Yazd

Getting there

Yazd is midway between Isfahan and Kerman, 689 km (427 miles) south east of Tehran. Yazd is well connected to the rest of the country by planes, trains and buses.

By bus Buses come from Shiraz (300,000 rials, 5-6 hours), Na'in (150,000 rials, 2½ hours), Isfahan (260,000 rials, 4 hours). 1 Bus station. This is the main bus station, and is quite far out of the city centre. There are several cafes and shops inside of the building. (updated Mar 2017) Getting there: public buses depart every 15 min and cost 10,000 rials (the bus stop is by a little white hut, in front of the bus station) to the 2 Shehneh Bus Station pretty close to the city centre. From there you can get a bus virtually to any part of Yazd, including old town area. Taxi: there is a taxi booth in front of the bus station, taxi to the old town costs 45,000 tomans (as of 2025).

By plane There are International flights to Dubai, and daily flights to Tehran and Mashhad.

3 Shahid Sadooghi International Airport (AZD IATA) (10 km west of the old town area), ☏ +98 35 3721 4444. (updated Mar 2017)

By train Yazd stands on the railway line connecting Tehran and Kerman (6 hr), passing Kashan (3-4 hr). Several trains per day including one overnight one. There is also one train daily which passes Isfahan (3-4 hr). There is no train connection to Shiraz.

4 Train station (ایستگاه راه آهن یزد). (updated Mar 2017)

By taxi Taxi to Na'in costs 1,200,000 rials (besides, it's possible to go there via Chak Chak and Meybod sights which will cost then - about 2,000,000 rials), to Isfahan - 2,200,000 rials.

Getting around

Most sights are in the old town near the Friday Mosque. You can easily walk between them on foot and enjoy the rabbit warren of old passages and buildings as you do so. Get a good map from your hotel.

By foot Most places in the old town are within easy walking distance from each other.

By bus Local buses are also available, work with a pre-paid card.

By taxi Taxis are inexpensive, 50,000-100,000 rials per ride anywhere inside the city. Motorcycle taxis are another fast and cheap way to move around the city but try to settle on a price beforehand. Snapp (like Uber) is cheap and efficient.

See

1 Masjid-e Jame (Friday Mosque), Masjid-e Jame street, which runs off Imam St. Dating to the 14th century, it is well worth a visit. It is an example of finest Persian mosaics and excellent architecture. Its minarets are the highest in the country. Admire it at night when it is lit up. Free entry. (updated Mar 2017) 2 Yazd Water Museum, corner of Qiyam st. and Imam St, ☏ +98 35 3626 8340. 08:00-19:00 with a 14:30-15:30 break. House converted to a museum with a lot of information about the Canat water distribution system. Contains nice cool underground rooms. 150,000 rials. (updated Mar 2017) 3 Takyeh Amir Chakhmagh (Amir Chakhmagh Complex). Built as a mosque, it served as a caravanserai, a tekyeh, a bathhouse, a cold water well, and a confectionery. This imposing structure fronts a square in the old town, opposite the water museum. You can pay a small amount to go inside and climb to the top, giving good local views, including of a nearby badgir (water reservoir with wind towers). The square has interesting fountains and is nice at night. (updated Jul 2015) 4 Cistern of Fatemeh-ye-Golshan. Easily-viewed reservoir with 4 badgirs (wind towers). (updated Jul 2015) 5 Amir Chakhmagh Mosque (Old Mosque). Mosque next to the Amir Chakhmagh Complex. (updated Jul 2015) 6 Market Square Clock, Imam St. (updated Jul 2015) 7 Atashkadeh (Atash Behram), crossing Kashani and Akbar Road (a few kilometres from the old town; a taxi might be best). 08:00-21:00, closed on official holidays. Zoroastrian Fire Temple built in 1934. The fire on the inside has supposedly been burning since AD 470. It is believed to be one of the nine worldwide Atash Behrams or "Victorious Fires". 400,000 rials (Dec 2019). 8 Dakhmeh (Zoroastrian Towers of Silence) (few km outside town direction Shiraz). Huge circular walls on top of hills, where the dead were left to be picked clean by vultures. A quiet, serene place. Two hills can be walked up, Golestan and Mankeji. 200,000 rials. (updated Oct 2019) 9 Alexander's Prison (Also known as Ziaiyyeh school). Neither built by Alexander the Great nor a prison, but a 15th-century domed school. Guides say the deep well in the middle of its courtyard was built by Alexander the Great and was used as a dungeon although this is not confirmed. Apart from the well there is nothing else to see, so it can easily be skipped. 150,000 rials. (updated Mar 2017) 10 Dowlat Abad Gardens. With a building with a beautiful large badgir. One of nine Persian gardens inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 150,000 rials. (updated Mar 2017) 11 Museum of Zoroastrians Histo

Do

Walk around in the historic neighbourhoods and relax in the parks. You can also hike up in the beautiful mountains of Yazd and enjoy a spectacular view of the city. If you are the more social type, relax in the cafes and chat with local Iranians. Most likely, they will be very interested in talking with you. 1 Pahlevani and zoorkhaneh rituals (close to Amir Chaqmaq Square). Sa-Th 06:00–21:00, gymnastics by several men start at 19:00 until 20:00. It's a traditional Iranian martial arts which practiced in a domed structure called zurkhaneh, training sessions consist mainly of ritual gymnastic movements and climax with the core of combat practice, a form of submission-grappling called koshti pahlavāni. 150,000 rials. (updated Oct 2019)

