Mehrabad International Airport (THR) Guide: Tehran, Iran

Mehrabad International Airport is Tehran’s domestic workhorse, despite the international word in its name. THR is the airport for most internal Iran flights, while IKA handles most international services, so serious Tehran planning starts by separating these two codes.

This guide is written for travelers who want the useful details first: the real airport name, where it sits, how much to budget for transport, what to expect in the terminal, where to search for flights, and which services to arrange before landing. Prices and routes are updated for June 2026 and should be treated as practical planning ranges rather than fixed promises.

Quick airport facts

Item	Details
Full airport name	Mehrabad International Airport
Short codes	THR / OIII
Also searched as	Tehran Mehrabad Airport, Mehrabad Airport, Tehran Domestic Airport, THR Airport
City and country	Tehran, Iran
Practical address	Mehrabad International Airport, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran; coordinates 35.689175, 51.314392.
Distance to city	About 8-12 km west of central Tehran districts, but transfer time can range from 20 to 60+ minutes in traffic.
Updated	2026-06-15

Best for: domestic Iran flights, Tehran city access, Mashhad/Shiraz/Tabriz/Kish/Kerman routes, and internal business travel.
Main route logic: largest domestic route map in Iran with Tehran-to-province connectivity.
Airport style: multi-terminal city airport with metro access, taxis, food, retail, parking, and frequent domestic banks.
Planning rule: terminal choice matters; confirm airline and terminal before leaving the hotel.

Address and location

Use Mehrabad International Airport (THR) for flight searches and Tehran Mehrabad Airport, Mehrabad Airport, Tehran Domestic Airport, THR Airport as backup search wording in maps, hotel messages, and taxi conversations. The practical address is:

Mehrabad International Airport, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran; coordinates 35.689175, 51.314392.

About 8-12 km west of central Tehran districts, but transfer time can range from 20 to 60+ minutes in traffic. For a serious itinerary, save the airport coordinates offline, download the city area in Google Maps or Organic Maps, and keep your hotel address in both English and the local language where possible.

How to get from the airport to the city

Option	Typical time	Approximate cost	Best use
Taxi/Snapp-style ride to central Tehran	20-60+ min	Cash/local app quote; often lower than IKA	Best door-to-door transfer.
Tehran Metro Lines 4/6 access	25-60+ min	Low local fare	Best traffic-proof budget option.
Hotel/company pickup	20-75 min	Often quoted	Best business travel.
Transfer to IKA	75-150+ min	Pre-booked taxi strongly recommended	Only with long buffer.

FlightConnections shows 33 destinations from THR, while FlightsFrom calls Mehrabad the largest airport in Iran by scheduled domestic passenger traffic and lists 30 destinations with seven airlines. Tehran airport guides note metro access via Lines 4 and 6.

Transport tips

🧾 Confirm the fare before loading luggage, especially when there is no visible meter or posted rate.
📍 Save the exact hotel pin offline; airport drivers may know districts better than street names.
💵 Carry small local cash for the first transfer, baggage carts, snacks, or phone calls.
🌐 Install an eSIM before departure so you can message your driver immediately after landing.

Public transport and metro

Mehrabad is connected to Tehran Metro access on Lines 4 and 6 in airport guides. It is usually the best budget option if your luggage is light and your hotel is near the metro.

Where public transport exists, it is usually best for daylight arrivals with light luggage. For late flights, family travel, heavy bags, or first-time visits, a taxi, hotel transfer, or pre-booked private driver is usually worth the extra cost.

Taxi prices and transfer strategy

Taxi prices around airports are rarely as neat as an official table. Time of day, luggage, driver availability, fuel prices, and whether the destination is inside or outside the central city all matter. The ranges above are realistic planning budgets, but the best practice is simple: agree the fare before moving, keep your phone map open, and avoid changing money with random drivers.

For smoother arrival logistics:

🚕 Use official taxi ranks or a hotel-arranged driver where available.
🧳 Pre-book a transfer if you land late, carry equipment, or travel with children.
🚗 Compare rental cars before arrival with DiscoverCars if you need regional freedom.
🏨 Use Expedia to check hotels near the airport and in the city before choosing a transfer.

Airport facilities, shops, and restaurants

THR has several terminals, domestic check-in, baggage, security, cafes/snacks, retail, taxis, metro access, parking, and passenger assistance.
Terminal confusion is common; check the terminal on the airline’s own message.
Domestic peak banks can make baggage and security slower than expected.
Do not plan a short IKA-THR self-connect unless you are comfortable losing the second flight.

