Nickname: Iran's Spiritual Capital
Capital
Mashhad
Population
~6.43 million
Home to the shrine of Imam Reza, Razavi Khorasan draws millions of pilgrims a year to Mashhad's gold-domed complex, one of the largest mosque precincts on earth. Beyond the shrine, the province holds Nishapur's turquoise mines and the tomb of the poet Omar Khayyam.
Culture & people
Iran's most-visited province for religious tourism, centred on Mashhad and the shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam.
Notable cities
Mashhad
The provincial capital and Iran's second-largest city, built around the shrine of Imam Reza, the holiest Shia pilgrimage site in the country. Its vast shrine complex draws millions of pilgrims every year.
Neyshabur
A historic city famous as the birthplace of poet Omar Khayyam, whose tomb and garden are a major stop. It was also a major centre of turquoise mining, still active in the surrounding hills.
Tus
An ancient city near Mashhad, home to the mausoleum of Ferdowsi, author of Iran's national epic the Shahnameh. Its gardens and monument are a pilgrimage site for Persian literature as much as history.
Highlights
- Imam Reza shrine complex, Mashhad
- Omar Khayyam's mausoleum in Nishapur
- Nishapur turquoise mines and workshops
- Kang village, a stepped mountain settlement
- Mausoleum of Ferdowsi, father of Persian Epic
- Tomb of Attar of Nishapur
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn offer comfortable temperatures; note that the shrine city is at its busiest during major religious anniversaries.
Getting there
Mashhad's international airport is Iran's second-busiest, with frequent direct flights from Tehran taking about 90 minutes.
The province's location, highlighted on the map of Iran.
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