Yazd Attractions
The adobe city of Yazd is one of the Iran UNESCO Sites, situated between, the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut deserts. Winding alleys, wind catchers, mud-brick houses with wooden doors, and ancient Qanats are the most significant Yazd highlights. It is noteworthy that the adobe architecture of Yazd, along with beauty, is a solution to the environmental crises. Moreover, Yazd has friendly inhabitants, and the desert dwellers who live in the surrounding villages have kept their indigenous lifestyle. Furthermore, Yazd is home to Zoroastrian followers. So you can find many historical monuments and traditions representing the Zoroastrian Religion. Join us to introduce you to the most significant Yazd attractions and their details, like opening hours and entrance fees.
Yazd Tourist Attractions List
Amir Chakhmaq Complex
Amir Chakhmaq is an ancient square that houses several National Heritage Sites, including the mosque, bazaar, water reservoir, caravanserai, and mausoleum. Also, this Square belongs to the Timurid era. Moreover, Amir Chakhmaq is the city’s symbol and one of the most important Yazd points of interest. Nowadays, the square is the center for social manifestations, such as the Ashura festival. Due to the particular lighting, Amir Chakhmaq Square is lovely during the evening.
Amirchachmaq Mosque: it is also known as New Jame Mosque and is the oldest structure in the Amirchakhmaq Complex. Standing on the south of the square, it is the second most important mosque in Yazd, after the Jame Mosque. One entrance to the mosque is from the adjacent alley, and the other way into it is from the courtyard of the Sati Fatima mausoleum. Moreover, the mosque has two sections called winter and summer parts. In the winter part, there is an entrance corridor that its light is provided by daylight reflection of its marble walls. on the other hand, in the summer part, there is a beautiful windcatcher above the altar.
Opening Hours
Every day
8:00 to 20:00
Entrance Fee
3€
Visit duration
1 to 2 Hours
Yazd Water Museum
Water Museum at the northern side of Amir Chakhmaq Square is a place where you can see old water-related objects. The museum presents photographs, exhibits, and architectural drawings that indicate how the desert dwellers provided their water. Moreover, You can see the status of people doing aqueduct work. Finally, all the mentioned objects along with a visible qanat running underneath the building, make this museum one of the most valuable Yazd attractions.
Opening Hours
Every day
9:00 to 13:00 and 16:30 to 20:00
in spring and summer.
8:00 to 14:30 and 15:30 to 19:00
in fall and winter.
Entrance Fee
3€
Visit duration
1 to 2 Hours
Zoroastrian Fire Temple
The fire temple is the Zoroastrian worship place where a holy fire is kept in a special place in the temple. Accordingly, the most important religious worship, including reading the holy books, takes place in front of the fire. Yazd Fire Temple is one of these temples built during the first Pahlavi era and is the most respected site to Zoroastrians. Moreover, due to the Fire that has been believed to burned continuously since 1500 years ago, this place is one of the most popular Yazd points of interest. The room of this sacred fire is in the middle of the building, surrounded by prayer rooms.
Opening Hours
Every day
7:30 to 21:00
Entrance Fee
5€
Visit duration
1 to 2 Hours
Dowlat Abad Garden
Dowlat Abad Gardens is one of the oldest Persian gardens with a worldwide reputation and one of the top Yazd attractions. The garden is over 260 years old and has been registered as a World UNESCO Heritage Site. On every corner of the 6.4-hectare Dowlat Abad garden, there is a sign of paradise. The garden is full of fruit trees, cypress, pine, and flowers. At the end of the lines of the trees and the long pool, we reach the famous mansion, which has the world’s tallest windcatcher.
As the sun sets, the lanterns light up and change the of the garden atmosphere. Also, Lighting of the whole garden and the windcatcher is fascinating during the evening.
Opening Hours
Every day
7:30 to 22:00
Entrance Fee
3€
Visit duration
1 to 3 Hours
Old City of Yazd (Historic City of Yazd)
Winding alleys passing through a forest of wind catchers and mud-brick houses form the adobe city of Yazd, a living UNESCO Site. Wandering maze-like adobe alleys, visiting the locals who have kept their indigenous lifestyle, taking a photo of the picturesque adobe houses with wooden doors are all the experiences that attract numerous tourists to Yazd. On the other hand, this city is a living testimony to the apply of limited resources for residing in the hostile environment and arid nature of the desert. Accordingly, the desert dwellers used mud-brick architecture to avoid the hot and dry climate of Yazd. In other words, Yazd represents the sustainable adobe architecture of the desert. Along with beauty, this kind of architecture is a solution to the environmental crises.
As the sun sets, the lanterns light up and change the of the garden atmosphere. Also, Lighting of the whole garden and the windcatcher is fascinating during the evening.
