It is reported that bicycle culture in Iran originated in Yazd as a result of contact with European visitors and tourists in the last[which?]

Archeological evidence 12 kilometers north of Yazd suggests that the area has been populated since the period of the Achaemenid Empire (550 BC–330 BC).

[12] The area encompassing Yazd first started to gain prominence in the Late antiquity, namely under the Sasanian Empire (224–651).

By paying a levy, Yazd was allowed to remain Zoroastrian even after its conquest, and Islam only gradually became the dominant religion in the city.

Due to its secluded desert setting and challenging access, Yazd was mostly spared from major conflicts and the devastation and havoc of warfare.

In the book The Travels of Marco Polo, he described Yazd in the following way: It is a good and noble city, and has a great amount of trade.

There are many fine woods producing dates upon the way, such as one can easily ride through; and in them there is great sport to be had in hunting and hawking, there being partridges and quails and abundance of other game, so that the merchants who pass that way have plenty of diversion.

At the end of those seven marches over the plain, you come to a fine kingdom which is called Kerman.Yazd briefly served as the capital of the Muzaffarid Dynasty in the fourteenth century, and was unsuccessfully besieged in 1350–1351 by the Injuids under Shaikh Abu Ishaq.

The Friday (or Congregation) mosque, arguably the city's greatest architectural landmark, as well as other important buildings, date to this period.

Under the rule of the Safavid Empire (16th century), some people migrated from Yazd and settled in an area that is today on the Iran-Afghanistan border.

These huge public gatherings created a series of spaces which, since most are near important urban monuments, are used at other times as hubs from which visitors can tour the main spots in the city.

[21] The Pir-e-Naraki[22] sanctuary is one of the important pilgrimage destinations for Zoroastrians, where an annual congregation is held and frequent visits are made during the year; it is now also a famous tourist spot.

To deal with the extremely hot summers, many old buildings in Yazd have magnificent wind towers and large underground areas.

[30] Built in 12th century and still in use, Jame Mosque of Yazd is an example of the finest Persian mosaics and excellent architecture.

A significant portion of the population is also employed in other industries including agriculture, dairy, metal works, and machine manufacturing.

There are a number of companies involved in the growing information technology industry, mainly manufacturing primary materials such as cables and connectors.

Confectioners workshops (khalifehs, or experts) keep their recipes a guarded secret, and there are many that have remained a private family business for many generations.