Birjand

Birjand is the capital city of South Khorasan province, Iran.

Get in

• 1 Birjand International Airport (XBJ  ^IATA). Connections from Tehran and Baghdad.  

See

• 1 Furg Citadel (Arg e Furg), Furg Village. Citadel from the 12th century. (updated Dec 2017)
• 2 Akbariyeh Garden & Museum (باغ و موزه اکبریه), Moallem St (behind Library of Imam Reza), ☏ +98 917 425 7008. UNESCO heritage site. Rows of pine trees and sunken terraces and such. (updated Nov 2020)
• 3 Birjand Castle (قلعه بیرجند) (on the northwest side of city). It has got a pretty wowee look to it - big ramparts and turrets made of clay and brick. And then you can look down on the town from the top, and have a meal at the restaurant there. It dates from the Safavid era when the inhabitants were trying to fight off theTurks and Uzbekis. (updated Nov 2020)
• 4 Kolah Farangi Citadel (ارگ کلاه‌فرنگی بیرجند). A palace built during the Qajar dynasty (i.e. 1789-1925) with some ziggurat features. Now the government buildings for South Khorasan so not much in the way of snooping around possible. (updated Nov 2020)

قلعه تاریخی بیرجند

Buy

• 1 Bazar, Hakimnezari St. Covered marketplace with various stalls. Fruit, knick-knacks, etc. (updated Nov 2020)

Eat

• 1 Shamso Alemare Traditional Restaurant (رستوران سنتی شمس‌العماره), ☏ +98 56 3245 4220. 12ː00-15ː00, 19ː00-23ː00 daily. Try some Iranian standards here, looking out on an inner courtyard. (updated Nov 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Sepehr Hotel (هتل سپهر), Jomhuri, ☏ +98 56 3223 2299. Restaurant and pool on site. Wifi may not be the best. (updated Nov 2020)
• 2 Mountain Hotel (هتل کوهستان) (in Zolfaghari Brothers Tourist Village by Amir Shah Dam south of Birjand), ☏ +98 56 5832 3370. It looks like a major fortification. Not likely to miss it slapped up against a mountainside. Pool, gardens, restaurant, billiards. (updated Nov 2020)