Amid the rapid growth of emerging technologies and the pressing need for transformation in tourism destination management, smart tourism has emerged as a strategic approach to enhancing tourist experiences and promoting destination sustainability. This study aims to assess the level of implementation of smart tourism indicators in the metropolitan city of Mashhad, recognized as Iran’s major religious tourism hub, to provide an accurate picture of the current situation and identify priorities for improvement. Such an evaluation can serve as a foundation for data-driven decision-making in support of sustainable tourism development. The research employs a descriptive-analytical and applied methodology. Data were collected through questionnaires distributed among tourists (n = 196) and tourism experts and were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, one-sample t-test, and the Delphi Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process multi-criteria decision-making model. The study area, Mashhad, was selected as one of the leading destinations in smart tourism implementation. The findings revealed that Artificial Intelligence technologies, with an eigenvalue of 10.60 and accounting for 46.09% of the total variance, have achieved the highest level of implementation in Mashhad. These technologies play a significant role in enhancing travel experiences, personalizing services, and increasing tourist satisfaction. Internet of Things technologies ranked second with 20.25% of the variance, while Virtual and Augmented Reality technologies had the lowest mean score. The one-sample t-test confirmed above-average utilization of both AI and IoT technologies. Similarly, in the Delphi Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process model, the prioritization of technologies followed the same order. Accordingly, Mashhad has made notable progress toward smart tourism services. However, to achieve a comprehensive smart destination model, it is essential to further develop digital infrastructure, empower human resources, and design culturally appropriate services.