Yazd Itinerary
Yazd Old Neighborhood
Well, there is no subway system but the city isn’t so big and you can easily walk and visit most of the Yazd attractions. So the first route can start from the Fahadan neighborhood, which local people call it Hosseinieh-Fahadan. Take a taxi there and if your hotel is in the same neighborhood so there is no need to for it. (Don’t forget that the best way to help local people is taking your accommodation in the local traditional, boutique hotels and hostels that you can find so many of them in this neighborhood)
Fahadan, as you get in this adobe and old neighborhood (the biggest adobe neighborhood in the world) you will see the difference of the dessert cities, their different architecture and urban life. The first place to visit is Alexander’s Prison (takes 25 minutes) and then keep walking to Jame Mosque of Yazd (Friday mosque) and in the meantime enjoy the beautiful adobe stretch alleys. You can’t enter the mosque at noon when people go for praying. The big entrance is marvelous and if you have enough time, get back at night to see the illuminated mosque. Have your lunch in the same neighborhood that has a lot of great restaurants and cafes. After lunch keep walking to Amir Chakhmaq Square to visit the Water Museum, Khan Bazaar and the square itself. It’s a fun place to take pictures and communicate with local people, don’t miss Haj Khalifeh Confectionary to try the best cookies of the country. The next place to visit are: Imamzadeh Jafar and Dowlat Abad Garden. Imamzadeh Jafar is a holy shrine where ladies need to wear chador (its available in the shrine, no need to buy) and its opened until 10 at night. Respect the Islamic rules of the shrine and enter this astonishing place, its OK to take pictures but like all the other religious places don’t take pictures of people without their permission. The last place to visit is Dowlat Abad Garden (opened until 6 pm.), a great example of Persian gardens with decorated houses inside, water canals and wind towers. If you are visiting Yazd in the hot weather month, try to get back to the hotel after lunch not to get sick. Usually most of the stores close at noon till 5 o’clock so you would better take some rest and avoid the extreme sunny weather. Any questions or opinions about Yazd travel guide? Write to us in the comment part of this page.
The best food to try for lunch is a kind of stew with camel meat and rice, called “Tas Kabab”. A famous soup to try in this city is called: “Shouli” that it is highly recommended. Check out this page: Yazd Restaurants & Cafes.
Iran foods and culinary are all delicious and you will leave the country, gaining some weight ;-).
Yazd Zoroastrian Monuments
The second day can be easier but you need to take a taxi for visiting some of the monuments, you can download our route Map but depending on your time you can change the order of them. Start the visit from Markar Square.
Right next to Markar square, in Milad alley, you can find Zoroastrians History and Culture Museum. It’s a private museum for Zoroastrian society where they can give you a lot of information and on the other hand it’s the right way to help these people conserving their tradition. The next place is definitely the Fire Temple with its holy fire that hasn’t been off for more than 1000 years. Later take more walk to Mazariha Street to visit the traditional henna stores and workshops, it is free to visit them but to help this traditional job of people you can do some small shopping. To go to the next place, take a snapp, the old Zoroastrian cemetery called: “Dakhmeh”. It is out of the city so enjoy your time and visit this hilarious place so calm and quiet. Stay there until the sunset to enjoy the great view of the city, Yazd is one of the most important Iran destination. Take a snapp back to the hotel.
Try “Gheymeh” or chicken Kabab. Check out this page: Yazd Restaurants & Cafes.
All the entrees cost 1,300,000 Rial, and depending on what you eat it will cost in between 500,000 till 1,000,000 Rial.
The Outskirt of Yazd
Spend a day out of the city to explore some of the villages around and have a different experience of suburban life.
What to see? There are three options available to choose:
- The first one is going to the dessert called: “Bafgh” 126 km away from the city. Leave early in the morning and spend about 3 to 4 hours there for some trekking in the sand dunes and camel riding and get back to the city at noon.
- The second one is visiting two villages of “Kharanagh” where you can visit the ruins of the old adobe village (78 km away from Yazd), and “Chak Chak” that is famous for the Zoroastrian fire temple in the mountain. If you have a chance to be there during the religious ceremonies, don’t doubt to participate in the feast and enjoy this great place. (47 km away from Kharanagh.
- The third option is “Taft” village, that is 30 minutes driving away from Yazd. The village is so big for walking, mountain climbing and having lunch or dinner in “Nartitee” Ecolodge, with the great Zoroastrian family who serve the food in their old family house and explain lots of things about their traditions and culture. Don’t miss Sadri Garden in this village for having some tea.
Try especial Zoroastrian food and desert in Taft village.
There is no entrees for the villages, except for Sadri Garden that costs 300,000 Rial, but you need to pay from 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 Rial for a full day rented car. Depending on what you eat it will cost in between 50,000 Rial till 1,000,000 Rial.