Above a bend in the Aras River, this restored caravanserai has some wonderful views of the eroded red mountains of Iran and across the border to the Nakhchivan enclave of Azerbaijan. Be careful where you point your camera, as there's a police checkpoint on the road outside. There's also a small cafe.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
16.26 MILES
For those prepared to climb over 1500 steps up a mountain crag, one of Naxçivan's great highlights is the magnificent view from the sparse medieval ruins…
18.22 MILES
Perfectly proportioned, if gently leaning, Naxçivan’s architectural icon is a 26m brick tower dating from 1186. It’s decorated with geometric patterns and…
5.66 MILES
Jolfa’s tourist pearl is this stunning, Unesco-listed Armenian church, whose origins date back to St Bartholomew. On a wooded hill above the Aras River,…
24.32 MILES
Naxçivan's most attractive settlement appears like an oasis amid craggy desert landscapes. Its central square features a classic old-men's teahouse…
25.4 MILES
In decades past, being sent to a Soviet salt mine was a synonym for horror. At Duzdağ, however, a former mine site has been converted into a curative…
17.5 MILES
An octagonal tomb-tower with gilded roof-point stands just outside the small side gate at Naxçivanqala's south tip. It was built in 2008 but the brickwork…
18.18 MILES
The former palace of the Naxçivan khans has been so enthusiastically restored that it might as well be new. It's an attractive structure, however, and…
18.75 MILES
A superb collection of carpets from the Naxçivan region are clearly labelled, illustrating a remarkable range of styles. The rugs are interspersed by old…
Nearby Iran attractions
0.32 MILES
This small shepherd's chapel has a commanding view of the Aras River. Don't be caught taking photos, though.
5.66 MILES
Jolfa’s tourist pearl is this stunning, Unesco-listed Armenian church, whose origins date back to St Bartholomew. On a wooded hill above the Aras River,…
15.03 MILES
Little remains of the actual castle other than some crumbling stone walls following the ridgeline south from the road, but the views are amazing.
16.26 MILES
For those prepared to climb over 1500 steps up a mountain crag, one of Naxçivan's great highlights is the magnificent view from the sparse medieval ruins…
16.74 MILES
Əshabi-Kəhf is a series of holy caves, locally believed to be the scene of a Koranic miracle in which seven pious men managed to evade their enemies by…
17.15 MILES
Locals love this popular wooded picnic area near a drippy, moss-covered grotto.
17.5 MILES
An octagonal tomb-tower with gilded roof-point stands just outside the small side gate at Naxçivanqala's south tip. It was built in 2008 but the brickwork…
17.59 MILES
Before 2006, the site of Naxçivan's 7th-century citadel was just a series of muddy undulations, almost indistinguishable from the nearby graveyard. It has…