Travelogue to Bandar Anzali

I was always fascinated by the beauty of Bandar Anzali, but never had the chance to visit until last spring when my daughter and I decided to take a 4-day holiday. Anzali, also known as the European city of Iran, lived up to its reputation. I would love to share my experience with you, dear readers.

We started our journey early in the morning in my cousin’s car and arrived in Rasht after a 6-hour drive. We stopped for breakfast and rest along the way. As we wanted to avoid the heat and humidity of the northern regions, we chose to travel to Anzali in late June. This gave us ample opportunity to explore all the tourist attractions.

Our first stop was the sea. The weather was perfect with cloudy skies, cool breezes, low humidity, and a light sprinkle of rain. There were many families there, and the kids were having fun playing with sand. A young boy named Mohammad was creating special designs using clams and stones. He asked a lady to take a picture of him next to his interesting sand designs.

We spent an hour enjoying the waves and the children’s laughter before taking some keepsake pictures. After contacting our families, we drove to the backwater of Bandar Anzali. We had heard so much about its unique beauty and were excited to see it for ourselves. It took about an hour to get there.

At the harbor dock, we rented a motorboat to patrol and explore the area. We wore life vests and set off towards the marsh. By this time, the rain had intensified.

I cannot describe how breathtaking Anzali is. It is a must-visit for every Iranian. As we cruised through the backwater, we saw migrating birds flying over the lagoon.

The boat stopped at a part of the marsh that was full of beautiful lotus flowers with pink petals. It was a splendid sight, and my daughter and I took many pictures of the amazing landscape that we had never seen before in Iran. We stayed there for a short time before heading back.

After an hour of patrolling in Anzali lagoon, we returned to the dock and disembarked from the boat. We decided to grab a bite to eat and then head to the harbor accommodations to reserve a room for the next three days. There were many restaurants around Anzali lagoon, so we chose one with a beautiful wooden design and a spectacular view of the backwater. My cousin, who is a seafood lover, ordered vegetable pilaf with fish, while I opted for some of the local dishes and ordered kebabs. The food was absolutely delicious.

Next, we made our way to the residences and ultimately chose Shayan Anzali Apartment Hotel, which was conveniently located in the city center and boasted a gorgeous view of the beach. We took a short break to freshen up before embarking on a tour of the beautiful city of Anzali.

Today, our plan was to spend most of our time in Anzali Wetland. There were numerous recreation centers in the area that we wanted to try out, starting with fishing. Although my daughter and I had no prior experience and were not successful, it was still an interesting and fun experience. Next, we decided to go rafting in the fabulous marshland of Anzali during the day. We rented another boat for an hour and ventured to the heart of the pristine and unique nature of Anzali lagoon.

After having lunch at another restaurant by the lagoon, we headed back to the hotel for a quick rest. In the afternoon, we made our way to Selke Wildlife Refuge, which we had heard was one of the most attractive sights in Anzali wetland. The area was located in the village of Hendekhale and within the city limits of “Someh Sara”. We had an amazing time bird-watching, hiking on wooden bridges, and taking nice photos. After dinner at one of the restaurants in the area, we headed back to the hotel.

Today, we decided to visit Anzali Aquarium, which is known as the largest and most complete aquarium in Iran with over 40 aquariums. It has several sections, including the Persian Gulf Hall, Amazon, and Caspian Sea. If you ever find yourself in Anzali, be sure to check it out!

Anzali City Aquarium is a must-see destination where you can get up close and personal with all kinds of aquatic life. I’ve traveled to many cities and visited countless tourist attractions, but I can honestly say that I’ve never seen anything like Anzali Aquarium. Imagine strolling through a glass tunnel surrounded by all sorts of fish and sea creatures. One of the highlights of the aquarium is the 40-meter-long glass tunnel. On the upper floor of the Anzali Free Zone Aquarium Complex, you’ll find the best international restaurant in Gilan province, serving up a delicious array of Iranian and international dishes. It’s truly one of the best restaurants I’ve ever visited. After enjoying a delicious lunch, we headed back to the hotel.

Since we had to leave early the next morning, we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the city and shopping for souvenirs for our families. After dinner, we returned to the hotel to pack up and prepare for the journey ahead.

This trip to the beautiful city of Anzali was a special one for my daughter and me. As someone who loves to travel and has seen many different places, I highly recommend visiting Anzali port. Although we didn’t have enough time to explore all of the province’s tourist attractions, I suggest planning for at least 5-6 days to see everything that Bandar Anzali has to offer.