Takht-e Jamshid (Persepolis) Transportation

Visiting Persepolis and nearby Achaemenid tombs is not really easy without a car, since there's no public transortation to the complex - there are buses that stop in the neighbouring villages, though. To reach the Achaemenid tombs 12 kilometres from Persepolis, by contrast, is just impossible.

There are many agencies and internet cafes in Shiraz that organize day trips, and some go as far as Pasargadae, too. Prices are very low - I think about 8 or 10 dollars. Because we were three people, and we appreciate more flexibility than what's offered by organized tours, we decided to rent a car with driver though the hotel where we were staying (Eram Hotel).

We paid a bit less than 40 dollars for the entire day, and were therefore able to stop as long (or as little) as we wanted at the chosen sites. If traveling in smnall group, it's generally worthy to pay the extra money and do everything at your own pace.

I rented the car in Pars tourist office - http://www.key2persia.com/. I highly recommend dealing with this company as they are highly professional and honest. I paid 32 usd for a half day individual tour with guide to Persepolis, Naqsh-e Rostam and Naqsh-e Rajab. The guide was perfect in his knowledge about Persepolis and spoke perfect English. My advice is not to save money for the guide - this is not the case you need to stick to your tight budget.

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In Shiraz I asked at the hotel for a tour to Pasargadae, Persepolis, Naqsh-e Rostam and Naqsh-e Rajab. They called a driver, who picked me up outside the hotel at 8.00 the following morning. The driver talked non-stop all the way about his life and life in Iran. It was very interesting, but I missed the scenery along the road. At the sites he asked if I wanted him to come along to guide, but I prefer to walk around alone.

We first drove to Pasargadae, which is more far away. In Pasargadae it is good to have a car as the ruins are spread out. At Naqsh-e Rajab it took about 15 minutes and at Naqsh-e Rostam I got 30 minutes (had to hurry back). I got two or three hours at Persepolis (can‘t remember), but if I wanted to stay longer I was going to pay more. For the tour I paid IR 350 000 (July 2006).

In Yazd I met some people who had taken a tour from Shiraz in the morning and during the day visited all four sites and after drove on to Yazd. The price was IR 500 000 (July 2006), and I heard it was the same going the other way round.

Seeing the sites along the way between Yazd and Shiraz, instead of making a daytrip from Shiraz and another day take a bus between the cities, will save you a day.

I hired a taxi from Shiraz to come to Persepolis. I went to the taxi terminal myself & asked around.
Cost me USD 25, which also inluded Pasargadae, Naqsh-e Rostam, Naqsh-e Rejab & Persepolis.
The tour took me 9 hours !
Most hostels also arrange transportations to Persepolis, much cheaper of course but it doesn't include Pasargadae.