Yazd is known as one of Iran's historical cities and is also registered on the list of World Heritage Sites. This historic city is home to many ancient buildings and fascinating museums. If you’re planning to travel to this beautiful city, join us to learn more about the museums of Yazd.
The Markar Museum in Yazd is named after Pestonji Dosabhai Markar, a Zoroastrian from India. Although Markar only traveled to Iran three times in his life, he made numerous philanthropic contributions, especially to the Iranian Zoroastrian community. The Markar Museum was established during Nowruz of 2015 (1394 SH) in the historic Markar Orphanage complex, aiming to preserve and introduce tourists to the Zoroastrian faith and culture. With a history of over 80 years, this museum not only introduces Markar but also explores the history of Zoroastrianism, its various ceremonies, traditional clothing, fire temples, and more.
📍 Address: Yazd, Markar Square, Farsh Mashhad Alley, Markar Orphanage
The Heydarzadeh Coin and Anthropology Museum is a specialized museum dedicated to coins from ancient times to the present day. It is named after Hossein Heydarzadeh, who made great efforts in collecting coins and founding this museum. It houses about 5,000 different coins, including famous ones like the gold coin of Abbas ibn Mamun, Karim Khan Zand’s coronation coin, and coins from Nader Shah. In addition to coins, the museum displays old banknotes from the time of Naser al-Din Shah to modern times. Visitors can also view antique locks, war tools, agate and brass rings, cooking tools, and more. The museum is located in the historic Arabzadeh House, showcasing Qajar-era architecture with a courtyard, stucco work, and wooden doors and windows.
📍 Address: Yazd, Imam Street, Fahadan Street, Arabzadeh Historic House
One of Yazd’s most beautiful and awe-inspiring museums is the Mirror Palace Museum. It is situated in a lush 8,000 square meter garden within a historical house. The museum exhibits old weapons, historical items, books, stamps, coins, and valuable artifacts from the Sassanid, Qajar, and other historical periods of Iran. Its architecture blends Iranian and European styles, crafted by skilled Iranian artisans. One standout feature is the exquisite mirror work, a testament to the artistry of Iranian masters.
📍 Address: Yazd, Kashani Yazdi Street
Natural history or science museums are among the best for learning about a region’s flora and fauna, appealing to both children and adults. The Yazd Natural History Museum (also called the Natural Sciences Museum) introduces plant and animal species. It includes sections on botany, geology, zoology, and anatomy. Various species are taxidermied and displayed, making the museum especially engaging for young visitors who can learn the importance of biodiversity and conservation.
📍 Address: Yazd, Beheshti Square, Rajaee Street, Iranshahr High School
Opened in 2000 (1379 SH), this museum exhibits historical items related to qanat digging and water extraction tools. It is located in a historical house known as the Kalāhdūz House. Haj Seyed Ali Akbar Kalāhdūz was a Qajar-era merchant, and his house was the meeting point of two qanats: Zarch and Rahimabad. The museum's unique location and the architecture made it a suitable place to house the water museum.
📍 Address: Yazd, Imam Street, north of Amir Chakhmaq Square, Ghiam Street
Historical documents are invaluable in conveying past events to future generations. This museum displays manuscripts and important documents and is located in the historic Lariha House. Visiting this museum also gives you a chance to explore the Qajar-era architecture of the house, including detailed plasterwork and mirror decorations.
📍 Address: Yazd, Imam Khomeini Street, Fahadan neighborhood, next to Kolah Farangi Mansion, Lariha House
One of the oldest and most established anthropology museums in Yazd, this museum opened at a time when the province had no such facility. Most of the items were donated by local researcher Haj Ali Sepahri and the people of Ardakan. The museum displays the lifestyle, clothing, and traditions of the people of Yazd and is located in the basement of the Fazel Library.
📍 Address: Yazd, Ardakan, Khamenei Boulevard, next to the Seminary, Fazel Library
Meybod is known for its pottery and Zilu weaving. The museum highlights this local heritage, with some Zilu rugs dating back 600 years. The oldest piece is from 880 AH and was used in the Meybod Jame Mosque. The museum is housed in the Shah Abbasi Caravanserai, a Safavid-era structure that adds charm to the display of traditional Zilu rugs.
📍 Address: Yazd, Meybod City, Red Crescent Square, Qazi Mir Hossein Blvd, Shah Abbasi Caravanserai
Founded to promote and preserve Yazd’s carpet weaving tradition, this museum showcases the stages of carpet production, from dyeing and cotton cleaning to loom construction and weaving. It is located in the historic Malek Afzali House, a Qajar-era adobe and brick structure reflecting period architecture.
📍 Address: Yazd, Charkhab neighborhood, Khatami Alley
Chapar-Khanehs were ancient postal service centers. The Meybod Chapar-Khaneh is historically significant due to its location on the Rey-to-Kerman route and its proximity to the city's caravanserai. A section of the Shah Abbasi Caravanserai has been turned into a postal museum showing how old postal systems, telegraphs, Morse code devices, and stamps worked.
📍 Address: Yazd, Meybod City, Qazi Mir Hossein Blvd, next to Shah Abbasi Caravanserai
This museum, founded in 2015 (1394 SH), focuses on the preservation and display of handwritten manuscripts, religious books, lithographs, documents, historical coins, gemstone rings, and stamps. Highlights include a 700-year-old Quran and a 300-year-old scroll depicting a genealogy from Adam to Prophet Muhammad.
📍 Address: Yazd, Imamzadeh Jafar Blvd, Imamzadeh Jafar Shrine
Named after the Cambrian period—the earliest in geological history—this museum focuses on paleontology. It features various fossils and offers workshops on sediment removal and other related topics.
📍 Address: Yazd, Shahid Beheshti Square, 10th Farvardin Street, near Shesh Ābgiri Water Reservoir, 3rd Alley or Shahid Zeini Alley
Founded in 1990 (1369 SH), this museum is located near the Jame Mosque of Yazd and adjacent to the Vaziry Library. It showcases calligraphy tools, timekeeping bells, dishes, teapots, brocade fabrics, and other objects once used by locals. Donations from the public continue to enrich the collection.
📍 Address: Yazd, near Jame Mosque, next to Vaziry Library
