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Iran · Alborz Province

Karaj: how to get there and around

Airports, stations, ports, where the hotels are and what the numbers say, from public data rather than a brochure.

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Karaj is a city of 1.4 million people in Iran (Alborz Province), 1,341 m (4,400 ft) above sea level. The nearest large airport is Payam International Airport (PYK), 16 km (10 mi) from the centre. It has 1 railway station on record, including Karaj Railway Station.

Key facts

Population1.4 million
Elevation1,341 m (4,400 ft)
Area162 km²
Time zoneAsia/Tehran (UTC+3:30 now)
CurrencyRial (IRR)
Dialling code+98
Driving sideRight
Plug typesEuro, Schuko
UN/LOCODEIRQKC
Coordinates35.833, 50.992
Karaj

Open Karaj in Google Maps

Daylight in Karaj runs from about 9 h 47 min a day in late December to 14 h 38 min in late June (computed for 35.83° latitude), which matters more than the forecast when a day is built around one flight or one crossing.

Getting there

Karaj is served by 3 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Payam International Airport (PYK), 16 km (10 mi) from the centre, whose 12,005-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Mehrabad International Airport (THR, 33 km), Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA, 49 km).

Flights to Karaj: every airport, routes and times

By rail: stations on record include Karaj Railway Station. Trains to Karaj

Buses to Karaj · Driving and car hire

Nearby cities, and how to get between them

Common questions

Which airport serves Karaj?

Payam International Airport (PYK), 16 km (10 mi) from the centre, plus 2 other airports with scheduled flights within 100 km.

How big is Karaj?

About 1.4 million people live in Karaj, across 162 km² (GeoNames and Wikidata).

What time zone is Karaj in?

Asia/Tehran, currently UTC+3:30.

What currency is used in Karaj?

The Rial (IRR). Traffic drives on the right.

Which cities are near Karaj?

Tehran (42 km), Isfahan (359 km), Qom (133 km), Kermanshah (395 km), Rasht (204 km).

Where these facts come from

  • GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
  • Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
  • OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
  • Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines

Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.