Yazd: arrival and transport
Orientation
Admittedly, orientation in the old town is not necessarily easy. But that is also part of a true Yazd experience. It’s best to just get involved in the winding, narrow streets, because you can be sure: you’ll get lost anyway, but you’ll always get out somehow.
The main sights of the city are within walking distance. They line up in particular in or near the old town. Places like the Towers of Silence are connected with a short driving time. Taxis are the best solution and quite cheap.
Traffic rules
Yazd is located halfway between Isfahan and Kerman, about 700 km southeast of Tehran.
Iranian drivers do not necessarily obey the official traffic rules. As such, traffic is risky for those who are too squeamish about the common “temperament” of Iranian driving.
Officially, the following speed limits apply :
Inner city: 50 km/h
Country roads: 80 km/h
Motorways: 110 km/h
For longer journeys – especially through desert areas – you should take enough fuel with you and find out about the nearest petrol stations.
Alcohol limit Since there is a strict ban on alcohol in Iran, the logical result is an alcohol limit of 0.0 per mille.
Arriving by plane
Yazd Airport is located on the western outskirts of the city and offers international connections to Dubai and Damascus, among others . Daily flights go to Tehran with Iran Air, while Aseman flies to Bandar Abbas in the south of the country.
Arrival by bus
Yazd’s main bus station is located about three kilometers southwest of the city center on Rah Ahan Boulevard. It is right next to the train station and offers connections to Isfahan, Kashan, Bandar Abbas, Kerman, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz, Zahedan and of course Tehran, among others.
The city center can be reached from the bus station with the help of taxis (unit price) and local buses.
Traveling by train
Yazd railway station is right next to the main bus station and is well connected to the Tehran-Bandar Abbas railway line. Trains go to Kerman, Kashan, Ghom, Mashhad and of course to Bandar Abbas and Tehran.
Curiously, it is easier to buy train tickets from Iranian travel agencies than at the train station. Trains fill up quickly, so it’s best to reserve them as far in advance as possible.
Taxis
Taxis are cheap, fast and reliable. Be sure to negotiate the price before you drive, unless there is a meter. Taxis are more expensive at night.
Motorbike taxis are another cheap and fast solution for shorter distances.
Yazd: Excursions
Kawir National Park
The approximately 4,000 sq km large Kawir National Park is a nature reserve on the western edge of the Dasht-e Kawir desert. Wild goats, wolves, gazelles, wild sheep and striped hyenas live in the barren desert and steppe landscape. They are joined by the Persian leopard and the very rare Asiatic cheetah. The salt lake Daryācheh-ye Namak spreads out near the park.
Na’in
North of Yazd lies this small and quiet desert town which, despite its location and proximity to Yazd, presents a completely different picture than its big neighbour. The landscape and monuments of Na’in are wonderful and definitely worth a visit.
Toudeshk-Cho
On the road between Isfahan and Yazd, Toudeshk-Cho is a quaint traditional desert village that is very popular with tourists as it offers an authentic glimpse into the ordinary life of the villagers. Backpackers in particular love the place and stay there at the Tak-Taku Homestay with Mohammad, who has countless stories and information ready.
Yazd: Well-known people
Mohammad Reza Aref (b. 1951)
Mohammad Reza Aref, an Iranian politician and scientist, was born in Yazd in 1951. He currently works at the Sharif University of Technology in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
Haj Mohammad Taghi Barkhordar (1940-1979)
Barkhordar is one of the pioneers of Iranian industrialization. A mosque, a street and even an entire district in Yazd are named after him.
Sayyed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi (b. 1957)
In 2008, the ayatollah Sayed Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi was transferred to Yazd Central Prison, where he has been in solitary confinement since January 2009. The ayatollah, born in Tehran in 1957 and author of many treatises, has been accused of claiming to be a representative of the Mahdi, the so-called Hidden Imam. According to Shia belief, this 12th Imam will one day return to rule the Islamic world empire.
Moshe Katzav (born 1945)
Moshe Katzav is a former politician who served as Israel’s eighth president from 2000 to 2007.
Mehdi Azar Yazdi (1921-2009)
The writer, who was born in Yazd, wrote numerous children’s books, of which “Good Stories for Good Children” won the UNESCO prize in 1966 and was considered the best book of 1967. His book “Adam” was honored as the best book of the year 1968.
Mohammad-Taghi Mesbah Yazdi (b. 1934)
As the name easily suggests, this Shia ayatollah and (one might say) chief ideologue of the Iranian government was born in Yazd. He was also considered the spiritual mentor of former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
