About Helileh

Introducing Helileh

Helileh is one of the oldest quarters of the Bushehr peninsula and the southernmost neighbourhood of the city. With a population of about 2,900, it has kept its native character and is counted among the most valuable living habitats of Bushehr’s traditional culture. Its more than four kilometres of coastline, from Aftab Park to Layan Park, offer a calm and pleasant shore that tells of the age-old bond between the people and the sea. Fishing, beach sports and recreation, cultural activity and a thriving beachside theatre show how tradition and contemporary life blend in Helileh. Sundials, folk culture and community events give the neighbourhood a lively identity — as if Helileh were a living museum of Bushehr’s culture and authenticity. The Bushehr nuclear power plant, located within the area, has also made the name of Helileh known far beyond the region. Good access, less than 15 km from the airport, together with its natural, cultural and tourism assets, makes Helileh a valuable base for tourism development and for presenting the living heritage of southern Iran.

Historical background

Helileh is among the oldest settlements of the Bushehr peninsula, and historical evidence traces it back to the Elamite era. Some sources mention a land called “Hulileh” in accounts of Ashurbanipal’s campaign against the land of Liyan, and ancient objects found north of Helileh also point to the area’s antiquity. The name “Bishahr” appears for this region in some old documents and texts; in local tradition it stands opposite “Rishahr” and means “the lower city”. Historic cemeteries, traces of settlement by various religions, Helileh’s ancient harbour and freshwater wells close to the sea all speak of the historical and ecological importance of this land. The area called “Hezar Mardan” (a title of Sassanid commanders), whose surviving remains and coins date it to the Sassanid period, together with captivating local legends, forms part of Helileh’s historical memory and oral culture. Helileh’s fertile farming and its distinctive way of growing grapes also drew the attention of travel writers and historians such as Sadid al-Saltaneh, Mohammad Ebrahim Naderi Kazeruni, Lorimer and Colonel Lewis Pelly. Together, this evidence, these narratives and this natural and cultural heritage make Helileh a valuable part of the living history of the port of Bushehr.

Helileh at a glance

Province: Bushehr. Population: about 2,900 (updated Aban 1405, i.e. Oct-Nov 2026). Elevation: 17 m above sea level.

Helileh tourist village, Bushehr – Helileh. Phone / WhatsApp: 09176443247 · Email: info@heleyleh-bu.ir

Where is Helileh?

Helileh lies near the city of Bushehr on the Persian Gulf coast.

People and culture

The people of Helileh are welcoming and keep the customs of Iran’s south.

Before you travel: what to know

Autumn to spring is more comfortable for sightseeing, but summer, despite the heat and humidity, has its own charms and experiences that can only be enjoyed then: tropical and subtropical fruits that ripen only in summer (jambu, lowz, sepestan, kharak, rutab, dates) or a night swim in the sea, and more. To learn more, explore the rest of the site.