5 days in Baku

Day by day

1. Day 1: Old City (İçərişəhər) and Maiden Tower

   Old City (İçərişəhər), Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs, then Flame Towers in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Old City (İçərişəhər)

      Enter through the Double Gates near Istiglaliyyat Street and wander without a plan; the area is compact and hard to get lost in. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      Maiden Tower

      Visit late in the afternoon for warm light on the Boulevard from the roof. (45 minutes, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Plov

      Traditional restaurants in the Old City and around Fountain Square; shah plov is often ordered for groups.

   4. Afternoon

      Palace of the Shirvanshahs

      Allow time for the courtyards and the mausoleum, where carved inscriptions are among the finest in the complex. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Flame Towers

      Watch the light show from the Boulevard or the Old City walls after dark.

2. Day 2: Heydar Aliyev Center and Highland Park and the funicular

   Heydar Aliyev Center, Highland Park and the funicular and Baku Boulevard, then Fountain Square and Nizami Street in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Heydar Aliyev Center

      Walk around the outside first for photos, then decide whether to go in; the exterior is the highlight. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Highland Park and the funicular

      Ride the funicular up at dusk, watch the city lights come on, then walk down the steps to the Boulevard. (1 hour, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Dolma

      Most traditional restaurants; Azerbaijani dolma-making is recognised by UNESCO.

   4. Afternoon

      Baku Boulevard

      Walk it in the evening, when families come out, the air cools and the Flame Towers light up. (1–2 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Fountain Square and Nizami Street

      Come in the evening, then walk through the Old City gates for dinner.

3. Day 3: Azerbaijan Carpet Museum and Ateshgah Fire Temple

   Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, Ateshgah Fire Temple and Yanar Dag, then Fountain Square area in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Azerbaijan Carpet Museum

      Visit before buying a carpet to learn about regional styles and quality. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Ateshgah Fire Temple

      Combine it with Yanar Dag in the late afternoon and stay for sunset at the burning hillside. (1 hour, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Qutab

      Bakeries, cafés and restaurants across the city; order several fillings to share.

   4. Afternoon

      Yanar Dag

      Go at dusk; the flames look much more dramatic in the dark, and it can be cold and windy in winter. (45 minutes, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Fountain Square area

      Pubs, bars and live-music venues in the streets around the square and Nizami Street.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Gobustan and the mud volcanoes

   About 1 hour by car each way. Getting there: Tour, taxi or app ride.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Gobustan and the mud volcanoes

      About 1 hour by car (Tour, taxi or app ride); about 60 km.

   2. Day

      Gobustan and the mud volcanoes

      Gobustan National Park protects thousands of rock carvings of people, animals and boats, some thousands of years old, with a modern museum explaining them. Best for culture, families and first-timers.

   3. Evening

      Back in Baku

      Dinner: try Dushbara.

5. Day 5: Bibi-Heybat Mosque and Museum of Miniature Books

   Bibi-Heybat Mosque, Museum of Miniature Books and National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, then Old City in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bibi-Heybat Mosque

      Dress modestly; women should cover their hair, and scarves are often available at the entrance. (45 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Museum of Miniature Books

      Look for the smallest books in the centre cases; staff can point them out. (30 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Dushbara

      Traditional restaurants; often eaten as a starter.

   4. Afternoon

      National Museum of History of Azerbaijan

      Ask for directions to the oriental hall and the ballroom-style rooms; they show the scale of oil-boom wealth. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Old City

      Cosy bars and restaurants with terraces in historic buildings.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Old City (İçərişəhər) keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Seaside Boulevard and Neftchilar Avenue ($$$$) suits luxury, couples and families. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–19 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.3 hours in December to 15 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Baku
• 2 days in Baku
• 3 days in Baku

Questions travellers ask