, and green plains.

From the Wikipedia article Karaj (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Karaj on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Things to do3

Raisi Bridge

Bridge · 4.1 km

Bridge in Karaj, Iran

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

سینما ساویز

Cinema and theater · 2.3 km

دوم فاز ۲, گوهردشت

Open in Google Maps

سینما ۵ بعدی

Cinema and theater · 1.3 km

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks6

Imamzadeh Taher (Karaj)

Monument and historic site · 6.4 km

Imamzadeh in Karaj, Iran

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

موسسه هنری هفت سرزمین هنر پارسیان

Museum · 1.8 km

شهید بهشتى, کرج

Mo-Su 09:00-19:30

Open in Google Maps · 09055441342

Studio Delara

Museum · 1.1 km

بلوار تعاون فرعی کوچه اردلان 7و6, Karaj

sat-thu 10-8 fri 7-4

Open in Google Maps

موسسه فرهنگی و هنری صالحی البرز

Museum · 2.6 km

مدرسی, کرج

Open in Google Maps · 09194906443

مقبره شهدای گمنام

Monument and historic site · 2.6 km

Open in Google Maps

موزه و گنجینه شاهد

Museum

Open in Google Maps

Parks, trails and playgrounds50

Fateh Garden

Park · 1.4 km

Open in Google Maps

Iran Koochak National Park

Park · 1.0 km

Open in Google Maps

بوستان فرهنگیان

Park

بلوار مولانا, کرج

Open in Google Maps

بوستان آزادی (پارک ششم گوهردشت)

Park · 2.4 km

ششم فاز ۱, گوهردشت

Open in Google Maps

بوستان توحید

Park

توحید, کرج

Open in Google Maps

بوستان ملاصدرا

Park · 1.7 km

Open in Google Maps

پارک جهان کودک

Park · 1.2 km

شهید بهشتى, کرج

Open in Google Maps

Aria Green Park

Park · 1.8 km

Open in Google Maps

Emam Reza Park

Park · 1.0 km

Open in Google Maps

Jahan Park

Park · 1.3 km

Open in Google Maps

Khanevadeh Park

Park

Open in Google Maps

Ladan Park

Park

Open in Google Maps

38 more on the map.

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Restaurants and cafes168

Rastar Book Cafe

Cafe · Book, Coffee Shop · 1.4 km

گلستان اتحاد, کرج

Mo-Su 09:00-23:30

Open in Google Maps · +989123446816

جگرچی

Restaurant · Kebab

بلوار مطهری, کرج

Mo-Su 09:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · 00989128369601

دیزی کده کیان

Restaurant · Regional · 2.6 km

بلوار شورا, کرج

Mo-Su 08:00-16:30

Open in Google Maps · 02632211332

مضیف علمدار

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.8 km

۱۳۳ میدان انقلاب, کرج

7 : 45 تا 23:45

Open in Google Maps · 09192626610

Naz Cafe

Cafe · 2.1 km

بلوار گلستان، بعد از گلستان ششم غربی, کرج

08:00-00:00

Open in Google Maps · +982632545075

آش و حلیم سرای مقدم آبادان

Restaurant · Persian · 2.3 km

آش-حلیم-حلیم_بادمجان-آش_رشته-عدسی

بلوار میرزایی پرور, کرج

Sa-Fr 07:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +989169303439

جگرسرای امید

Restaurant · Kebab · 2.2 km

12:00-00:00

Open in Google Maps · +98 26 3250 3629

رستوران ایتالیایی سزار

Restaurant · 2.3 km

میدان والفجر, کرج

Mo-Su 11:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +98 26 3273 3438

کافه رستوران بارکو

Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.2 km

Mo-Su 09:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · 09190044227

Gilaneh

Restaurant · Regional, Persian, Stew · 2.1 km

رستوران غذای شمالی

Open in Google Maps · +982632555355

Giti Banoo Restaurent

Restaurant · Regional, Kebab, Asian · 1.7 km

بلوار بسیج;نبش شاکرزادگان, کرج

Mo-Su 09:00-21:00

Open in Google Maps · +9832558832

Zino

Cafe · Cafe, Pizza · 2.0 km

فلکه اول گوهردشت, کرج

12:00-00:00

Open in Google Maps · +989363823549

156 more on the map.

History

The area around Karaj has been inhabited for thousands of years, as shown by the Bronze Age site of Tepe Khurvin and the Iron Age site of Kalak. However, the present-day city of Karaj is mostly the result of modern industrial development in the 20th century.

Karaj was mostly significant as a stage on the road between Tehran and Qazvin. In Safavid times, a stone bridge was built that served as the main crossing into the town. The large Shah-Abbasi Caravansarai, located at the southeast of Towhid Square, was built in the same era, under the rule of Šāh Esmāil.

In 1810, the Qajar prince Soleyman Mirza built the Soleymaniyeh Palace at Karaj to serve as a summer resort. The palace had four towers and was surrounded by gardens. Its reception room featured a pair of paintings by Abdallah Khan Naqqashbandi. By 1860, however, the palace was described as abandoned and only used as a shelter for travelers. Naser al-Din Shah Qajar later renovated the palace. In 1917, a School of Farming was established on the site, replacing the earlier Mozaffari Agricultural School in Tehran. Later, Reza Pahlavi granted it to the University of Tehran's new Faculty of Agriculture.

From the History section of Karaj on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay2

Churches and places of worship34

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Shopping91

Gas and EV charging3

Schools, colleges and libraries92

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Healthcare127

Map of Karaj

250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Payam Airport (PYK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 km away.

  • Shahrak-e Nahāl Va Baz̄r 6 km southwest, about 6 min by car
  • Shahrak-e Mohandesī-ye Zerā‘ī 7 km southwest, about 7 min by car
  • Fardīs 9 km south, about 9 min by car
  • Moḩammad Shahr 10 km southwest, about 10 min by car
  • Meshkīn Dasht 10 km southwest, about 10 min by car
  • Golestānak 10 km southwest, about 10 min by car
  • Kamālshahr 11 km west, about 11 min by car
  • Garmdarreh 12 km southeast, about 12 min by car
  • Chahārbāgh 13 km west, about 13 min by car
  • Tehran 42 km east, about 42 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

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Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 8, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.