Travel guide · Azerbaijan
Baku travel guide
A walled medieval Old City, flame-shaped towers and a long Caspian promenade
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, curves around a bay on the Caspian Sea's Absheron Peninsula. At its centre, the walled Old City (İçərişəhər) holds the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, both UNESCO-listed, inside lanes of caravanserais and carpet shops. Around it, grand oil-boom mansions from the early 20th century line Nizami Street and Fountain Square, while the Seaside Boulevard runs for kilometres along the water. Contemporary landmarks — the Flame Towers and Zaha Hadid's Heydar Aliyev Center — give the skyline its modern look. Nearby, natural gas still burns from the ground at Yanar Dag and the Ateshgah fire temple, and the rock art of Gobustan is an hour away. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Azerbaijan
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- GYD
- Mid-range daily budget
- $90–$180 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Old City and Maiden Tower, Flame Towers, Heydar Aliyev Center and Caspian Sea promenade
Why visit Baku
- The walled Old City combines the Maiden Tower, the 15th-century Palace of the Shirvanshahs and caravanserais within a compact, walkable area.
- Bold architecture, from Belle Époque oil-baron mansions to the Flame Towers and the Heydar Aliyev Center, sits side by side.
- Natural fire phenomena — Yanar Dag's burning hillside and the Ateshgah temple — and Gobustan's petroglyphs and mud volcanoes are within an hour.
- Azerbaijani food, from saffron plov and qutab to tea served with jams, is generous and inexpensive.
- Baku pairs well with Tbilisi and the Caucasus mountains, with Sheki and Quba reachable for longer trips.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 16 things to do.
Neighbourhood · Old City (İçərişəhər)
Old City (İçərişəhər)
Baku's walled historic core, UNESCO-listed with the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, is a maze of stone lanes, caravanserais, mosques and small museums.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Landmark · Old City (İçərişəhər)
Maiden Tower
A cylindrical stone tower about 29 metres tall at the edge of the Old City, its origins and purpose still debated by historians.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
Palace · Old City (İçərişəhər)
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
The 15th-century palace complex of the Shirvanshah rulers stands at the highest point of the Old City and includes the palace, a mosque, a mausoleum, a bathhouse and a divan-khana pavilion with carved stonework.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Architecture · Highland Park
Flame Towers
Three curved glass towers on the hill above the city, completed in 2012, house a hotel, apartments and offices.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Architecture · Narimanov
Heydar Aliyev Center
Zaha Hadid's flowing white building, completed in 2012, has no straight lines or sharp angles.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Highland Park
Highland Park and the funicular
Highland Park (Dağüstü Park), next to the Flame Towers, has the best panorama over the bay, the Boulevard and the Old City.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Old City (İçərişəhər) is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples and culture
Old City (İçərişəhər)
Walled medieval quarter of caravanserais, carpet shops and boutique hotels
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, nightlife and solo travellers
Fountain Square and Nizami Street
Pedestrian shopping streets of oil-boom mansions, cafés and bars
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and families
Seaside Boulevard and Neftchilar Avenue
Luxury hotels facing the Caspian along the city's main promenade
$$$ · Best for luxury, shopping and families
Port Baku and White City
Modern waterfront district of towers, malls and new boulevards
What to eat
- Plov — Azerbaijan's national dish has dozens of varieties: saffron rice is cooked separately and served with lamb, chestnuts, dried fruit or herbs.
- Dolma — Vine leaves (yarpaq dolması) or vegetables stuffed with spiced mince and rice, served with garlic yoghurt.
- Qutab — Thin half-moon flatbreads filled with herbs, minced meat or pumpkin, cooked on a griddle and served with sumac and yoghurt.
- Dushbara — Tiny lamb dumplings served in clear broth, flavoured with dried mint and garlic vinegar.
- Lyulya kebab — Spiced minced lamb grilled on wide skewers and served on lavash with onions and sumac.
- Piti — A Sheki speciality of lamb, chickpeas and chestnuts cooked in individual clay pots with saffron.
When to go
The best times to visit Baku are April to June and September to October, when it is warm and pleasant for walking and day trips. July and August are hot but good for the Caspian beaches. Winter is cold and windy, though museums and tea houses make it workable, and Novruz in March is a festive time to visit.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Mild and increasingly warm, with Novruz celebrations in March and pleasant sightseeing weather by May. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot and dry, with sea breezes, lively evenings on the Boulevard and beach resorts on the Absheron Peninsula. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm September, mild October and pomegranate season; cooler and windier by November. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold and windy, with occasional snow; quiet and low-priced, good for museums and indoor sights. |
Getting there and around
Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) is about 25 km north-east of the centre. The Aero Express bus runs to 28 May metro station in about 40 minutes and requires a BakuCard, sold at machines in the arrivals hall. A taxi or app ride takes about 30 minutes.
Central Baku is walkable, with the Old City, Fountain Square and the Boulevard close together. The metro and buses use a rechargeable BakuCard, and ride-hailing apps are an easy way to reach sights outside the centre.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Old City, the Boulevard, the Heydar Aliyev Center and an evening trip to Yanar Dag and the Ateshgah. Four days adds Gobustan and the mud volcanoes, plus a slower look at museums; with a week you can reach Sheki or the mountains around Quba.
Practical information
- Currency
- AZN
- Language
- Azerbaijani
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 220 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Most residents do not drink tap water; bottled water, including local mineral waters such as Sirab and Badamlı, is sold everywhere.
- Emergency number
- 112 (general emergency number); 102 police, 103 ambulance
- Tipping
- Some restaurants add a service charge of around 10%; otherwise leaving 5–10% is appreciated.
Baku is generally relaxed for visitors. Traffic is fast, so use underpasses and crossings, and agree fares or use apps for taxis. Avoid photographing government and military sites, and bring warm layers for strong winds.
Flights to Baku
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Baku?
Two days covers the Old City, the Boulevard, the Heydar Aliyev Center and an evening trip to Yanar Dag and the Ateshgah. Four days adds Gobustan and the mud volcanoes, plus a slower look at museums; with a week you can reach Sheki or the mountains around Quba. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Baku?
The best times to visit Baku are April to June and September to October, when it is warm and pleasant for walking and day trips. July and August are hot but good for the Caspian beaches. Winter is cold and windy, though museums and tea houses make it workable, and Novruz in March is a festive time to visit.
+What is Baku known for?
Old City and Maiden Tower, Flame Towers, Heydar Aliyev Center, Caspian Sea promenade, Fire temples and Yanar Dag, Carpets and Formula 1 street circuit. The walled Old City combines the Maiden Tower, the 15th-century Palace of the Shirvanshahs and caravanserais within a compact, walkable area.
+Is Baku expensive?
Baku is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $90–$180 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Baku?
No for the city. Ride-hailing apps or tours are the easiest way to reach Yanar Dag, the Ateshgah and Gobustan; a car or driver is useful for longer trips to Sheki, Quba or Gabala.