Fars

Fars (Persian: فارس) is a province of Central Iran. It is in the south of the country and its center is Shiraz. It has an area of 122,400 km2. In 2011, this province had a population of 4.6 million people, of which 67.6% were registered as urban dwellers (urban/suburbs), 32.1% villagers (small town/rural), and 0.3% nomad tribes.

Nominally, Fars is the original homeland of the Persian people. The native name of the Persian language is Fārsi or Pārsi. Persia and Persian both derive from the Hellenized form Πέρσις Persis of the root word Pārs. Fārs is the Arabicised version of Pars. The Old Persian word was Pārsā.

Cities

 * – the provincial capital

Other destinations

 * &mdash; the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire, and home to the Tomb of Cyrus.
 * &mdash; impressive ruins of a vast city-like complex built over 2,500 years ago, near the modern City of Shiraz. It was set on fire by Alexander of Macedon and further ruined by Arabs. Called TakhteJamshid in Persian, Persepolis is the symbol of Iranian nationality.
 * &mdash; impressive ruins of a vast city-like complex built over 2,500 years ago, near the modern City of Shiraz. It was set on fire by Alexander of Macedon and further ruined by Arabs. Called TakhteJamshid in Persian, Persepolis is the symbol of Iranian nationality.

Climate
There are three distinct climatic regions in the Fars Province. First, the mountainous area of the north and northwest has moderate cold winters and mild summers. Secondly, the central regions have relatively rainy mild winters and hot dry summers. The third region located in the south and southeast and has moderate winters with very hot summers. The average temperature of Shiraz is 16.8°C, ranging between 4.7° and 29.2°C.

By plane
Each day many domestic and international flights arrive from various air lines in Shiraz International Airport. Many flights originate in countries such as Syria, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and in special cases Egypt, Russia, and Turkey.

Shiraz international Airport is identified as the second most reliable and modern airport in Iran (after Imam Khomeini International Airport of Tehran).

Domestic flights between Shiraz and other cities such as Tehran, Mashhad, Esfahan, Ahwaz, Abadan, Kermanshah, Boshehr, Baandar Lengeh, Lar, Lamerd, Bandar abbas, Kish, Qeshm, Siry islands, Lavan, and in urgency cases to other airports in Iran.

By road
Shiraz is accessible via freeways to Isfahan, Kerman, Bushehr, Ahvaz and Yasouj, and accessible via road to Bandare Abbas.

By train
Shiraz is connected by rail road to other cities such as Tehran and Isfahan.

See

 * Persepolis ruins about 50km northeast of Shiraz.
 * Naqsh-e Rustam stone reliefs near Shiraz.
 * Pasargad and the tomb of Cyrus the Great.
 * Abshare Margoon waterfall near Sepidan, 100km north of Shiraz.
 * Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region; a world heritage site made up of 8 individual sites in Firouzabad, Bishapur and Sarvestan.

Do

 * Alpine skiing - Sepidan ski resort is located near the city of Sepidan, in the northwest of Fars Province. It makes winter sport fans from neighbouring cities, regions and even countries to gather in this city over the weekends. The hills of the Zagros Mountains in this region have created a suitable space for different games and sports on their snow-covered slopes.
 * Poolad Kaf is another ski resort. The pistes are served by a telecabin and 3 drag lifts. Skis can be hired and, in the summer, mountain-bikes. A snowmobile track runs around the perimeter. Outside of the ski season, discounts can easily be negotiated, especially if you are the only visitors.

Alternatively, camping is an option. Those who speak some Farsi may wish to speak to the nomads, who will likely offer you tea and perhaps even a place to stay.

Eat

 * Faloodehye shirazi is a rose water sorbet that contains small pieces of cooked rice noodle. The dish is quite subtle, slightly sweet with just a hint of rose petals; the noodles add a chewiness to the sorbet but little flavor. Faloodeh is served with a wedge of lemon, which added a refreshing kick. It's an ideal way to end a meal on a searing day. You can order Faloodehye shirazi in Icecream shops and most tea houses (chai khaneh). Have tea or faloodeh in the tea houses of the world famous gardens of shiraz.

Drink
Tap water in Fars province is drinkable, but has a lot of chalk in it.