2 Traditional Persian Night, Kohan Hotel (Near to the Museum of Coin and Anthropology, Alley 40, Imam Street), ☏ +98 935 935 7123, [email protected]. 19:00-22:00. You will get familiar with Persian traditions, literature, music and some of the customs associated with the Iranian night gathering. Welcome drink, Persian storytelling, live Persian classical music (the Setar playing), fresh fruits, Yazdi cake with bitter orange blossom tea, narrating Persian anecdotes, and a three course dinner are included in this nightly event. It is held in a quiet and pleasant atmosphere. Reservations are necessary and sufficient bookings are required for the event to be held. Adult USD25, child 5-12 USD23. (updated Mar 2017)

Buy

Yazd is famous in Iran for its various handicrafts, such as carpet, silk fabrics and cashmere. A good place for these is bazaar, where also can be found snacks such as nougat and cashews. It is also famous for its sweets and confectionery most notable of which is haj khalife located near the chaqmaq gate.

1 Exchange office (in front of Zoroastrian Fire temple). Office with a good exchange rate. (updated Mar 2017)

Eat

For a friendlier and more cultural atmosphere try Persian restaurants. Many restaurants serve the standard Iranian kebabas. There are a few international restaurants in Yazd which serve Italian, Indian, Arabian and Mexican food. The traditional restaurant and tea house of Kohan Hotel serves various Iranian traditional dishes such as fessenjun, gheime as well as some European and Indian dishes. It has a nice atmosphere and is located near the Alexander Prison.

1 Friends House, No.44, Shah Abolghasem Alley, Seyyed Gole Sorkh St (few steps from Alexander's Prison towards Haame mosque), ☏ +98 913 854 7478. A cosy little bistro located in an ancient courtyard. Home made dishes, fresh juice and local drinks is served. Best known for its amazing coffee, made by Bialetti Moka express. €4-6 for a lunch or dinner (updated Mar 2017) 2 Parsa restaurant, Salman-e-Farsi (on the righthand side behind Amir Chakmaq mosque). A modern type restaurant with not a very great exterior, but frequented by locals, and has a busy takeaway. Good food. (updated Oct 2019) Cafe Angah, https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=18/31.9052916/54.3712594. A cosy cafe perfect for a short break. Serves beverages and delicious, inexpensive hand-made burgers. (updated Jan 2025)

Drink & nightlife

For typical drinks available in Iran, see Iran#Drink

Sleep

It is best to stay in the old town near the Friday Mosque, from which you can walk to most sights. There are many decent hotels to choose from. A number of traditional houses have been converted into atmospheric hotels. Some are good and others not so much. Many of them offer clean comfortable rooms encircling peaceful central courtyards where you can eat, drink tea or puff away on a ghalyan while gazing at the sky.

Budget 1 Orient Hotel (6th Alley at Jame Mosque St.), ☏ +98 35 3626 7783. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. From the owners of Silk Road Hotel, which is on the other side of the street. The price of the rooms are all same as the Silk Road Hotel. It is especially tailored to the needs of families and group travelers. Has a glass deck on the second floor with nice panoramas of the city, and the beautiful Jame' Mosque, and a background of desert and mountains. To book your room at the Orient hotel, it is best to call or email the Silk Road Hotel. Good hotel, nice central courtyard. Showers have good pressure and water is hot. You can eat lunch and dinner here. Dorm bed USD10; single USD20; double USD40; triple USD50. (updated Mar 2017) 2 Silk Road Hotel, No 5, Tal-e Khakestary Alley, Masjed Jame St (hidden in an alley near the Jameh Mosque; look for the signs pointing the way on the wall), ☏ +98 910 156 7410, fax: +98-351-6217703, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. This is undoubtedly the most popular and affordable of the backpacker hotels in Yazd. They off private rooms with ensuite bathrooms as well as a comfortable dorm. An excellent buffet breakfast and free wireless internet is included in the price. They also serve traditional food in the lovely courtyard restaurant. They also offer a number of interesting tours in and around Yazd - including overnight trips to the desert oasis Kharanaq, where they run another guesthouse. In 2019, Silk Road Hotel offered free accommodation for bicycle travelers in their basement dorm. Dorm bed USD10; single USD20; double USD40; triple USD50. (updated Jun 2019) 3 Kohan Hotel (100 m from Alexander's Prison), ☏ +98-351 6212485, fax: +98 351 621 0393. A little pricier and difficult to find, but also worth the effort. They also have a beautiful courtyard restaurant, an underground qanat room (water management system) to explore, and good views of the old city can be had from the roof. The hotel is family run, and also there is a tourist information office, a young man,who speaks wonderfully perfect German, English and a little Spanish, he can provide information about Yazd and oth

Go next

Isfahan — the ancient city which is a little bit more cultural and beautiful than Yazd Na’in — a small desert town north of Yazd Varzaneh — town northeast of Yazd with a beautiful desert 12 km away from it. Besides, it has number of historical buildings