Getting Around Yazd
Yazd is a compact, desert city whose main sights cluster tightly together, which makes getting around refreshingly simple. Most of what a visitor wants to see sits in the old town near the Friday Mosque, and the warren of old passages and buildings between them is best enjoyed slowly and on foot. Pick up a good map from your hotel before you set out.
Walking the Old Town
Walking is the default way to explore Yazd. Most places in the old town are within easy walking distance of each other, so you can move between the Friday Mosque, the covered lanes, and the surrounding historic quarter without needing any transport at all. Given the city's desert climate, plan your walking for the cooler parts of the day and take the shaded, narrow routes where you can.
Yazd also has a genuine cycling heritage — it is known as the "City of Bicycles" for its early adoption of cycling and its strong bicycle culture, which is reported to have originated here through contact with European visitors in the nineteenth century. If you prefer two wheels to two feet, this is a city where that instinct is well established.
Buses and Public Transport
Local buses operate across Yazd and work with a pre-paid card, so if you plan to use them regularly it is worth sorting out a card rather than paying per ride. Buses are a practical option for reaching parts of the city beyond the old town.
The main intercity bus station sits quite far out from the city centre and has cafes and shops inside the building. To get from there into town, public buses depart frequently and run to the Shehneh Bus Station, which is close to the city centre; from Shehneh you can pick up a bus to virtually any part of Yazd, including the old town. The bus stop at the main station is by a little white hut in front of the building. A taxi booth also operates in front of the bus station if you would rather ride directly.
On the rail side, Yazd's train station connects the city to the wider national network, with services toward Tehran, Kerman, Kashan and Isfahan. There is no train connection to Shiraz. Yazd has no metro or tram system, so buses, taxis and walking cover local movement.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are inexpensive and a straightforward way to cross the city; a ride anywhere inside Yazd falls in a modest price band. Motorcycle taxis are another fast and cheap option for getting around, but agree on a price beforehand to avoid surprises.
Ride-hailing is available through Snapp, which works much like Uber and is described as cheap and efficient — a convenient choice if you want a fixed, app-arranged fare. For longer trips out of the city, taxis can also be hired to nearby destinations such as Na'in, including routes that take in the Chak Chak and Meybod sights, or onward to Isfahan.
Arriving by Air
Shahid Sadooghi International Airport (AZD) serves Yazd and sits west of the old town area. It handles international flights to Dubai along with daily flights to Tehran and Mashhad. From the airport, the practical options into the city are a taxi or a pre-arranged transfer; once you reach the centre, the old town and its sights are within easy walking distance of one another.
Practical Tips
- Base yourself near the old town if you can — most sights are walkable from there.
- Get a good map from your hotel before exploring the old passages.
- For local buses, use a pre-paid card rather than paying per ride.
- Agree on a price before taking a motorcycle taxi.
- Use Snapp for cheap, efficient app-based rides.
- From the main bus station, take the frequent bus to Shehneh Bus Station to reach the centre, or use the taxi booth outside.