Getting Around Shiraz
Shiraz is one of Iran's top tourist cities, and getting around it is manageable for a visitor. The city has a metro, a reasonable bus service, plenty of taxis, and a compact historic core that rewards walking. For non-Iranian visitors, taxis are probably the most convenient means of transport, but the metro and buses are useful for longer hops across town.
Metro and Rail
Shiraz has a metro network with two lines open to passengers. Line 1 runs between Ehsan on the north side of the city and Shahid Dastgheyb Airport in the south, which makes it a potential option for airport transfers. Line 2 runs between Imam Hossein on Zand Street and Heroes (Mianrud). The two lines intersect at Imam Hossein Square, so you can change between them there.
Be aware that Line 2 is only semi-active and not fully active from all its stations. Because of a shortage of carriages in the Shiraz Metro, Line 2 runs on limited hours. In practice, this means you should check locally before relying on Line 2 for a time-sensitive trip, and treat Line 1 as the more dependable of the two.
Shiraz also has a main train station, served by several trains per day to Tehran. The station sits well outside the city, so plan your onward connection. On arrival, a bus waits for passengers and takes them to the closest metro station. A taxi from the city centre to the station is another option, though it costs more per person.
Buses and Other Public Transport
The city has a reasonable bus service, which is a cheap way to cover longer distances than you would want to walk. For intercity travel, most long-distance buses depart from Karandish Bus Station, a large building with shops, simple eateries and luggage storage. A smaller terminal, Ali Ibn Hamze Terminal, sits just south of Karandish, next to the river; minibuses to Persepolis depart from there. Note that the two terminals are separate, so don't go inside the large Karandish building if you are looking for the Persepolis minibuses.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are the most convenient option for many visitors. Fares inside the city vary, so be sure to haggle for a good price before getting into the car. Don't be alarmed if an unmarked car stops while you are hailing a taxi: many taxis in Shiraz are unmarked, and private car owners sometimes tout themselves as taxis to supplement their income.
For a more predictable arrangement, look for a reputable "telephone taxi" agency. For a set fee, these drivers will take you to your destination, drive you around town, and even wait while you shop or run errands. All hotels and local residents will have the phone number of one of these agencies. There are also taxis driven by women that specifically cater to women passengers.
If you have mobile internet, the easiest approach is the ride-hailing app Snapp. With Snapp you can see the exact price before ordering, and you can also request a taxi driven by a woman.
Walking
Shiraz is known as the city of poets, literature and flowers, and is considered by some Iranians to be the city of gardens, thanks to the gardens and fruit trees seen throughout the city, such as Eram Garden. The tombs of the poets Hafez and Saadi lie on the north side of the current city boundaries. Much of the sightseeing is spread across the city rather than concentrated in one small quarter, so walking works best for exploring individual areas and gardens rather than as a way to cross the whole city. For longer journeys, combine walking with the metro, buses or taxis.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Shiraz International Airport has regular flights to all major and some smaller cities in Iran, plus international flights to Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Sharjah, Bahrain, Kuwait and Doha. Turkish Airlines operates weekly direct flights from Istanbul to Shiraz and back.
The airport is served by Metro Line 1, which runs between Ehsan in the north and Shahid Dastgheyb Airport in the south, so the metro is one option for reaching the city. Taxis are the other straightforward choice, and for many visitors they will be the most convenient, particularly if you are arriving with luggage or late at night. As elsewhere in the city, agree on the fare beforehand, or book through Snapp if you have mobile internet so you can see the price before you order.