Golestan Palace, Tehran

The oldest monument in Tehran and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the former royal palace of the Qajar dynasty, set around a garden of pools and trees. Its buildings are covered in colourful tiles inside and out, and the Mirror Hall and the Marble Throne terrace are dazzling.

The complex includes several museums and halls, each with its own ticket. It's next to the Grand Bazaar, a vast maze of covered lanes selling everything from carpets to spices, so they make a good day together.