The smart rule at THR is to treat the terminal as a transfer point rather than as a shopping destination. Eat before arriving when possible, keep a refillable bottle where security rules allow, and bring a small power bank. If you have a long delay, an airport-area hotel or city hotel is usually more comfortable than waiting in the terminal.

Airlines and where the airport flies

FlightConnections lists broad domestic service including Mashhad, Shiraz, Kerman, Kish, Qeshm, Tabriz, Isfahan, Chabahar, Zahedan, Ahwaz, Rasht, and many seasonal/smaller Iran points. Skyscanner notes 32 weekly THR-Shiraz flights in June 2026.

Mahan Air, Iran Air, Iran Aseman, Iran Air Tours, Caspian Airlines, Chabahar Airlines, ATA Airlines, Saha Airlines Services, Zagros Airlines, and other domestic carriers are key names.

Cheap routes to check first

THR to Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz, Kish, Kerman, or Ahwaz: first domestic checks.
THR versus IKA: do not compare price without checking airport code.
For long Iran itineraries, compare open-jaw domestic flights instead of returning to Tehran every time.

Cheap airport strategy is different from simply sorting by lowest fare. Always compare the final cost after checked baggage, seat selection, payment fees, transfer costs, and missed-connection risk. A slightly more expensive flight into the correct airport can be cheaper than a low base fare that forces a long taxi ride or overnight hotel.

Where to buy flights and hotels

Start with broad searches, then verify the exact airport code before paying. This is especially important in cities with more than one airport or with airport transitions.

Need	Recommended booking link	Why it matters
Internet on arrival	🌐 Yesim eSIM	Install before flying so maps, airline apps, WhatsApp, and hotel messages work as soon as you land.
Flights and hotels	🏨 Expedia flights and stays	Useful for comparing nearby hotels, airport overnights, and onward tickets in one search.
Tours and transfers	🎟️ Viator tours and airport transfers	Best for guided city tours, day trips, private arrival transfers, and skip-the-line activities.
Rental cars	🚗 DiscoverCars	Compare local and international rental agencies before accepting a walk-up airport rate.
Travel medical insurance	🛡️ SafetyWing	Check coverage, exclusions, and country wording before travel, especially on complex itineraries.
Support this airport-guide project	🤝 Patreon: HEDONISMcloud	Helps keep airport guides updated with fares, route changes, and city transport notes.

eSIM, internet, insurance, and car rental

🌐 Internet: install Yesim eSIM before the flight. Airport Wi-Fi can be slow, blocked by SMS verification, or unavailable exactly when you need maps.
🛡️ Insurance: compare policy wording with SafetyWing. Read exclusions for the destination, adventure activities, medical evacuation, political/security events, and pre-existing conditions.
🚗 Cars: compare vehicles on DiscoverCars before arrival. Airport counters can run out of automatic cars or quote higher walk-up rates.
🎟️ Tours: use Viator for airport transfers, city tours, day trips, and guided experiences when independent transport is inconvenient.

Practical arrival checklist

Before you fly	Why it matters
Check the IATA code on the ticket	Prevents booking a hotel or transfer for the wrong airport.
Save airline, hotel, and driver contacts offline	Messaging apps may not work until data is active.
Carry local cash	Useful for taxis, snacks, and small airport expenses.
Recheck live departures	Regional schedules can change more quickly than major-hub schedules.
Keep insurance documents accessible	Helps at medical facilities and during airline disruption.

Safety and travel notes

Iran is under severe travel advisories. The U.S. State Department says do not travel to Iran for any reason; Canada says avoid all travel; the UK also advises against all travel. Read government advice, sanctions/payment limitations, airspace disruption, and insurance exclusions before booking.

The most reliable traveler is the boringly prepared traveler: documents printed, data working, transport confirmed, hotel address saved, and enough time between every moving part of the itinerary.

Short airport excursion idea

If you have a long layover or an overnight stop, choose one simple plan rather than trying to see everything. Stay close to the city center or a known hotel district, keep the return transfer booked, and avoid cutting the return to the airport too close. In smaller airports, a missed flight may mean waiting a day or more for the next practical departure.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Mehrabad International Airport from Tehran?

About 8-12 km west of central Tehran districts, but transfer time can range from 20 to 60+ minutes in traffic.

How much is a taxi from THR airport?

Typical taxi planning ranges are shown in the transport table above. The safest method is to confirm the price before loading luggage and to use a hotel-arranged driver when arriving late or visiting for the first time.

Are there restaurants and shops at Mehrabad International Airport?

Yes, but the depth of choice depends on the airport size and operating schedule. Expect practical cafes or snack options at smaller airports and a better range at major hubs. Carry backup snacks and water for delays.

Which airlines should I check first?