Persepolis was founded as a capital of the Persian (Achaemenid) Empire in 518 BCE by Darius.

Pasargadae ("homeland of the Persians") was the first dynastic capital of the Persian Empire, founded in the 6th century BC by Cyrus II the Great. The tomb of Cyrus is in Pasargadae.

Naqsh-e Rustam is the necropolis of the Achaemenid dynasty of Persian kings: Darius I the Great, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, Darius II.

Persepolis and Pasargadae are on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list, and Naqsh-e Rustam is on the tentative list.

Yazd is a stunning ancient desert city in Iran, with unique Persian architecture and unique skyline, dotted by windcatchers (windtowers, used for passive cooling in the buildings). The old town of Yazd is famous for its winding lanes and mud-brick houses. Yazd is also known as the center of the Zoroastrianism, arguably the world's first monotheistic religion.

The Historical City of Yazd is on the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Historical City of Meybod is on the UNESCO Tentative List.

The city of Isfahan was twice the capital of Persia. Isfahan flourished most under the Safavid dynasty from the 16th to the 18th century when its finest monuments were created. Isfahan is one of the most important architectural centers in the Islamic world. There are 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Isfahan: Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Masjed-e Jame, and The Persian Garden (represented in Isfahan by Chehel Sotoun).

Main locations in the video: Naghsh-e Jahan (Meidan Emam) square (0:00), Ali Qapu Palace (1:56), Chehel Sotoun (2:39), Hasht Behesht Palace (3:57), Jameh Mosque (Masjed-e Jame) (4:13), Khaju Bridge (5:10), Vank Cathedral (5:50), Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque (7:06), Royal Mosque (Shah Mosque, Masjid-i-Shah) (7:34), Si-O-Se-Pol Bridge (9:42), Motamedi House (10:13).

Shiraz is one of the most significant tourist destinations of Iran, the cultural capital of the country and city of gardens, poetry and wine (well, the wine is now history as it is banned in the Islamic Republic). The Eram Garden (Bagh-e Eram) in Shiraz is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of nine gardens under Persian Garden.

Kashan is an ancient oasis city in Iran, famous for its architectural wonders and ancient sites from the dawn of civilization. Tepe Sialk is a large ancient archeological site in Kashan, Its first settlements are 8000 years old, and the Sialk ziggurat was built around 3000 BC.

The Fin Garden (16 century) is one of the most beautiful historical gardens of the middle-east, together with other prominent Persian gardens it is on the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Site (The Persian Garden). The Borujerdi house is well known for its unique architecture.

Abyaneh is one of Iran's most unique destinations. This ancient village has largely preserved its culture, language, architecture, clothing, and traditional rituals over the years. Abyaneh is also famous for the reddish color of its soil, due to an unusually high level of iron oxide. Abyaneh is on the UNESCO Tentative List of the World Heritage Centre.

Kharanaq (meaning 'Place of birth of the sun') is a ghost town, one hour driving away from Yazd in Iran. Kharanaq has been inhabited for approximately 4,000 years, but the remaining dilapidated adobe (mud-brick) buildings that attract travelers from around the world, date back up to one thousand years. The inhabitants left Kharanaq when water supplies dried up, and the town turned to ruins.