Mashhad Getting there & around

Getting there & away

During peak seasons long-distance transport can be booked up months ahead.

Land

Bus, minibus & taxi

All of Mashhad’s numerous transport terminals are well out of the centre. However, most long distance bus services can be pre-booked at relatively central Binalood Travel (852 5580; Imam Reza St).

Other terminals

For Sarakhs, infrequent buses (IR10, 000, three hours) leave from the new Istgah Sarakhs (Sarakhs Blvd), about 700m east of Sarakhs Sq. More regular savaris (IR30, 000, two hours) depart from a point somewhat further east. Get to either by bus 64 from Mosallah Blvd.

For Kalat Naderi, savaris (IR25, 000, two hours) leave from Bareh Noghari Sq on the northern ring road, reached by bus 35 from Tabarsi St. Very rare buses to Kalat (IR8000, 3½ hours) leave from a hidden yard 300m to the southeast. Savaris to Quchan (back/front IR15, 000/20, 000, 1½ hours) and Bojnurd (IR30, 000/35, 0000, three hours) leave from Falakeh Park, a 15-minute ride on buses 12 or 25 from the Haram, or on bus 13 from Falakeh Ab via Charahe Lashkar. Buses to Quchan (IR6000, two hours) and Bojnurd (IR12, 000, four hours) start 500m further north up Azadi Hwy (beyond Sajjad Blvd) and also pick up at a spot 6km further northwest along the motorway.

Change in Quchan for Bajgiran (and then Turkmenistan).

Buses for Tus (frequent), Torqabeh (122), Abardeh (122, regular) and Zoshk (124, rare) leave from Falakeh Ferdosi. That’s most conveniently reached by bus 210 from Falakeh Ab or by shuttle taxi (IR1250) from Tohid Blvd at Shohoda Sq. Buses to Kang leave from Kuhestan Park five times daily.

For Radkan Tower, start by heading to Chenaran. Savaris leave from the west end of Ferdosi Blvd, minibuses from the old TBT garage on Garani Blvd (the western extension of Tohid St).

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Air

International services

Iran Aseman (225 8200; Andarzgu St) has flights to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan, single/return IR2, 350, 000/3, 664, 000, Tuesday), Dushanbe (Tajikistan, IR2, 020, 000/2, 840, 000, Tuesday), Kuwait (IR1, 050, 000/1, 850, 000, Wednesday and Friday) and Kabul (IR1, 820, 000/2, 300,000 Monday). KamAir (www.flykamair.ca) also flies to Kabul (IR1, 334, 000/2, 330, 000, Saturday). To go further afield, use connections via Bahrain with Gulf Air (IR1, 817, 000/3, 129, 000, twice weekly) or Doha with Qatar Airways (IR2, 135, 000/3, 578, 000, thrice weekly). Check out Jazeera Airways (www.jazeeraairways.com) for budget flights from Kuwait (Wednesday and Friday in season), starting at 15 Kuwaiti dinars (US$52).

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