Ecbatana
Hamadan, Iran UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ecbatana is an ancient city and archaeological site located in Hamadan, Iran. As both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an Iranian National Heritage site, it stands as a significant cultural property within the Zagros Mountains.
Planning a visit
The site is most accessible during the warmer, drier months. Temperatures from June through August range from daily highs of 30 °C to 34 °C with minimal rain. Spring months like May, with highs of 23 °C, are also mild, while winters are cold, with January temperatures dropping to lows of -7 °C and frequent rain or snow.
Ecbatana is located in Hamadan, 8 km from Hamadan Airport and about 279 km from Tehran. Visitors can combine a trip to the archaeological site with nearby locations such as the Tomb of Esther and Mordechai, located 1 km away, and the Avicenna Mausoleum, 1.7 km away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 34 °C. The wettest is March, with about 61 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 2 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 23 | 30 | 34 | 33 | 28 | 21 | 12 | 6 |
| Average low, °C | -7 | -6 | -1 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 2 | -4 |
| Rainfall, mm | 40 | 48 | 61 | 53 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 44 | 41 |
| Rainy days | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 7 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
