Yazd, this city is one of the oldest towns in the world. You can visit superb masons that fit great to the climate and also you have the chance to be in Zoroastrian temples from centuries ago!
Come with us to catch the wind in the city of Yazd. At the heart of Iran, you can reach Yazd from Tehran by air, by bus, or by train. Travelers often rather go with train, because they have the advantage of passing through Kashan, and Ardakan, and when leaving Yazd, their journey passes Meybod, and reaches Kerman. If you’re visiting Isfahan, it is also very easy to travel to Yazd from Isfahan via Nain, too. Iranians refer to this city as Yezd, and this city has a rich history.
You visit Yazd for the prison, and not just any prison, it’s the Alexander’s. Alexander’s Prison, is a former religious school, that got the attention, because we know that for some us going to school is indeed a prison.
Yazd is a city from the 5th century. People of Yazd value footwear, dresses, and the most famous Termeh is originally from Yazd. Textiles and fashion has a long history in Yazd, which is why Yazd is the twin sister of “Venice in Italy” and “Toledo of Spain”. You should visit Yazd and enjoy the taste of food and sweets. As of 2017, UNESCO refers to the old part of Yazd as Historic City of Yazd.
Yazd represents Sassanid dynasties. The name of the city has roots in Yazdgerd, once the emperor of Persia. For Zoroastrians, it is the holy city and the center of the community. Marco Polo, in his adventurous travels, mentioned Yazd as “good and noble city”.
Province of Yazd, in general tributes vastly to the Silk Road. Many merchants chose Yazd as their passing route or their destination.
For a period of time during the Muzaffarid era, Yazd was the capital of Iran. And, in the Qajar era, khans of Bakhtiari tribes reside in Yazd.
Travelers and adventurers who enjoy trekking and bike riding, this is the city to enjoy drifting with your bicycle.
There are beautiful houses, windcatchers, Persian gardens, extraordinary museums, icehouses, caravanserai, temples, and mosques to visit in Yazd.
You need to remember that your journey does not have a limit in Yazd alone. You can enjoy the neighboring cities such as Meybod.
There’s a beautiful desert outside the city of Yazd, where travelers enjoy the night and camel rides.
Brocade (Termeh), sweets, delights, and Persian carpet are the top-selling artifacts and goods of Yazd.
Yazd is also famous for its cats. Iran has a reputation for Persian cats, and in Yazd, the domestic Persian cats of the city are the true cute remarks of the city. And, if you are lucky enough, when wandering in the desert, you can catch a glimpse of the Persian sand cat, a very rare breed of wild cat.
Many travelers have a bias that Zoroastrians are fire-worshipers. Well, they’re wrong. Zoroastrians believe that fire as a pure element represents God’s wisdom. For travelers, there is an opportunity to take part in Zoroastrians’ ceremonies. The most famous one is the Sadeh. Festival of Sadeh (Jashn-e Sadeh) is a commemoration, where followers pay tribute to the founder of fire, Hushang. Many followers of Zoroastrian, gather together in Yazd, early February to celebrate Sadeh.
Sedreh Pushi (Navjote) is another important ceremony. Traditionally, Navjote refers to a rebirth. For children age 7 – 10, this ceremony is performed by a Zoroastrian cleric. Mobed reminds the children of their three prime principles “good words, good thoughts, and good deeds”. During the ceremony, children wear a long white undershirt (Sedreh), made of silk.
There are many things you need to do and places to visit. So we help you create a list so that you will not lose track:
People of Yazd still reside in the historic city of Yazd, also referred to as the old town of Yazd. When you set foot in this area of Yazd, you feel like time traveling to centuries ago, where houses have rooftop access to each other, and walls are yellow-brown mud-bricks. In this venue, you witness tall standing windcatchers (badgir), ab anbar (water reservoir), and yakhchal (icehouse).
Every important city has an entrance gate. For Yazd, Amir Chakhmaq Square, served as the entrance gate. There’s a beautiful and marvelous complex of the same name in this square, and you can find a historical mosque, a large water well, an exquisite caravanserai, and a bathhouse.
The Atashkadeh, or the Fire Temple of Yazd, is the sacred location of Zoroastrians. The eternal flame is lit and still burns from 470 AD.
Yazd is sacred to the followers of Zoroastrians, in the Museum of Zoroastrians History and Culture (Markar Museum) you can learn about the ceremonies, culture, customs, art, and food, and you can ask your questions about Zarathustra.
Water Museum of Yazd is an exhibition gallery of qanats and qanat builders of the past.
Qasr-e Ayeneh, which translates to a castle of mirrors is the gorgeous Kushk (castle) from the Pahlavi era. The Museum of mirrors and lights is the international name of this place, where the rays of light are dancing in the rooms, magnifying a breath-taking illusion.
If you wish to learn more about the history of Persia and merchants’ tradable goods, then you must visit Vaziri Museum. In this museum, porcelains, arts, decorative handcrafted masterpieces are for the daily exhibit. And if you want to read more, then you can have a stop at the nearby Vaziri Library, too.
in Amir Chakhmaq square, you find Dahouk (Amir Chakhmaq) mosque.
On the other hand, Jameh Mosque is a 14th century magnificent and eye-catching mosque that is famous for its very tall minarets. This beautiful mosque has a grand iwan, and an interior full of blue mosaics. And it is almost impossible to miss this place.
Just outside the city of Yazd, there’s the Tower of Silence. Traditionally, it is called a Dakhma, and for centuries, Zoroastrians use the tower for ceremonial cremation of the dead.
