Bab-Homayoun Street

Bab-Homayoun is one of the oldest streets in Tehran. Located east of City Park in the downtown area, the street takes its name from one of the gates to the old Arg citadel.

The north-south street used to divide the southern part of the citadel into two quarters. The southern section was a ministerial area and Bab-Homayoun was usually used by a limited number of officials and government employees.

But when the city started to grow during the reign of Qajar king Nasser al-Din Shah (1831-1896), the citadel and surrounding areas were developed on a plan prepared by Austrian author, engineer, historian and geographer August Karl Krziž (1814-1886). Bab-Homayoun was widened and stone-paved. Trees were planted on its flanks.

In 1931, Bab-Homayoun was asphalted along with Lalezar Street and Tupkhaneh Square in preparation for a visit by former Iraqi king Faisal I (1885-1933). When the street came back to normal after Faisal’s visit ended, street accidents became a norm because the asphalt was slippery and unfit for horses. So once again the street was cobblestoned.

Bab-Homayoun saw further development through history, but over the past 50 years it is a major hub of men’s clothing where suits can be bought at highly competitive prices.

In the recent past, though, Tehran Municipality has tried to give the street a rather tourist appearance by opening a row of handicraft shops. However, the street is something different at night when food vans offer a wide variety of fresh food from local and traditional dishes to general menus of other countries.