Kerman

Kerman is the capital of Kerman, in southeastern Iran.

Understand

Kerman is a city with 677,650 inhabitants (2006), on a sandy plain, 1749 m above sea level. Kerman is the largest carpet producing and exporting center in Iran, and a large producer of pistachios on the world market.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani Airport (Kerman International Airport KER  ^IATA). has regular flights to some major and smaller cities in Iran and a few foreign cities. The destinations include Tehran (5-6 flights per day), Mashad, Kish Island (2 flights per week) Ahvaz , Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz , Zahedan, Bandar Abbas, Dubai, Najaf and Karbala (1 flight per week)  

By bus

Kerman is well connected to most parts of the country. Taxi from bus station to the city maximum 70000 rials.

By car

Freeways connect the city to Yazd (300 km), Zahedan, Bandar Abbas (600 km), Birjand and Shiraz (600 km), Mashhad (1,200) km.

By train

Kerman is connected to the whole railway network of Iran. It is connected to Yazd and Zahedan.

• 2 Kerman railway station (ایستگاه راه‌آهن کرمان). (updated Jul 2021)

Get around

You can get around the city by taxi or bus. You can also go to the small towns such as Mahan, Shahdad, and villages such as Sirch, Zangi-Abad, by bus or taxi.

See

• Mouyedi Ice-House - There are several small-gardens around this ice-house which were filled with the water in winter, then after that the water iced, the ices lead to the ice-house to use in summer.
• Jameh mosque - The Friday mosque. Conciled entrance from teh bazar, another entrance from the main street near Sohada square.
• Malek mosque (Imam mosque) - A gem of a mosque!
• National Library, housed in a former a textile factory.
• Museum of the Holy Defense - Interesting installation in the courtyard, depicting a battlefield in the Shatt-el-arab. Admission 3000 rials.
• Takht-e Dargah-e Gholi Beyg - A monument in the side of the hills in the east of Kerman.
• Ghal'e Dokhtar - A historical castle in the hills in the east of Kerman; attributed to the Ashkanian era.
• Ghal'e Ardeshir - A historical castle in the hills in the east of Kerman; attributed to the Ashkanian era.
• 1 Kerman Bazaar, Arg sq. Stretching for 1200 m, from Arg Sq northeast to Moshtag Sq, this is one of the oldest trading centres in Iran. The main thoroughfare is made up of four smaller bazaars, and a further 20 or so branch off to the north and south. It is, however, easy enough to navigate and has an interesting vivacity, especially in the morning and late afternoon. Free. (updated Dec 2017)
• Ganjali Khan Square - It is similar to "Naghshe Jahan" and "Mirchakhmaq" squares. The bazaars are located in three side of square and in the fourth side, the Ganjali Khan School is established.
• Ganjalikhan bath - A historic bath. Access from inside the bazaar.
• Ganjali Khan Mosque - It is located in the north-west of square and near Ganjalikhan School. It was constructed in 1007 AH (1694-95 CE).
• Zarabkhaneh museum - It is located in the north side of square. This eight-angle place includes an arch, four porticoes and four booths in four views. Now, it has changed to coin museum.
• 2 Gonbad-e- Jabaliyeh (گنبد جبليه), Shohada Ave. Moshtaghiyeh Sq. Kerman. 09:00-14:00, 15:00-17:00. Jabalieh or Rock Dome, also known as the Gabri Dome, Gonbad-e Jabaliyeh, Gonbad-e Jabalīyeh, etc., is a place of historical importance in Iran. It was constructed of stone and brick, though the building is of stone and gypsum, and its architectural affects were inspired from the Sassanid period. It was repaired during the first decades after the arrival of Islam in Iran. 150,000 rials. (updated Oct 2017)
• 3 Sanati Museum, Shahid beheshti Ave. Kerman.. Occupying a former orphanage, this art museum is a pleasant surprise in a town that can otherwise feel a long way from modern cultural pursuits. In a Qajar-era building set around an attractive courtyard, the museum houses paintings, sculptures and stone inlays by famous local artist Sayyed Ali Akbar Sanati (1916–2006), who spent most of his childhood in the orphanage. It also exhibits works by younger Iranian artists and even a bronze hand by Auguste Rodin. Not surprisingly, it’s a good place to meet open-minded young Kermanis. (updated Oct 2017)
• 4 Moshtaghiye Dome (Three domes), 17 Shahrivar. Moshtaghiye Square.. Moshtaghiye is the tomb of one of Sufis leaders whose name is Moshtagh Alishah. This place at first was the tomb of Mir Hossein Khan who was the ruler of Kerman in Zands era and after the death of Karim Khan Zand. Free. (updated Oct 2017)
• 5 Museum of Zoroastrianism and Temple, Sohada Ave.Moshtaghiyeh Sq. Kerman. A museum that displays Zoroastrianism customs, and objects. All explanations and names are in Persian. 100000 rials. (updated Mar 2019)

Nearby

• 6 Rayen Castle. On a day trip you can visit the magnificent old citadel (similar to Bam). It is well-preserved but has no explanation texts. 150,000 rials. (updated Nov 2016)
• 7 Shazdeh's garden, Mahan, Kerman. Mahan is 30 km away. There you can see Shazdeh's garden which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers about 5.5 hectares, with a rectangular shape and a wall around it. The garden is a fine example of Persian gardens that take advantage of a suitable natural climate and also contains the Shah-Ne'matollah-e-Vali monument. 200,000 rials. (updated Nov 2016)
• 8 Fathabad Garden, Zangi Abad Road. Fathabad Garden is a historical Persian garden located near Kerman. (updated Oct 2017)
• 9 Shah Nimatullah Wali Shrine, Mahan. Kerman.. Free. (updated Oct 2017)
• 10 Kaluts (Kalut Shahdad Desert) (east of Kerman). Sandstone type formations arise in this barren expanse are beautiful natural desert phenomena and perhaps unique in all the world. May require some resourcefulness getting there (pretty remote, don't count on too much blacktop). Free. (updated Oct 2017)

