“Welcome to Mashhad”

Let’s read an ultimate Mashhad travel guide to find all essential information about the must-see destination in Iran.

When speaking from Mashhad, we will remember the shrine of Imam Reza (AS).

Mashhad, as the Iranian religious tourism pole, is among the cities that are full of domestic and foreign passengers everywhere. Holy Mashhad located in the northeastern part of Iran and center of Khorasan Province Razavi, the city is one of the holiest pilgrim sites for Muslims.

The weather of Mashhad and the best season for travel

Mashhad’s climate is very variable due to the geographical location, but in general, temperate climates are cold and dry. So that the city has very cold and wet winters and warm and dry summer, and the average temperature in the summer reaches 43 degrees, in the winter to a negative 20 degrees.

Mashhad is very crowded in the summer because of the holidays, it is also very hot, and the price of hotels is rising, but in the winter, the town is less crowded and hotels are cheaper, but you should bear cold air. Remember that during the holidays, especially like the birth and martyrdom of Imam Reza, Tashara and Ashura, Eid al-Fitr and Eid Norouz, and religious holidays, Mashhad and shrine are very busy. Generally, the golden time to travel to Mashhad in terms of climate and population is late spring and early fall.

  What to Visit in Mashhad – Best Places in Mashha| Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Mashhad

Along with the religious aspect of the trip to Mashhad, which is a pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Reza (AS), are some of the historical places that I suggest you visit.

The sights of Mashhad are so many that you may not be able to visit it once. Of course, many people travel to this holy city only to visit the shrine of Imam Reza (AS) and other religious places in Mashhad.

Imam Reza Shrine

The shrine of Imam Reza was formed due to the martyrdom of the eighth Imam of the Shiites, who migrated to Merv 1200 years ago at the invitation of the then caliph and was martyred in this region.

The construction of the structures of the shrine began 1000 years ago and continues to this day, and now with an area of ​​one million square meters and with courtyards, porches, museums, halls, restaurants and office complexes to a large It is the most famous religious building in the world and is a religious, cultural attraction.

Goharshad Mosque

Goharshad Mosque with its special architecture is a complete example of an Iranian mosque with an area of ​​more than 9000 square meters, built by order of Goharshad, Shahrokh’s wife in the Timurid era. Due to the proximity of this mosque next to the shrine of Imam Reza (AS) and having eight large and small entrance doors to the shrine, it is known as one of the sights of Mashhad. Goharshad Mosque has four porches, among which you will find large naves that will surprise you with their attractive mirrors and bedding. The domed arches and minarets of this mosque show themselves with beautiful beds and muqarnas.

Tomb of Nader Shah Afshar

The tomb of Nader Shah Afshar was reopened in 1342 in the Naderi Garden of Mashhad by the efforts of the National Monuments Association of Iran and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. This tomb was built in a garden with a total area of ​​14,400 square meters. The atmosphere of Nader Shah Afshar’s tomb and museum is very different and solid like him. The main area of ​​Nader Shah Afshar’s tomb is 12,000 square meters and consists of different parts such as three west, east and south porches that are connected and consist of three corridors and three stairs. The main building of the Naderi Tomb was designed by Houshang Seyhoun and its tomb was built 2 meters above the ground in the form of a tent and a nomadic tent on a twelve-step platform. Visiting Naderi Museum and Tomb, you can see the statue of Nader Shah Afshar riding a horse with three other people who are following him.

Tomb of Ferdowsi

Hakim Abolghasem Ferdowsi is one of the proudest Iranian poets. Ferdowsi’s tomb is located 28 km west of Toos, which was registered in the list of national monuments of Iran in April 1963.

The tomb is built in a 600-hectare garden with 945 meters of infrastructure with stone, concrete, and tiles, and there is a museum and library next to it. The architecture of the interior of the tomb dates back to the Parthian period and has 20 marble columns at the bottom and 8 columns at the top. Ferdowsi’s tomb has three parts. In the first part of the tomb is the Ferdowsi tombstone, whose dimensions reach 1 by 1.5 meters. Ferdowsi’s tomb in this section is made of marble on a platform half a meter above the ground.

