Bandar Abbas (or Bandar-e Abbas) is a city in Hormozgān.
Understand
editBandar Abbas is a port town and many of its residents come from other parts of Iran for work. It is inadvisable to swim in the sea as it is polluted. The original inhabitants of Bander Abbas are known as Banduris and can often be spotted for their colourful clothing and burqas. Most of the city shuts down between 14:00 and 18:00, as it is too hot to do anything but the mildest activities.
Get in
editBy plane
editBy train
editBy car
editBy bus
editBy boat
editTravelling by boat is common in the Strait of Hormuz as distances are short and there are numerous islands. There are several weekly international ferries from Sharjah, an hour north of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, run by Valfajr Shipping Company[dead link]. Also, National Ferries Company runs ferries from Khasab, the Omani enclave located at the tip of Musandam Peninsula. Daily local ferries connects with the nearby islands of Hormuz and Qeshm.
Being a major freight port, freighter travel to Bandar Abbas from Pakistan and India might be a possible alternative.
Get around
editSee
editBandar isn’t blessed with a lot of must-see sights – actually, none – but it’s not totally devoid of flavour. The lively bazaar rambles its way across two blocks just back from the seafront, and is probably the most colourful part of town. A seafront promenade leads east and has an evening flea market. At its end, the busy fish market is full of charismatic old salts happy to pose for pictures with their catch. Work on the huge mosque a few metres east of the bazaar seems to have restarted despite local concerns that the engineering is not good enough for a major earthquake zone.
- Cultural Museum of Handicrafts
Do
edit- Genoo thermal spring, Sirjan Road (34 km northeast of Bandar Abbas). This spring is 34 km northeast of town, on the Bandar Abbas - Sirjan Road. The water from this spring, which is high in dissolved calcium and sulfates, is also used for irrigating the palm groves or plantations as well as for bathing purposes. There are two segregated pools for ladies and gents.
Buy
editEat
editDrink
editSleep
editBudget
edit- Mema Pazir Bouali, US$15 for 4 beds, $11 for a double
- Kowsar Hotel, $37 for a twin room
Budgeteers (solo travellers in particular) won't have an easy time in Bandar. Be prepared to spend big, or head elsewhere.
Mid-range
editSplurge
edit- 1 Hormoz Hotel (هتل هرمز), ☏ +98 920 218 4280.
- 2 Bandar Abbas Homa Hotel (هتل هما), ☏ +98 76 3351 9513.