IR
Yazd
A mudbrick desert city of windcatchers and fire temples
A mudbrick desert city of windcatchers and fire temples
Yazd’s UNESCO-listed old city is a warren of tall mudbrick alleys, courtyards and domes crowned by badgirs, ancient windcatcher towers that funnel cool air into the houses.
💡 Head to a rooftop cafe at sunset for the sea of windcatchers.
The city’s landmark facade of tiered arched alcoves glows beautifully when lit at night, fronting a lively square with a bazaar and traditional confectioners.
💡 Come after dark when the facade is floodlit.
Yazd’s grand Friday mosque boasts one of Iran’s tallest tiled portals and a soaring pair of minarets, its intricate turquoise and cobalt tilework a masterpiece of Persian art.
💡 The towering entrance portal is stunning at golden hour.
The Atashkadeh shelters a sacred flame said to have burned continuously for over 1,500 years, a focal point of Yazd’s living Zoroastrian community.
💡 A small museum explains the faith and the eternal flame.
On the desert edge, these hilltop circular towers were where Zoroastrians once laid their dead for sky burial, an evocative, windswept site with views over the city.
💡 Climb up in the cooler late afternoon for the light and views.
Yazd is famous across Iran for its sweets, above all baklava, qottab and pashmak (Persian cotton candy), best bought fresh from historic confectioners. Local dishes include shevid polo (dill rice) and hearty desert stews, often enjoyed in atmospheric courtyard restaurants set in restored mansions. Rooftop teahouses serve tea and qalyan with sunset views over the windcatchers; alcohol is prohibited.
Lose yourself in the mudbrick lanes, visit the Jameh Mosque and Amir Chakhmaq, and watch sunset over the windcatchers from a rooftop.
See the eternal flame at the Fire Temple and the Towers of Silence, then relax in a courtyard teahouse with local sweets.
Entry requirements and travel advisories for Iran change; verify the latest guidance and visa rules before booking.
Yazd’s restored mudbrick guesthouses are an experience in themselves; book one in the old town.
International cards do not work; bring foreign cash to exchange or a local tourist card.
Women must wear a headscarf; the desert is hot by day and cool at night, so bring layers.
Capital Tehran, the domes of Isfahan, poetic Shiraz, desert Yazd and ancient Persepolis — the great highlights of Persia.