Koohsangi Recreation Place

Koohsangi is one of the oldest and most famous tourist places in Mashhad, which is called because of the existence of two Rocky Mountains overlooking the city. Koohsangi Park is located southwest of Mashhad.

Torqabeh and Shandiz Mashhad ( The pleasure of nature )

In addition to unique tourist destinations, Mashhad is also famous for its delicious food and unique kebabs. When traveling to Mashhad, never forget to visit the summer areas of Torqabeh and Shandiz. Shandiz and Torqabeh are pleasant weather areas outside the city of Mashhad.

In Torqabeh and Shandiz restaurants of Mashhad, a variety of delicious kebabs and other Iranian dishes are served. The experience of serving food in seasonal restaurants in summer areas with unique climate is one of the attractions of traveling to Mashhad.

Bazeh Hoor Fire Temple (Touch the history of religions)

This ancient fire temple is located 70 km southwest of Mashhad. This unique temple and fire temple is one of the Zoroastrian religious sites that have been registered in the list of national monuments.

Bazeh means valley and Hoor means sun, which in combination with Hoor means valley of the sun. The building is made of stone and plaster. This building belongs to the late Parthian and early Sassanid periods and belongs to the third century AD. The dome of this building is made contrary to the usual method. In this building, wooden beams have been placed in the corners of the square base of the building and turned the square into an octagon. 

The Best Mashhad Food Guide

Shishlik

When it comes to the name of Mashhad and special food, Shishlik is the first option. Making this type of kebab in a way that is tasty and juicy requires a lot of skill, Mashhadis prepare one of the most delicious kebabs in Iran by using exceptional techniques.

Shole

One of the most delicious foods of Mashhad with a very high nutritional value is called shole, which is composed of various beans. Mashhadi shole is also registered in the list of the spiritual heritage of Iran and is mostly cooked in religious ceremonies with special etiquette.

How to find restaurants and special dishes in Mashhad?

Here we have categorized the best restaurants in Mashhad from the people’s point of view so that you can decide more easily. Restaurants like:

Eram Shandiz Restaurant

Without exaggeration, one of the best shishlik kebabs in Mashhad is also prepared in this restaurant. There are benches in the courtyard of the restaurant where you can enjoy the beautiful atmosphere. On cold days, customers sit indoors in a very modern environment.

Moein Darbari Restaurant 

Haj Asghar MoienDarbari built this restaurant during the reign of Mozaffar al-Din Shah, which is currently on the list of the oldest restaurants in Iran and Mashhad. If you go to this restaurant, do not forget to try the Moien kebab

Pesaran-E Karim Restaurant 

In fact, the most popular food of this restaurant is pilaf muscle. Many travelers come here to serve this food.

 Padideh Shandiz Restaurant

Shandiz Recreation Village is located in the Shandiz summer area. Many tourists go to this pleasant climate area just to eat shishlik kebab. 

On the other hand, if you want to try the local cuisine of Mashhad, it is better to get acquainted with them first:

Mixed pilaf is also one of the most delicious dishes and is a combination of beans and pilaf. In cooking this food, meat, rice, onion, carrot, tomato paste, and various spices are used.

Lakhshak soup is a rich source of iron. Lentils are used with hot onions, noodles, curd, and hot mint, and it is almost similar to ordinary noodle soup, which uses lentils instead of beans.

Souvenirs of Mashhad

Saffron is one of the most valuable agricultural products of Khorasan and one of the famous souvenirs of Mashhad.

Barberry is the second souvenir of Mashhad (Mashhad is one of the largest producers of barberry in the world).

Turquoise and antique have a special place in Mashhad and are included in the list of souvenirs as ornamental and decorative stones.

Nabat is one of the delicious candy souvenirs of Mashhad. Nabat is used in traditional medicine.

Best Shopping Malls in Mashhad 

There are several shopping centers in Mashhad and their number is increasing day by day, the most modern of which can be referred to as the Almas-e Shargh shopping Mall, Armitaj Mall shopping center, and Arman.