Do

• 1 Sadeh Celebration, Sadeh St. Kerman.. Sadeh (Persian: سده also ransliterated as Sade), is an ancient Iranian festival that dates back to the first Persian Empire. The biggest celebration of Sadeh hold in Kerman. Sadeh celebrates 50 days before Nowruz. Sadeh in Persian means "hundred" and refers to one hundred days and nights past the end of summer. It was a festivity to honor fire and to defeat the forces of darkness, frost, and cold. Free. (updated Oct 2017)

Buy

• Rugs, Like many Iranian cities, Kerman produces rugs and has its own well-known style of rug-making.
• Pistachio, Kerman is the center of producing the pistachio in Iran. More than 95% of Iran pistachios are produced in Kerman.
• Kolompeh is a very delicious pie, with walnuts and date paste.
• Henna a flowering plant which is another souvenir of Kerman.
• Cumin a herbaceous annual plant, which is another souvenir of Kerman.
• Patteh is a unique handicraft which is produced in Kerman.
• Quvetoo (Persian:قوِتو - قاووت)
• Distillates, Kerman has many kinds of aromatic distillates.

Eat

You can almost find any food that is served in other cities of Iran. There are many restaurants ( both fast food and traditional) around the city and notably on Jomhuri Blv.

• Vakil traditional tea house (Hamam-e Vakil) (vakil Bazaar Kerman Bazaar), ☏ +98 34 32225989. (updated Dec 2017)
• Qal'eh Restaurant and Teahouse, Alley 9, Imam st (northeast of Ganj Ali Khan Square), ☏ +98 913 5313537. A traditional Iranian teahouse that serves tea, snacks and shisha. (updated Dec 2017)
• Sindokht, Hojaj Blvd. Jomhouri Blvd. 12:00-15:00 and 18:00-23:00. (updated Dec 2017)
• windmills (Asiab badi), Kerman Mahan road. haft bagh alavi.. 12:00-24:00. (updated Dec 2017)

Drink

Drinking alcohol is illegal, and if seen by police may be met with punishment, though available on the black market.

• Doogh is a popular and delicious naturally-carbonated yogurt drink. It is generally served with ice and a dash of mint.
• Distills - Kerman have many kinds of aromatic distills.
• Pāloodeh-e-Kermani (Fāloodeh-e-Kermani) is a special deliciously refreshing sorbet made from small drops of starch, suspended in rosewater.
• Black tea (chāi, چای) is the national drink of alcohol-free Iran. It is served strong and with crystallized or cubed sugar (ghand, قند) which is held artfully between the teeth while tea is sipped through.
• Fruit juices (āb miveh, آب ميوه), A wide variety of fruit juices (āb miveh, آب ميوه) and drinks are available from shops and street vendors including cherry cordial (sharbat ālbāloo, شربت آلبالو) and banana milkshakes (shir moz, شير موز).
• Soft drinks are widely available, both international makes such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and their brand names including 7up, Sprite, Fanta, etc., and local makes such as Zam Zam. "Coca-Cola Original" and "Pepsi Original", etc., are not made of original Coca-Cola Company's and PepsiCo's ingredients and taste exactly the same as Zam Zam.
• Ma-o-sha'eir is a non-alcoholic beer which you can find in the supermarkets.

Sleep

• 1 Pars Hotel, Jomhuri Blvd. - Kerman, ☏ +98 341 2119331-2, fax: +98 341 2119333. 
• 2 Akhavann Hotel, Shahid Sodooghi Ave., ☏ +98 341 2441411-2. 
• 3 Govashir Hotel, Imam Khomeini Expreress way., ☏ +98 341 2512718. 
• 4 Motevalli bashi traditional hotel, Shahnematollah west part- Behdari crossing- Valiasr st., ☏ +98 9133999737, +98 34 33 77 86 14. Free Wi-fi and breakfast. But 40 km out of town in walking distance of Shah Nematollah Vali. single 300,000 rial. 
• Hotel Omid has the cheapest rooms in town, but no singles.

Learn

• Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman is one of the highest rank universities in Iran (among the 8 top Iranian universities) for its educational and research activities as well as its design and development. The university started its academic activities in 1975, in 3 disciplines: Physics, Chemistry, and English; with 10 faculty members and 70 students.The university is located in the south eastern part of Kerman, in an area of 500 hectares. It has an enrollment of about 12,500 students who are studying and doing research in 16 colleges and research institutes of the university. There are about 100 different disciplines available for the students to choose from, which offers programs leading to B.A., B.Sc., M.A., M.Sc., D.V.M.,or Ph.D. degrees. There are 400 faculty members, and 1000 regular employees at the university.
• Afzali Pour (Kerman) University of Medical Sciences
• Azad University of Kerman
• Kerman Khaje-Nasir Higher Education Center
• Shahid Chamran College of Thechnology

Stay safe

See also the warnings at Iran#Stay safe.

Iran is generally a safe country. It is advised however, that being an obvious tourist may attract some unwanted attention from interested Iranians, but do not be alarmed or react negatively. Standard advice to keep your bag secured and safe, and to leave personal and valuable belongings in your hotel room or hotel safe should be regarded. Iranians are generally peaceful, hospitable people, but it is advised to act with caution when walk in the streets alone late at night or when approached by strangers to the same degree that you would in your native country.

Emergency services

• Police: 110
• Fire department: 125
• EMS: 115
• Road EMS: 115 or 112

Go next

• Regular buses go further south and up north to Tehran or Mashad.