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Voykit pocket guide · Iran
Bam
بم
Half a day to see the Arg-é Bam citadel, then move on: one night if you arrive late. Bam is a single-sight stop, not a base.
Bam is a small city in Kerman province, known almost entirely for the Arg-é Bam, a 2000-year-old citadel that was devastated in the 2003 earthquake and is being rebuilt with international help. The modern city is spread out and still recovering. Most travellers come for the UNESCO World Heritage site and leave the same day or the next morning.
- Country
- Iran
- Local name
- بم
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (extreme heat), Dec–Feb (cold nights)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IRR
- Money
- Foreign cards and ATMs do not work in Iran: see Insurance & payments above.
- Daily spend
- Budget IRR 1,500,000–3,000,000 excl. bed · Mid IRR 3,000,000–6,000,000 excl. bed · High IRR 6,000,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Ambulance 115 · Fire 125
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Arg-é Bam entry | IRR 200,000 |
| Shared taxi Kerman → Bam | IRR 300,000 |
| Taxi from centre to citadel | IRR 50,000–100,000 |
| Simple meal (kebab or stew with rice) | IRR 200,000–500,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | IRR 15,000–30,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KER · Kerman Airport
- About 2 h by car or shared taxi to Bam; flights from Tehran and other major cities.
Typical fares
- Shared taxi Kerman → Bam
- about IRR 300,000, about 2 h (check)
- Taxi centre → citadel
- IRR 50,000–100,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The city is spread out. Taxis and shared savari cars are the main options. A taxi from the centre to the citadel costs about 50,000–100,000 rials (check).
See and do
Known for
- Arg-é Bam citadel (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Earthquake reconstruction story
- Gateway to Pakistan overland route
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rayen | Shared taxi or bus, about 1 h | About 1.5 h |
| Mahan | Taxi or bus via Kerman, about 2 h total | About 2.5 h |
| Shahdad | Private taxi, about 2 h | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- Near the citadel
- Closest to the main sight; limited options, mostly guesthouses.
- City centre
- More hotels and services, but you'll need a taxi to reach the Arg.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | سلامsalaam |
| Thank you | مرسیmersi |
| How much? | چنده؟chandeh? |
| Where is the citadel? | ارگ کجاست؟arg kojaast? |
| I don't understand | نمیفهممnemifahmam |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- The citadel paths are restricted to approved routes; do not climb on unstable ruins.
- Earthquake rebuilding continues: some areas of the city may look like construction sites.
- Bring cash: ATMs are scarce and cards from outside Iran do not work.
Bam is generally safe for tourists, but the 2003 earthquake aftermath means some buildings are unstable. Stick to marked paths at the citadel. Avoid walking alone after dark in empty areas. Cash is king: cards from outside Iran do not work.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bam yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Arg-é Bam citadel (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Earthquake reconstruction story
- Gateway to Pakistan overland route
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Bam, revision 4411007 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4411007
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/bam). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.