Opening Hours
Open 24 Hours
Entrance Fee
Free
Visit duration
1 to 3 Hours
Zoroastrian Towers of Silence (Zoroastrian’s Dakhmeh)
The ancient Zoroastrians used Towers of Silence or Dakhmeh as a cemetery to place their deceased relatives. But to avoid contaminating the soil, they didn’t Burry the bodies. Instead, they placed the bodies to be exposed to the birds and predators to feed upon them. As Dakhmeh had to have easy access for predators, it was built distant from population centers. It is fascinating to walk around the cylinder-shaped tower and experience an indescribable and mysterious atmosphere of this ancient monument. Where some visitors say that they feel that they can hear the silence. Although there are several Dakhmeh in the different cities of Iran, Yazd Towers of Silence are the most important ones and the must-see Yazd points of interest as well.
Opening Hours
Every day
8:00 to 19:00
in spring and summer.
8:00 to 17:00
in fall and winter.
Entrance Fee
6€
Visit duration
1.5 to 2 Hours
Jameh Mosque of Yazd
Perhaps the most significant. Yazd highlight is the peaceful life of Muslims along with Zoroastrians, which has created the mosques and fire temples near each other. So, not far from Zoroastrian Fire Temple, Jameh Mosque (Friday Mosque), the most important mosque in Yazd stands in the old city. This masterpiece of architecture was built on a Sassanid fire temple’s site about 800 years ago.
Due to its unique architecture, tall entry portals, and two lofty minarets, Jame mosque is one of the prominent Yazd attractions. Notably, the minarets of the Yazd Grand Mosque, with a height of about 52 meters, which are observable from outside of the town, are on the list of the tallest minarets in the world. Furthermore, the calligraphy works, picturesque plaster works, outstanding azure tile works, beautiful courtyard, and Iwans, charming dome, are the other features of this masterpiece of art.
Finally, the diversity of the decorations, materials, and colors reflect the Jameh mosque’s reconstructions during the time.
Opening Hours
Every day
8:00 to 19:30
in spring and summer.
8:30 to 18:00
in fall and winter.
Entrance Fee
3€
Visit duration
1 Hours
Alexander's Prison (Ziaeye School)
Alexander’s Prison, a famous old school with a mysterious history, dates back to about eight centuries ago. It takes the name of “Alexander’s Prison” from a reference in one of the Hafez Poems.
In this monument, you will not find decorations such as tile works, and raw clay is the only material used to build this simple and beautiful building.
Like most of Yazd attractions, Alexander’s Prison is made of clay and has tall windcatcher. However, a little decoration such as painting with gold and azure watercolours decorated its 18-meter-high dome, which only the parts on the white plaster can be seen. Notably, there is a giant hole in this monument which firstly was assumed to be a dungeon built by Alexander the Great. However, after further investigations, it was determined that the hole was formed during ancient underground water pipe network construction.
Opening Hours
Every day
8:00 to 19:30
Entrance Fee
3€
Visit duration
15 to 45 Mins
Saheb A Zaman Zurkhaneh
Zurkhaneh is a traditional Iranian gym where you can see the performance of the athletes. At the center of the saloon, there is a hexagonal sunken area called “Gowd” where the exercises and performances take place. The athletes wear similar clothes and do harmonious exercises with a specific rhythm, while the audiences watch them from the stone benches around the Gowd. It is interesting to know that “Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei Rituals” in Iran were registered on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Saheb A Zaman Zurkhaneh, located in Amir Chakhmagh Complex, is one of the distinct Yazd attractions that you´d better not miss. Besides, it lays in an ancient water reservoir that belongs to about 500 years ago and is open to the public. After all. Note that the performances are performed in 40-minute to one-hour sessions. The zurkhaneh exercises and shows are not performed on Fridays
Opening Hours
Every day
9:00 to 21:00
Entrance Fee
6€
Visit duration
45 Mins to 1 Hour
Yazd Khan Bazaar
Yazd Khan Bazaar is a live market one of the popular Yazd attractions. This traditional Bazaar located in the historical center of Yazd was built during the Afsharid and Qajar dynasties. The Khan Bazaar with a length of 274 meters and about 5 meters in width includes several Bazaarcheh (small bazaar), Timcheh, and corridors. Accordingly, this market is the trade hub for selling Termeh, copper works, different kinds of sweets, etc. Besides, this bazaar is valuable in terms of history and architecture. As a result, you can enjoy a couple of hours strolling in this place, meeting locals, and buying Iran souvenirs.
Opening Hours
Every day, except Fridays
8:00 to 20:00
Entrance Fee
Free
Visit duration
1 to 2 Hours
Lariha House
Lariha House with an area of about 1700 square meters, located in the Fahadan neighbourhood, is one of the beautiful Yazd attractions. This Historical residence belonged to Hadji Mohammad Ebrahim Lari and was built in 1869 during the Qajar Era. Lariha house consists of six houses which have special architecture and decoration including the tall windcatchers, elegant archways, delicate plaster-works and gorgeous stained-glass windows.
Opening Hours
Every day
8:00 to 20:00
Entrance Fee
3€
Visit duration
30 Mins to 1 Hour