Rasht

Designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015, Rasht is the largest city on Iran's Caspian coast and the most populous in northern Iran, set between the sea and mountains in one of the country's few humid, rainforest-edged regions. Known historically as the "Gate of Europe" for its role connecting Iran to Russia and the Caucasus, the city was a major silk-trade centre during the Safavid era and retains a traditional embroidery craft — Rashti-duzi — registered as national intangible heritage. The mountain resort of Masouleh lies in the adjacent highlands.

• Population594,590
• Nearest water from center0.9 km
• Nearest mountain from center16.5 km
• UNESCO within 50 km3