The Holy Shrine of Imam Reza is the heart of Mashhad and the reason most visitors come. The complex is the largest mosque in the world by area, and a single visit cannot cover everything inside it; first-time visitors should plan at least a full morning, then return after sunset for the lights.
Beyond the shrine, Mashhad has handsome mausoleums and museums of its own, and the foothills and resort villages just outside the city — Torghabeh, Shandiz, the valley of Akhlamad — make for excellent escapes from the noise and pilgrimage crowds.