Major city · Iran
Qayenقائن
Qayen is a half-day stop for saffron and history on the Mashhad–Birjand road: see the Jame Mosque and the old mud wall, then move on.
Qayen (also spelled Qaen) is a small city in South Khorasan, known as Iran's saffron capital. Its main draw is the 1,100-year-old Jame Mosque and the remnants of a mud wall. Most travellers pass through on the way between Mashhad and Birjand. One night is enough to see the sights and buy saffron.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- IRR
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (very hot), Dec–Feb (cold)
- Airports
- XBJ · MHD
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Security advice in this region can change within a dayCheck your own government travel advice for Iran before a…
- Middle East ↗Security advice in this region can change within a day; re-read your government's page before departure and again before any border or regional flight.
- Middle East ↗Public drunkenness, public displays of affection and offensive gestures or online posts can lead to arrest in the Gulf states and Iran; dress modestly outside beaches and hotels.
- Iran ↗Check your own government travel advice for Iran before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Iran ↗Entry rules, visa type and nationality restrictions differ sharply by passport and change quickly.
- Iran ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Iran before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Qayen110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Qayen, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Foreign cards and ATMs do not work in Iran: see Insurance & payments above.Iran-wide
- SafetyQayen is a quiet, conservative city.
- Emergency numbers110 police · 115 ambulance · 125 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportXBJ Birjand Airport (About 100 km (62 mi) from Qayen, 1 h by car.XBJ Birjand Airport (About 62 mi (100 km) from Qayen, 1 h by car.
- Getting aroundQayen is walkable in the centre.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealKebab with rice (dizi or chelo kebab)IRR 200,000–400,000
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi within city centreAgree fare first.IRR 100,000–200,000
- Metro or bus rideLocal bus rideIRR 10,000–20,000
- Budget bedGuesthouse single room, a night, per roomIRR 1,500,000
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse single room, a night, per roomIRR 2,500,000
- High-end bedGuesthouse single room, a night, per roomIRR 4,000,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget IRR 2,000,000 · Mid IRR 4,000,000 · High IRR 7,000,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- XBJ Birjand Airport (About 100 km (62 mi) from Qayen, 1 h by car. Flights from Tehran.) · MHD Mashhad Shahid Hasheminejad Airport (About 380 km (236 mi), 4–5 h by car or bus.)XBJ Birjand Airport (About 62 mi (100 km) from Qayen, 1 h by car. Flights from Tehran.) · MHD Mashhad Shahid Hasheminejad Airport (About 236 mi (380 km), 4–5 h by car or bus.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Feb
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Mar
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Apr
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
May
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Jun
not flagged
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Jul
Avoid
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Aug
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Sep
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Nov
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Dec
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Best: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)), coolest Jan (−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C) low), wettest Mar (8 rain days), driest Jul (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Qayen: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
5 rd
Feb
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
6 rd
Mar
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
8 rd
Apr
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
7 rd
May
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
4 rd
Jun
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
1 rd
Jul
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
0 rd
Aug
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
0 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
1 rd
Oct
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
2 rd
Nov
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
4 rd
Dec
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
5 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Qayen is walkable in the centre. For the Tomb of Bozorgmehr Qaini (5 km south) you'll need a taxi or private car. Taxis are unmetered: agree the fare before you get in.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h
Bus or taxi, about 1 h
Birjand has a larger bazaar and the historic Akbarieh Garden (UNESCO tentative).
Mashhad
overnightDoor to door: About 4.5 h
Bus or car, about 4–5 h
Mashhad is a major pilgrimage city with the Imam Reza shrine; plan at least two days.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
City centre
Near the Jame Mosque and main bazaar; most hotels and guesthouses are here.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- IRR 1,500,000–2,500,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- IRR 3,000,000–5,000,000 excl. bed
- High
- IRR 6,000,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × IRR 5,000,000 | IRR 5,000,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × IRR 4,000,000 | IRR 4,000,000 |
| Bus Mashhad–Qayen, one way1 × IRR 500,000 · check | IRR 500,000 |
| Taxi Qayen–Birjand, one way1 × IRR 1,500,000 · check | IRR 1,500,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | IRR 1,100,000 |
| Trip total≈ IRR 12,100,000 per person per day, bed included | IRR 12,100,000 |
2026 estimate in Iranian rials (IRR). Prices spoken in tomans (1 toman = 10 rials). Cash only.
Prices of common things
| Saffron (1 g, high quality)check | IRR 300,000–500,000 |
| Kebab with rice (dizi or chelo kebab) | IRR 200,000–400,000 |
| Bottle of water (1.5 L) | IRR 15,000–25,000 |
| Local bus ride | IRR 10,000–20,000 |
| Taxi within city centreAgree fare first. | IRR 100,000–200,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Saffron sold in the bazaar may be mixed with cheaper substitutes; buy from a reputable shop or ask a local guide.
- The Jame Mosque may be closed during prayer times; check locally.
- Credit cards are rarely accepted; carry enough Iranian rials (or tomans) cash.
- Women must wear a headscarf (hijab) in public at all times.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 115
- Fire
- 125
Pocket card
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Qayenقائن
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
به این آدرس، لطفاًTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Ambulance115
- Fire125
Embassy
Most foreign embassies are in Tehran. The nearest consular services for many nationalities are in Mashhad (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Mashhad → Qayen: about IRR 500,000, 4–5 h (check)
- Taxi Qayen → Birjand: about IRR 1,500,000, 1 h (check)
- Taxi within Qayen centre: IRR 100,000–200,000
Say or show
- سلام — Hello (salam)
- متشکرم — Thank you (motshakeram)
- چقدر؟ — How much? (chand?)
- زعفران — Saffron (za'feran)
- مسجد کجاست؟ — Where is the mosque? (masjed kojast?)
Prices in Iranian rials; 1 toman = 10 rials. Carry cash.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Qayen. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (very hot), Dec–Feb (cold)
- 2 airports and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Saffron buying guide with trusted shops and price bands.
- Walking route: Jame Mosque → old mud wall → bazaar (1.5 h).
- Taxi fare table for Qayen–Birjand and Qayen–Mashhad.
Sources
Ask about Qayen
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