Major city · Iran
Bamبم
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.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- IRR
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- avoid Jun–Aug (extreme heat), Dec–Feb (cold nights)
- Airport
- KER
- 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 Bam110 ▾
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 Bam, 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
- SafetyBam is generally safe for tourists, but the 2003 earthquake aftermath means some buildings are unstable.
- Emergency numbers110 police · 115 ambulance · 125 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportKER Kerman Airport (About 2 h by car or shared taxi to Bam; flights from Tehran and other major cities.).
- Getting aroundThe city is spread out.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealSimple meal (kebab or stew with rice)IRR 200,000–500,000
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi from centre to citadelcheckIRR 50,000–100,000
- Museum or sight ticketArg-é Bam entrycheckIRR 200,000
- Budget bedDorm bed in guesthouse, a night, per personIRR 500,000
- Mid-range bedPrivate room in guesthouse, a night, per roomIRR 2,500,000
- High-end bedPrivate room in guesthouse, a night, per roomIRR 5,000,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget IRR 2,000,000 · Mid IRR 4,000,000 · High IRR 8,000,000
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
- KER Kerman Airport (About 2 h by car or shared taxi to Bam; flights from Tehran and other major cities.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Feb
Avoid
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Mar
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Apr
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
May
Best
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
Jun
Avoid
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
Jul
Avoid
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
Aug
Avoid
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
Sep
Best
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
Oct
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Dec
Avoid
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Best: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Avoid: Jun–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C) low), wettest Jan (3 rain days), driest Jun (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Bam: 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
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
3 rd
Feb
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
3 rd
Mar
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
3 rd
Apr
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
2 rd
May
36°C (97°F)97°F (36°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
1 rd
Jun
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
0 rd
Jul
41°C (106°F)106°F (41°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
0 rd
Aug
40°C (104°F)104°F (40°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
0 rd
Sep
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
0 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
1 rd
Nov
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
1 rd
Dec
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
2 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
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 & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Rayen
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Shared taxi or bus, about 1 h
Rayen Castle is another adobe citadel, smaller and less rebuilt than Arg-é Bam.
Mahan
cautionDoor to door: About 2.5 h
Taxi or bus via Kerman, about 2 h total
Mahan has the Shrine of Shah Nematollah Vali and the Prince's Garden; best as a stop between Kerman and Bam.
Shahdad
cautionDoor to door: About 2.5 h
Private taxi, about 2 h
Shahdad is the gateway to the Lut Desert kaluts; a full-day trip from Bam.
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.
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.
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 1,500,000–3,000,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- IRR 3,000,000–6,000,000 excl. bed
- High
- IRR 6,000,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Dorm bed in guesthouse1 × 1 night × IRR 500,000 | IRR 500,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × IRR 2,000,000 | IRR 2,000,000 |
| Shared taxi Kerman → Bam1 × IRR 300,000 · check | IRR 300,000 |
| Taxi from Bam centre to citadel (one way)1 × IRR 100,000 · check | IRR 100,000 |
| eSIM for data (about a week)1 × IRR 2,000,000 · check | IRR 2,000,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | IRR 490,000 |
| Trip total≈ IRR 5,390,000 per person per day, bed included | IRR 5,390,000 |
2026 estimate in Iranian rials; prices often spoken in tomans (1 toman = 10 rials). Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Arg-é Bam entrycheck | IRR 200,000 |
| Shared taxi Kerman → Bamcheck | IRR 300,000 |
| Taxi from centre to citadelcheck | 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 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- 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.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 115
- Fire
- 125
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Bamبم
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
به این آدرس لطفاًTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Ambulance115
- Fire125
Embassy
Most foreign embassies are in Tehran; there is no consulate in Bam.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Shared taxi Kerman → Bam: about IRR 300,000, about 2 h (check)
- Taxi centre → citadel: IRR 50,000–100,000 (check)
Say or show
- سلام — Hello (salaam)
- مرسی — Thank you (mersi)
- چنده؟ — How much? (chandeh?)
- ارگ کجاست؟ — Where is the citadel? (arg kojaast?)
- نمیفهمم — I don't understand (nemifahmam)
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 Bam. 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 Jun–Aug (extreme heat), Dec–Feb (cold nights)
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages with verified opening hours for Arg-é Bam and the guesthouse.
- Walking cluster with rescue anchor: the citadel and the main square.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures for the bus terminal and railway station.
Sources
Ask about Bam
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