Iranian Azerbaijan (Persian and Azerbaijani: آذربایجان) is in the extreme northwest of Iran, by the border with the country and former Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan.

Four provinces in Iranian Azerbaijanː West Azerbaijan (west), East Azerbaijan (middle north), Ardebil (east), and Zanjan (south).

Cities

Provincial capitals

• Ardabil - is capital of Ardabil province.
• Tabriz — is the most populated city in Iranian Azerbaijan, it is capital of East Azerbaijan province and a major regional hub.
• Urmia — is capital of West Azerbaijan province.
• Zanjan - is capital of Zanjan province.

Other major cities

• Kandovan — small village with houses carved in the rocks like in Cappadocia, Turkey
• Khoy
• Maku
• Marand
• Maraghe
• Osku
• Sardroud
• Takab — Takht-e Soleyman, a Zoroastrian fire temple and a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located nearby

Understand

Iranian Azerbaijan is traditionally inhabited by Turkic Azeri people. The region's formation in its current borders dates back to Turkmanchay Treaty of 1828. By the treaty, Iran (Persia) ceded to Russia control of several Iranian Azerbaijani areas in the South Caucasus, which is now an independent country known as Azerbaijan Republic. The boundary between Russian Empire and Iran (Persia) was set at the Aras river.

This region, especially eastern parts of it, is probably one of the most beautiful places in Iran. The region is known for its friendly people, and also known for the great food.

Iranian Azerbaijan is comprised of Ardabil Province, Zanjan Province, as well as East and West Azerbaijan provinces of Iran.

Talk

Azeri people of Iran are mostly bilingual. They are fluent in their native language, Azeri Turkish, and also the official language of Iran, Persian.

Get in

By plane

International Airport

Tabriz International Airport.

Tabriz International Airport is the only international Airport in Iranian Azerbaijan which has flight to some of Iranian cities as well as some of the neighboring countries.

• 1 Tabriz International Airport (TBZ ^IATA) (10 km of the city center of Tabriz). is a regional hub with domestic flights to Tehran, Mashad, and some other major cities of Iran and with flights to some neighboring countries. 

Domestic Airports

• 2 Urmia Airport (OMH ^IATA) (North East of Urmia.). 

• 3 Ardabil Airport (ADU ^IATA) (North east of Ardabil). 

• 4 Zanjan Airport (JWN ^IATA) (North west of Zanjan). 

• 5 Sahand Airport (ACP ^IATA) (130 km South of Tabriz). 

By car

By the newly built bridge over the Urmia lake Tabriz is reachable from Urmia in 1.5 hours.

By train

Tabriz Railway Station

Some of the Iranian Azerbaijan cities have access to the railway includingː Tabriz, Maraghe, Salmas, and Jolfa.

• 6 Tabriz Railway Station, Rah-Aahn Sq., Tabriz (W 5 km of city center of Tabriz). Domestic trains: There are comfortable night trains from Tabriz to Tehran(12 hrs travel, 152,500 Rials for 1-way ) passing Maraghe (2 hrs), Zanjan (9 hrs) and Qazvin. There is a 2nd class sleeping train (6 people in one room) that leaves Tabriz at 8.30PM and arrives to Tehran at 9.30 AM. Price is 40 000 IR. The more comfortable choice is to take 1st class train for 170 000 IR. This train leaves at 5.30 PM and arrives to Tehran at 6 AM. There are 4 bed-rooms with TV and dinner is included in that price. To get the ticket you need to use some of travel agencies in the city or in the train station (this option only for recent day registration). There is a weekly train goes from Tehran to Istanbul which has a stop in Tabriz as well. For more info visit Iranian Passenger Railway or Travel Site about trains Seat61. International trains: Weekly train to/from Istanbul, twice a week to Van, see Turkish Railway's site. 

By bus

There are bus lines from Provincial Capitals: Tabriz, Ardabil, Urmia, and Zanjan to major Iranian cities. There are minibus lines for connecting the smaller cities to the provincial capitals of Iranian Azerbaijan.

• 7 Tabriz Main Bus Terminal, Niyayesh Blvd., Tabriz (S 3 km of city center), ☏ (+98-41) 34796091FORMATNOCC. 

See

St.Stepanos monastery

• The UNESCO World Heritage site Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran. It consists of three 7th century Armenian Christian buildings in the region — the monasteries of St. Thaddeus, St. Stepanos as well as the Chapel of Dzordzor.

Eat

• Bonanb Kabab, is a big skew type kabab with ingredient of local spices, onion and beef. It named after city Bonab in south of Tabriz.
• Chelo-Kabab, a dish of rice with ground beef kabab.
• Kofte-e-Tabrizi, a big meatball with ingredient of ground beef, rice, and herbd.
• Lighvan cheese, is a domestic feta cheese from Liqvan village in south east of Tabriz.