Mashhad is sacred ground for
Shia Muslims. Imam Reza, the 8th Imam of
the Shia is buried in Mashhad and his holy shrine welcomes millions of pilgrims
each year. Handling such an immense number of travelers is very challenging.
Accommodation and food are the priorities in the list of the required services
and Mashhad definitely does not disappoint you. Excluding Tehran, the
capital, nowhere in Iran is comparable to the wealth and quality of
accommodation in Mashhad. Some of the most excellent Iranian hotels are in
Mashhad. If you have decided to visit the city and wonder where to stay in
Mashhad, here, we will provide you with some tips on the best accommodation.
Mashhad boasts some of the most beautiful hotels in Iran with online booking
available for all domestic and international guests. There are more than
seventeen five-star hotels in the city. Almas, Homa, Ghasre Talayi and Palace
International Hotel are the most popular luxury hotels in Mashhad. The deluge of
visitors during the religious holidays in Mashhad has led to the establishment
of a plethora of cheap hotels. Miami, Diplomat, and Alvand are some of the
most popular in this category. Cheap accommodation in Mashhad also includes
hostels and guesthouse. Mashhad’s guesthouses display a stunning diversity both
regarding price and quality of service. Mersad and Mashahir are two fabulous
guesthouses in Mashhad with very reasonable prices. Cheap hostels and B&Bs are a
new but fast-growing development in Iran. A lot of backpackers frequent Mashhad
on their way from the east to the north and north-west of Iran, and they stay in
hostels. Espino, Fakher, and Alton are the first choices of cheap hostels and
apartment hotels in Mashhad. An exciting development of these hostels are a couple
of youth hostels in Mashhad, soon to be opened.
The first image that runs through the mind when the name of Mashhad comes up is
Imam Reza’s Shrine. But Mashhad’s tourist attractions go beyond religious
monuments. Gohar Shad Mosque, Nadir Shah’s Tomb and the Tomb of Sheikh Baha’i
are three instances of the historical sites in Mashhad.
Mashhad’s tours are in demand most of the year, especially during religious
holidays when finding a tour is extremely difficult. It is best for the foreign
tourists to skip the religious holidays, due to the overpopulation of the city
and heavy traffic on the roads leading to Mashhad.