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Voykit pocket guide · Iran
Mashhad
Spend 1–2 days: visit Imam Reza shrine, nearby parks and bazaars; add a half‑day trip to Tus or Torghabeh if time permits.
Mashhad is Iran's holiest city and provincial capital. The Imam Reza shrine dominates the centre, surrounded by museums, parks and bazaars. A full day covers the shrine complex and nearby attractions; a second day allows a short excursion to Tus (Ferdowsi) or the Torghabeh countryside.
- Country
- Iran
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, crowded pilgrimage season)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
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 ≈ 30,000 IRR (≈ $0.70) excl. bed · Mid ≈ 100,000 IRR (≈ $2.30) excl. bed · High ≈ 250,000 IRR (≈ $5.80) excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire 125 · Ambulance 115
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Tea (traditional) | 150,000 IRR |
| Meal (kebab + rice) | 250,000–470,000 IRR |
| Saffron (3 g) | 330,000 IRR |
| Metro ride | 20,000 IRR (check) |
| Taxi city centre → airport | ≤150,000 IRR |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MHD · Mashhad International Airport (Shahid Hashemi Nejad)
- Located a few kilometres south of the city centre
Typical fares
- Metro single ride
- 20,000 IRR per trip (check)
- Taxi airport → shrine
- ≈ 150,000 IRR (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
Mashhad Metro (06:00‑22:00, 20,000 IRR per ride) and city buses. Taxis from the shrine to the airport cost ≤150,000 IRR.Mashhad Metro (6:00 AM‑10:00 PM, 20,000 IRR per ride) and city buses. Taxis from the shrine to the airport cost ≤150,000 IRR.
See and do
Known for
- Imam Reza Shrine
- Mashhad bazaars
- Ferdowsi Tomb in Tus
- Torghabeh countryside
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tus (Ferdowsi Tomb) | Bus from Mashhad main station, ~45 min | ≈ 1 h total |
| Torghabeh | Taxi or rideshare, ~30 min | ≈ 1 h total |
| Shandiz | Taxi, ~30 min | ≈ 1 h total |
Sleep
- Hotels near Imam Reza Shrine
- 10‑min walk; range US$30–120 per night
- Budget hostels / homestays
- Dorms US$10–15; good for pilgrims
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | ببخشیدbebakhshid |
| Thank you | متشکرمmoteshakeram |
| How much is it? | چقدر است؟cheghadr ast? |
| Can I pay by card? | میتوانم با کارت پرداخت کنم؟mitavanam ba kart pardakht konam? |
| Where is the toilet? | دستشویی کجاست؟dastshooei kojast? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Pickpockets in crowded shrine areas – keep bags close.
- Women must wear a headscarf; shorts are not allowed.
- Peak pilgrimage periods fill transport; book tickets early.
Mashhad is generally safe for tourists; keep an eye on belongings in crowded areas and respect dress codes.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mashhad yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Imam Reza Shrine
- Mashhad bazaars
- Ferdowsi Tomb in Tus
- Torghabeh countryside
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: Mashhad, revision 5338105 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5338105
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/mashhad). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.