Entering Iran through Van, Turkey soon. where is the best place to exchange cash after crossing? Should I exchange at the border, wait until Tabriz, or somewhere else? Also, how can I keep track of the exchange rate? Any tips for bringing USD cash would be appreciated.
Merhaba,
Türk pasaportuyla İstanbul’dan Meşhed’e karayoluyla gitmeyi planlıyorum. 20’li yaşlardayım, tek başıma seyahat ediyorum ve Türkçe, Farsça ve İngilizceyi akıcı şekilde konuşuyorum, yani dil konusunda sıkıntım olmayacak.
Yolculuğu 7–10 gün içinde tamamlamayı düşünüyorum. Acelem yok ama haftalarca yolda kalmayı da planlamıyorum.
Şu anki planım:
İstanbul → Van (otobüs)
Kapıköy/Razi sınır kapısından İran’a geçiş
Tebriz
Tahran
Meşhed
Büyük ihtimalle yolun çoğunu otobüsle yapacağım. Sadece Tahran–Meşhed arasında treni (veya gerçekten çok mantıklıysa uçağı) düşünüyorum.
Çok sıkı bir bütçem yok, ama gereksiz lükse para harcamak da istemiyorum. Örneğin VIP yataklı otobüs, yataklı veya daha konforlu tren kompartımanı gibi uzun yolculuklarda rahatlık sağlayacak şeylere ekstra para verebilirim. Ama 5 yıldızlı otellerde kalmak gibi bir beklentim yok.
Merak ettiklerim:
Bu rota şu an uygulanabilir mi?
Türkiye sınırından Meşhed’e kadar mutlaka görülmeli dediğiniz yerler var mı?
Tahran–Meşhed arasında tren gerçekten otobüse göre daha mı iyi?
Sınır geçişi, otobüsler, para bozdurma, nakit kullanımı veya “keşke önceden bilseydim” dediğiniz tavsiyeler var mı?
İnternet durumu şu anda nasıl? Turist olarak kolayca SIM kart alabilir miyim? Mobil internet ve Wi-Fi ne kadar güvenilir?
WhatsApp şu anda çalışıyor mu, yoksa VPN gerekiyor mu? Yol boyunca ailemle düzenli iletişim kurabilir miyim?
Son dönemde yaşanan bölgesel gelişmeleri de düşünürsek, sahadaki gerçek durum nasıl? Resmî seyahat uyarılarından ziyade yakın zamanda İran’da bulunmuş kişilerin deneyimlerini duymak isterim.
Her türlü tavsiye, rota önerisi ve deneyiminizi paylaşırsanız çok sevinirim. Şimdiden teşekkür ederim.
Hi everyone,
I’m a Turkish passport holder planning to travel overland from Istanbul to Mashhad. I’m in my 20s, traveling solo, and I speak **Turkish, Persian, and English fluently**, so language won’t be an issue.
I’m aiming to complete the trip in **about 7–10 days**. I’m not in a rush from one city to the next, but I also don’t want to spend weeks on the road.
My rough plan is:
Istanbul → Van (bus)
Cross at Kapıköy/Razi
Tabriz
Tehran
Mashhad
I’m thinking of doing almost the entire trip by bus, except maybe taking the train (or a flight if it’s really worth it) from Tehran to Mashhad.
I’m **not on a strict budget**, but I also don’t want to waste money on unnecessary luxury. For example, I’d happily pay extra for a VIP sleeper bus, a comfortable train with beds or a better cabin, or anything that makes a long journey significantly more comfortable. On the other hand, I don’t care about staying in expensive hotels or paying for luxury just for the sake of it.
A few questions:
Is this route currently practical?
Are there any places between the Turkish border and Mashhad that are definitely worth stopping at?
Is the Tehran–Mashhad train worth taking over the bus?
Any tips regarding border crossing, buses, cash, exchanging money, or anything you wish you had known before traveling in Iran?
What’s the current situation with internet access? Can tourists easily buy a SIM card? Do mobile data and Wi-Fi work reliably?
Are apps like WhatsApp currently accessible, or do they require a VPN? Will I be able to stay in regular contact with my family during the trip?
I would really appreciate recent firsthand experiences from people who have actually traveled there.
Any advice, suggested itinerary, or recommendations would be great, thanks
Hi everyone,
I’m a Turkish passport holder planning to travel overland from Istanbul to Mashhad. I’m in my 20s, traveling solo, and I speak **Turkish, Persian, and English fluently**, so language won’t be an issue.
I’m aiming to complete the trip in **about 7–10 days**. I’m not in a rush from one city to the next, but I also don’t want to spend weeks on the road.
My rough plan is:
Istanbul → Van (bus)
Cross at Kapıköy/Razi
Tabriz
Tehran
Mashhad
I’m thinking of doing almost the entire trip by bus, except maybe taking the train (or a flight if it’s really worth it) from Tehran to Mashhad.
I’m **not on a strict budget**, but I also don’t want to waste money on unnecessary luxury. For example, I’d happily pay extra for a VIP sleeper bus, a comfortable train with beds or a better cabin, or anything that makes a long journey significantly more comfortable. On the other hand, I don’t care about staying in expensive hotels or paying for luxury just for the sake of it.
A few questions:
Is this route currently practical?
Are there any places between the Turkish border and Mashhad that are definitely worth stopping at?
Is the Tehran–Mashhad train worth taking over the bus?
Any tips regarding border crossing, buses, cash, exchanging money, or anything you wish you had known before traveling in Iran?
What’s the current situation with internet access? Can tourists easily buy a SIM card? Do mobile data and Wi-Fi work reliably?
Are apps like WhatsApp currently accessible, or do they require a VPN? Will I be able to stay in regular contact with my family during the trip?
Given the recent regional tensions, how is the situation on the ground for travelers? I’m aware of the risks and I’m not looking for official government travel advisories—I would really appreciate recent firsthand experiences from people who have actually traveled there.
Any advice, suggested itinerary, or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!