Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Astaraاراتسآ
0182 / POP 35,000 / ELEV -25M
Astara has a wide but litter-strewn beach (Sahel Darya) and could make a base to visit the
forested Talesh mountain hinterlands, but most travellers head straight on to Ardabil,
Rasht or Azerbaijan.
Sleeping
Belal Hotel$
( 521 5586; Mo'allem Sq; s/d/tr US$17/25/34) If arriving from Azerbaijan walk direc-
tly south (150m) from the border post to find Hakim Nezami St for midrange accommod-
ation, such as this hotel with an English-speaking manager and relatively pleasant rooms
(with en suite) off somewhat scrappy corridors.
HOTEL
Mehmanpazir Aseman$
( 522 2300; off Shahrdari Sq; tw with/without shower US$10/8) Walk 400m west of the
Belal to Shahrdari Sq for a bearable if typically male-dominated mosaferkhaneh with
shared toilets. Marked as 'Asiman Mehmanxanasi,' it's accessed via a clothing passaj be-
side Bank Melli (with no exchange).
MOSAFERKHANEH
Espinas Hotel$$$
( 525 2700; www.espinashotel.com ; Rasht Hwy; s/d/ste US$120/140/190; ) This
international-standard hotel, 6km south of town, sits beside an attractive mountain-backed
lake where you can rent jet skis.
LUXURY HOTEL
Getting There & Away
The Espinas Hotel is 5km beyond the terminal (Imam Khomeini St) where buses go to
Tehran (US$10), Tabriz (US$8, six hours, 3pm), Rasht (US$8, 10am and 1pm) and Qazv-
in (US$10, 4pm). More frequent through buses plus convenient savaris to Rasht (US$8,
2½ hours) and Ardabil (US$4, 1½ hours) pick up around massive Laleh (Shohoda Qom-
ran) Sq, 200m further south.
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