Just a few kilometers outside Yazd, you reach the city of Meybod. Here beautiful houses and caravanserais of Abbasi and Safavid era, and the Narin (Narenj) Castle, are waiting for your arrival.
If you enjoy camel riding, then you should visit the most beautiful desert of Iran. Bafgh Desert is your destination to enjoy the clean and beautiful sands of the central desert of Iran.
Mehriz is an old town, dating back to the 4th century, is famous because of its name. Sassanid king named the town after his beloved daughter. This is the town to enjoy the walk in its beautiful garden and admire the ancient rich culture and history.
Just 70 km to the North of Yazd, there’s the small village of secrets. Zoroastrians believe that the running water from the mountain is sacred. The daughter of Yazdgerd, Nikbanou, fled to this city. Sorrow and grief were all left with her, and habitats in the village believe that this water is the tears of Nikbanou. There lies a temple in the heart of the village that is worth visiting. Inside, you can find an old tree roots, and the springhead of the running water.
Yazd offers some of the delicious meals, tea, soups, and sweets of Iran.
You have to try Gheimeh Yazdi or Gheimeh Nokhod. This is a very famous stew that you can almost find in every Iranian house. Traditionally, gheimeh consists of Lapeh (Split pea), tomato paste, and beef that is served with fries and a plate of rice. But in Yazd, chickpea is added instead of split pea.
In Yazd, you can also try a variety of chicken and lamb kebabs that have certain spies.
Besides the traditional meals, you can find international cuisines and dining restaurants.
Pomegranate is like a treasure in Yazd. Yazdis, people of Yazd, have a special potage. It is the pomegranate potage (Ash-e Anar). Besides pomegranate, black plums and yellow plums are delicately dried and carefully cooked to serve you a bowl of plum potage (Ash-e Aloo).
If you are a vegan, then you must try Shuli. It is a combination of white beets and celery. It is the city’s most famous soup.
Pomegranate is like a treasure in Yazd. Yazdis, people of Yazd, have a special potage. It is the pomegranate potage (Ash-e Anar). Besides pomegranate, black plums and yellow plums are delicately dried and carefully cooked to serve you a bowl of plum potage (Ash-e Aloo).
If you are a vegan, then you must try Shuli. It is a combination of white beets and celery. It is the city’s most famous soup.
There are many notable architectural sites in Yazd, and Amir Chakhmaq is the most remarkable one. The Amir Chakhmaq Complex lies in the Amir Chakhmaq Square. This 15th-century complex gains reputation because of the symmetrically designed Pishtaqs. A pishtaq or iwan is a hall space that has three walls and one opening. In this three-story complex
Iranians invented qanat or kariz (underground aqueducts) to create an ancient freshwater network and keep the water cool and out of reach of dry heat. Your visit to Yazd Water Museum can be more exciting if you follow it up with a visit to some of the houses that have UNESCO World Heritage qanats. You can ask us in advance to prepare an architectural tour for you.
Badgirs (windcatchers) of Yazd are the ancient Iranian architecture masterpiece. Some of the ab anbars (water reservoirs) use the cold air coming from the badgirs, to maintain a refrigerating temperature. All the available badgirs in Yazd, are quadro (4) or octa (8) sided, but you can find some of the single side ones in Meybod. Traditionally, this type is more preferable for households, rather than the water reservoirs. The tallest badgir is available in Dolat Abad Garden.
We also invite you to visit the Lari house (Khan-e Lari), which is remarkable for its story. This house belonged to an aristocrat merchant, now serve as a boutique hotel
If you wish to enjoy the night in Yazd, then you should pass from Azadi square. The Yazd National Garden (Baq-e Melli), is a huge park where you can interact with people and have social entertainment.
Dowlatabad Garden (Dolat Abad Garden) is the next large garden in Yazd. For almost 300 years, this beautiful garden is the symbol of attraction in Yazd.
In the town of Mehriz, you can drift to Khoshnevis Garden, and enjoy a walk in the night. But, if you visit this place in the morning, you have the chance to enjoy the exhibition of more than 600 masterpieces.
Yazd Termeh is the most beautiful and famous in the world. Hoang Tesang of China, and Caesar of Greece valued Termeh (brocade), and now tourists of around the world, come to Yazd to purchase a set for themselves.
With recipes almost 100 years old, and the taste you already enjoyed, you can purchase Qottab (the best souvenir), Almond Saffrone Cake, Baklava, Lozi, Rice Cookie, and Cotton Candy. One of the best Tahini is also available in Yazd.
If you are planning to purchase souvenirs for your loved ones, then you must visit the 9th century Khan Bazaar. Here, you can explore with ease and choose whatever you desire, from precious metals like gold, silver, copper, to spices, handwoven cloth, and some of the delicate textiles with high quality.
Do you have a collection of pottery? Then Yazd is the city for you. Artists in this city, have a long-life dedication for the pottery.
Thanks to the demand for tourism in Yazd, accommodation is excellent. In Yazd, you can stay in hotels, caravanserais, guest-houses, boutique hotels, and hostels. Some of the hotels like Mozaffari hotel, and Zein-o-din Caravanserai, are very old and they maintain the same oldfashioned style, so your stay is magical.
Do you want to book a hotel in Yazd? Follow this link
Yazd is very hot and dry that’s why it has ideal weather during winter (from Early December until late February), and during Spring (in March).
We offer cultural, architectural and adventure tours to Yazd. Your snaps will be photogenic. We adjust the journey to your budget and preferences. You can experience the best of Yazd with us. You will have fun visiting Iran.
Call us or visit our tour pages.