Best Time to Visit Isfahan

Spring and autumn: the sweet spots

March to May and October to November are when Isfahan feels best. April is the easiest month of all. Days are warm, nights are cool, and you can walk across Naqsh-e Jahan Square (the huge main square, also called Imam Square) without squinting or sweating. In May it gets hotter, but the air is very dry, so shade feels properly cool.

October is just as good. By November, evenings turn chilly, and you'll want a jacket when you sit by the river at Si-o-se Pol, the long 17th-century arched bridge.

Spring is also the busiest time. Nowruz, the Persian New Year, falls around the March equinox. Iranian families travel across the country for about two weeks, so hotels near the square fill up and the gardens are packed. If you hate crowds, aim for mid-April or October instead.

Summer: hot, dry and quiet

June to August is hard going in the middle of the day. July is the hottest month, with highs of 39°C, and it almost never rains. The sun is strong from morning until evening.

Locals cope by resting indoors in the afternoon and coming out after sunset. Do the same. Visit the Imam Mosque or Chehel Sotun palace first thing, then break for a long lunch. At night the bazaar and the bridges come alive, and families picnic on the riverbanks. Summer is cheaper and calmer, but only worth it if you handle heat well. September is a good compromise, since it's still warm but easing off.

Winter: cold, clear and calm

December to February is chilly, with frosty nights that dip just below freezing. Days are cooler but often bright, and rain is light. You can usually find a bed without a fight and have the mosques' blue tiles nearly to yourself.

This is a good season for city sightseeing. The Vank Cathedral in the Armenian quarter of New Julfa, the Friday Mosque and the covered bazaar are all easy to enjoy in cool weather. Warm up afterwards with a bowl of dizi (a lamb and chickpea stew) or a plate of gaz, the city's famous nougat.

If you want just one answer, go in April or October. If you want space and don't mind a coat, try January.