Shiraz Weather in December

Mild days for exploring

December brings cool, mostly dry days to Shiraz, with chilly mornings and evenings. Rain usually comes on only a few days, so you can often explore outdoors between showers. The gardens around Eram Garden and the carved tombs at Naqsh-e Rostam are comfortable daytime stops.

It's a good month for walking through the Vakil Bazaar, where covered lanes offer shelter if rain arrives. Save long outdoor visits for daylight; after sunset, the cold is more noticeable. The nearby hills can feel colder than the city, so don't count on a pleasant evening hike.

Yalda at home

Yalda Night falls around the winter solstice and is a well-known Iranian tradition. Families gather for pomegranates, watermelon and poetry, often reading verses by Hafez. It's mainly a home celebration, not a city-wide street festival, but Hafez's tomb, Hafezieh, gives the custom a special connection to Shiraz.

Couples who enjoy quiet cultural trips may like December's calm evenings and unhurried visits to Hafezieh.

Quieter streets, cool nights

December is winter and usually quieter than Shiraz's popular spring and autumn travel seasons. You'll find fewer visitors at sights such as Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, and accommodation may cost less than during busier months, though exact prices vary.

For Nasir al-Mulk, go in the morning, when sunlight brings colour through its stained-glass windows. The cool air makes walking around the mosque pleasant, but don't expect the same bright window display late in the day. Afterward, warm up with a bowl of ash-e sabzi, Shiraz's hearty herb soup, at a local restaurant.